Hog hunting rifle choice

TurdFerguson

TurdFerguson

thinking sucks
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Jul 18, 2014
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#1
I may have posted in the wrong forum the first time…

Looking to do some hog hunting in for a day May/June at the Clinton House Plantation in SC. I am trying to decide which rifle to take or should I take both. I am planning to take an AR (mk12 clone 1:8 twist) to hunt with. Property allows 223/556. I'm reading hit or miss on the 556. Should I leave the AR and take a 3006, take both ect? I am assuming shots would be within 300 yards but need to call the outfitters to confirm.

If I go 556:
65 grain Sierra Game Kings
or
70 grain Hornady CX
or
Barnes TSX triple Shock 70 grains

Take the 3006
150 grain Hornady SST
or
165 Grain SBT Game Kings
or
180 grain Sierra Game King Game Changers
 
#4
My first question is, do you want to shoot AND eat them? Or just eradicate them? If you want to retrieve them, take the 30-06. I’ve shot them in Texas, they are tough animals. I used a 6.5 CM with Barnes 127LRX. It worked great. I was able to shoot all but one in the spine 2” behind and 2” below the ear, they dropped right there. One was running toward me and I was on the ground. When it got 30’ away I shot him in the center of his chest and he turned and ran 10’ to my left, I shot him again as he passed and he dropped. If you want to find them 100% of the time, I would not use a 5.56. The area I was hunting was thick woods, if they ran very far with no blood trail, you would never find them. I know plenty have been shot with a 5.56 and retrieved, but I would only use one if I could get a head shot or in open fields.
 
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#6
If you're hunting from a SAFE position and don't mind losing a lot of ones that you hit (poorly) on the run...then the 5.56 will suffice.

Most of those places don't want hunters sticking 20 animals with bullets...kind of reduces the chances of charging more hunters down the road.

I've killed pigs that were as tall and long as bucks with a 5.56, it all depends on where you hit them. And when you can't guarantee exactly where that next shot is going it has fallen way behind other cartridges. My safety also depends on killing them and not having a wounded and pissed off pig turning on me in the dark. Therefore I never recommend the 5.56 for solo hunters at night.
 
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#7
diggler1833 said:
If you're hunting from a SAFE position and don't mind losing a lot of ones that you hit (poorly) on the run...then the 5.56 will suffice.

Most of those places don't want hunters sticking 20 animals with bullets...kind of reduces the chances of charging more hunters down the road.

I've killed pigs that were as tall and long as bucks with a 5.56, it all depends on where you hit them. And when you can't guarantee exactly where that next shot is going it has fallen way behind other cartridges. My safety also depends on killing them and not having a wounded and pissed off pig turning on me in the dark. Therefore I never recommend the 5.56 for solo hunters at night.
Click to expand...
Take that to the bank-coming from someone who knows what he is talking about
 
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#8
diggler1833 said:
If you're hunting from a SAFE position and don't mind losing a lot of ones that you hit (poorly) on the run...then the 5.56 will suffice.

Most of those places don't want hunters sticking 20 animals with bullets...kind of reduces the chances of charging more hunters down the road.

I've killed pigs that were as tall and long as bucks with a 5.56, it all depends on where you hit them. And when you can't guarantee exactly where that next shot is going it has fallen way behind other cartridges. My safety also depends on killing them and not having a wounded and pissed off pig turning on me in the dark. Therefore I never recommend the 5.56 for solo hunters at night.
Click to expand...

Even at point blank range with a solid 5.56 bullet, it isn't a cake walk, go with the '06. I cannot remember which bullet I was using.

Shot these 5 in a hastily built trap, they broke out and all but one died in the yard or trap, other made it to the woods and expired. It was a whole lot of western for the 10rds fired. I was lucky, they broke the trap directly in front of me. Used 17g galvanized electric fence wire for the ties, 4 at each post.


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#10
Good advice above.

My .02 Id want something in between if you have it or can borrow it. My preferred is a Grendel AR. The 06 is going to kill them great but follow up shots will be slow and meat preservation will suffer. 556 is great for follow up shots but recovery will be lower after the first head/neck shot, and it better be perfect or they're running off. If you're going with the 556 id go with a copper solid as you're more likely to get an exit wound you can track. Pigs love to plug holes in themselves and not bleed so 2 is better than 1. Assuming you want to eat them, Id do the same with the 06 since I dont like lead spatter in my meat, which the SST is known (personally) to do.

