Author Topic: going on my first hog hunt, need advice. (Read 2803 times)

Doesniper · « **on:** October 24, 2009, 02:31:30 PM »

I am thinking of using an AR15 with Barnes bullets, my Win. 94, or a 250 sav. Fill me in on what you would do. What I should take or leave at home.

emsemt911 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2009, 02:48:51 PM »

If you are going for a paid hunt, take the best gun you have that is a larger caliber.
I have seen some hogs in Texas on guided hunts that I WOULD NEVER shoot with a .223
due to the chance of loosing a hog and having to pay for the animal. I no longer use my .223
on a hog larger than 100 lbs. In that case I use a .270, .308, 6.8 SPC.

I just do not want to risk the money and not have the hog.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2009, 05:46:10 PM »

Only you know the variables of the hunting that you intend to do. If hog eradication is the target, then by all means, fire away with the 223 Remington AR-15. Kill 'em ALL. There is no "End of Line" with hogs.

If trophy hunting, then take largest caliber that you shoot well from a steady rest.

If meat hunting, then take anything you shoot well from a steady rest. Shoot them in the head, so you don't have to track. They don't take high velocity centerfire rifle rounds well in the neck.

Good luck.

LunaticFringeInc · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2009, 06:16:12 PM »

The vitals are a small kill zone and many who hunt hogs shoot too far back and too high. Know where the vitals are and put a good bullet there from a good gun, preferably something with a little more frontal area than a 223 and it will go down in short order. Of those you listed I would go with the 94 if its in 30-30 or bigger, 250 Savage would also work well. You really dont need a magnum, they are not really all that tough, but if your off with the shot they can definitely absord some serious lead before giving up the ghost.

stubshaft · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2009, 06:52:08 PM »

FWIW - The 30/30 gets my vote too.

Dee · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2009, 07:19:15 AM »

I have actually killed more hogs with an AR15 (M4) shooting them with a 52 grain match hollow point. ALL! Were one shot stops, and ALL were in the neck-jowl area. This shot is an INSTANT DOWN. They will fall on their feet (straight down).
HOWEVER! As someone said earlier, hogs are not that hard to kill, and I have never met "super hog". AND! I have never lost a hog. BUT! I have never taken a stupid shot either. Even when eradication was the order of the day. WAIT! I did so loose one once.

I made a bad shot on a huge sow with a 2506. OOPS!

But back to the question. A 150 grain, or 170 grain in the ole 3030 is a great round for hogs. If your going with someone that says you need something bigger, BEWARE! I have been around feral hogs all my life, and they just aren't that tuff. If your hunting with someone that is turned toward cannon size rifles be careful and don't let him shoot you by shooting THRU the hog and the bullet changing direction. Some good dogs have been lost because of the "mythical super hog" and the city boy armed with his ARTILLERY PIECE getting the hog and the dog with one shot.

Land_Owner · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2009, 07:22:03 PM »

It is one thing for those of us with lots of hog killing experience to advise you. It is entirely another thing altogether for you to decide what are you own capabilities?

ANY center fire rifle caliber has the capacity to kill, and kill instantly, when the shot is place correctly. Conversely, all center fire rifle calibers can mame or miss when the shot is off target.

You need to assess which of the calibers that you shoot gives you the highest confidence. Then go kill some hogs with it. Simple as that.

Dee · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2009, 01:16:35 AM »

What Land_Owner says is exactly right. I have killed them as I said with an AR, and I have killed them with a Marlin 1895 Cowboy in 4570 with hot 405 grainers. It is what are you good with, and can hit with.

Sensai · « **Reply #8 on:** October 26, 2009, 02:24:03 AM »

You've gotten some very good advice. My only comment is to think of how and where you will be hunting. Being on the ground in the swamp with fifty feet or less visibility is a lot different than being in a stand on the edge of a big field. As a general rule, the closer the shot the bigger the caliber that I would use. I always use my Marlin 336 in 30-30, because it seems to know where I want to hit before I do. Like the others have said, take what you can shoot well.

