as you may be in shorter ranges of 100 yards or less in Tennessee.
A 12 gauge rifled slug gun with a lower power variable scope of perhaps 1 to 5X.
What you want to do is to have maximum knock down power. A high power rifle, especially at closer ranges, can shoot through the game with the bullet exiting taking a great deal of energy with it.
A slug really means what the name implies. It is a true "slug" in the sense that you hit and the total energy does into the hog. Therefore, your chances of a wounded animal running away for good is minimized. Also, a slug is much more opt to shoot true through brush than is a high speed bullet that may be more easily deflected.
However, this is a forum so you will get other opinions and I respect the views of others.
Feral hogs generally run in packs and they scatter immediately after the first shot. I would recommend the .308 pump for quicker follow-up shots, but if you've never hunted hogs before, don't expect to get off more than one or two shot before they all disappear-them suckers are fast! I use a Win. Mod. 70 in .270, a scout-scoped M-44, or an open-sighted 24\47 Mauser, but a pump, lever, or semi would be a better choice. Neck shots work well but you can also use the "boiler-room" shot commonly used on deer, just keep in mind that hogs are totally different critters than deer and are built a bit different-a couple of inches behind the shoulder will result in just as many gut-shot hogs as DRT's, unless you happen to hit the spine. Don't try to shoot through the shoulder of the bigger ones unless you've got a whole lot of gun and a premium controlled-expansion bullet. The only animal I've ever lost in 31 yrs. of hunting was a 300+ lb. boar that I accidentally shot with a 110 gr. H.P. out of my M-44. here's a pretty good site with lots of good info: www.texasboars.com
It would depend on where you hunt in Tenn.and how.Years back I hunted hogs in eastern Tenn.and they used dogs.A .30-30 or 12ga slugs was very effective.In central and western Tenn.I would emagine if still or blind hunting in those rolling hills you would have some long range shots so a .270/.308/.30-06 type might be handy.I never hunted anything but varmints in the rolling hills in central Tenn., but there were some very long range shots. ,,,sam.
I personaly would use the 308 pump the caliber is accurate and you can reload quicker than the other choices.
Some Remington round nose cor-lokts would be an excellent choice if you could find some.
Like toolman the hog hunting guru said they'll scatter and be gone in a twinkle.
The big hogs are tuffer but good shot placement will bring them down.
Best of Luck and have a great time and be sure to report back...A.H
nathangdad
i would love to use a 12 ga. but mine it strickly a turkey gun and nothing else to much time and money making it that way to change it for one hunting trip. but thanks for the info i will pass it around to the rest of the guys.
toolman,samuel, and AH thank you for the info as well it will all be put to good use.
__________________
one shot one kill
" I've always been crazy but it keeps me from going insane " Waylon Jennings
