Heavier bullet for BIG Hogs?

[gstewart44]

I would like to tap the collective wisdom of fellow pork hunters here.   My camp up in South Georgia has been full of pigs for over a decade.   Most of the ones taken are about 120-150 lbs.      The past two years however we have seen a dramatic increase in the number of really BIG, rank boars that are 250lbs or more.   these tanks usually are sporting 3"+ cutters and have cartilage shields that are  1 1/2" inches thick or more.     
 
I have used the Federal Fusion 180gr in 30-06 for deer and pigs since the cartridge came out.   It has performed flawlessly on the smaller game.     However the last three boars I shot did not have an exit wound (even though it was DRT).   The shots were neck broadside at 70 yds.   All three had the bullet end up in the shield opposite the entrance.   Though I havent had to track one of these guys I would like to see an exit.   
 
Any recommendations as to a 30-06 load for the bigger porkers?   

[SHOOTALL]

why mess with success ? I shot one in the neck with a 180 gr fed bullet from my 300 win mag at 25 yards or closer . It went maybe a foot and a half stright down when hit the bullet lodged in the spine . It took a bit of time for him to fall over. But it was a successful hunt and the bullet worked fine .

[FPH]

I use 180 gr. Rem C Ls in 30-06.   My friends all use .243s w/ 100 gr. bullets.  They took 7 this year in TX.

[jmayton]

55gr Sierra Gamekings out of a .223.




Well, that's what I use, though I don't get to hunt the hogs too much anymore.  You're shooting them in the neck so almost anything will work.  I've never shot one with a .30 of any weight that didn't go down within a few yds (that's from shoats all the way up to 300lbs).  To me it sounds like those Fusions are doing their job.  I don't care if a bullet exits, it just needs to stay together long enough to get to the vitals.  If you want to get exits all the time, switch to Partitions or solids.

[Bigeasy]

Sounds like the Fusions are doing their job.  But, if I wanted thru and thru penetration in an expanding bullet, I would look hard at the Barnes TSX series.  I don't know you would get better penetration with any other bullet, short of a non expanding solid.
 
Larry

[Land_Owner]

There has been a cornucopia of bullet choices offered already.  Here's a couple more.  I use the Nosler Partition exclusively.  I have yet to have a Partition not exit the off side, impart a whole heap of energy going through, leave a hole not much larger in diameter than the entrance hole and provided I do my part, yield a DRT experience. 

There is also the Speer Grand Slam to consider.  I did not achieve "spectacular" accuracy in my rifle, energy exchange going through thin skinned deer, or bullet expansion on deer with the GS and went back to the Partition.  Never shot a hog with a GS though.  But the penetration was spectacular.

These two "Premium" bullet choices may not be as inexpensive as some others, if they even are that much more, however you are not going to shoot more than a box or two getting the powder and bullet length combination adjusted in your rifle for accuracy, assuming you reload.  Confidence in accuracy and imparting energy on a pass through are the characteristics that make a good load great.

[gstewart44]

Thanks to all,
I don't know why I worry about things that haven't happened....after all the Fusions have proven to be the most accurate factory round I have put through my rifle.     However a buddy of mine yesterday gave me 12 of the TSX bullets 165 grain that he reloads for his 308.    He says they perform way better than he expected and never come apart.   
I will be trying them out next weekend and will let you know how they do. 

[RevJim]

 My friend on the left used the Barnes Vortex 168 TTSX on this Michigan hog. It penetrated and  opened just fine, also didn't bloodshot a lot of meat.

[GH1]

If you're looking for more penetration you might want to consider a gas-checked cast bullet.
GH1

[Mikey]

I use the Nosler Accubond 200 gn in the 8mm Mauser, and that penetrates right on through leaving a nice exit hole.  If I want to use a lever I use a Winchester Bige Bore 94 AE in 444 Marlin  with either 300 or 335 gn Beartooth bullets and load data.  I hae never recovered a slug, or chased a wounded hog. 

[Ranger99]

shoot 'em in the ear.

[martineta]

There has been a cornucopia of bullet choices offered already.  Here's a couple more.  I use the Nosler Partition exclusively.  I have yet to have a Partition not exit the off side, impart a whole heap of energy going through, leave a hole not much larger in diameter than the entrance hole and provided I do my part, yield a DRT experience. 

There is also the Speer Grand Slam to consider.  I did not achieve "spectacular" accuracy in my rifle, energy exchange going through thin skinned deer, or bullet expansion on deer with the GS and went back to the Partition.  Never shot a hog with a GS though.  But the penetration was spectacular.

These two "Premium" bullet choices may not be as inexpensive as some others, if they even are that much more, however you are not going to shoot more than a box or two getting the powder and bullet length combination adjusted in your rifle for accuracy, assuming you reload.  Confidence in accuracy and imparting energy on a pass through are the characteristics that make a good load great.

I use partitions for hunting in all my rifles .223 through .308.  It's been around a long time and is a great hunting bullet.  I load Nosler ballistic tips to sight in with or plink and then fine tune with the expensive partitions.  Only bullet I want to hunt with.
 

[dougk]

I use the 180 gr Norma Oryx in 30-06 which has worked perfectly on large hogs the last really larger one had to be around 400lbs.  He ran 50 yards then dropped.


Also, you might want to look at a 12 ga/.30-06 combo gun.  I typically run a slug or 00 buck in the shotgun and the 180 gr Norma Oryx which is a great combination.

[rickt300]

Well nowadays I use my 35 Whelen for most of my hog hunting and I get nice bleeding exit holes and dead hogs. Some are preety big too, over 300 pounds. Now if you don't need an excuse to get a Whelen then just get one! If you are stuck on your 30-06 the Partitions will give complete penetration but exit holes that hardly bleed, at least on fat hogs. I know the Fusion replaced the HotCors but the HotCors penetrated better. I especially liked the Mag Tip 180 grain version. This all said I am going to test the 150 gr. Hornady SST on a hog as soon as I can pushed to 2900 fps out of my 30-06. Hogs are the best bullet test material.

[Oldshooter]

Sounds like the Fusions are doing their job.  But, if I wanted thru and thru penetration in an expanding bullet, I would look hard at the Barnes TSX series.  I don't know you would get better penetration with any other bullet, short of a non expanding solid.
 
Larry

What I was going to say

[mcwoodduck]

I use 180 gr. Rem C Ls in 30-06.   My friends all use .243s w/ 100 gr. bullets.  They took 7 this year in TX.

+1 I use the 180 grain Soft point round nose core locks in my 308 and so far they work. 
Heck my first porker was hit with a 225 grain rem soft point out of my 338 Win mag at 200 and then again at 275 yards. 
First shot was on the hinge of the jaw and he ran.  The next hit was right in the boiler room and down he went. 

[dougk]

I like the 180 gr Norma Oryx.  I have taken 350+ lb hogs with that round.


THe other round that has been effective are the 180 gr Speer Grandslam and the 180 gr  Federal blue box softpoint.