I hope that you have a good hunt. Pigs are a blast.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #9 on:** October 26, 2009, 04:55:19 AM »

I have been fortunate enough to have hunted with all three of your caliber choices over the years in Florida and Georgia. I have had mostly one shot DRT cases. However these days I will pick my Win94 in 3030 most every time because it fits me well and points naturally. I only shoot 150 gr factory through it and it puts hogs down.

Whatever you choose make sure you are confident in your ability to place the shot. And I agree with the others, any round just below the ear or in the neck will do the trick. Good luck.

rickt300 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 26, 2009, 07:00:04 AM »

If your going to hunt at night your rifle should have a scope on it. I generally shoot for the neck myself between the ear and the shoulder so almost any rifle will do the trick for me. Nowadays my general purpose hog rifle is a 30-06 Remington 7400 with a 2x7 Mueller Multishot illuminated scope on it. Might even get two hogs at on incident someday. The 308 or 30-06 just might be the perfect hog rounds.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #11 on:** October 26, 2009, 08:05:53 AM »

Anything you use for deer will work for hogs.
Not sure where you are going to hunt or how.
I would match the gun to the conditions.
Open sights for 50 yards or less
low power scope or open sights for shots out to 100 yards
and a 3-9 scope for shots that are going to be out 200 yards.
If the area is hilly and you are going to be walking a lot I would pick the lighest of the three chioces that I can shoot to the desired distance.
If you are road hunting from a pick up...... Anything can be carried.
good luck on your hunt.
Remember that even big elk and brown bears are shot with 44 mag pistols and any of the rifles you named are more powerful than the 44 mag round. So if you do walk up on PIGZILLA, Hog Kong, or what ever you want to call a pig the size of a VW bug, shot placement is shot placement and a hunting bullet, or two will do what it is supose to do.
Chances are you will have one the size of the eating pig in my picture or the one that Dee is dwarfing.

Dee · « **Reply #12 on:** October 26, 2009, 09:51:08 AM »

mcwoodduck is right. The one I'm kneeled over is a pretty nice pig, but I am 6'3", and wieght about 250, so the 350# plus pig looks smaller than it is. So a 250 pounder is still a nice hog.
It really depends if your huntin true feral hogs, like the one in my avatar, or penned hogs on a game ranch on what kinda size your shootin for.
When I'm hog huntin, size DON'T matter.

jmayton · « **Reply #13 on:** October 27, 2009, 04:28:23 PM »

Good advice from all. Like Dee, I choose the M4 shooting 55gr Sierra GameKings. The beast in my avatar was taken with this rifle. He was quartered away from me and my first shot was a bit low, but still got his neck. He ran about 50 yards and fell down. I promptly put one through his lungs and one more in his head as I walked up. Meanest hog I've killed and still put him on the ground with a badly placed .223. So any of the calibers you listed will work. Two things: 1st, terrain; if it's open, .250; if it's brushy 30-30; if both, AR. 2nd, pick the one you are most comfortable with.

My pattern now (because I hunt by myself often) is to either carry a semi-auto or if carry a bolt or single I will carry a pistol .40 or larger as well. My Glock 22 or my 1911 are usually what I have. . . just in case. I've only had one pig out of several hundred charge me, but it reminded me of the possibility and the need for a back-up.

Have fun and good hunting!

Doesniper · « **Reply #14 on:** October 28, 2009, 05:39:39 PM »

We will be hunting a few hours south east of Dallas, TX. I'm not sure of the terrain. I'll be taking a couple of rifles. Do you have any other tips or secrets?

Oldshooter · « **Reply #15 on:** October 28, 2009, 06:02:43 PM »

Depending on your definition of "a few",

you could be hunting in the piney woods of east Texas,(Thick trees and brush with a lot of hills, draws and thickets) and if so a short range weapon like a 44 mag would be an excellent choice. Seeing hogs will be the main problem! shooting them running through the brush will be secondary! Good luck and please give an after hunt report with pics if you dont mind! Did i say good luck?

