Which do you guys prefer for wild boar only hunts,scopes or irons?I have heard to use irons,and to leave the scope at home...scope just something else to go wrong,range short dont need scope,scopes fog and get wet,scopes get broken/muddy/knocked off zero,irons quicker and better for running game,irons more sporting......

That's a good question. My experience with hogs has been limited, and both times the shots were under 80 yards and on moving game. Both times, I used my only rifle: a .300 Win Mag with a Leupold 3.5x10x40mm scope on it. At low setting, it is just wide enough for 70 yard shots on running game. I have seriously considered an iron-sighted rifle just for hogs. I have also thought a .308 Steyr Scout with a forward-mounted 2 1/2 power scope would be an ideal close-in hog gun.

Wayne sounds good to me.I just have allways been haunted by a few quick ,running close range shots that i missed years ago because i just coulnt find hair in the scope that quick,I always believed a iron sight would have saved the day.........Its easy to just throw up and look down the barrel for the bead.......

Depends entirely on where you are hunting them. If you have a lot of open fields and some distance, nothing wrong with a scoped rifle. If the terrain is thick and you need quick response time, iron all the way.

A 1x4 would work well as would a scout rifle set up .A peep [ghost ring type] for irons.

Anything wrong with express sights?

Absolutely nothing wrong with express sights. I've got them on my .416 and .458. They work well for me, but I practice a lot with them. But, they are very hard to see when the light starts fading.

If I am dog hunting, I prefer iron or peep sights. If I am doing spot and stalk, especially in thick woods, I prefer a scope. I have a 1-4x leupold on my Guide Gun, and just took a 230 lb. mostly pure russian boar with it last weekend.

Mad Dog

i hunt at night.. iron sights are a no-no.. good low power scope all the way

How about the new generation of red dot sites?

I've tried them all. I like scopes for stand hunting and dot sights if its thick and the hog might be running. I have express sights on my 350 RM with Leupold QR bases and two sights one is a 2x7 Leupold the other is a Aimpoint dot. This gives me the ability to switch sights for the given situation.

I've found the best way to hit close targets in a hurry is to stick with one rifle, sight and load. I did it last year, and it paid off big time during deer season. Okie John.

Me, I prefer scopes. I try to shoot most of my hogs behind the ear, head shots.

I've only hunted hogs a few times, both with irons and with a scope.

As mentioned above, where you hunt figures in a great deal. I hunt in mountain laurels and oak so shots tend to be within thirty yards or so. Irons and peeps have served me well, as has a low powered variable ( 1X-3X Weaver ) set at the lowest magnification.

The only advantage to a scope in my hunting environment is the extra light provided during an overcast day when the canopy blocks out some of the light. Peeps also tend to work better than blade sights, for me, under these conditions.

Where I go they frown on scoped rifles when dogs are used...as good a chance of getting a dog as a hog. I spot and stalk, so this isn't an issue.

I like open sights. It's easier for me to re-acquire my target, especially in wooded areas.
Best, Starcharvski.

If you are hunting with dogs you need to be using open sights. This is because you need an open field of view because dogs are prone to darting in and out of your line of fire and you need to know where they are. A scope, even a 2 power will cut down on you view in close quarters.

If shots are under 100 yds I prefer iron sights. Ghost rings are my favorite type of open sight, though I've also grown fond of the shallow-V express sights on my Ruger RSM.

Over 100 yds a scope gets the nod.

Except for close up dog hunting, scopes or red dots are better. Why, because with a scope you can see to place your shots MUCH better in the deep twilight when hogs tend to move. I can shoot a hog anywhere I want to with a good scope when you won't be able to see your irons, except maybe for a big dot ghost ring type or tritiums, of course. I have a set of Ashley's on one Marlin .45-70 and a good scope is still superior at near dark, especially on an overcast day.

Inside 100yds with reasonable visibility - Red dot type evry time no doubt.Quickest acquisition and best application for 2 eyes open running shots.
This is why red dots are the choice of the open class IPSC shooters.
Past 100yds and close to dark or in very heavy shaded swamps and cover - low power variable from high quality maker.
Forget irons altogether.
My statements come from 40yrs experience and 3500+ pigs in that time.
I have used express sights [on double rifles]; ghost peeps; many different variables and red dots as well as illuminaed low power variables.
Use a 5 minute dot if you want precision [you can still shoot a crow size target at 125yds with this size dot or 10 min if most targets will be pigs under 80 yds and running!
APB

APB:

Say on, brother. 40 years and 3500 pigs, WOW! Now that is the voice of experience. I'd love to get in on one of those Aussie pig shoots. Maybe someday. Good hunting.

Hi Gatogordo
I have noticed that you are a voice of reason with your advice and we are in agreement on most issues when it comes to the demise of the pig.
Certainly I have shot pigs every single year in the last 40 and I continue to get enjoyment from doing so.
For each of the last 16 years I have spent a minimum of a fortnight in Cape York. This is the north east point of Australia if you look at a map and over 2000km from where I currently live.
Glad to offer advice if you ever head our way.
APB

I like a scope under 99.9% of the time, where a scope can't go give me a 12 gauge with sg's

Actually I am very fond of leupold low powered scopes eg. 2.5x compact and 1-4 for pig hunting.