300 Win Mag vs Hogs... Does bullet "really" matter?

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olkowsr

olkowsr

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Hello THR community,

Recently I won a hog hunt for Texas "The Hog Ranch" with "The Ranch Boss"...

My father-in-law and I are excited for the hunt, but we are a bit lost on bullet selection.... We live in Michigan and together we've shot 100's of deer and coyote, but never a pig. Typically the type of bullet (synthetic tip, lead tip, or straight copper jacket) doesn't really matter... just good placement.

I suspect with our rifles being 300 win mag and 7 mag that bullet choice might not be as important if we hold on the mid shoulder blade... Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Most shots will probably be under 300 yards & we sight our rifles in at 200 yards.

If you care my holds are below:
M70 300 win mag with 6-20x50mm scope - Very plain Jane
100 Yards = +1.5"
200 Yards = 0
300 Yards = -6.7"

Thank you,
Ron
 
Generally no.

But if you anticipate close shots many lighter weight bullets are designed to expand at much slower speeds than the magnums are capable. It isn't unusual for 150 gr 30-30 bullets to penetrate much deeper than 150 gr bullets fired at 3000+ fps. Out at 200-300 yards they expand nicely since they have slowed some. But at under 100 yards might expand too quickly and not reach internal organs.

As long as you stay with mid-weight or heavier bullets for caliber I don't think it matters. Of if you want to shoot lighter bullets than a premium designed to stay together at high speed would be a good idea.
 
Most places your shot(s) will be 100 yards and under for hogs.

As you have already alluded to, 'shot placement' is the most important thing.

Don't shoot hogs behind the shoulder (as with deer). Yes, it will kill them...but chances are excellent you'll be tracking them for some distance.

Shoot for the middle of the neck or the center of the shoulder (hold just a bit high on the shoulder), your hog will drop right there.

Good luck, have fun.

Flint.
 
Pigs are a bit tougher than deer, especially if you run across a big boar. Because of the high velocity and short distances pigs are usually shot at, I'd use a bit heavier (165+ for the 300WM) and tougher bullet than I would for deer.

A 165 Nosler Partition, Accubond, Barnes, etc should be just the ticket.
 
The only consideration I would have would be whether you intend to harvest the meat. If that is a consideration I'd stick with a heavy, limited expansion bullet. It's a matter of what size hole you want, or if you want to just blow it up.
 
Thank you everyone for your considerations.

Also thank you rodwha for the article, I will try to focus my attention on their neck/ shoulder, I plan to print out some targets soon and practice.

Also, I have about 30 Federal accubonds in 180gr, I think Ill use those because they are what my gun is currently sighted in with.

Please share any other "words of wisdom" , Ill take all I can get.
- One I got from someone here at work is "bring a shotgun", so I guess Ill bring my 10 gage and some slugs.

Thank you all!
 
I've hunted that place a couple times, you'll run into small piglets too. All shots will be under 100 yards. IMHO your .300 Win Mag and 7mm Mag are too much gun. Have killed them there with a .243, .22-250, 6.5x55 and .30-30.
 
olkowsr said:
Thank you everyone for your considerations.

Also thank you rodwha for the article, I will try to focus my attention on their neck/ shoulder, I plan to print out some targets soon and practice.

Also, I have about 30 Federal accubonds in 180gr, I think Ill use those because they are what my gun is currently sighted in with.

Please share any other "words of wisdom" , Ill take all I can get.
- One I got from someone here at work is "bring a shotgun", so I guess Ill bring my 10 gage and some slugs.

Thank you all!
Click to expand...
Don't you have any 'normal' guns? :eek:

.300 WM and a 10 ga., well them pigs are tough, but either way those (and the 7 Mag.) are more gun than you need. But I agree natman, I'd use 165 Nosler Partitions. The 180 AccuBonds will do if you don't have time to load up or buy a box of the Partitions.
 
Some use a .223.

Heck, I can't figure out why you need a .300 mag or 7 mm mag in Michigan.
 
I like the "Don't you have any normal guns" quote Ha Ha!

Honestly that's all I have for hunting besides a Benelli SBE, but thats not a slug gun... Most of my guns are big bore or magnums because its what I've grown up with, Also I'm not a sharpshooter by any means but I can put food on the table with them if you know what i mean.

I think I'm adjust the elevation down on my scope for 100 Yrds and print & tape the ballistics / elevation holds for different distances on my stock.

Also, how much brush will there be in mid January in the Austin Texas area? Here in Michigan there no green for miles (except pine trees).

Thank you everyone!
 
Don't worry about the guns/calibers you have. They will WORK. I have taken several hogs with the 300 using Nosler 150 BT's, mostly with head shots. One shot at 90 yds about 1" above midway between the eyes. Bullet went through the head & took out about 6" of neckbone on the way out. No tracking there. I also have used the 45-70 with 300 gr Rem HP's. They WORK too! Ironically, the biggest boar I ever killed was at about 50 yds-high shoulder shot with a .223 FMJ. Took off like he would run forever, but in about 40 yds, then all 4 feet were straight up in the air. Contrary to popular belief, hogs are NOT Sherman tanks. Understand their anatomy, place your bullets and you will be fine.
 
Most shots will probably be under 300 yards & we sight our rifles in at 200 yards.
Click to expand...

So you won a hunt? Flint is right. Chances are most of your hunts will be 100 yards or less. If it is a guided hunt, that is probably even more true. Guides typically like to get their shooters in as close as is reasonably possible because so many of the clients are just so dog-gone terrible shooters when it comes to the actual hunt. Many will get you inside of 50 yards if they can.

