Pondering which rifle (may use them all!) to use to hunt feral pigs in Texas. I assume the average weight will be between 80-200 pounds somewhere. I have 9.3x62mm, 7.62x54R, 7.92x57mm, 6.5x55mm, and 7.62x51mm calibers and all shoot well, but wonder what the optimal bullet weight might be? I assume most shots would be at 100 yards or less but don't really know what round best is suited for this animal.

Thanks for your help.

Use your 9.3 x 62 with a good 286 grains bullet and forget all the others.

Pigs don't leave much if any of a blood trail. I've used my 308 with 150gn Power Points @2775 and haven't lost one yet in over ten pigs. my $.02, capt david

I have used the 7.62x39 with good results. So anything your talking about would be more than enough house power, however I have yet to find the 200 pounder yet. I would go with the 9.3 with a 232 NP� good and good for ya! Really it�s all about what gun you love to shout. That�s why I love my SKS for swamp hunting.

it's been true since jacketed bullets were made..

SD of .250 or higher, tough bullet...

jeffe

I a bit of a contrarian concerning hogs as I don't much care for them, or about them very much. As such I've made a point of shooting them with whatever I had in my hands as the moment, and have never lost one...

So, what works for me:

.22 LRHP
.22 WMR
.257 Bob 90 gr Sierra BTHP
.30-30 150 & 170 gr Hornady IL
.410 Slugs
20 Ga. #3 buck and slugs
16 Ga. #1 buck
12 Ga. 0 & #1 buck, slugs, #8 bird shot

.38 Spcl, 148 gr HBWC
.357 158(IIRC) gr XTP's


My list of things that haven't worked: ---------------

They aren't hard to kill, use what you want. They seldom leave much of a blood trail, even if ventilated thru and thru. Behind the ear, or a solid chest/shoulder shot will do the trick. Good luck.

I can only comment on the 6.5x55 as I haven't used the others. I use 140gr bullets in mine and can't fault them. They can be a bit much for the smaller pigs but are great for the big stuff.

One guy I work and hut with shot a 300 pounder last year with his 7.62x54 and it dropped in his tracks.

Wild hogs are my favourite game. I had successfully hunted them with 7x64,7x65, 9.3x62, 9.3x74, 300 WM, 300 Weath, 375HH and 12G. Every calibre works. Just tiny problems with 22-250 .
For two years I am using Razorback 125gr along with Easton 203 gr : no troubles at all.
Note : hogs upward of 200 lbs do exist. More broad is your calibre, lower is your shot placement, more profuse is the Blood trail.

hey jbderunz,what was the .375 like on the boar?!!! too much gun,or ok? downloaded???

thanks,seeya...

December 2004 - shot 7 Hogs 80 - 196 Lbs
7 one shot kills - Between 70 - 250 Yards - 375 H&H Federal ammo 260 Grain Accubond. Works like a walk in the park.

Good luck hunting Hogs, there good to eat and fun to hunt.

Roland

nice roland.........

do you ever down-load them? i know the .375 kicks........!

your too right buddy,hogs are the best.......

cheers..............zac.

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Originally posted by befus:
Pondering which rifle (may use them all!) to use to hunt feral pigs in Texas. I assume the average weight will be between 80-200 pounds somewhere. I have 9.3x62mm, 7.62x54R, 7.92x57mm, 6.5x55mm, and 7.62x51mm calibers and all shoot well, but wonder what the optimal bullet weight might be? I assume most shots would be at 100 yards or less but don't really know what round best is suited for this animal.<br /><br />Thanks for your help.

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Flip a coin. You're good to go with ANY of them!

I think the .308 with either 150,165 or 180 is the best cartridge ever made for hog/boar hunting. In Texas its rare that you have a shot over 100 yards but I think the .308 would be great out to 300yrds.

Take whichever rifle you shoot best. You don't need much reach, as hogs don't see well and it's not that hard to sneak up on them. Hope this helps, Okie John.

I use the 120 Sierra in my 6.5 Swede and it works very well. Quite explosive while also giving more than enough penetration. If you are really expecting big hog trouble, the 140 Sierra is a lot tougher, and there are the big 160 grainers too. It's a very mild round recoil wise. The 308 / 7.62X54 are in the same class, the 7.92 is in the same league as the 30/06 (more than adequate). Never used the big 9.3 but if you need that much gun on hogs they must be HUGE where you are.

7x57 works, expecially with Nosler PT's. .375 works. .318 WR works. 6.5x54 works. 8x57 works. Whatever.