Pig Hunting

[Zgod]

Well, my father purchased some property up in Cottonwood CA and has pigs all over his land. All I have is a Winchester Model 70 in .243 with a Scope (3x 9x). If I use the biggest grain in .243, I should be able to knock 'em dead, don't you think? Any advise would be appreciated. Also, some pig hunting tips would be helpful, especially those in finding trails and about initial scouting.

Thanks
Z

[Shaun]

the 24 caliber bullet is way too small - I killed a pig in 96' with a .308 Win at the indian valley reservior hunting area -- Single shot behind the ear. Upon skinning out the pig and cutting down the shoulder I found 2 30 caliber bullets - You will find that pigs are resiliant and that nothing beats a heavy round taking one of these things --they can run 35mph and have up to 8" tusks --personally I wouldn't risk it


Welcome to G&G

[ScottD]

You need a bigger gun son. And just they're pigs don't let yer guard down.

[BattleRifleG3]

How would 35 Rem or 30-30 compare? Both larger bullets travelling more slowly.

[Zgod]

Hey Guys, I just found this info from Jesseeshuntingpage.com:

Firearm Hog Hunting

In general, wild pigs are more difficult to kill than deer or antelope but are easier to kill than elk. Legally, any centerfire firearm using a soft point bullet can be used. Wild pigs differ greatly in size, which complicates the choice of appropriate calibers. Many hunters take young wild pigs that only weigh about 50 to 70 pounds. Many of the smaller calibers that use lighter bullets are satisfactory for taking these smaller animals. At the other end of the scale are the large boars, which weigh over 200 pounds. These are far tougher and have thick shoulder plaques or shields. The larger calibers and heavily constructed bullets are more appropriate for wild pigs of this size.

Appropriate centerfire rifle cartridges to be used for lighter weight wild pigs (50 to 90 pounds) should have at least 800 foot-pounds of energy remaining at 100 yards. This assumes reasonably accurate bullet placement, using bullets that are at least .24 (6 mm) caliber and weighing a minimum of 100 grains. For heavier wild pigs (over 90 pounds), bullets should have at least 1200 foot-pounds of energy remaining at 100 yards. (This information is readily available from ammunition manufacturers' catalogs or reloading manuals.) The table below gives recommendations for various cartridges and bullet weights for hunting wild pigs with rifles, handguns, shotguns and muzzleloaders. While some .22 caliber centerfire cartridges will certainly kill wild pigs if correctly placed, their bullets are not constructed heavily enough for big game hunting and are therefore not recommended for any size of wild pig.

Hunters using handguns, shotguns, or muzzleloaders, generally shoot at shorter ranges. For these methods of take, the same remaining energies that rifles use at 100 yards were used but determined at 50 yards to result in the recommendations for handguns, muzzleloaders and shotguns. For hunters using muzzleloading rifles, only one weight conical bullet is shown. Other conical bullet weights are available for most calibers. Reloading manuals will usually give the energies at 50 yards for these other weights.



So, as long as I don't go for the lunkers I should be allright. (That and with my .44 Ruger revolver as a sidearm!!!).

[Oxford]

I killed a domesticated pig once with a .22 rifle. Aimed at the imiginary cross between ears and eyes. Dropped the large boar with one shot. The knife finished him off with his juggler cut. :nod: :insane:

[BattleRifleG3]

You'd be using the absolute minimum. Good luck, but I think you might be well off to buy a heavier duty arm. You can get Mosin Nagants in 7.62x54R, a caliber in the same class as 308 and 30-06, for under $100. Many hunting loads are available.

[ScottD]

Shoot, if ya have a Ruger 44 what yo doing with a rifle anyways. Get on board and become a handgun hunter and put those rifles away. Rifle hunters are pu$$y's anyway.

[Mick]

Well, I've shot a heck of a lot of wild pigs, If you can put a bullet from your .243 in the neck, head or hips, you will have no problems. Which generally means you will need to be shooting in open country, I use a .223 with 55 grain soft tips with very good results. However if you are shooting in scrubby country you would be better with a .30-30, or 44 magnum, you don't need a 30-06, that is way to much gun.
Remember if you miss with a 30-06,or even a .243 you have to think about where that bullet is going to finish up.

[asgard_prince]

From what I've seen of bores in Germany I woulden't use anything smaller then a 12 guage 3" mag slug. And don't let them get to close, they can be pretty mean

[Shaun]

Read "Wild Boar Hunting in California" it will give tons of information.

[oneastrix]

BRG.....all I have ever used on hogs is my Win94 30-30. I used the 170gr bullets, but they never dropped on the first shot. Down in the South TX brush country the 30-30 is ideal for many purposes.

[Shaun]

Matt one of these years we need to work out a hunt where I can take a couple of pigs

[oneastrix]

Shaun....I am not owner of, but was best man in a wedding for my buddy who owns about two thousand acres just south of Pleasanton, TX. It's about fifteen minutes outside of San Antonio.....infested with hogs, javalinas, dove (my fav), fishing, be a mighty low on white tail.....it would be an easy trip from my house.....I go down there about twice a month to fish. You know your invite has been standing for a year now and will continue to do so.....

[Shaun]

Thanks I will remember that when I get to fly down so I can bring meat back

[oneastrix]

Well, you know there's a buttload of other "game" floating around the Alamo City just waiting for an eligible dude to come thru town.......

[twra2b]

Yall talkn about huntin them with a gun. A bow is awsome you might think im crazy butif a arrow with a good broadhead will go through a police officers bullet proof vest what do you think it will do to a hog? My uncle has shot three hogs wiht his bow. If u are needing a longer range wepon i would recomend anything above a .264 Winchester Mag. for distance shooting or a .270 Win. for closer shooting the larger bullet will help save your hide and it has enough power to make ANY hog take a dirt nap. Everyone is talking about how they can't kill them with a .30-06, where are they shooting? A shotgun works great if u can get em' in close enough.

[ScottD]

Hunted them with a bow outside Broadus, TX. There was 4 of us and had a ball. Though hunting them with a bow was a challenge and it did kill'em, I still prefer a large caliber handgun with a substantial amount of powder behind a premium bullet.

Still young enough that I would like to do one with a spear. Took a deer with a knife why not a hog with a spear?

[Mick]

I didn't say you can't shoot them with a 30-06, I just think it's the wrong gun to use, to much distance for the typical close range,fast shooting that is required for shooting pigs in scrub.

[twra2b]

My father shoots a remington 7600 in a .30-06. and i shoot and older model 760 chambered in a .270 Win. they work great in brush but i really like my new remington 870 12 ga. with a rifled slug barrel in thick brush because the rifle bullets richotche too much off limbs.