Author Topic: What caliber for hog hunting. (Read 1817 times)

DalesCarpentry · « **on:** March 14, 2007, 01:59:03 PM »

I have been hearing that the hog population here in Pa is growing. I think I would like to try to bag one. The thing is I hear they can be dangerous to hunt. I have heard of people being charged. I am thinking about a 45/70 barrel or 500 Sw barrel. I don't know if this would be over kill but if I was being charged I would want the hog to go down with out having to reload a single shot. What calibers do you guys think might be best.

blackplague14 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:15:09 PM »

Hog hunting is one of the reasons that I've been wanting the 45/70. I'm still not real confident in one shot stops, so I'm gonna be carrying my Kimber Custom II chambered in .460 Rowland. There is such a wide variety of loads for the 45/70 that it seems like a great round for just about everything. My local shop has both the 45/70 and the .500 S&W, but I just guessed that the .500 ammo would be much more expensive without the versatility.

Jon

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #2 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:24:20 PM »

All my shots would be less than 100 yards and I am sure most would be 50 yards or less. I just could not imange anything still running at you with a 45-70 round or a 500 SW round shot at these ranges. Unless it was a bad hit. Maybe I should consider carrying a side arm like a 357 Mag.

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #3 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:30:49 PM »

Or maybe I should think of a bolt or lever action that holds more than one round. Would you hunt dangerous game with a single shot rifle. I consider hogs dangerous from things I have read.

trotterlg · « **Reply #4 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:31:41 PM »

Remember if you miss they will eat you, it is no joke, it is most likely no place for a single shot. Also remember there are very seldom only one of them. In Northern CA I can tell stories about them knocking down horses, the smallest things we used 30 years ago were the British 303's. Larry

blackplague14 · « **Reply #5 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:33:54 PM »

Bad hits happen, especially on a moving target. You do your best, but sometimes things get screwed up, so I always want a back up plan. I've tried to get my dad to go hog hunt with me, (he's getting old and slow), but he won't go. So, since I don't have anyone going with me that I can outrun, I'm carrying a backup gun.

This will be my first year hog hunting, and I've really been wanting to get a shot with the pistol, so the 45/70 will probably be the backup. The hogs only seem to be on our hunting land during the heat of the summer and move over to the local WMA during the cooler months, so I'll be scouting out the creek hollows sometime after turkey season.

Jon

bigjeepman · « **Reply #6 on:** March 14, 2007, 02:59:07 PM »

I have been on a boar hunt and I have been charged. It is an exciting hunt yet a little dangerous too. My son and I hunted with our Marlin CBC .45 colt lever action using Corbon Magnum +P 265gr Bonded HP. Velocity is 1350 fps and energy is 1073 ft/lbs. They performed very well with one shot kills on hogs weighing 225lbs to 245lbs. Both shots were between 35-45 yards. My hog was bigger but my son's had tusks almost 4" long.

The hogs you are talking about might well be feral hogs which I have never hunted. I will probably take my SBH Hunter in .45 colt next time. Here is pic of my brothers taken with a 7mm Ruger ...

greg916 · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:00:38 PM »

My favorite is the 45-70. Use tough bullets, I like the speer 350 gr., and wait for a quartering away shot if you can. The gristle plate can be tough to penetrate with "soft" bullets. I have only been "charged" once, although I don't think it was really charging, just getting out of the way.
(By the way, I was using arrows, not bullets!) We have feral hogs here and they can make life interesting for a pack of Plott/Pitt hounds!

BANG_OW · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:02:35 PM »

This is why I have been looking for a .45-70 barrel with the ejector feature. From what the guys here have been sharing, the .500 S&W only came in extractor style.
I'll go back and look for the ejected brass after the fact. If I were just target shooting, I would want the extractor. Swampman had one, but that deal derailed.
I'm going to go to the Tulsa gun show to see if I can snag one.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:14:50 PM »

Dale, here's a great web site with a page on hog anatomy, which is a little different that a deer.

Tim

http://www.texasboars.com/

DalesCarpentry · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:28:19 PM »

That was really great reading Quick. The heart and lungs are much lower than you would think.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:31:57 PM »

