Hunting & Fishing Feral Hog Hunting

[sentry1]

So it turns out Alabama allows feral hog hunting year round, which means I have an excuse to buy a rifle, right meow!

I'm leaning towards the Remington 700, for many reasons.

However, I've never gone hog hunting, and I'm told the .308 is insufficient. Would I be better off with a .300 Win Mag?

 

[Victory]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

.308 is fine. I smoke hogs with 5.56 all the time.

 

[coldboremiracle]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Read, read, and more read. You will soon find all the answers you are looking for.

 

[Possum]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

No problem with a 308.
On a 66 thousand acre base, they allow hunting hogs. But no center fire. I've seen some BEASTs that were taken with a .22mag.
Don't underestimate the 308, it is plenty capable!

 

[BillyGoatMachine]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I use my .308 for hunting hogs. It blows their skulls apart using hollow points. It's worked just fine for me, but as with ANY caliber, shot placement for a clean kill is essential.

 

[mac37]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

308 is plenty. I just got back from Texas and we used .243, 6.8 spc, and .308 with great success.

 

[redirt78]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Just got home ten minutes ago from doing this with 5.56 and 308 Arrow

Trying to flip the pic

We killed 10 of the 12 we saw. Had two big ones that were a long ways off leave the field when we got on the second batch of 5. Never got shots on them.

Killed all of these recently with 5.56 and 308 Arrow

 

[Pigman]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

We hunt hogs on our place almost every weekend and we've used many different calibers such as 5.56, .308, .25-06, .220 swift, .50 beowulf, .300 win mag, .270, and even .17 HMR. IMO a .308 would be fine and I would pay more attention to bullet choice and shot placement than caliber. I've used FMJ, soft points, hollow points, and ballistic tips, and in my experience I've had the best results with soft points. FMJ's just pass through and through without expanding and don't do much damage. Ballistic tips are pretty much useless on hogs. They hardly penetrate a hog's skin at all and just leave a big wound cavity in the surface of the skin. Hollow points will work fine but they have a tendency to expand before penetrating deep enough, especially on a big boar. Then you have soft points, which have both excellent penetration and expansion. All in all, I'd say go with the .308, get some good soft point ammo (Remington, Hornady, Federal, etc...), and go kill some pigs!

-Josh

 

[spradley]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I watched videos of folks killing hogs with a .17hmr so what does that tell you? Shot placement is everything. The three that I've killed here in Central Alabama were all shot with a 25-06 using a 100gr Nosler Partition at 3200fps. Dropped them all in their tracks. Shot placement on two were straight through the shoulder and another in the neck.

 

[50calibercruiser]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I've killed more pigs out the window of my truck with my P22 than you can shake a stick at. Who ever is telling you a 308 isn't going to cut it is either trying to sell you something or a complete jackass.

 

[jeffbird]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

308 is way more than adequate.

As with all hunting, shot placement is most important. I use 175 SMK's and they work quite well with this placement.

For pigs, put them at the base of the ear and they will fall over DRT, and not ruin any meat either.

The ribs with the backstraps still attached are my favorite meat of all. Rub with balsamic vinegar, then rub with olive oil, and sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Slow smoke over a low temperature fire for several hours. Crack a cold beer, and enjoy.

Good luck on your hunt.

 

[TXSTDU]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Come one guys RedJacket said you need the .458 SOCOM so that HAS to be the gospel

 

[sentry1]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

My friend goes hog hunting with a .44 Magnum carbine, and he has an aversion to adventure, so I think he may be going for overkill.

@Gary: Where would one go in AL to find some hogs? I'm new here (up north by Huntsville), and trying to find a place to go. I've found some private hunting outfitters, but they charge some serious money, and a $1.50 per pound fee for each hog taken, or a $300 fee for any hogs shot and lost.

 

[dlklamfo]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I believe shot placement and bullet construction to be more important than caliber. I sure do wish I had a place in NC to shoot pigs!!

 

[killborn]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TXSTDU</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Come one guys RedJacket said you need the .458 SOCOM so that HAS to be the gospel </div></div>

That is some funny shit right there..

 

[alexrex20]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Whoever told you 308 is insufficient is an idiot. I took a 450lb boar with a 22-250, though my go-to hog gun is a 308. My friend's use 270 or 243, and some even 223/5.56, but like everyone says, shot placement is key. I typically go for the head shot (through the ear canal or right behind it), unless I want to mount the head. Then, go through the shoulder blade. Their vital cavity is very very low. Check out some anatomy diagrams to find the kill zone. It's low and forward, if not the head.

 

[Bigchaza]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I live on a farm and waste any pigs I see about twice a day I personally chop and change between a 308 loaded with 130 gr speer hollow points, these rounds are uber devastating and pretty flat shooting, they are not really made for long range but ive never really made many long range shots on pigs, and a 243 with soft points nice flat shooting rifle less kick and im yet to see a pig survive one , between these two calibers i doubt youd find better rounds for killing pigs. cant get my iphone to work right now but ill post a pic later of a 100 kg hog I got with the 130 gr hollow points

 

[jcdean]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I have been using my FNAR lately. Around where I shoot the first round is hunting and the rest is killing. I give up on the humane killing after the first one drops and just try and get glass on hair and then move to the next target. With that said any that are alive after the rest run off are quickly dispatched. It is like a war zone. They can devastate a field in a single evening.

