Hog Rifle... what do you use?

[CGRifleman]

I'm moving to Florida this summer and someone told me to look into hog hunting. I'm more of a recreational shooter than a real hunter, but hog hunting sounds like a blast. What caliber would you recommend?

 

[hardluk1]

Just for piggy hunting only?? Lever rifle in 357 mag or 44mag will do just fine out to 100 yards for the 357 and another 25 for the 44 and go up from there. Hit some country guns hops and pawn shops for a nice used rifle. I killed many a hog with 357 mag 180gr hardcast in a revolver. You need better shooting skills reather than a powerfull cartridge and you can aford to shoot them more often. If you buy used look to marlin and if a good deal shows up in a 30-30 get that and you have a rifle that can reach out to near 2250 yards. If you scope stay with a 1x5 power for pistol rounds. and a 2 to 7 for a 30-30. Try to shoot heavy 180gr or 200 gr bullets in a 357 . What part of florida you move'n to.
If you think you might also deer hunt then start with the 30-30 up to .308

 

[tarosean]

agree with hardluk

I have a Ruger Super Blackhawk 10.5" and a Marlin 336 30-30 as my "Hog Guns".

Yet Im looking into a .308 semi right now.

 

[CGRifleman]

Can you hunt with a semi-auto in Florida? If so, I might be inclined to get a converted Saiga .308 16", those are pretty cheap around here and it would be a great brush gun, would work for deer too.

 

[slicksleeve]

I've killed two wild hogs to date. Both were during regular gun deer season, so I had my typical deer rig, a Ruger All-Weather in .270 Win. with a Leupold Scope. But, during the off season, I've been using a Remington 7600 in 30-06 with an Aimpoint red-dot sight.
this in case of a suprise shot on one. To date I haven't gotten to take a shot with it. My Dad has the Marlin lever rifle in .357 mag, I would love to try it out someday also.

 

[Dean1818]

SKS

The shots are closer in Texas........ need the followup shot

 

[winchester1886]

I use a Marlin 1895 Cowboy 45-70 with a 400gr Speer JSP pushed by 56.3gr of H335.Works real good.

 

[okiewita40]

I am in the same boat as Dean. Just got an SKS just for deer and hog hunting. would be lucky to get a 50 yard shot let alone anything further. Lots of brush in my part of Oklahoma.

 

[Scipio Africanus]

Another vote for the Marlin 1895. Easy carrying, reliable, fast handling, and just plain fun to shoot. With the right loads it hits like Thor's hammer.

 

[o Unforgiven o]

My personal favorite is a Remington 700 with a Red Dot. Sometimes though (Like a month ago during small game season) I had to use a Shotgun with slugs because that WMA did not allow centerfire rifles. Most any Rifle will work just fine as long as you are not shooting ammo that tends to fragment.

 

[bja5006]

a simple slug-gun works too. a mossy 500 or rem 870 package comes with a rifled barrel. throw on a low power scope. now you've got a gun that shoot hogs out to 150+ yds, or small game and birds with the smoothbore.

heck, even the smoothbore works with slugs too

 

[earlthegoat2]

The only piggy I ever shot was with a No4 Mk1 303 rifle. Not ideal because of its weight but I would have no qualms about using it again.

The folks who posted about lever carbines seem to know whats what.

 

[newbuckeye]

I have a lever 44 mag w/24" and a single action wheel gun in 44 mag w/ 7 1/2 inch. I haven't had the chance to use them yet, but lots of choices for ammo, reloading, and plenty of put down with lots of backup rounds.

 

[hogshead]

336 Marlin in 35 rem works good for me. Although the largest hog I ever killed ( a boar that dressed out 265) I killed with on shot from my RSR 44 .

 

[TechBrute]

Barrett M82A1.

The pigs around here get pretty big.

 

[dlm37015]

I use a .50 Alaskan built on a Siamise Mauser action it truly hits like Thors hammer.I load it with 550 hard cast bullit with a charge of AA2495 it truly hits like Thors Hammer.
I have yet recovered a bullit

 

[Water-Man]

I've done all my hog hunting with a S&W M29 and a Ruger Redhawk, both in .44Mag.

 

[johnnyryall]

I use this... or i would. http://noveskerifleworks.com/cgi-bin/imcart/bigpic.cgi?d=noveskerifleworks.com&i=kx3556p_3d.jpg

 

[41]

I mostly use my .270 deer rifle, but any of these other guns would be just as good.

 

[flipajig]

Just about anything that goes boom will work.. I have seen storys on TV where they were useing a 17HMR. I have used a 22LR shooting them in the head when traped. I have used a 44mag in eather my SBH,Winchester, or Contender.
It just depends on the situation or where im hunting at decides on what I uses.

 

[Sky]

You tube has many videos with guys shooting from a helicopter at long range and one shot kills with 223/5.56 ARs. I have used 55gr all the way up to 75gr in both fmj and Hp and have very rarely needed a double pop unless the first shot was to slow the pig down.

We have some serious pigs around here but most are in the 100 to 150 size range. If I ever saw Pigzilla and only had an AR I would not hesitate to empty a mag if that is what it took to bring it down. However I have faith that the little 223/5.56 will bring down most critters I come across especially with a well placed shot.

Some out fit South of Dallas that uses ARs and night vision equipment for guided pig hunts. If I remember correct they supply everything....you just show up after spending your northern green backs and they take you on the hunt.

 

[bison]

I've used my .270 and 30-06 in the past but just bought a Win Model 1894 in 30-30. Most of my shots are 100 yards or less, I like the quick follow up shot capability, and the light weight allows me to carry it easily when turkey hunting in case a piggie comes along.

 

[chas08]

Hog Rifle... what do you use?

All of them...From a single shot .22LR up to Lever Action 45/70 and most common calibers in between. One of my all time favorites is an iron sighted lever action Rossi 92 in .44 mag. It just seems to be in the truck with me a lot. The Bushmaster V-Match AR-15 is a lot of fun too. But when it comes to exterminating large numbers at one sitting, nothing beats a pen trap and a .22 LR.

 

[T.R.]

I took this hog with a running shot at approx 75 yards. The animal rolled over, kicked itself back on his feet and ran about 50 feet before going down for good. I've never observed a deer get up after being toppled. But pigs are definitely sturdy animals.

Rifle: Savage 99 in .308

Ammo: FEDERAL Hi-Shok 180 grain

TR

 

[susquehannaslim]

700 Rem. in 308 Win.