Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Best pig rifle

Pigs have a reputation for being tough, but it doesn’t take much to kill them!

A 308 with a 175 SMK or 130 or 150 Barnes TTSX is my favorite, mostly from my MRC with a NF NXS Compact 2.5-10x42.

My preferred shot placement is to the base of the ear.

I made this video years ago, when people kept saying a 308 with 175 SMK's will not kill animals.

I shot more than 100 with that combo before I quit counting years ago, but I use 130 or 150 TTSX's most of the time now, except for one rifle.

Shot placement is the key to success, as always.

I killed a WHOLE BUNCH of them with a .22 LR as a kid in East Texas. Preferred solid lead bullets over HP's. though, for penetration.

Mike Holmes

like most others ive used lots of different calibers, killed quite a few with a 223 using the winchester 45 gr varmint packs wally world used to sell, would shoot them in the center of the neck and they dropped DRT every time with that load. Currently using a 300 blk with Makers 200 gr expanders only shot a couple with it so far but works as expected, M4 carbine w/aimpoint PRO and a suppressor has killed many too and my favorite for shooting sounders and for trap work. Killed a truck load with a Glock 22 as well. 40 cal works great

Strictly a dog hunter for pigs. My pard uses a SKS and I use a Glock 20 ( 10 mm ). We don't use catch dogs. Just strictly bay. The SKS is a hog lazor!!! The 10 has never failed. Behind the burr of the ear is lethal with even a 22.

Regards

Something like that would be my choice too. 6.5, 6.8, one of the .30s, and of course the 7.62x39. All about perfect for lots of critters. And you can stuff a magazine full.

I wouldn't limit myself to one rifle if I had the opportunity to shoot lots of pigs. They are perfect test subjects.

Mostly the same here, if shooting head, I want solids. Suppressed subs in HP have worked in the ear socket over the last few years though. But I've shot who knows how many with a Ruger MK2 after someone else takes the first shot when sneaking up on em, and for that, I run HPs and take the first one that stops, in the lungs... never fails.

If they are big and tough, you simply have to be close enough and hit the right spot. I"ve taken em over 300 pounds with the 22lr, though obviously I'd want a bit more like 300/221 or such if I had it with me.

They will fall to anything though. Killed over 100 with arrows. Never got a chance with a spear. Never dog hunted so no knives. Have shot them with anything I've had on hand too, including a few last year with a 458 win mag. Never had the 50 bmg around when I had pigs though.

For a sounder, my pick of what I own, would be 6.8/6mm in the AR, with a big mag. Bit heavier than 223, fast, very little recoil. I"ve killed up to 3-4 at a time with it, but I've never had it the few times when we found sounders in the open...

Now I’ve only seen hogs once while hunting and never shot one, so take what I say with a grain of salt. But I’d think a medium bore based on a standard cartridge would be hard to beat for hogs, something like the 358 win or 338 federal.

I've killed em with a .270 Win. a .280 Rem., a .250 Savage, and 8x57, and a .30-06. They were all pretty well bang flops. My wife killed a few with her .243 that were DRT Dead on the spot.. My most impressive kill on a hog was right around 300 yards with a .270 and a 130 Grain Sierra Game King. I shot through the front shoulder and he ran about 25 yards across a senderro and died about 5 yards inside the brush line. The next most impressive kill was about 120 yards with my lowly .250 Savage and a 115 Grain Combined Technologies Ballistic Tip that put a nice sow down immediately if not sooner. That was another bang flop kill. Gee I love it when a plan comes together!!!

Just bought a 358 Savage 99. I’m gonna see what it will do to pigs when I go fill feeders in late March.

I cut down a kimber montana in .338 Federal to about 17"... it's hell on them offhand

It would be fun to have a 99 bored to 338 Federal.

I rebarreled a couple of 308 99s to 338fed when I worked at the gunshop. Pretty straightforward deal that never involved much feeding work.

built an AR -10 in 338 Federal a few months back.







loading the 185 Hornady GMX, cold barrel shot at 100 yds.










Works well for perforating hoglets





ya!


GWB

Based on my limited testing last year, the 338 Federal is a bacon smasher.

Whatchoo gonna use on them this year?

Anyone tried 223 FMJs on pigs?

Best pig rifle? I find it's a poor idea to arm pigs. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to vote Democrat.

Yes, I’ve killed a couple dozen with IMI 55gr ball. Shoot them in the front half and they squeal and die right there. Can’t recall ever needing to shoot one twice as a matter of fact.

My new 18” PSA I put together last week is a killer. Took 3 75gr BTHPs to zero and 3 of the next 4 killed a coyote and 2 pigs. Looks like a winner but I’m not sure about the 75s. They didn’t seem to produce the lightning bolt kills I’ve seen with 50,53, and 55gr bullets. I’ll have to shoot a few more pigs to form an opinion.