Caliber for Hogs .44 Mag or 30-30?

[gulogulo1970]

What has worked better for you? 44 magnum or 30-30 for feral hogs? I'm going to buy a lever action very soon. Any advantages disadvantages to either caliber. I already have a 44 handgun so I'm leaning towards the 44. But if the 30-30 would work signifigently better I would consider it.

 

[Preacherman]

Either will work well. I've used both on hogs. However, I've found that the .44 Magnum, loaded with something like the Federal 300gr. CastCore load, will have much more "visible impact" on the hog. I guess I've seen one in every two run for a reasonable distance after a solid hit with a .30-30; but hardly one in six has run much after a good solid hit with a .44 Magnum round out of a 20" barrel. Hot stuff...

Of course, the .44 is at its best at ranges not exceeding 125 yards. If you want to go to the 150-175 yard ranges, the .30-30 is much flatter shooting, and therefore the better weapon.

 

[Matt G]

I would lean toward the .30-30 or even .35 Remington (the latter, of course, is a little rarer).

In .30-30, I'd standardize on the 170g loading.

One of the bigger hogs I've ever seen (400+ lbs), I helped a dude load off his pickup and into a butchery for processing. It had been shot in the chest, and the guy said he'd used a .30-30. I was amazed, having recently seen one run off after slightly rearward hit from an '06.

Best is to use what you can pick your shots precisely with. That big sow that ran away with a 165g .30-06 bullet in her was hit too far to the stern from 200 yards away, and was never recovered. Earlier this year (March), however, I dropped a nice 200 lb sow with a .22 Hornet in the back of the neck. If you're confident with the .44, then by all means go with that. Practice bunches, and use a load with a controlled expansion bullet, like a Partition Gold or the like.

Wild hog meat is so very good.

 

[AUTIGER04]

For Hogs I like the 44mag.

 

[keano44]

Caliber for Hogs .44 or 30-30?


Yes

 

[Mannlicher]

I have only taken feral hogs in Florida with a .44 Mag Marlin 1894, so I can't address if it is better than a 30/03. I do know that the .44 will drop them pretty quick.