Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Hog Medicine

I have decided to go to Southern Georgia in December to hunt hogs with another one of my fellow Campers. We'll be hunting at least two full days. I'm somewhat of a cat in the corncrib at the moment, trying to decide which rifles to take. I figure I'll throw out some choices and let y'all discuss it.

The first rifle that comes to mind is a Ruger Model 44 shooting 240 grain Hornady XTPs. It wears an early Aimpoint 2MOA red dot. I figure this would be good for close-in work. I have a sentimental reason for this choice; my best friend hunted just this sort of rifle the last time we went boar hunting together. He died in '92. This rifle came from the estate of our mutual best friend that died last winter.

The Whelenizer is my next choice. I purchased a Rem 7600 in 35 Whelen from the classifieds here in 2005. I have found it to be a bit more than needed for KY whitetails, and haven't been shooting it as much lately. I've got 200 Grain Rem SP's over H4895.

The Savage 99 in 308 WIN. I use 165 grain Hornady IL SP's over H4895 and download it slightly so it shoots more like a hot 300 Savage.

The Ruger Hawkeye in 30-06 is kind of my do-all/be-all GOTO rifle. Since I retired the Whelenizer, it's been my most consistent producer of venison. It's a Stainless/Walnut beauty. I know if I take it, I won't be disappointed.


. . . or something else. I'm pretty well covered in deer rifles. I'm open to suggestions.

So what do you think? I'd like to take at least a 2-gun battery as a primary and backup.

Whichever you want the day you leave, they’ll all do fine. I kill a few dozen a year and primarily use the 223, I don’t find them tough to kill at all even with 40gr bullets.

Have a great hunt Shaman. Good choices, one and all, but as you know from our previous conversations, I'm an unabashed 99 nut. Put that Savage to work, sir.

I'd take the Savage 99 and the Remington 7600. Both are cool, but different, and either should put a hurt on a hog. I've used both those chamberings to good effects on swine.

Take the 99! I’ve killed bunches of pigs with a 308. Take the Ruger 30-06 for a backup rifle.

Take the .44 and whatever else you want. The .44 is far more than you need to whack a pig, assuming you can hit what you're aiming at. Otherwise I'd suggest a GAU-8.

Another vote for the .44.

I’ve killed em here at the Ranch with everything from a .556 up to a 45-70 and even a .54 cal Hawken, not to mention with just about every pistol I own.

But it seems I’ve had the most fun killing them up close and personal with a Winchester 94 Trapper in .44 mag.

It doesn’t take much to kill a pig. Hope you get a chance to kill a bunch!

223, 62gr barnes.

a GAU-8? Now you're talking. I wonder where I could find a rental in S. Georgia. Although, I'd much prefer something water-cooled and vintage. Here are some Georgia boys out for a day's hunt back at the turn of the last century. They look they're having fun:

[Linked Image]

Ooops! I read the caption wrong. They're not Georgians. Germans/Georgians-- it's all fun. Where's my pickelhaube?

I've been conversing with my fellow camper that has been to this place before; most shots are going to be 40 yards and under. The 44 is definitely going to be going along.

As to the second gun. I think I'll let the weather decide. If it looks like a lot of rain, I may take the Hawkeye or the Whelenizer. The Hawkeye Is stainless and the Whelenizer was my designated "rain gun" for over a decade. I normally don't take the '99 out in the rain.

That Hawkeye, btw, is beginning to be a problem. I'm deliberately keeping it out of the deer rotation this year because it ALWAYS seems to fill 1-2 tags. If I don't start leaving it home, I'll never get to my other projects.

Stuff I'm definitely NOT taking:

The M1 Garand-- it'd be fun, except for the weight-- a fat man in the swamp in December with a 10.5 lb battle rilfe does not sound pleasant. It sounds like all the warmth of the Ardenne mixed with the lushness of Guadacanal.
Similarly, I'll scratch the 8X57 Mauser from Hell. It'd be perfect, except it's about 2 lbs heavier than the Hawkeye.
From the sound of it, single-shots are also out. The chance for multiple hits from a sounder is a possibility. Heck, I've got 10 round magazines for the 7600--oooow! wouldn't that be exciting!

That is what I load for my AR’s It rips pigs a new ass!

Take the 44 for fun and nostalgic. Then take any of the others that have a bit more reach especially if you will hunt open fields or do spot & stalk.

What type of hunting?
I walk the swamps/sloughs and always on the move so I prefer short and light.
If your sitting a stand just take your fav deer rifle.
Hog dogging, I’d use a pistol or a Rambo knife

It's really best to just bring them all. Jealousy among safe-mates is an ugly thing.

Then again, your posts belie an affinity for nostalgia, so the .44 and the 99 should probably migrate to the front of the line.

And remember your processor's comments from the Venison Ribs thread, about not, "blowing up their chests".

FC

You're right FC!

You never know when you're going to have one of those wild Take-em-with-a-deer-slug kind of mornings, or eating French Onion soup reminds me that I have a MAS 36 that needs blooding. I guess I'll have to rent a trailer.

I hope the outfitter has gun bearers for rent.

Whatever you take have a safe and good time. Be Well, RZ

No bad choices on that list. I'd pick the 44 for sentimental reasons and the Hawkeye because I like bolt guns.

Since shots will be close, I'd also consider taking the 44 long gun and a 44 revolver.


Okie John

Take whatever deer rifle you shoot best geared toward what kind of terrain and conditions you expect. In South Georgia you might be hunting over a feeder from a blind or stand or shooting out into a farm field. I have a 44 carbine I plan to use this year in Ohio on deer where ranges are no more than 50-75 yards. Woukdnt be my pick for a hog hunt unless I knew that I woukd be short range only. I hunted hogs in the south for decades and I liked a standard deer caliber in a bolt gun with no more than a 22 inch barrel. Worked great close in and if I had to reach out down a road, power right of way , wet prairie or farm field. The 22 inch barrel worked great from a stand , blind or off a atv.

Shaman,
I live in GA and either your .308 or .30-06 will do great. Most folks down here kill hogs with the same rifle they use for deer hunting. .308 seems to be highly popular for hogs. As Boarmaster 123 says keep the barrel at 22" or less and the rifle should be fairly light and handy in case you have to get into the thick stuff. In December they will either be down in swamps or thick timber or over bait. Good luck and post your pics!

About any round will kill a hog when placed right. I've killed them with FMJ .17 HMR.. Truck loads have been killed with .22's, S, L and LR.

The last one I killed was with a 62 gr. Fed Fusion out of a .22-204 over Varget. DRT.

I've just finished a Mauser 98, 338-06 and think 225 Fed Fusions should kill about any hog...

Ya reckon,,?

My good hunting bud has a newly put together M-70 .416 Rem, getting ready for an African buff hunt next year. We sighted it in with 350 Speer over 4064 at around 2,250 fps. I loaded him a few rounds for hogs. Don't see a problem...

DF