Tx Hog Hunters: best caliber to build?

[ryanmattes]

So I'm giving into the temptation to build a pig gun, because pork is the clearest indication that the universe was created by a loving god that I can think of.

I have a few friends who hunt pigs regularly, and I want to join in. But I don't really have anything appropriate. All my .30 rifles are bolt except my .30-30 lever gun, and I'm thinking I'd like to put something more modern. A new upper for my AR would probably be the fastest and least expensive path, but in what caliber?

Also, is cast even worth the trouble, or would I have cycle issues?

Subsonic with a suppressor would be great for shooting at groups, but I know the heavy, subsonic rounds have a trajectory like a brick.

Or am I better off just buying a complete AR-10 and adding another .308 rifle to my collection?

I'm hoping someone has been down this road and can warn me away from the more costly mistakes.

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[Winger Ed.]

It depends on how many at a time you think you'll run into.
Even if its only 2-3 at a time, I'd still get some form or fashion of semi-auto.

A buddy got to hunt a spot years ago that had an infestation.
He found where they'd come down to a stock tank en-mass.
He used a AR with the heavier bullets, and when the front of the pack was out in the water,
he stood up and started hosing them off from the back to the front.

I'm not a big 5.56 fan for hunting, but he got 12 that morning with his.

[buckwheatpaul]

I kill hogs regularly with 22 LR (in a trap); 45 acp; 223, 308, and 300 AAC.....just name your poison and you will be fine! In my 300 AAC it is suppressed but I dont use subsonic on hogs as like you said the bullets drop like a brick. With a suppressor and subsonic they will hear the brass being ejected and if ya get into a mess of them all bets are off when the first squeal happens. I use a kill light at about 75 yards and have had good success with a bolt or ar style. Hope this helps....but the thing I think of is calibers and styles are a lot like fishing lures.....they hook the buyer more often than the fish...but enjoy the trip and buy what suits you and that you shoot well! Paul

[popper]

300 BO or the 30 hamr in carbine or pistol depending how you hunt. Supers only, about 150gr but the 125 sst is supposed to be good. Little more powders pace in the hamr but I can get 2k fps in carbine with the 145. Recoil isn't bad and weight is nothing like an ar10. Friend's wife was shooting with bolt (7 something), couldn't get the follow up fast enough so she's using the 223 AR now. They run FAST.
My pistol I can carry walking on on 4wheeler. 1800 fps with 145gr or 1600 with 170gr.
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[Silvercreek Farmer]

Don’t hunt them myself but I’ve seen some pretty impressive videos using 12 gauge buck.

[lar45]

Well, I'm not a TX Hog Hunter, but I do hunt them in Arkansas... About the biggest we see here is 250-300#, generally they are around 150-180ish.
I have a 7.62x39 AR Pistol with a 10" barrel that I use sometimes. The 7.62x39 takes it own caliber specific magazines.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/ar-pistol/762p-01.jpg

I load the 123 Barnes TAC X and get sub 1" groups.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/ar-pistol/123x-01.jpg

I also have a Ruger AR556 in 450 Bushmaster with the 18 5/8" barrel. The 450 uses a single shot follower in a standard mag, or you can just buy 450 magazines.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/ruger450-01.jpg

With Hornady 250 FTXs this thing is scary accurate.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/250ftx.jpg

I have had some success with cast in the 450 with the MP 45 Ruger Only Powder Coated.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/mp45ruger-02.jpg

I have Tromix Linear Comps on both of them that really helps to control the muzzle blast.
The 300 BO barrels have a 1:7 twist I believe.
The 7.62x39 barrels have a 1:10 twist
Not sure on the 300 Hammer

Hope this helps.

[Texas by God]

The 6.5 Grendel and 6.8SPC work real well, but expensive to lose brass. When I'm actually hunting them, I use either my .223 or .300BO AR15s with fast jacketed bullets. Dispatching trapped hogs- whatever I have with me; .22LR to 12 gauge.

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[MarkP]

How about a 350 Legend? Mine shoot NOE 182 gr WFN and RCBS 200 gr FN well. In AR 10.5" & 20" TC 12", REM M Seven (JES rebore with my reamer) Also 12.7 x 42 with LEE 440 gr FN.

[HWooldridge]

My son lives on a ranch near San Angelo and probably averages 3-5 hogs killed every week. He uses an AR in 5.56 and a .308 bolt gun, both suppressed. You rarely get more than 1-2 shots unless the report is muffled - but I’ve seen him kill quite a few with the suppressor in place - because they can’t figure out what’s happening.

I’ve shot pigs with a night vision scope on a 5.56 and not one dropped close enough to find in the dark - we located them days later when we saw the buzzards. None ran very far but were sufficiently lost if I had wanted to butcher one for food. On the other hand, my 45-70 Marlin with 300 gr Sierra HP pills drops them in their tracks.

Point is - you need enough gun unless you just want to shoot and let them die later.

[M-Tecs]

The 6.5 Grendel and 6.8SPC work real well, but expensive to lose brass. When I'm actually hunting them, I use either my .223 or .300BO AR15s with fast jacketed bullets. Dispatching trapped hogs- whatever I have with me; .22LR to 12 gauge.