I usuallly hog hunt 5 day's aweek at least,all year long hear in OK. The only way to drop a hog in its tracks is a neck shot.I've shot them with a 300 Why. with a 180 gr. BT at 3175 fps.and they just kept on running with there heart and lungs blown out a 5" exit hole. I've shot 3 with the 45 70 with behind the shoulder shots and none dropped there on the spot.
I've dropped 3 with a 22 mag and a 140yd neck shot,they dropped in there tracks,but didn't die until I put a few more rds. in them.If you're shooting the 300 to 400 pds and up boars,don't shoot the shoulder,because there's a think layer of cartiledge 1 1/2 to 2 1/2" thick and it will stop a very large bullet.I've also personally witnessed a 240 bullet from a 44 mag bounce off the shoulder shield.
It may be just a coinsedence but I've shot 3 with a Saiga semi auto 308 with 125 BT's and they dropped in there tracks and squeelled there self do death.Some were hinquarter shots,shoulder shots.and inbetween. The 45 70 and the 444 marlin will make a nickel size hole,but it will plug up with fat,and you're in for a hard tracking job. 1 of the hogs I shot would go over 450 pds.and travelled over 1/2 mile with a 45 70 hole in him that entered behing the left shoulder and exited the right shoulder breaking in as it did.
All hog's are different but never never trail a wounded hog into a thicket by youself.Always have a friend that you know want run,but will stand and shoot if you're charged.I've only been charged 1 time,and she finally turned and ran away about 60 yds with a 45 70 hole in her left side and a bigger hole and broke shoulder on the right side. She done a preety good job of filling Lik2hunts freezer. Digger

whiskey101 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2007, 03:38:01 PM »

Hogs get a lot of talk about how tough they are. Well that is because they are like little tanks and take a good shot to be put down. They are not bullet proof. We can hunt hogs all year long in Florida and I do so. I mostly hunt with a .44mag Ruger Super Blackhawk, but we have taken hogs with lots of caliber and different guns. I have taken a few with a .22mag and my buddy uses a 30-06 some. We mostly use .44mags in revolvers and leverguns, but I ordered a .243 for my daughter to use on hogs and deer and I know it will kill any size hog cleanly. They key to killing a pig is shot placement. The link above to TexasBoars has tons of good info. Just about any centerfire rifle to the neck or head will drop any pig. A shot too far back from any centerfire will result in a long track if not a lost hog. A hogs anatomy is different than a deer, so study up on it. The heart is very low in the chest and right between the front legs. Lungs are very small compared to a deer. Also a pig can keep going if you only hit one lung. It will not deflate blth lungs like it does on a deer.

Use what you are comfortable shooting. No need for any thing more than you would use on a deer, just put the bullet where it goes. Check out the recommended kill zones and cut away anatomy info on TexasBoars before you go.

goodwrench6710 · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:24:37 PM »

It is a fact. Wild Boars in Bedford county PA.

greg916 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:33:26 PM »

Digger, a friend from work is from Oklahoma. Says you can still find true russian boar there? i envy you folk with year long seasons. Hogs are considered big game here, we are only allowed 2 per year here, and only have about 7 weeks to hunt. SC considers them pests and has a open season. Been tempted to do the out of state thing!

pills · « **Reply #15 on:** March 14, 2007, 04:50:33 PM »

Haven't personally seen any true russians running around. Some places bring em in for $$ hunts. Most of what I have seen are feral and the ODWC has given us easy access to removing these pests.

http://wildlifedepartment.com/wildlife_department_employment_e.htm

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #16 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:06:33 PM »

I've seen and shot some that were probably near full russian,and they are the meanest and uglyiest things you've seen. Shoulders that are 18 to 20" across,hips maybe 8" and a 14 to18" long tail. The more Russian they are the longer there legs.Don't think these things can't jump or swim,because they sure can. When they build pens for them they build them at least 6' high. Pills I hunt down here on Lake Texoma near the Tishamingo National Wildlife refuge. The biggest 1 I've seen would have went 800 pds. You can hear some really scary storys down here. Maybe Warf will tell his story again about his hog hunt down here. Digger

Jal5 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:27:33 PM »

we have some here in southern Ohio too now and I plan on doing a hog hunt this spring. But from everything I have heard I think I want a firearm with more than a single shot. My Mossberg 500 slug gun might be what I decide on.

Joe

Jim Stacy · « **Reply #18 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:40:37 PM »

Killed 3 . 1 with a 243 in the head dropped straignt down, 30 Herrett behind the shoulder throught the heart reared up fell over and died. Shot one with a bow at a place in EastTexas ran 20 feet fell over squaled and died. I have seen a 60# hog shot throught the chest with a full 44 XTP HP load and the hog acted unconcernd about being shot for several minutes. Saw one shot through the chest wit a 30/06 ran off like nothing had happened . Ran about 100 feet circle blead out and died. Shooth them in the head , save the ribs for the barbque and in additinon cleaning is easier and no blood shot meat. They are not hard to kill if you shoot them in the right place. You do not need a huge bullet just good placement.

goodwrench6710 · « **Reply #19 on:** March 14, 2007, 05:40:55 PM »

If I go, I Think I'll use my 7600 rem. 270 win.

