Author Topic: Scopes when stalking a Pig?  (Read 1047 times)

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Offline xd45nut

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Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« on: January 05, 2012, 06:05:28 PM »
[size=78%]I'll be going hog hunting for the first time next month and I am wondering what gun I should bring. Originally I was planing on using my .30-06 with a fixed 4 power scope, but I have read a few places that when you are stalking wild hogs it is best to have open sights so you can make quicker shots. So that has got my thinking that it may be better for me to use my 12ga slug gun. So that is the question; should I use my scoped rifle or my open sight slug gun? Another plus for the shot gun is that it would be useful for dispatching snakes as well if needs be.[/size]
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Offline BBF

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #1 on: January 06, 2012, 10:47:10 AM »
My 1.2 cents worth.
A low power scope(less then 4 power)  is faster then open sights in most cases and way ahead in poor light.
 
If your eyes are no longer 20/20 a scope wins again.
 
A scope will show you a half inch branch between you and your target. Iron sights do not unless it is right
in front of you.
If you got a handgun, it works good on snakes. ;)
 
Even with your 4 power scope IMO that should be what you take.
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Offline xd45nut

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #2 on: January 06, 2012, 11:31:28 AM »
My 1.2 cents worth.
A low power scope(less then 4 power)  is faster then open sights in most cases and way ahead in poor light.
 
If your eyes are no longer 20/20 a scope wins again.
 
A scope will show you a half inch branch between you and your target. Iron sights do not unless it is right
in front of you.
If you got a handgun, it works good on snakes. ;)
 
Even with your 4 power scope IMO that should be what you take.


Unfortunately less than a 4 power scope is not an option this year. I have 2 scopes one 6 power and one 4 power with no cash to buy another one at the time. So I'll take your advice and use my .30-06 equipped with a 4 power and carry my .38 with snake loads.


Thanks, XDnut
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.


Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.


In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Theodore Roosevelt

Offline LunaticFringeInc

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #3 on: January 08, 2012, 02:04:49 AM »

I would very much prefer the rifle sighted shotgun over the scoped 30-06 unless your going to be shooting from extended ranges that are impractical for the shotgun with a slug.



FWIW...I use a Ultra-Slug 12 ga. with a BSA Red Dot sight when I hunt hogs with a fire arm instead of a Compound Bow.  Its a pretty cheap sight but its very quick to get on target and has held up to the recoil on my gun.  This has been the best "Hog Hammer"of a set up I have used to date.

Offline xd45nut

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #4 on: January 08, 2012, 07:03:36 AM »
Here is a Vid. of where we are going:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DHKyHNYMMUE


It looks like the pretty thick bush, I don't thik I'll need to take a shot past 75 yards.
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.


Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.


In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Theodore Roosevelt

Offline BBF

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #5 on: January 09, 2012, 09:38:41 AM »
Lunatic..
The OP doesn't have a Dot on his shotgun. Although Dot are quick on the target they still don't "see" that branch unless the have more then 1 X power.
 
I'm an aged enough OF to remember when scopes came basically in 4 power and in the early years your X would move when you adjusted windage and elevation. We did OK with them.
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Offline rickt300

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #6 on: January 09, 2012, 07:03:34 PM »
I kill as many hogs as most and have no trouble using a scope of 4 power and I shoot some pretty close, like less than 20 yards.  I also hunt at night a lot and a scope is the only way to go then.
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Offline markc

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #7 on: January 14, 2012, 01:02:07 PM »
Any reason you can't take both along and decide once you are actually on the ground?  My preference is the scoped 06.
markc

Offline Florida Jim

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2012, 06:08:54 AM »
A Ruger #1 in 06 with a 3X9 Redfield has worked fine for me.
Between 50 yds to about 200yds.
Loaded with a 150 gr SST.
"The .30-06 is never a mistake"~Townsend Whelen~

Offline swordfish

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2012, 12:48:53 PM »
Your 30-06 with 4X will be fine.
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Offline xd45nut

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Re: Scopes when stalking a Pig?
« Reply #10 on: January 15, 2012, 03:52:26 PM »
Any reason you can't take both along and decide once you are actually on the ground?  My preference is the scoped 06.


I will, but in the end I think I'll end up hunting with my shotgun just because my buddy will be hunting with a shotgun. Heck I may try a day using just my .45 Ruger Vaquero.
It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.


Far better is it to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure... than to rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy nor suffer much, because they live in a gray twilight that knows not victory nor defeat.


In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.

Theodore Roosevelt