What cartridge/bullet for hog hunting?

[Swinehunt74]

I recently got an open invite to go hog hunting in Texas. I'm from Washington and don't have a clue. I suspect the guy that invited me doesn't really either, he's a big shot for a multi billion dollar co. and recently transferred down there and out of the blue called me all excited saying he recently went and gave me an open invite. Seriously thinking about it. I've got varmint barrel chassis 22 creedmoor,25-06, 6.5 creedmoor 6.5-300 270 wsm 300wsm and bigger but I'm gathering smaller is better?? I'm leaning towards winter time to get out of the rain. Any suggestions would be appreciated

Look at my Avatar, shows perfect shot placement for Hogs. Three calibers have accounted for over 2500 hogs,6.8 {fav}, 6.5 Grendel and 7.62x39, Using 115-120gr in 6.8, 120-130 in GRendel and frangible bullets in AK round (inconsistent factory results) had to switch to reloads for best results. Any of your 6.5's will work though. NO 22's, these are TOUGH critters. Boiler room shots will result in pig running into next pasture to expire.

 

[SixDemonBag]

Every hog I have shot in Texas (or elsewhere) with my 6.8SPC AR was either DRT or dead on the run and just didn't know it. Contrary to popular myth, you do not need a cannon to kill hogs, you do need shot placement and good bullet selection. I run a can (my preference).

 

[ButterBean]

My greatest concern about the Hammer in my .22 CM on a really big hog is penetration with enough force left to drive through vitals if the angle wasn't perfect. Let me explain: I am running a 7 twist. The heaviest Hammer Hunter that will stabilize in a 7 twist is 73 grains. The Hammer Hunter, I believe, is the iteration that retains the most weight after the shedding of the petals - 80%, I think? If I lose another 15 grains (about 20%) of the 73 grain bullet, even with the correct shape and 3500 ft/s, how far exactly would 58 grains of remaining .22 cal bullet be able to travel in a huge Russian boar over 500 lbs?

I have them on hand. I will load them and shoot them. Even hunt with them (at least once to prove whether this small of a separating projectile can be instantly lethal on large, tougher critters). I have not tried them yet, and I have heard all the rave reviews of how well they perform. I'm just a little more nervous about this small of a bullet penetrating extremely dense muscle, extremely thick bone, and a 1" armor plate of bone on either shoulder.

I have 117gr .277 cal Hammers that I will run in my newly designed wildcat (.27 Creedmoor with slightly shortened throat to optimally hold bullets up to 130 grains - I call it the .270 SDC, or Southern Deer Cartridge, built to use readily available components and be a force for deer out to 500yds). I would not hesitate to load this combination for large hogs.

I have faith in the design and reported performance, but the laws of physics are what they are. I want to try some of the 73gr Hammers vs some of the 78gr Barnes TSX on big hogs. The rifle REALLY liked the Barnes on the first and only group the rifle has shot to date. It will be hard for the Hammers to top the accuracy I got that first go. They may be just as accurate, or could be better on average, but the truth is in the terminal performance. The Barnes will retain about 73 - 74 grains of it's original grain weight. (Potentially) The Barnes can shed petals, too, at high velocity, and is considered bad if it does. Hope to find out!

Have no worries, It will be fine

 

[rcg5076]

It depends on the range and size of hogs you are shooting. The Ar15 calibers are great for small to medium size hogs at close ranges. I have kill over 1000 hogs in the last five years here in Texas with several different caliber. Your 25-06 with 120gr SP bullet should kill anything you encounter.

 

[Swinehunt74]

338 Federal

338 Federal is Most lethal of all hog hunting calibers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Kmccord]

Three hogs in one night shot with an AR-15 5.56 at 80 and 110 yards, behind the ear and into the neck, dropped immediately and never a sound out of them.

 

[Northkill]

Three hogs in one night shot with an AR-15 5.56 at 80 and 110 yards, behind the ear and into the neck, dropped immediately and never a sound out of them.

That's how its done. Can be hard to do this if your style of hunting is tearing around on a UTV and shooting on the fly. Guys ripping "little" guns out of context by saying a 22 in the boiler room will end up with a dead pig in the next pasture, are failing to add that many shots in said location with any gun will have the same effect many times. So many variables. The only consistent DRT shots are in the CNS.

