45-70 vs 12 gauge slug...???

[Chesapeake Troller]

Hi to all,

Well I have been officially bitten with the hog hunting bug and am in a bind...do I buy the Marlin 45-70 1895 or just use my old faithful mossburg 500 slug gun? I did some research on the numbers and while the 45-70 has the edge in vel (1880 at muzzle and 1588 at 100yds, vs 1550 at muzzle and 1270 at 100yds), and a slight edge in energy (2355 and 1616 vs 2260 and 1560), the 438gr weight of the 12 gauge slug vs the 300gr weight of the 45-70 seems to balance that out. I don't plan on reloading so factory is ok with me, and both my stands on my club the max shot will be about 40-50 yds.

My thinking is that why spend the money? My mossberg has a slug barrel and a nice 4X fixed Nixon, and I am comfortable with the patterns, especially at 25 and 50 yds.

Thanks for all your thoughts, this is a great forum and I visit often. Also my hunt club is just south of Mayo FL in case any other members are close by and want to compare notes. We have two weekends during the summer we can shoot hogs, the first starting tomorrow, and my 10 yr old daughter and I are pumped with the amount of rooting at our double seat stand, we should see something tomorrow...wish us luck.

Chesapeake

[Cabin4]

Don't pay any attention to those velocity and energy numbers when comparing such distant projectials as the 45-70 and a 12ga slug. These two projectiles are "worlds apart" in capability and proven performance.

The 45-70 with the right bullet and matched velocity will kill anything mother nature can offer. The12ga slug gun is a ok deer gun or maybe even a close in black bear gun. Even with all the advancement is slugs over the years, the jury is still out. Most guides I know will still tell you that a 12ga slug is the best "wounding" gun available.

Your just not going to get the equal penatration from a slug as compared to the 45-70.  I'm not saying that a slug won't kill a hog. I don't how big the hogs are your hunting so a small one, maybe. But a very large wild hog is a formibable and very well structured animal who's killing requirements a more suited to larger heavy bullets with high SD values.

A 45-70 400 grain hard cast load from Buffalo Bore ammo or Garrett would be my recomendation for large hogs. A standard factory 300 gr from Win, Rem or Fed on smaller animals.

[oso45-70]

Chesapeake,
Frankly I dont think you can go wrong with either, If you allready have the slug gun and you feel good about useing it and at the yardage you are talking about i don't see any problems, ME personaly, I would use the 45-70 as you might notice by my handle, But i think you will be OK with your moss. Gun. Good luck...........Joe..........

[Lawdog]

Chesapeake Troller,

Forget the ballistic charts and tables and go with the .45-70.  Lawdog
 

[shooter444002]

45/70 by far and you dont have to reload to get some of the best performing ammo that is available. Always a good excuse to get a new rifle. You can find one for a good price on the auctions if you spend some time at it, even with the shipping and transfer.

[HWooldridge]

I have several rifles but seldom hunt with anything except my 1895 Marlin - that includes hogs.  I'm sure in the right situation, the shotgun slugs will work perfectly well but I am quite confident in my .45-70.  As stated, it will kill anything in North America if loaded correctly.

[rickt300]

I have had pretty good luck with 12 and 20 gauge slugs myself. I also have a 45-70 and it works too but inside 75 yards I doubt  you will have problems with either.  Some areas I hunt are shotgun only anyway so the choice is not mine.

[Chesapeake Troller]

Guys thanks for all your responses, it seems that the vote would be for a 45-70. Trust me I need little excuse to buy a new gun, and the Marlin Guide gun looks like a lot of fun to handle. I think for now I am not going to use the 12 gauge, went today to the range and at 50 yards I was posting rounds all over the place, just did not get the warm and fuzzy I do with my 30-06. Used a new bullet today with that, 165 gr Barnes X, 3 shot group within 1 inch dead on the bullseye. Will use that tomorrow as we hope to miss the storms hitting this area hard. Good thing is that the rain should have the hogs moving more as it is cooler that the 90's we were having.

Wish Ceara and I luck, she is excited to go hunting with her daddy and has named the stand AND the road next to her after herself, I hope she can sit still for awhile and we can see something.

Chesapeake

[Mohawk]

Never used a .45-70 on hogs. Fought with a hog with a 12ga slug and the hog didn't make it. Slugs are very adequate.

[Gowge]

CT, the folks @ Dixie Slugs are just down the road from you in Old Town Hammock.   They've developed some awesome slug loads that have only just been released - Terminator & Predator (both HARD CAST & HEAVY), as well as their Tri-Ball Load that was previously called the Dixie Hog Cruncher!   It's three (3) 58 caliber Mustket Balls stacked into a 12ga shell.   :eek:

James Gates has said of the "Hog Cruncher" load, it not only kills a tough hog, but guts it & skins it too!

The Terminator is for fully rifled 12bore barrels only and measures 740gr @ .729" dia X .735".  
Predator is 653gr for rifled or smoothbore to .725" chokes and both run 1300fps!!  

GOOD LUCK!   :wink:

http://www.dixieslugs.com/triball.html