Lever Action for Hogs?

[smittydantes]

I've got an 1895 marlin, 45-70 govt "guide gun" setup with the big loop and short barrel. 6+1 capacity strikes me as just fine since I know how to shoot it (not to mention that it's a fun ass gun to shoot), but a buddy I'm going out with swears I'll need my .308 AR with 30+ rounds. He's saying his property is overrun and needs eradication, but my experience hunting hogs there has always been time to reload. Anyone have experience being tasked with a large hog population and can weigh in here?

 

[Tom-D]

It pretty quick to keep a pocket of rounds and throw a few extra inbetween action id be more concerned about how much its going to cost compared to a 308. Im not in the US but so prices could be different to what iv seen. Iv never had the luxury of having ARs here so my lever 30-30 is the fast option here unfortunatley. I always find it really depends on the terrain aswell

 

[wytx]

Unless your hunting with suppressors I've never had the experience to have time to reload very often at all.
First shot and they are on the move to cover.
Big fields, maybe unload a whole mag though before they hit cover.

That being said I love hunting them with my .41 mag or .44 mag levergun.

 

[SwiftShot]

I've got an 1895 marlin, 45-70 govt "guide gun" setup with the big loop and short barrel. 6+1 capacity strikes me as just fine since I know how to shoot it (not to mention that it's a fun ass gun to shoot), but a buddy I'm going out with swears I'll need my .308 AR with 30+ rounds. He's saying his property is overrun and needs eradication, but my experience hunting hogs there has always been time to reload. Anyone have experience being tasked with a large hog population and can weigh in here?

On trips like your body is describing it is eradicate not hunt. I have done those hunts and it is about stacking hogs in volume. Yes your 45 70 will kill a few no problem. To give you an idea, when I did this last. LMT AR 100 round drum mag and a thermal. I smashed 17 before they got to cover.

 

[josh33806]

That lever is perfect for walking hunts etc - but it seems like what you're in for is a lot of pest control.
I'd take his advice, maybe pack the 45-70 if you have room for a 2nd rifle.

 

[FLS]

I’ve doubled several times with a lever gun, and killed 4 once cycling a bolt gun fast as I could, but that was an anomaly. Unless you hunting them at night with thermals and suppressors, a couple of shots is all you’ll probably get. They tend to haul ass looking for cover when their companions start kicking and squealing.

 

[Sccritterkiller]

Take the AR...sounds like they get pressure regularly and they will scoot once the shooting starts. Plus 308 increases your effective range...There are plenty of times/places to lob 400gr bullets into animals this doesn't sound like one.

 

[TxxAgg]

Unless you’re hunting at night with thermal and suppressor, I’d just take the lever action.