 

[luceteeth]

I live in south Mississippi and we have a lot of hogs! My friends and I hunt with thermals and suppresors at night. In our group, there is a wide variety of calibers being used. I personally use either a 300 blackout with maker bullets or a 458 socom also with a maker bullet. Either of these are hog killing machines! We also use the 6.5 Grendal, and the new 6mm ARC. One person shoots a 204 Valkerie and stacks them up with that caliber!

 

[Varmint Hunter]

I've only shot a few large boars with my rifles so my experience is limited. Using a 458 SOCOM and the 300gr TTSX Barnes bullet, a shot in the crease would drop them fairly quick. I would imagine that a head shot with that bullet would be pretty ugly. LOL

 

[Dr. Richard Gray]

Well a teenager killed a 1000lb boar with a .357 if that will help. Search for the "Hogzilla" story.

 

[stx]

My greatest concern about the Hammer in my .22 CM on a really big hog is penetration with enough force left to drive through vitals if the angle wasn't perfect. Let me explain: I am running a 7 twist. The heaviest Hammer Hunter that will stabilize in a 7 twist is 73 grains. The Hammer Hunter, I believe, is the iteration that retains the most weight after the shedding of the petals - 80%, I think? If I lose another 15 grains (about 20%) of the 73 grain bullet, even with the correct shape and 3500 ft/s, how far exactly would 58 grains of remaining .22 cal bullet be able to travel in a huge Russian boar over 500 lbs?

I have them on hand. I will load them and shoot them. Even hunt with them (at least once to prove whether this small of a separating projectile can be instantly lethal on large, tougher critters). I have not tried them yet, and I have heard all the rave reviews of how well they perform. I'm just a little more nervous about this small of a bullet penetrating extremely dense muscle, extremely thick bone, and a 1" armor plate of bone on either shoulder.

I have 117gr .277 cal Hammers that I will run in my newly designed wildcat (.27 Creedmoor with slightly shortened throat to optimally hold bullets up to 130 grains - I call it the .270 SDC, or Southern Deer Cartridge, built to use readily available components and be a force for deer out to 500yds). I would not hesitate to load this combination for large hogs.

I have faith in the design and reported performance, but the laws of physics are what they are. I want to try some of the 73gr Hammers vs some of the 78gr Barnes TSX on big hogs. The rifle REALLY liked the Barnes on the first and only group the rifle has shot to date. It will be hard for the Hammers to top the accuracy I got that first go. They may be just as accurate, or could be better on average, but the truth is in the terminal performance. The Barnes will retain about 73 - 74 grains of it's original grain weight. (Potentially) The Barnes can shed petals, too, at high velocity, and is considered bad if it does. Hope to find out!

I've shot 44 gr Hammers square through both shoulders of several hogs up to 250-300 lbs……I normally shoot them in or behind the ear but shot these through the shoulders testing the 44 Hammers in my 220 Swift. All bullets went clean through with no bullets recovered and all hogs were dead within a few yards if not DRT! I shoot Hammers in 8 different rifles and they are devastating especially at high velocity!

 

[Northkill]

I've shot 44 gr Hammers square through both shoulders of several hogs up to 250-300 lbs……I normally shoot them in or behind the ear but shot these through the shoulders testing the 44 Hammers in my 220 Swift. All bullets went clean through with no bullets recovered and all hogs were dead within a few yards if not DRT! I shoot Hammers in 8 different rifles and they are devastating especially at high velocity!

Yep, that's what we're talking about.

 

[ButterBean]

I've shot 44 gr Hammers square through both shoulders of several hogs up to 250-300 lbs……I normally shoot them in or behind the ear but shot these through the shoulders testing the 44 Hammers in my 220 Swift. All bullets went clean through with no bullets recovered and all hogs were dead within a few yards if not DRT! I shoot Hammers in 8 different rifles and they are devastating especially at high velocity!

ShoNuff

 

[HunterMann]

.44 Magnum handgun is fun, too.

Personally, I think one could make a dedicated hog gun out of an old lever action .356 Winchester, or a bolt gun with 20 - 22" pipe in .338 Federal, .358 Win, or .35 Whelen for emphasis. Then it wouldn't matter how big the hog was. I don't think it was coincidence that Savage made the "Hog Hunter" in .338 Fed. (Of course, they made it in .308 and .223, also!)

The 338 Federal interests me but I don't have one yet and the old 35 Rem drops hogs and deer just fine.