Dillohide · « **Reply #20 on:** March 14, 2007, 07:03:12 PM »

Shot a 250 lb Russian boar in West Texas 2 years ago through the shoulder with a 30-06 165 grain handload at 200 yards. He took off at a full run but that 30-06 flatened his front left tire so he went in a big circle and dropped 50 ft in front of my deer stand. I thought that was real nice of him. Shot a 60 lb hog last deer season through the ribs at 100 yards with my Marlin 30-30 and those new Hornady bullets. He went about 50 yards and dropped. They are tough animals but I've seen deer run just as far with the same shots. Maybe I'll get a chance to use my 45/70 on one this year.

Pharmboy · « **Reply #21 on:** March 15, 2007, 12:51:59 PM »

I too hunt hogs in Oklahoma. Hopefully sometime with Digger. I'v killed em with 12 gauge 3&1/2" Hevi-shot, 6.8mm SPC, 44Mag, .243Win and my AR15. Some drop in their tracks and some take off no matter where you shoot em. You just have to be ready and probably should go with a buddy. I was told that not only do the Russian boars have longer legs but also longer snouts, but most of the one's we get are mixed breed of Russian with feral hogs. They are good eatin too!!

We've got some pretty wild stories too!

Pharmboy

bighemidaddy · « **Reply #22 on:** March 15, 2007, 01:21:57 PM »

Id use a 500 Ishot two but that was with a bow.I aiso had a 357mag. with me for backup.

ro · « **Reply #23 on:** March 15, 2007, 01:38:24 PM »

most of the wild hogs i have killed were in deer season, here in mississippi most are in the hardwoods-pinetree lines in the bottom land where i hunt, most shots are under 50 yds., they are bad boys! in deer season i shoot them with 30-06 150 gr core-locks, it is rare to see just one alone, most of the time you will see 8-10 in a group, they will tear-up a green field in 2 days-nights, i shoot every one i see, we can hunt them year round here, i shot one 2-weeks ago with my nef 500 sw mag one shot at about 70 yards, the big pig hit the the ground, first hog with 500 mag.

joshco84 · « **Reply #24 on:** March 15, 2007, 03:05:14 PM »

Everyone i talk to in kansas sees them about half and half in groups/not grouped. Usually The singles are the big boys though. KDWP just changed all of the laws around and i have not found out exactly what they are though. It used to be kill every one you see, but people were turning new ones out and selling hunts so that all went bye bye. I think the new law is you are not allowed to make a profit off of somebody coming and hunting them on you. I need to go find these rules out for sure though because hopefully one of these hunts is in my near future. Almost everybody that kills them around us uses whatever they happen to have with them when deer hunting. Know a guy that was bow hunting and a sow and her brood came running out. He shot the sow, and then kept shooting piglets. he said they never would leave, so he kept shooting shooting them till there were no more. Ended up with a sow and 6 young ones!

josh

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #25 on:** March 15, 2007, 03:18:21 PM »

The boar's are travelling alone now,there searching for the sow's that just had pigs.I've been trailing a big one for the last 2 day's. Pharmboy come on down,I got 3 bunches located in some really bad thickets.They will only go about 200 pds.though. Digger

Q · « **Reply #26 on:** March 17, 2007, 08:17:38 AM »

A 17/22 cal. can drop a Hog if you like. Your odds of walking away are slim if you miss the vitals. Bullit placement is not an issue with a larger cal. thats why I like the 45-70 Hornady 325grn round. It travels at 2050fps. Thats 3033fp of energy on his end. With this I would even take a head on shot if needed but out of respect for the animal and my life I try not to get such situations. I have seen a Hog dressed out with broad head stuck in its organs. Tissue covered 80% of it and its organs had healed some what. Thats a survivor.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #27 on:** March 17, 2007, 10:39:40 AM »

Warf came down from Kansas on a free hog hunt last year,but he had to use a knife. The dogs bayed a group of about 40,and they got to climb alot of trees.(including the camera man) The dogs caught 1 and Warf was about to use the knife when 1 charged and the guide shot in in the head with a 45 long colt. It knocked the pig backwards about 3' and then it got up and ran off.1 of the helpers shot 1 with a 30 06 broadside and it splatered blood 6' high on the trees and ran off also.The only one they got that day was the 1 that Warf stabed several times. Sometimes they die easy and sometime they just keep goiing.1 guy described them as a walking bullet trap. My 280 does a pretty good job also. Warf hunted with me the next day,and carried his 460 Wby. Digger

MSP Ret · « **Reply #28 on:** March 17, 2007, 11:04:08 AM »

I say go with the 45-70 or a 12 gauge loaded with a Dixie slug....<><....

wcf3030 · « **Reply #29 on:** March 17, 2007, 12:00:06 PM »

Lots of scary stories.
I dropped 2 both with a 30-30, both 1 shot apiece, and combined they did not move more then 3ft after being shot.
one wieghed around 265lbs the other was a big ol boy at 302lbs dressed.
Now it could possibly be that these two pigs had not read the lastest guns and ammo mag.
I do though think that a back up or a repeater would be the way to go.