What bullet for hogs?

[AZsniper]

I have a 6arc CMMG I take to Texas and it is perfect for hogs and deer. I shoot 103gr ELDX bullet and it is more than enough power with zero recoil. I saw someone above say shoot them in the face and I respectfully think they are an idiot. If you blow the jaw off of a pig they will run and squeel for days. Shoot them in the ear , their brain is right behind that. Or in the boiler room. Do not shoot them in the jaw. My opinions are free and worth every penny.

 

[North of 60]

As others have noted...pretty much any bullet will work for a head shot with those cartridges. Head shots are preferred because body shots may leave you tracking them in some very thick cover (if you go look for them) depending on where you hunt them.

Neck shots will also work hitting the spine.

If you have plenty of room available to shoot more in one spot, bring the semiauto. If you are pressed for time when shooting, you may only get one shot in tight quarters.

And by all means, please keep up this important public service

 

[Geedubya]

From last Tuesday eve........



80 Yds., 300 HAM'R, 130 Gr. Speer Hot Cor.



Not DRT, made it 5 paces then piled up.

ya,

GWB

 

[cnelk]

I’ve used a few different calibers but my fav by far is a 12ga with 3” 00 Buck

 

[Eric Burden]

Both are going to work very well I would take both as most likely you are going to shoot more than 1. LOL good luck

 

[Healthy Scratch]

I've hunted a lot of hogs (Texas) both with guns and archery. As far as guns, I've used 243, 30-30 and 308. The 243 is really close to what you are considering so, you should be fine. If you are a decent shot, go for the head. Make sure you use a bullet that will expand (like an ELD-X). If you don't drop them, sometimes they don't bleed as much (externally) due to their fat layer; expanding bullets help.
I know everyone likes tusks and they make really cool European mounts but, if you're not into the 'trophy' thing, I recommend shooting sows! They eat 10-times better than a bore and if you are hunting depredation hunts, you toke out more of the population. Good luck!

 

[Dave Thomas]

Whatever bullet you're using for deer will work on pig. I hammer them with a berger 175 elite hunter out of a 7 saum. You don't need that much gun for them but it's my main hunting rifle.

 

[Geedubya]

I've hunted a lot of hogs (Texas) both with guns and archery. As far as guns, I've used 243, 30-30 and 308. The 243 is really close to what you are considering so, you should be fine. If you are a decent shot, go for the head. Make sure you use a bullet that will expand (like an ELD-X). If you don't drop them, sometimes they don't bleed as much (externally) due to their fat layer; expanding bullets help.
I know everyone likes tusks and they make really cool European mounts but, if you're not into the 'trophy' thing, I recommend shooting sows! They eat 10-times better than a bore and if you are hunting depredation hunts, you toke out more of the population. Good luck!

Plus you will have many more shots on sows and shoats.

ya,

GWB

 

[HH13]

I am going on my first hog hunt this year. I am sure I am overthinking this, but what bullet are you guys using? I have a gas 6ARC and a bolt 6.5PRC. I will probably take one or both of these.

I am going on my first hog hunt this year. I am sure I am overthinking this, but what bullet are you guys using? I have a gas 6ARC and a bolt 6.5PRC. I will probably take one or both of these.

350 pound boar taken with 143 grain ELDX out of my 6.5 PRC. Impact velocity was around 2800 fps. The bullet exited the main body cavity and stopped at the hide on the other side. He made it 23 yards and then piled up. I was impressed with the bullet performance and how it punched through the shield and killed the hog quickly. First wound is the entry and the last wound is the exit side

 

[Okie-hunter]

350 pound boar taken with 143 grain ELDX out of my 6.5 PRC.

did you get this boar on a scale?

 

[HH13]

did you get this boar on a scale?

No, I didn’t have a scale but I brought his head and pictures to the taxidermist and they guessed him to be in that range based on others they had weighed.

 

[Okie-hunter]

No, I didn’t have a scale but I brought his head and pictures to the taxidermist and they guessed him to be in that range based on others they had weighed.

I’m not saying yours isn’t 350 I’m just saying from the picture provided it doesn’t look 350.
I see “300+ pound boar” get thrown around a lot from people that don’t get to put very many or any pigs on a scale. When they actually shot a 200-250 pounder. The reality is that a 350 pound pig is an absolute giant and very hard to come by.
Regardless, congrats on a dandy pig

 

[HH13]

No, I didn’t have a scale but I brought his head and pictures to the taxidermist and they guessed him to be in that range based on others they had weighed.

did you get this boar on a scale?

He could’ve been less than that too because I hear that they are usually deceiving when it comes to how much they weigh. I had a few other guesses from people that hunt and show pigs that guessed him in the upper 300’s but I figured they were probably a little more exaggerative so I assume 350 or lower is probably more reflective of reality

 

[HH13]

I’m not saying yours isn’t 350 I’m just saying from the picture provided it doesn’t look 350.
I see “300+ pound boar” get thrown around a lot from people that don’t get to put very many or any pigs on a scale. When they actually shot a 200-250 pounder. The reality is that a 350 pound pig is an absolute giant and very hard to come by.
Regardless, congrats on a dandy pig

Yes I definitely understand what you mean. I actually went and bought a scale after this because I hated not knowing for sure on this one.

 

[Big_wals]

I’m not saying yours isn’t 350 I’m just saying from the picture provided it doesn’t look 350.
I see “300+ pound boar” get thrown around a lot from people that don’t get to put very many or any pigs on a scale. When they actually shot a 200-250 pounder. The reality is that a 350 pound pig is an absolute giant and very hard to come by.
Regardless, congrats on a dandy pig

Yeah when we lived in west TX I bought a scale and weighed all our big pigs, it was pretty rare to get one over 200. Biggest one I shot wad just under 280, and it was huge.

 

[Big_wals]

To the OP, I’d take the 6 ARC and the cheapest BTHP ammo you can find. I shot a lot with a 5.56 and preferred heavy hollow points, youre generally at close enough range that your velocity is plenty high enough for them to work great.

If you go for a lung shot, aim further forward and lower than you think you need to.

These pics are the best example I have. What would have been a great mid-lung shot on a deer was actually about 1” under the spine, and 1 1/2” in front of the diaphragm. Once I started aiming low and forward my success went way up. Personally, I think that’s why hogs have a reputation for being tough. If you aim at the same spot you would for a lung shot on a deer or elk, there’s a high chance of just gut shooting em.