Soaked fermenting corn with grape kool aide or jello makes em crazy! they hear better than they see and they see well enough! They smell purty good too, and i dont mean smell as in your nose! Did i say good luck!

jmayton · « **Reply #16 on:** October 28, 2009, 06:09:02 PM »

I grew up an hour southeast of Dallas, so if you are a few hours that direction, you're probably hunting in thick cover. The 30-30 would be a good choice with the AR a second. I'd only take the 250 if it was my favorite and I wasn't as confident with the other two. As for tips; look for signs (tracks, rooting, etc) and make sure you're quiet and listen. Pigs are usually pretty loud and can be located by sound that way. Be ready to shoot quick, they may not give you much of an opportunity. If there are open fields, then hunt those, the pigs will like the soft dirt and probably whatever is growing there.

Dee · « **Reply #17 on:** October 29, 2009, 02:20:48 AM »

Also TAKE A BOAT. It has been raining down here for weeks, is raining right now, and we have tornado warnings, and flash flood warning going RIGHT NOW!

mullet_key · « **Reply #18 on:** October 29, 2009, 11:04:10 AM »

That's easy! Savage .250 (if shooting Savage 99 Lever Action) Put down the hogs and take some photos with the gun! Dead hogs look like ...well, dead hogs. You don't see a Savage 99 in .250 everyday.

jmayton · « **Reply #19 on:** October 29, 2009, 11:08:27 AM »

mullet_key has a great point. I was assuming the .250 was a bolt, but if it's a 99, take that and forget the others. And take pics.

Doesniper · « **Reply #20 on:** October 29, 2009, 02:59:23 PM »

The 250 is a bolt. The AR has a 3x Leupold. and the 30-30 is a Win. with iron sights.

Dee · « **Reply #21 on:** October 29, 2009, 03:15:12 PM »

I would rather have a lessor magnification on the AR but, Still it would be a toss up on it and the 3030. I have a 2X7 Leupold on mine and wish sometimes it was a 1.5. Which one of the two are you fastest with and hit the best with?
Also, I don't know the method you'll be using to hunt. I hunt farm land, and hunt into the wind, and actually glass the land in front of me, while moving very slow, although I am in timber and cedar breaks. You can walk right by a big hog when their bedded in leaves, and grass.

jmayton · « **Reply #22 on:** October 29, 2009, 06:33:37 PM »

Dee, I'm running a Millett DMS 1-4x now and love it. If I had a 2-7 I'd run a Burris Micro-dot on top for short range work.

Doesniper, I will agree with Dee. Take the fast, accurate one.

Dee · « **Reply #23 on:** October 30, 2009, 12:33:07 AM »

jmayton, I have shot this 2x7 so many years I think it's as fast as open sights for me at least. I also done a trigger job on mine, and it's about 3 lbs. It makes it even faster for snap shootin.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #24 on:** October 30, 2009, 07:00:36 AM »

OK New choice.
Take Dee & Jamayton with you to act as a gun barrers.

Of course you will grab what rifle you want to carry and they will grab.... Their own rifles and hunt with you.

But the good news is you made a choice as to what rifle to pick.

And you will all have a good time.
Good luck on your hunt.
Any of the three will work fine.
Grab three coins.
Quarter, Nickel, and Dime.
give each rifle a coin- flip all three coins. the one that lands odd. one head- two tails or the other way around.

Dee · « **Reply #25 on:** October 30, 2009, 07:23:17 AM »

Hey mcwoodduck! That's a great idea. Just take me and Jamayton, with you, and you don't even need a rifle. We'll shoot ole Porky for ya.

jmayton · « **Reply #26 on:** October 30, 2009, 10:59:33 AM »

mcwoodduck, I'm liking that idea myself.

And by the way, I shot two pigs this morning.

Dee · « **Reply #27 on:** October 30, 2009, 11:21:14 AM »

Ok jmayton. Which jeep we goin in? Yours or mine?

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #28 on:** October 30, 2009, 11:35:59 AM »

Cool.
BBQ at Jamayton's House.

jmayton · « **Reply #29 on:** October 30, 2009, 05:44:28 PM »

Dee, yours, mine has clutch issues right now.

mcwoodduck, c'mon!