I just received an e-mail from my aunt. She was telling me the latest adventure for her and the family have been the wild pigs tearing up their back yard. She lives in the coastal hills by Los Gatos, PRK. She said she probably wouldn't want to shoot a pig, but she wouldn't mind if someone else would. Her being a of the liberal persuation, I think that was a major hint to her pig killing nephew to come do some pgi control.
Here is the problem. They live in one of those really nice houses up in the foothills where people actually have backyards (and sideyards even), but there are still houses within a quarter of a mile on each side. If I recall correctly, there is a large hill in their back yard so I would have a good bullet stop should I shoot my .30-06 or .308 at a pig. Max distance across their backyard from the the house is no more than a 100 yards if IIRC. I don't really want to freak out the neighbors, but is it really that big of a deal if I shoot one or even two rounds at a pig in their backyard? I don't believe it is in an incorporated city. I would think if my shots are under 100 yards and it sounds like these pigs are fairly relaxed around the houses, I would be able to use my Remington 700 VS and make a good head shot anywhere around 100 yards. The next quietest thing I have is maybe .30-30 (I don't really know if that is quieter, I don't shoot it much), sks (I doubt that though), M1 Carbine (should be quieter, but accuracy and stopping power is going to go way downhill), and then there is my Ruger 10/22 custom job that has moa to sub moa accuracy to about 50 yards. Of course a .22 bullet is going to be severely restricted to a head shot, but even then, I have shot pigs in the head with a Remington 7mm Mag and have them keep going.
So, should I think about quieter methods or should I just take the tack driving VS in .308 with a hot 125 gr. Speer TNT HP load or the Sierra 165 gr. Gamekings? The last pig I shot was with the Speer TNT's since I was coyote hunting at the time. It wasn't that great of a shot, I hit it in the back right in front of the hind quarter, but it dropped dead due to the explosive power of a speer 125 gr. TNT HP. I would imagine shooting a pig in the side of the head with one would do some damage, but might it not be as good as a deep divign 165 gr. Gameking? Do I want a bullet to exit like the Gameking vs. a TNT HP that is going to destroy itself and not travel on?
I am leaning towards a Speer 125 in the side of the head since it will be within 100 yards on pigs who probably won't expect me to be harvesting them. The neighbors will just have to deal with it. Thanks for your comments.
Here is the problem. They live in one of those really nice houses up in the foothills where people actually have backyards (and sideyards even), but there are still houses within a quarter of a mile on each side. If I recall correctly, there is a large hill in their back yard so I would have a good bullet stop should I shoot my .30-06 or .308 at a pig. Max distance across their backyard from the the house is no more than a 100 yards if IIRC. I don't really want to freak out the neighbors, but is it really that big of a deal if I shoot one or even two rounds at a pig in their backyard? I don't believe it is in an incorporated city. I would think if my shots are under 100 yards and it sounds like these pigs are fairly relaxed around the houses, I would be able to use my Remington 700 VS and make a good head shot anywhere around 100 yards. The next quietest thing I have is maybe .30-30 (I don't really know if that is quieter, I don't shoot it much), sks (I doubt that though), M1 Carbine (should be quieter, but accuracy and stopping power is going to go way downhill), and then there is my Ruger 10/22 custom job that has moa to sub moa accuracy to about 50 yards. Of course a .22 bullet is going to be severely restricted to a head shot, but even then, I have shot pigs in the head with a Remington 7mm Mag and have them keep going.
So, should I think about quieter methods or should I just take the tack driving VS in .308 with a hot 125 gr. Speer TNT HP load or the Sierra 165 gr. Gamekings? The last pig I shot was with the Speer TNT's since I was coyote hunting at the time. It wasn't that great of a shot, I hit it in the back right in front of the hind quarter, but it dropped dead due to the explosive power of a speer 125 gr. TNT HP. I would imagine shooting a pig in the side of the head with one would do some damage, but might it not be as good as a deep divign 165 gr. Gameking? Do I want a bullet to exit like the Gameking vs. a TNT HP that is going to destroy itself and not travel on?
I am leaning towards a Speer 125 in the side of the head since it will be within 100 yards on pigs who probably won't expect me to be harvesting them. The neighbors will just have to deal with it. Thanks for your comments.