best pig caliber/rifle?
- Thread starter Brennan19
- Start date
Depends on a lot of factors but an AR-15 / AK-47 or other high capacity magazine weapon comes to mind. (Assumes there's no issue in your jurisdiction(s) with a 5+ or 30 round mag).
Either can drop most any hog with a half decent shot. We watched a heli-hog-hunt in Texas: Clearly the vibration and motion affects accuracy but many hogs in a pack went down in short order with a single magazine.
What do you have?
Either can drop most any hog with a half decent shot. We watched a heli-hog-hunt in Texas: Clearly the vibration and motion affects accuracy but many hogs in a pack went down in short order with a single magazine.
What do you have?
Nico Testosteros
New member
All my hogs have been killed with a Rem 700 in .270 Win.
But I'm thinking an AR in 6.8 SPC would be fun to use. Or a Garand.
But I'm thinking an AR in 6.8 SPC would be fun to use. Or a Garand.
Ar is my gun of choice right now no mag restrictions haha. The first Year took my trusty smoke pole and it came back to bite me I killed a few but I could hAve realy done some damage with an ar. There is only 1 small problem with the ar were we hunt it is swamp so you can't blood trail to good in the swamp water so knock down power is important I have honestly been leaning torwards the ole pump gun my trusty 20ga 870 with some good saboted slugs it's got great knock down and fast follow up shots also I have a 270 it does do a fine job on the hogs I've shot with it
Jim Watson
New member
A club member here has a feral swine problem on the old family farm.
He and the family have shot them with everything from .223 to .338 Lap.
He says nothing is better than a .30-30 and most not as good, even when more powerful. I can't explain it, but he is killing hogs.
He and the family have shot them with everything from .223 to .338 Lap.
He says nothing is better than a .30-30 and most not as good, even when more powerful. I can't explain it, but he is killing hogs.
Saltydog235
New member
Best Hog killing gun/caliber? Whatever is at hand. If I thought shooting one in the ass with a pellet rifle would cause it to get gangrene and die, that'd be enough of an arsenal for me at tha time.
My favorite is still my .243 with a 70 or 90 grn Ballistic Tip to the ear hole. We shot one the other evening with a .308 and 165grn BT to the neck, that made a hole on a 250+ lb sow who was about to spawn more vermin.
My favorite is still my .243 with a 70 or 90 grn Ballistic Tip to the ear hole. We shot one the other evening with a .308 and 165grn BT to the neck, that made a hole on a 250+ lb sow who was about to spawn more vermin.
I'd go one step further and say whatever you have on hand that you can shoot accurately. The less the killing power, the more accurate it needs to be. For instance, even a .22 Hornet is instant death on even the biggest hog IF you can place the shot behind the ear. That same caliber in a heart/lung shot is inadequate for anything but very small hogs. .223 is a little better, but you still need precise placement to get that ear shot. Moving up to more power, allows a little more leeway.
I read on here a 30-30 and thats my favorite cartridge there is just because I grew up on a 30-30. But about 2 years ago I shot a 300 lb boar right between the eyes at about 130 yards and that thing ran for about 150 yards into the most thickest crap he could find before dying. It was the only shot I had right at dark and he was at a feeder looking my direction. I like a 223 or 22-250 in the ear myself. But nearly any gun will do the trick if you do yours.
They are tuff critters the first hunt I when on I got into a group of em and laid down two hogs with 1 shot I reloaded my muzzle loader and lined up a bead on a 250 lb sow shot her in the neck she didn't even slow down now I shoot a 240gr 44cal saboted load with 150gr of pyrodex. I make whitetails breakdance when I shoot them. 
and that pig kept on a truckin
and that pig kept on a truckinBarber2678
New member
I have an old 8mm Mauser I had cut down to 18", parkerized, and dressed in a synthetic stock. My gunsmith called it the "Fire Breather". It does a number on East Texas hogs!
Anything that you can shoot well will work. It all depends on what size exit hole that you want.
I do not want any exits, many of the pigs i shoot are literaly underfoot of cattle. so I have used a variety of .223 ammo, all with excellent results. My favorite pig cartridge tends to cause an uproar, so, again I won't get into the specifics. But, I will say that my favored cartridge lays them down in place.
I do not want any exits, many of the pigs i shoot are literaly underfoot of cattle. so I have used a variety of .223 ammo, all with excellent results. My favorite pig cartridge tends to cause an uproar, so, again I won't get into the specifics. But, I will say that my favored cartridge lays them down in place.
I do have a bullet choice that works perfectly as needed. No suffering pig and no exits... And I shootem in the neck sorta near the ear, which, by the way, is the larger target on a pig. The ear is a touch high for me, but there's nothing wrong with shooting them in the ear.