If they are putting you in a stand, then chances are that you will have a feeder at 100 yards or less.

Do not use FMJ.

Unless you know you are stand hunting, I would suggest that you practice shooting off of sticks and to get proficient doing so.

Brush amounts? Contact Ranch Boss and ask him. That will vary HUGELY by property care and vegetation types, not to mention weather.
 
Shot placement matters more that the caliber. Follow the front leg up and shoot them directly above the leg about half way up the body. A hog's running gear is between the front legs. The idea is to hit them on the point of the shoulder. If you shoot them behind the legs they will run for some distance into the thickest cover around.
 
Also, how much brush will there be in mid January in the Austin Texas area?
Click to expand...

Depends very much on where the Ranch is located. The leaves will be off the trees, but many Ranches in the Hill Country have a lot of 'Cedar' (Juniper actually) and some Mesquite.

The 'Cedar' is an evergreen and can severely limit your range of vision if it has not been controlled.

If South of Austin, it will not be as bad, also East of Austin.

More than likely...they will have you hunting from elevated stands over a baited site, in which case none of this will matter. You'll need to dress in layers and bring some rain gear. The weather that time of year can be freezing or you might be almost sweating, you never know.

No snakes out (actively) that time or year.
 
Paul7 nabbed it. We were there in January, I shot 5 with my 30-30. You will be encouraged (and want to ) take head shots only. No need to tear up the meat. On you night time hunts - be advised the hogs looks much larger at night... dunno why. We had a blast. Hunted "open" areas with scrub oak, and then in a thicker swamp. NO shot was over 50 yards... you may want to sight in dead on for 100... we had a blast. The gals that skin hogs are pretty amazing...

OH, and while you're there, make sure to eat at Black's BBQ in Lockhart and City Market in Luling... (and now the fight starts...)
 
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Another consideration: are you looking for a wall-hanger or meat?

TX hogs can get really big - I've killed two in the 350 pound range. The problem with those is that they can be pretty nasty, as hogs that size can and will eat anything. One of those lived next to a game ranch from which he pilfered lots of corn and high-protein deer chow, and thus was OK to eat. The other was just vulture food.

The best eating hogs are in the 50-150# range, which means less impactful bullets or at head shots, to preserve the meat.

The big ones die easily with good shot placement. Both of my big ones were single-shot DRT kills with a 165-grain .30-06

Plan accordingly, have fun, and let us know how it goes.
 
i3zo190.jpg

I used a 300 Winchester Magnum loaded with a 190 grain Sierra MatchKing to take this hog. Quite a bit of meat was ruined but there was almost enough left for a good shoulder mount.
 
Unless there is no other option, or you are a confident and practiced marksman with your rifle, I'd advise against the "head-shot" some have recommended here.

It IS a viable option in some circumstances, but for most folks...under most conditions, a shot to the center of the neck or a high shoulder shot has a MUCH higher percentage of success.

With a 'head-shot' you are essentially trying to achieve a CNS (Central Nervous System) hit. And when done properly....you get the expected result (your Hog anchored right there).

Problem is...the brain pan of a Feral Hog is a fairly small target (not too much larger than a chicken egg). Although it can be rightfully argued that you don't need to make a 'direct' hit. You DO have to get pretty close.

Every year there are LOTS of hogs that end up shot in the Jaw (mandible) or somewhere along the snout (olfactory system) that run off to die a miserable death, (because someone took a 'head-shot').

Again, it depends upon the circumstance and how good a shot you are as to whether or not it is a viable option. Just be advised....the target is small and a hog is apt to move its head at any time.

If/When hunting over a baited site, hog movement can be quite dynamic. Especially if there is a group of them. A lone hog will move less erratically (as there is no competition for the food) and if you watch...you will probably notice a 'cadence' to its feeding pattern. Even so, I recommend a 'neck' shot whenever possible.

The 'neck' shot or even a 'high shoulder shot' gets you the same CNS results. Your hog will be anchored right there, spinal cord broken or severely damaged. It is a much bigger target with MUCH more room for error.

Now, you're going to see all kinds of arguments here, chief among them will be 'meat loss'. Even though you will be using WAY too much gun for hogs, you will not be losing any significant amount of meat if you use a properly designed bullet.

If you muff a head shot and your hog runs away (un-recovered) you will experience 100% 'meat loss'. Conversely, if you shoot in the neck or shoulder you might need to trim a pound or two of meat (if that).

Its your call, but I avoid head-shots whenever possible.
 
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Grumulkin said:
I used a 300 Winchester Magnum loaded with a 190 grain Sierra MatchKing to take this hog. Quite a bit of meat was ruined but there was almost enough left for a good shoulder mount.
Click to expand...

An excellent argument for not using match bullets for hunting.

BTW, I think the OP is thinking about hunting swine, not ground hogs.
 
Most people I know use 5.56 or whatever deer rifle they happen to have laying around. I like 5.56 or 30-30. They aren't that hard to kill- I've even stabbed them to death hunting with dogs.
 
We usually field dress and give hogs to folks who need the meat. In an open area like a wheat field, i usually shoot broadside hogs just behind the crook in the front leg. Shoulder shots ruin a lot of meat.

Be prepared to have a hog shot through both lungs go 200 yards before dropping. This one did:

th_Osama-1-1.jpg
 
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