Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Arkansas pig gun

I met a fellow yesterday who raises pigs and chickens and grows veggies to sell. He told me that he has had to kill a bunch of wild pigs, especially boars that try to get in and breed his sows. I told him that I would love to help him thin out the wild pig problem. His place is about a 3 hour drive from where I live but hopefully I can do some hunting there.

I told them that I have a Marlin 45/70 which I figure would be great but they suggested an AR. His wife said full auto, ha ha. I have never been that interested in getting an AR but may just need to do that. What cartridges should I consider? I have no doubt that lots of wild pigs have been killed with a 223 but wonder if I should get something more powerful. I do already have a Sako Vixen 223 that I handload for so getting a 223 AR would simplify that aspect.

450 BushMaster cartridge or ''caliber'' if you want to sound like a gooof.

You can kill 'em with anything.

I like a 30 caliber for DRT kills though. If hunting more open areas where a followup shot or more is possible, then use an AR.

7.62x39 or .308 either one works well.

I personally think ever citizen needs an AR or two, but your 45/70 would likely be great in the pig-killing role. I've shot them with the 5.56/223AI and many others up to the big levergun cartridges and they all work, provided you put the bullet where you need it. If I was traveling 3hrs for a hunt and was unsure of what ranges/conditions I would be hunting, I would likely bring several rifles and play it by ear when I got there. I've found that most deer rifles are just fine for shooting even big pigs.

Doesn't get much deader than a 45-70. If an AR is a must 6.5 Grendel, 308 , 450 bushmaster would get the nod

They shoot pigs in Texas with AR's with suppressors at night. They use 223/556 with heavy bullets. They can kill several before they know what is happening. If you don't want to use 223's, you can also use 350 Legend, 300 Blackout up close, 6.5 Grendal, 30 Rem AR, the 458 Socom, or 6.8 SPC. Lots of calibers. 6.5 Grendal will give you the longest effective range. 6.8 is good for 250 yards at least. Lots will overlap.

First off, what is the greatest range you will be hunting? Can you hunt at night? Would you use a suppressor? All would determine your caliber and bullet weight.

The AR is chosen most for pigs because it is semi-automatic and you want to kill as many pigs as possible in one hunting. A lever gun will alert the smart pigs as to your location every time you lever the gun. I wouldn't recommend anything other than a semi-auto of some sort. AR's being the best.

Two excellent considerations would be 6.8 SPC and 300 Ham'r.

They seem to be very popular with the guys that do high volume pig control.

The .223 works also, but like anything else, attention has to be payed to bullet choice, and shot placement trumps all.

rockinbbar is the guy to talk you into buying sights....

Never interested in an AR?

You got a fever?

Have you shot AR's before? I tried them out but just don't like them - not that I don't think a Grendel or 6,8 wouldn't make a great hog gun for somebody. I usually use an SKS and although a bit clunky it is nothing but reliable. I swear you could load ammo backwards and it would work in that thing. I feel no need to replace it but would have really loved to have gotten Dad's mini 30. A Mini 30 to me is about as ultimate as it gets for a pig gun. I sometimes use a B92 in 44 mag but the 7.62 has been a lot more consistent with dropping them.

As an aside, several spots where I've shot hogs were relatively tight quarters and did not offer multiple shot opportunities (narrow lanes/roads, etc.). While I like a semi-auto for general-purpose hog hunting, it wasn't much advantage in those locations and I would sometimes try to line up several hogs with a single shot instead. It works pretty well if you are patient and carrying something powerful enough to pull it off. This is why I'd suggest bringing several rifles on a road trip to new territory. More open country could benefit from semi-auto use.

One of the biggest ever killed on our place (300lb+) was by a guy who had never shot a hog before. He showed up and asked me to look at his rifle, an old Browning BAR in .270WCF, loaded with W-W Failsafe factory ammo. "Will it be okay", he asked. I told him it was probably damn near perfect. He shot this guy an hour or two later, head-on, and it still trotted 60-70 yards before it conked out.

The 45/70 is going to be kinda slow if you get mixed up with a herd.

It is always preached to "get off the bench and practice from field positions".

Seems like you may have the perfect opportunity to practice with your favorite deer rifle.

Wanna waste lead and powder? By all means use the .45-70.

On assumption you can hit what you’re aiming at, a .22RF will do the trick. Shoot’m in the brain. If you aren’t confident with such then grab a 20 ga and a bucket full on #3 buckshot. Thank me later.

Kid’s toy the AR is.

An Ar platform in 7.62x39 is the preferd cartridge by several folks here who do pig control. It is right 30-30 power in a semi-auto format.

every home should have a AR ready few 30 rd. clips and 1,000 rds of ammo for the AR , take a AR on the pig hunt , 45-70 to slow and to much recoil . good luck,Pete53

308. Will get it done

I have been using a 5.56 AR with heavy bullets with a suppressor and thermal but am in the process of building a 6mm ARC for this purpose. I do also use a 300bo SBR with heavy subsonics - not many drop quick but I personally don’t care for the meat anyway, just kill ‘em because they are a major nuisance!

Good food for thought. I am not sure about shot distance down there. I will need to ask him about that.

Stick with a 5.56. it will kill pigs just fine and the ammo is much cheaper that the alternatives (other than 22lr).
Remember, a gun chambered in 5.56 can shoot 223; but it is not safe to shoot 5.56 from a gun chambered for 223.