Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Texas Hog Shoot / Hunt

Been invited to a hog shoot / hunt somewhere North of Austin.

Some of those pigs look pretty dang big, but most look average size.

For those who've been there, done that, what kind of bullet to use? Fast expanding cup-n-core, or best go with bonded / mono expanding bullet?

TIA,

Pud

What round?

DF

They kill easy, use whatever you have. A 200 pounder around Austin would be a big pig.I hunted in Burnet just north and west of Austin for 12 years, lots of pigs.

Just about anything to the rear base of the ear works. My last couple were with cheap PPU 165 gr SP's from my Kimber Subalpine 30-06.

I’ve killed’em with .17 HMR and .22 WMR, just use FMJ bullets. Kills’em pretty dead. Of course ya gotta hit’em in the right spot.

So about any round will whack a porker if you do your part. Now for longer range, may need a longer range set up.

DF

Killed big and little ones with only a damn round lead ball. .350" to .610" dia. And everything in between.

What Ed said. Shot placement is everything..One of my very favorites for pig hunting is a .17 Rem The less confident you are on your placement, the bigger gun you will need...

Dunno. I could use a .25, .26, .30, .36, or .37.

Or for extra grins, a .41

A few thoughts.


Yes I kill hogs with a 22 centerfire, but it is not my every day choice

The Poobah is a much better shot than I so I tend to use larger calibers and heavier bullets.

I/ve killed hundreds and my preference for free roaming hogs (not in a trap or pen, and close up) is 6.5 (264) and larger.

Why, because I want two leaky holes, one going in and one going out that a blind man can wade in. Makes life much easier should one decide to track if the critter is not DRT.

IMHO, a premium bullet is fine but not a necessity. I am not particularly a fan of monometal bullets on hogs if you hit them high above/behind the shoulder and do not sever the spine. The fat of the "shield" tends to plug up the holes made by monometals when they pencil through.

My go to these days is a Sig Cross chambered for the 308 Win, loaded with Norma 150 gr. Soft Points, or a Sauer 404 in 308 Win., loaded with Winchester Factory Power-Points. Why those, cause I got them a while back for $12-15 a box.



Regardless of caliber, IMHO shot placement is of primary concern.

Hogs move constantly, so sometimes you have to take the shot you get. If you will be hunting over feeders spinning corn, they will typically stay at that feeder until every kernel has been consumed. My preferred shot is to draw an imaginary line between the ear and shoulder, then place a bullet 2" below the ear on that line. This may not be the most humane shot but it will sever the spine and the hog will drop and paddle. These days I put a second shot in them if they paddle 180 degrees.



308 Win. 150 gr. Accubonds

That shot also give you a bit of a margin of error should they move between the time your brain sez' squeeze, you do and the bullet impacts.




9.3 x 62, 250 gr. Accubond.

He moved and I ear-holed him.



45-70, 400 gr. Speer

He moved, I hit him a skosh back and low. Had to track +/-50 yds at night. No bueno'.



Just about perfect, maybe a skosh to the left.

308 Win, 150 gr. Winchester Power Points.



6.5 PRC, 143 gr. ELD-X

IMHO, the ELD-X are a bit softer than the Accubonds and I've had excellent luck on a number of species using the 143 Gr. ELD-X

Anywho,

Good luck with your hunt.

Best,

GWB

I’ve been hog hunting a couple times with no kills many years ago. I was hunting with a friend and he was using a 270. He had loaded up some 90 grain hollow points. We were about 200 yards apart. Small herd of pigs were close to him . Less than a hundred yard shot for him. They were running. He hit a full grown sow in the shoulder. Instant death. The whole front leg was almost blown off. It opened up the pig like a bomb had detonated. You could see the internals. I’ll never forget it. You will never have to trail a pig like that !!!!

I am now an expert. I shot one pig and can tell you that the only way to shoot them is with a 50 caliber lever action rifle.

The campfire is full of a bunch of wannabes and you are wasting your time listening to them..

Ear hole 'em as Ed and Greed said. They'll drop like they were hit by lightning. Killed many truckloads over the years with many different calibers. Just go have fun is the main point! If you get a toothy one cut the head off and do a skull mount. They are kool.

Shot a bunch with a 32-40

That was a fluke and you know it.

You've GOT to have an AR 'platform', in a trendy new ARC or PRC cartridge, on a $200 tripod, suppressed, with a Thermal scope, rails all around and an espresso maker that attaches to the bottom rail. And don't forget the Bubba Buddy for the folding buttstock!

Good info everyone.

Sounds like the general rule I use for bullets still applies for Texas hogs. Live weight under 300 lbs, I'll use whatever cup-n-core I've got around. Much beyond that I'll reach for a bonded or a mono bullet.

I have some Hot-Cores in .257 and .308, ELD-X for the 6.5.

Should be fun...

Wow, hog’s ugly, rifle is beautiful. Love that wood.

But you have a bunch of really nice toys.

DF

no wonder Shrapnel,s hog died, he shot him in his dick

Pays to have the right gun.

DF

As I'm sure you already know..... It's all about shot placement, just ear hole em. this was with a 143 grain ELD-x

I shot this 212-pounder west of Nacagdoches with a 300 Blackout at about 156 yards.