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These work well https://brassgoat.com/

[44Blam]

45-70 lever gun.
OR 12ga with Svarog Zevrboy slugs:
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This is what the slug does to gel:
https://youtu.be/7Xg_z61SyDU
It'll stop a charging hog.

[BK7saum]

i wouldn't bother to hunt with subsonic loads with an AR. As soon as the first one is hit, they are going scatter, likely stop one time for another standing shot and be gone. You typically get the same thing with supers suppressed. Plus, after getting the range for a good subsonic shot, after they move and are past 100 yards, you are going to be guessing on holdovers.

Subsonic suppressed sounds like a good idea, is fun at the range, but doesn't really work in the real world as well as we'd like.

And to really answer your question, I like the 300 hamr and 300 blk. I've hunted with the 6.5 grendel, and various bolt actions. I am currently working on AR10s in .260 rem and 358 winchester.

I don't find myself too handicapped with a bolt action. I can typically get 2-6 out of a group depending on cover and conditions.

[S.B.]

Well, I'm not a TX Hog Hunter, but I do hunt them in Arkansas... About the biggest we see here is 250-300#, generally they are around 150-180ish.
I have a 7.62x39 AR Pistol with a 10" barrel that I use sometimes. The 7.62x39 takes it own caliber specific magazines.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/arpistol/762p-01.jpg

I load the 123 Barnes TAC X and get sub 1" groups.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/arpistol/123x-01.jpg

I also have a Ruger AR556 in 450 Bushmaster with the 18 5/8" barrel. The 450 uses a single shot follower in a standard mag, or you can just buy 450 magazines.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/ruger450-01.jpg

With Hornady 250 FTXs this thing is scary accurate.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/250ftx.jpg

I have had some success with cast in the 450 with the MP 45 Ruger Only Powder Coated.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/450bushmaster/mp45ruger-02.jpg

I have Tromix Linear Comps on both of them that really helps to control the muzzle blast.
The 300 BO barrels have a 1:7 twist I believe.
The 7.62x39 barrels have a 1:10 twist
Not sure on the 300 Hammer

Hope this helps.

I'm very confused by this post. Are you saying these groups are out of a pistol?
Steve

[lar45]

I am sorry, I forgot the "-" in the address for the pistol pictures.
http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/ar-pistol/762p-01.jpg

http://www.lsstuff.com/pics/ar-pistol/123x-01.jpg

[fredj338]

I built a 6.8 upper. Haven't hunted it yet but it smacks steel really hard at 300y, about as far as i feel its practical in the field. Brass isnt that expensive & dont care if i lose a few hunting.
Btw, s&b brass is very good & their fmj ammo isnt ridiculously priced.

[ryanmattes]

I'm intrigued by the .450 bushmaster, especially after reading on it a bit.

I was initially trying to stay .30 so I could use a .30 suppressor, which could also do double duty on a .223 without much loss of efficiency.

But after doing more reading, I think I'm leaning toward to .300 ham'r. The performance is impressive out to 200 yards, and that's plenty of range for pigs. A suppressor will still be helpful, even with supersonic ammo.

Anyone cast for .300 ham'r?

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[G W Wade]

I have the 458 Socom and really wish could make a hog hunt. But I am due north up by Canadian border and do not think it will. Good luck whichever way you go. GW

[44Blam]

The other suggestion I have is 350 legend...
My buddies in Texas use this...

This is a video of my buddy Ben shooting a gelatin gummy bear with a soft lead round going about 2000 feet / second...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iddnwKmwn6c

However, if you want to make sure a charging hog stops - use the 12ga slugs.

[Harter66]

Ms killed 2 with a 30-30 I've killed 5 with 45 Colts in Carbines .

6.8 SPC is a good choice . There is a guy that shoots them for hire with one . He's killed 2-3,000 with his and a couple of buddies in the last 2 years . I don't know if that's good or not .

I saw several videos testing noise levels with suppression vs impact noise oddly enough at 10' from the muzzle and 10' from an hour old kill the bullet hit on meat over heavy bone was louder than the muzzle report .

The 450 , 458 whatever's need a heavy to shoot reasonably flat to 200 yrs or your just beating up yourself and your gun . With cast the 6.8 with an NOE 279-124 will meet the 1000# at 1000 mark and with a moderate alloy will expand some and not splatter on bone . A 20" rifle gas barrel helps some .

[lar45]

I've always thought the 6.8SPC would make a great mini Mauser bolt action. CZ should offer one...

[BK7saum]

I'm intrigued by the .450 bushmaster, especially after reading on it a bit.

I was initially trying to stay .30 so I could use a .30 suppressor, which could also do double duty on a .223 without much loss of efficiency.

But after doing more reading, I think I'm leaning toward to .300 ham'r. The performance is impressive out to 200 yards, and that's plenty of range for pigs. A suppressor will still be helpful, even with supersonic ammo.

Anyone cast for .300 ham'r?

