Found a few threads about wild boar, but I am curious as to everyone's opinion about the best caliber weapon to use? Largest hog around me was taken last year and weighed in just over 400lbs, so we grow em big! I really don't want to use the 30 x.06, as I think it may be a bit of overkill? Thoughts please?
My favorite rifle for hogs is an AR 15, the little 5.56 will do the job and the rifle is easy to manage in the bush, quick, and accurate. I also use a Remington side-by-side in .45-70, really liking the second shot but have never actually needed it on a hog.
Are you running dogs or still hunting if your running dogs 12 gauge with #1 buck and #4 buck still hunting 223 243 308 7mm08 I take a lot of hogs ever year.
I guess it depends, but I like the 870SP with slugs. My first hog was taken @ just over 100 yards with it. Spine shot hit point of aim at 100 yrds. Plenty good for down here. I will say my newest fav for this is a CAR15 chambered in 7.62x39. WOW what a fun rifle. Plenty of power to drop a large hog, deer or long pig and like @Seacowboys mentioned, easy to handle in the brush. I really can't say enough good about this little rifle. To me it takes the best of both in the great AK/AR debate. Accurate platform allows the rooskie cartridge to perform at it's peak. We get quite a bit more accurate range out of it in the AR. We loaded 750 rounds of ballistic tips a couple weeks ago and they are rockin.
Me I go pig hunting with my .44 mag Ruger carbine, and 6 shooter on the side. Other option would be the Rossi Puma .357 mag lever gun, and the Ruger security 6 .357 mag on the side.
@Bishop, still hunting from a stand. Thanks for all the input guys, I think I will go with my .30-.30 with my judge on my hip as well with 45LC
if I ever go pig hunting again it will be from a helicopter gunship. those f##### are mean and hard to kill.
I did shoot a boar hog 5 times with my shot gun and 7 times with my 45 and I know I hit it at least 5 times with my 45 still had to put my knife in him.
I hunt them, but haven't found one yet. They are thin on the ground here. Sounds like the AR-.450 Bushmaster I'm building , should be just about right, then. Thanks guys, i'm paying attention.
I have a pet .54 caliber Lyman Great Plains rifle (muzzleloader) that I developed a good grouping hunting load for. Open sights, 100 yards .530 round ball swaged or hand cast, .020 greased patch, and 90 grains 2F real black powder. I can keep them in 4 inches all day long. Smaller groups at a closer range of course. Around here hogs put on some weight. It ain't west Texas scrub. There is lots for them to gorge upon. 350 to 400 lbs and a bit over is pretty common. HOWEVER, I will not shoot these hogs at more than 50 yards with a muzzleloader such as described above, because at longer ranges I go for the boiler room. I have lost too many large hogs that way. At 50 yards and under I will shoot them in the head full frontal or centered on the side of the head if broadside. All hogs shot this way have not moved more the 20 foot when shot. most 5 to 10 foot only. I prefer centerfire 30 cal as of late. I also prefer smaller hogs because they are one hell of a lot easier to get out of the woods where I find them. I do not hunt with dogs. I go where I know where the hogs and snakes and sometimes gators will be. I am usually alone 75 to 100 .... maybe stretch it to 150 pounds is all I want to drag out of the woods. YMMV. BTW, I carry a big roll of bright pink surveyors marking tape to mark my way out if I ever get a good shot at one of those 350 and over monster hogs. I will have to get help to get it out. . I am at present building a 450 Bushmaster "Thumper" hog gun
22lr if you like a challenge. . Seriously talking to people we know in the south a 7.62x39 is a perfect round not to fast lots of energy, and with boars you seldom need allot of distance. Just take your ole SKS or Ak-47 , for the boar id prefer the SKS. There are many options but think this is the least expensive and the most effective in my opinion. If you are able to get a far shot then a 7mm Mag but even that is too much in my opinion.
Have used 223, 7.62x39 and 308 and all worked fine. Shot placement is critical and more so with smaller calibers.
Love the Judge enough that I own 2! Snake gun and home defense are their primary roles. Gotten 3 rattlesnakes the last 2yrs, Wife got 1 I got the other 2. Was thinking about taking the AK, but think I will go with the lever gun 1st!