I recently watched a video titled "Wild Boar Hunting in the Balkans" and noticed quite a few of the shooters were using semi-auto rifles....looked like they were mostly Browning BAR's....are semi-autos commonly used?

I was also suprised at both their agility and speed as they ran...very impressive.

Two other things stood out in my mind (1)the shooters were very slow taking shots and (2) when they did shoot the shooting wasn't as good as I expected as many open shots were either missed or the animal was hit very far back.

The sequences included driven hunts and using a high seat. Everyone seemed to have a good time and there were a lot of boar shot with tusks over 25cm.

Bill



Most uses bolt actions or some sort of break top rifle. However, if somone uses a semi auto it will most likely be a Browning BAR. I guess they are popular since they are camberd in 9,3X62 and magnums. I'm not much for semi atuo, but if I would need one, a BAR would be my choice.



/ JOHAN

Bill, here in Central Europe, Semi-Auto rifles are seen, but they are subject to about a zillion restrictions, typically varying from country to country. Most often, the restrictions center round how many rounds can legally be fit to the magazine (2 is a common number).

Semi-autos obviously have their advantages on driven hunts, but they must be reliable for it to be worth it. A lot of semi-autos suffer from various reliability issues - like ripping off the cartridge rim etc etc. I guess that is one of the reasons we see more bolt actions or double rifles.

The double is still considered the king of the hill for driven hunts. A lever action in .45-70 would work well (where legal) and after that the Blaser R93s start shining (fast follow-up shots).

Pigs on the run are *fast*, so don't "pass judgment" on shooters on film before you have tried this type of hunting yourself. It is a tough game, and only hunters well trained in shots at running game excell. As you noted, it is all too easy not to be fast enough, and after a while,with guns going off all around you, it takes good discipline not to attempt shots best left alone. To some extent, driven hunts are often synonymous with looking for wounded animals - not all animals shot at, obviously (thank God!) - but it is a common occurrence to look for 1-2 animals in a day. Some animals (like pigs) really can't be hunted efficiently in other ways, so we "accept" the risks and keep using this method.

Now I can't say where your video was shot, but a boar with 25cm (10") tusks is a heck of a pig. If there is a place where they shoot a "lot" of these on driven hunts, I'd like to go too. Mostly what is shot on driven hunts are young pigs, the odd female (BAD if she had piglets!!! avoid this at all cost!), and with a ton of luck 1-2 boars. Bagging "a lot of boars with tusks over 25 cm" sounds akin to winning the national lottery. Still there are places where boars are more common.

High seats are preferable stands on driven hunts as they limit the danger of free flying bullets . They are typically only used in more organized areas. Most places people are simply placed on the ground, and in many locations prayers have to be said, to avoid the lead flying (I'm exaggerating, but only slightly). What can I say, not all locations have equally high levels of organization, and not all hunters have equally high levels of discipline. Wear orange!

- mike

Ditto in this country where drive hunting is most popular. Autoloaders (mainly the BAR) abound, due to their low price as compared to double rifles, which are really the choice of connoisseurs (who can afford them...). Legally, semi-auto magazines are limited to 2 rounds and must be non-removable. This is an easy conversion on the BAR as the magazine is readily riveted/cemented on the swinging floorplate. Rem 7400/742 are more expensive to work over (the importer offers a conversion kit, though). However, the latter are less popular and found very much less reliable. Blaser R93's are seen more and more and are very quick on follow up shots. True, Wild boars are fast -much more than their bulk and straight course may suggest- and many are shot too far behind by hunters forgetting to give enough lead.

Bill

Walter have the Spanish boar hunt DVD , see it and compare , as Andr� and Mike said , running boars are very difficult , here in Spain mostly are BARs , ( but not in 9.3 x 62 as it's a new offer ) with a limit of two shot magazine ( and it mean three shot one in the chamber ) in the Spanish video you'll see 4 boar hits for one missing , and it's not true , the rule 4 shots per boar , maybe you hit with the first but shot again if the boar it's running as it's tought game and if the shot it's not in the brain or spine it keep running , mostly of the semi auto hunters are a bit fast on the trigger , and empty the mag before they have a good chance to hit .

Saludos

Daniel

Here in Italy there are a lot of people that use semiauto, shotgun and rifles, normally with red dots/aimpointsetc. etc.) Few bolt actions. In some area mayors and local authorities try some time to prohibit rifles. For semiauto there are limitation in round numbers but it is a omologation problem, if a gun has been registered as a 3 round gun only three can be used, if it has been registered as a 10 rounds rifle, well the hunter can use a 10 round loader.
Luckily, Guards are not technically prepared
Oh it is not for me, I use a bolt.

bye

Andr� Mertens

I looked at my friends Browning bar, and it has not been getting the magazine raped. Soo I guess a semi would offer some sort of advantage over a double

Cheers
/ JOHAN

Daniel M.....which Walter are you referring to that has a tape of boar hunting in Spain. I have hopes of hunting boar in Europe and want to get as much exposure as possible on how it's done.

Very often, a semi-auto is seen in the hands of the tyro hunter, who believes capacity increases one's chances. In fact, all they do is spray and pray. Anyone who has hunted driven boar in our woods, will know that if the first shot doesn't connect, there might be a chance for a second one but you may as well forget the 3rd. Then there's caliber. It's a mixed bag of boar, roedeer and red deer and it's advisable to match power with the heaviest game. Apart from the very new 9,3x62 (is it selling already ?), this means .300 Win Mag for most BAR owners and also hamburger on roe. On the other hand, a 9,3 shoots big holes all right but with little bloodshot meat. I'll take my 9,3x74R double over all the rest.