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Casting for the 300 Hamr may be a nogo. the usable boolit lwngth is short and requires deep seating on most boolits. I have set up dummy rounds for the MP 314-410, but it is seated really deep and takes up a lot of powder capacity.

Due to short usable bullet length, there are a bunch of jacketed bullets that cannot be used. The ogive on the long sleek bullets is down in the neck.

[smokeater]

I'm with buckwheatpaul, anything you can shoot accurately will do. In my neck of the woods the 22Long Rifle/22Magnum reign supreme. But in all reality, any centerfire rifle will be more than enough. Caliber does not make up for poor accuracy.

[ryanmattes]

Well, I'm also looking for an excuse to build something new and load for a new cartridge. [emoji16]

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[dverna]

So I'm giving into the temptation to build a pig gun, because pork is the clearest indication that the universe was created by a loving god that I can think of.

I have a few friends who hunt pigs regularly, and I want to join in. But I don't really have anything appropriate. All my .30 rifles are bolt except my .30-30 lever gun, and I'm thinking I'd like to put something more modern. A new upper for my AR would probably be the fastest and least expensive path, but in what caliber?

Also, is cast even worth the trouble, or would I have cycle issues?

Subsonic with a suppressor would be great for shooting at groups, but I know the heavy, subsonic rounds have a trajectory like a brick.

Or am I better off just buying a complete AR-10 and adding another .308 rifle to my collection?

I'm hoping someone has been down this road and can warn me away from the more costly mistakes.

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Try the .30/30 you have and decide if you need a more rapid platform. Slick up the action and maybe add a red dot. Before going down the AR 10 path handle one. They seem clunky to me.

[Wolfdog91]

As long as you DONT TRY AND SHOOT THEM LIKE A DEER there pretty dang easy to kill

[BK7saum]

As long as you DONT TRY AND SHOOT THEM LIKE A DEER there pretty dang easy to kill

And that is the truth. The vitals are located differently in a pig than a deer. They are further forward in the front of the chest between the front legs. A good double lung shot on a deer is a gut shot on a hog. It is a hard habit to break, especially when shooting on moving pigs. I have a hard enough time leading them enough anyway...and then with vitals further forward, i usually end up with center mass hits or just hitting them too far back on moving shots.

[sukivel]

And that is the truth. The vitals are located differently in a pig than a deer. They are further forward in the front of the chest between the front legs. A good double lung shot on a deer is a gut shot on a hog. It is a hard habit to break, especially when shooting on moving pigs. I have a hard enough time leading them enough anyway...and then with vitals further forward, i usually end up with center mass hits or just hitting them too far back on moving shots.

Aim for shoulders?


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[Rapier]

I have a TAC 30 a rimless 30 Herrett based on a 6.8 SPC and a 30x7.62x39 (.308 barrel with 1-10 twist) chambered for the 7,62.39 using a .308 expander. They both do within 100 fps of each other, 2,400 to 2,500 fps with 150s. The TAC is a 1” gun, the 30x7.62x39 and is a 1/2” gun. Depending, E Texas is is like NW FL W Texas different for hogs.

My favorite is the 35, I have two 358 MGP AR guns, basically a rimless 357 Herrett, developed by Mike Plinkington. A real hog and bear whacker with a 200 or 180 at near 2,600 to 2,700 fps. They anchor a big hog with one shot. The above are AR-15 platform guns.

The 308 AR or Armalite AR-10 platform is heavy compared to the AR-15. Even in a carbine they are heavy.

If you add a scope and a suppressor the package gets heavy. The trick is to keep easy to handle in the mix. Also remember the suppressor does not make the bullet impact quiet or lessen the noise from the action function. The trick with suppressed sub sonic is to get full function. You do not want a single shot in a mess of hogs at night.

[sundog]

Anyone cast for .300 ham'r?

Yes! What's not to like about 15 twist match bbl from Wilson Combat? RCBS 7.62mm-130-SPL and NOE 311-150-SP, both powder coat and checked. Those two bullets also work well for 7.62x40WT (12 twist). I'm sure others will work, but I have not tried any (sometimes too many projects, doncha know). The 300 Ham'r cases came from WC, but the 7.62x40s were made from LC 5.56.

[Wolfdog91]

Aim for shoulders?


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[fredj338]

And that is the truth. The vitals are located differently in a pig than a deer. They are further forward in the front of the chest between the front legs. A good double lung shot on a deer is a gut shot on a hog. It is a hard habit to break, especially when shooting on moving pigs. I have a hard enough time leading them enough anyway...and then with vitals further forward, i usually end up with center mass hits or just hitting them too far back on moving shots.

BTW, also true of many African game animals. Why many PH prefer the shoulder shot, not behind the shoulder. IT works on deer & elk too, but you can ruin meat.

[MDC]

Aim for shoulders?


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If they're standing still, aim at the ear hole. When the others take off running, aim at the top of the nose

[popper]

From BO 10: 1:8 pistol, just rest on front bag. 145gr GC BLL 1900 fps. A handful shot this way. 4x scope 50 yds. Tromex L comp. Fast fire.
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