Id take both but I always take a back up rifle. If I had to choose from those, Id go 06 since I want to eat them and Id plan on just getting the first one DRT and maybe be able catch a second. If I was just trying to put holes in piggies, Id take the AR.
 
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#11
Thank you guys for the responses. I am still waiting to hear about actual shot ranges they are running into. I am struggling to find practice targets. Anyone have any suggestions? I plan to harvest 1 if I get the chance, I'll be at the in-laws so this is a sneak out of the house opportunity lol
 
#12
TurdFerguson said:
Thank you guys for the responses. I am still waiting to hear about actual shot ranges they are running into. I am struggling to find practice targets. Anyone have any suggestions? I plan to harvest 1 if I get the chance, I'll be at the in-laws so this is a sneak out of the house opportunity lol
Click to expand...

Really if you're after meat, I'd just practice at small targets and try to hit as dead-center neck as possible from a broadside. It is a complete CNS knockout. If you're a bit left/right for some reason...you're still breaking the spine and get an instant drop. You hit a tad low and you're wiping out the circulatory system. You hit a tad high and you still break the spine.

Hog hearts are just a bit lower than deer hearts and the lungs are a bit smaller, so the "traditional" shot on a whitetail is going to put you in the back half of the lungs = better chance they run a bit into thick cover.

Here is a photo I used to use when I showed impact placement on one that I had shot:
1530feralhog1.jpg


They aren't immortal or made out of Kevlar, but if you screw up that initial shot they can get fairly tough in a hurry. You don't have to overthink your setup though. Anything that you'd take deer hunting works for pigs too. Shot placement, shot placement, and shot placement.

One critical piece of advice to a new hunter though: If a hit hog is laying upright (on its chest)...shoot it again as there is about a 95% chance it is still alive. And never miss a chance to be cautious.

Here's a dog my wife and I sewed up last Friday evening for some Texas boys:
20250328_164146.jpg
 
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#13
diggler1833 said:
Really if you're after meat, I'd just practice at small targets and try to hit as dead-center neck as possible from a broadside. It is a complete CNS knockout. If you're a bit left/right for some reason...you're still breaking the spine and get an instant drop. You hit a tad low and you're wiping out the circulatory system. You hit a tad high and you still break the spine.

Hog hearts are just a bit lower than deer hearts and the lungs are a bit smaller, so the "traditional" shot on a whitetail is going to put you in the back half of the lungs = better chance they run a bit into thick cover.

Here is a photo I used to use when I showed impact placement on one that I had shot:
View attachment 8657352

They aren't immortal or made out of Kevlar, but if you screw up that initial shot they can get fairly tough in a hurry. You don't have to overthink your setup though. Anything that you'd take deer hunting works for pigs too. Shot placement, shot placement, and shot placement.

One critical piece of advice to a new hunter though: If a hit hog is laying upright (on its chest)...shoot it again as there is about a 95% chance it is still alive. And never miss a chance to be cautious.

Here's a dog my wife and I sewed up last Friday evening for some Texas boys:
View attachment 8657377
Click to expand...
Poor guy, hope he’s ok.

I’ve killed most of mine with an 06, 556 or the great 257 ai.

Biggest I ever killed was with a 5.56 and he didn’t take a step.
 
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#15
Not the expert nor do I have the kill numbers many here have but I have killed several dozen hogs from TN to GA - top 3 hog rifles - lever action .44 , lever action 30-30 and now AR in 6.5 Grendel.
The thing they all have in common , short light , mild recoil , fast handling and quick follow up shots . If running with dogs - .44 mag pistol as running jumping and climbing and in and out of vehicles a revolver in a chest rig is easy and shots are close .

And #1 on the advice that if you come up on them after the shot and they are “laying on their chest like a dog- they are still alive and waiting for you , shoot some more until they lay on their side with legs out .

They are not hard to kill, it’s just hard to convince them that they are dead - can easily run 100 through the nastiest thorn thickets with their heart blown out and they tend to leave a sparse blood trail. I mean you can get a gusher sometimes but it’s not the rule .

The above are my thoughts - the advice was free - use or disregard as you will.
 
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#16
Stevo86 said:
Poor guy, hope he’s ok.

I’ve killed most of mine with an 06, 556 or the great 257 ai.

Biggest I ever killed was with a 5.56 and he didn’t take a step.
Click to expand...

Dog lived, and was still alive as of this Friday. Will be a few more weeks before it gets back out hunting though :D.

I've killed a couple behemoths with the 5.56. The one was actually the reason I bought a 6.8 (because I had photos of it on game camera being the same size as a 7-point buck). I was a bit nervous...but ended up running into the pig while my rifle was en route to my FFL, and I still only had the 5.56. A single Mk 318 Mod 0 at the base of the skull dropped it like a rock. I still shot it again though from 20 yards away as I was taking no chances on the walk-up.
 
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#17
Killed hundreds with mk262 and hundreds with 70gr Barnes. My experience the 70gr Barnes works a little better. Best advice I give when guiding hunters on my place is to aim center neck. 5.56 works great typically on the first aimed shot on a stationary pig. It’s when you start trying to hit running pigs, and almost all of us don’t lead them enough, that the 5.56 falls short in recovering them. It’s poking holes in them, but you won’t find/recover them. The center neck shot gives great “anchoring” margin for error up/down/left/right. Whichever weapon system you shoot best I would take. Fast follow up shots with a 5.56 AR would be my preference over a bolt 30-06.
 
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#19
Better terminal performance on body shots, recovered more runners on average than when using mk262. Was hunting with govt guys that were bringing free mk262 to use. Free ammo is always best ammo, but if I’m buying ammo, I prefer to use the Barnes 70. This is shooting at night from short ARs, typically 100m and in, with occasional shots out to 300m. Large groups of pigs, trying to eradicate as many as possible for population control. Not unheard of to go through 100+ rounds per night. If I was shooting steel only out to 600m, I would hands down go with the mk262.
 
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#20
smcfarland said:
Better terminal performance on body shots, recovered more runners on average than when using mk262. Was hunting with govt guys that were bringing free mk262 to use. Free ammo is always best ammo, but if I’m buying ammo, I prefer to use the Barnes 70. This is shooting at night from short ARs, typically 100m and in, with occasional shots out to 300m. Large groups of pigs, trying to eradicate as many as possible for population control. Not unheard of to go through 100+ rounds per night. If I was shooting steel only out to 600m, I would hands down go with the mk262.
Click to expand...

Is it better to buy the barnes tsx or roll your own? I see the bullets available locally and of course the round I have to order....
 
#21
Reloading your own I think is always better. Used to reload for my precision 308 bolt rifle but ARs bring new challenges. I’m (unfortunately or fortunately) at a point in my life where I value most my free time. Right now I can provide more for my family working than I can in my reloading room loading ammo. The Barnes factory ammo is “good enough” for what I’m trying to do on those weekends I can get away from work to do what I love.
 
#22
TurdFerguson said:
I may have posted in the wrong forum the first time…

Looking to do some hog hunting in for a day May/June at the Clinton House Plantation in SC. I am trying to decide which rifle to take or should I take both. I am planning to take an AR (mk12 clone 1:8 twist) to hunt with. Property allows 223/556. I'm reading hit or miss on the 556. Should I leave the AR and take a 3006, take both ect? I am assuming shots would be within 300 yards but need to call the outfitters to confirm.

If I go 556:
65 grain Sierra Game Kings
or
70 grain Hornady CX
or
Barnes TSX triple Shock 70 grains

Take the 3006
150 grain Hornady SST
or
165 Grain SBT Game Kings
or
180 grain Sierra Game King Game Changers
Click to expand...
I'd go with a low recoil '06 load.
Faster recovery if a follow up shot is needed, more than adequate power.
www.midwayusa.com

Remington Core-Lokt 30-06 Springfield Ammo 125 Grain Jacketed Soft

The classic "Green-box" ammunition that shooters and hunters have trusted for years. Remington makes ammunition for nearly every need. Pointed...
www.midwayusa.com www.midwayusa.com
 
#23
smcfarland said:
Better terminal performance on body shots, recovered more runners on average than when using mk262. Was hunting with govt guys that were bringing free mk262 to use. Free ammo is always best ammo, but if I’m buying ammo, I prefer to use the Barnes 70. This is shooting at night from short ARs, typically 100m and in, with occasional shots out to 300m. Large groups of pigs, trying to eradicate as many as possible for population control. Not unheard of to go through 100+ rounds per night. If I was shooting steel only out to 600m, I would hands down go with the mk262.
Click to expand...
Thanks much. Good info.
 
#27
OK, I've looked up the pig hunting they do at that venue.
They run dogs and you shoot a pig at close range, once the dogs have them at bay.
5.56 all the way for that.
The Hornady and Banes 70 grain solids would be a very good choice, but so would some AAC 77 grain MK262 equivalent.
Don't forget about your mechanical offset, or run a zero of 25 yards.
 
#28
Those are some trusting dudes if they let randoms come in and shoot around the dogs. I'm assuming that they are just bay dogs and not catch dogs.

Wonder if/what the additional charge would be for busting the dog?

We have some good ol' boys around here that do the same thing, but they use catch dogs as well and the client gets to stick the pig in the heart with a knife. I don't have a problem with that...outside of those good ol' boys just bring trapped pigs up here from TX and turn them loose to hunt. Those hogs frequently find their way onto my place (and others) where they do a ton of damage. Then the good ol' boys get mighty upset when I start thinning "their" pigs out.

It is a very interesting thing out here - pig hunting that is. A lot of dog guys don't get along with each other because of the competition. It is very clan'ish.

*****

If the shots are right up close, I don't think you'd go wrong with just about anything. Sometimes having the advantage of a semi-auto might be nice here.
 
#29
diggler1833 said:
It is a very interesting thing out here - pig hunting that is. A lot of dog guys don't get along with each other because of the competition. It is very clan'ish.
Click to expand...
Same exact thing up here with the lion houndsman. They are a unique, competitive, bunch. As a result, there are a lot of them who resort to some shady shit to get on a cat.

As to the original post...I am just a hog tourist, but have killed more than 100 and less than 500. Shooting them during the day in a hunting blind situation I would say any old bolt action deer rifle will do. In my experience when hunting at night where you stalk up on them, after the initial CNS shot that drops the first one it's tough to beat a gasser .308. Fairly manageable recoil and definitely better results than a 5.56 when it comes to making them dead when they are running like crazy.
 
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#30
diggler1833 said:
Those are some trusting dudes if they let randoms come in and shoot around the dogs. I'm assuming that they are just bay dogs and not catch dogs.

Wonder if/what the additional charge would be for busting the dog?

We have some good ol' boys around here that do the same thing, but they use catch dogs as well and the client gets to stick the pig in the heart with a knife. I don't have a problem with that...outside of those good ol' boys just bring trapped pigs up here from TX and turn them loose to hunt. Those hogs frequently find their way onto my place (and others) where they do a ton of damage. Then the good ol' boys get mighty upset when I start thinning "their" pigs out.

It is a very interesting thing out here - pig hunting that is. A lot of dog guys don't get along with each other because of the competition. It is very clan'ish.

*****

If the shots are right up close, I don't think you'd go wrong with just about anything. Sometimes having the advantage of a semi-auto might be nice here.
Click to expand...
Pretty ballsy transporting pigs across the border. Isn't that a HUGE fine?
 
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#32
Larger bore diameters perform better at all distances. We shoot hogs with all sorts of weird calibers; they all work. It's the runners you're really gambling on with smaller calibers.

I can attest to the above suggestions regarding safety. If they're on their stomach, just send another round. I've had huge pigs die (almost always the big ones too) on their belly and it's best practice to plug a few more holes. Ammo is cheap relative to an ER visit.
 
#33
If paying by pig, and most will charge if you only draw blood, then 30-06 no question. If you are more in an eradication/vermin reducing mode, then some semi auto 308 platform.
 
#37
I have to agree with the prior comments about caliber and rifle types. My selection has been the 44 Mag, 30-30, and 45-70 Lever Action carbines and my 7-08 and 35 Whelen bolt guns. The 7-08 took my last hog which expired from a heat shot in less than 20 yards. Pretty much pulverized the organ.

A friend swears by the smaller 22s, but he was getting them coming up to the porch on his farm and he was eye and ear shooting them.

Have chased them with bow 🥴, handgun and rifle. I lean more toward something fast handling with some oomph. My favorite is the 1886 Winchester Extra Light in 45-70 with Barnes Factory loads. This is still a tater heavy rifle compared to my 44 mag 1892 Winchester.
 
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