Comercial over. 308 is a great pig killer.

 

[xdpatriot]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

.308 is plenty. I go hog hunting quite a bit. My buddy that runs the place and I both shoot .223s. We've both got .308's. There just heavy to pack around. I agree whoever told you .308 isn't big enough is a tool.

 

[Super Bee 950]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I like using M80 ball on pigs. You need the penetration for the big ones. Every pig I have shot with a 168 Amax, ran off. At night shot placement isnt going to be great at times, so get something that will penetrate. 5.56 green tip is devestating on pigs as well!

 

[50calibercruiser]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Super Bee 950</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like using M80 ball on pigs. You need the penetration for the big ones. Every pig I have shot with a 168 Amax, ran off. At night shot placement isnt going to be great at times, so get something that will penetrate. 5.56 green tip is devestating on pigs as well! </div></div>

Yup, ball ammo works great. Don't waste your money on amax/smk/sp etc. Pigs are not some mythical creature. I'd even argue about perfect shot placement, somewhere up front seems to get it done for me.

 

[Southbreeze]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I just picked up another M1 garand the other day for cheap, thinking about mounting a red dot on it and trying it out with 150grn soft points........

I know it's heavy, but I do love me some old school cool military guns. just my twisted 2 cents worth.

Back to the OP's question, 68 or 69 grn 223's outta my ar's do the business quite nicely. I'm setting up a 300blk noveske upper now, but can't report on pig effectiveness yet.

Cheers,
Breeze

 

[sentry1]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Thanks for the info guys. I'm not sure yet if I'll be taking my M4 or the .308 Remington 700 I (hopefully) just acquired.

I know that if I take the .308, I'd like to put a canted mini red dot on it, in case bad things happen and the pig gets up close and personal. It seems like a good risk management plan, your input is still welcome.

 

[bassani]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

let us know how it turns out

 

[Layton]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sentry1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
I know that if I take the .308, I'd like to put a canted mini red dot on it, in case bad things happen and the pig gets up close and personal. It seems like a good risk management plan, your input is still welcome. </div></div>

Personally, IMHO in that situation a red dot on a 700 would be completely useless. And I don't think you're gonna have to worry about the hogs charging you unless you get em cornered and even then most likely not. Javelinas I would worry about a little more but even then as long as you have a truck close, just get in the bed and have at it with whatever you're carrying.

edt: I've been around wild hogs my entire life, walking up on filling deer feeders, running em off everything/anything, hunting em at night, etc, etc and never once have I had one charge at me. I've had em run by me so close they hit my legs but never deliberately trying to attack me.

 

[Layton]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

If you are still worried about getting up close and personal, carry a sidearm. Amazing what a pistol to the top of the head will do to even the biggest boars.

 

[sentry1]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I plan on carrying my XD40 as a backup, but I think the red dot is a good backup. Better safe than sorry. Risk management, right?

 

[Tx_Flyboy]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Sentry,

Any reason you picked up a rem 700 instead of a 308AR? Hog hunting normally presents you with a target rich environmen with fast follow-up shots being desirable. A bolt gun in a 308 will tbe a disadvantage unless you are only looking for one animal at a time.

Since you have an M4, I'd use it with a lower powered optic (3-9, 1-4, etc). I'd also load up with hunting ammo (regular soft points in the highest weight your barrel will stabilize).

Something like a DPMS LR-308 AP-4 (8.5lbs) or DPMS LR-308L (7.9lbs), Bushmaster ORC (7.75lbs) make for accurate, lighter (for 308 semi) weight weapon with the power and rapid follow-up shots you need.

If you look hard enough, you can usually find used examples for $900 or less.

But like many have suggested, go hunting with the M4 & a sidearm, and work on marksmanship.

 

[crumpmd]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

What he said. Most of my pig kills are with a M4 and ball ammo. I carry a .45 all the time anyway so sidearm is not an issue.

Look around guntersville and up around athens any big farms there and talk to farmers about hunting near their water sources. Also check with the co-ops and feed stores and ask if anybody is having a hard time with hogs. You will likely get contact like that.
I use a 1-4x konus scope on the M4. Pretty much leave it on 2x. It has a lit reticle. But make sure you have a good light or invest in a night scope. I have killed a bunch by moonlight and very few in daylight except dusk/dawn. Especially in the summer.

 

[boudin]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

All three I've taken were with the 105 Amax from a .243 Win, so I think a .308 is more than enough. Following jeffbird's advice on shot placement in/beneath the ear will indeed drop 'em in their tracks. I put this 225 lb boar's head out in the woods to get cleaned up after I shot him last season. There was no exit wound, so I really wanted to see the skull.

Just found it while scouting around yesterday and finally got to see what the shot actually did.

Left side (entry)

Right side (undamaged)

 

[sentry1]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Crump,

Great advice, thanks! I have an EOTech on my M4, looking into getting some night optics once my bank balance recovers from the 700 purchase. I guess my options are... a scope on the rifle, or head mounted NVGs with a laser designator on the rifle?

Flyboy,

Well, I've been wanting to get a 700, just because it's sexy. I've never been hog hunting before, and I figured it was a good application. Having some more information now, it seems like a medium to full length .308 AR might have been a good idea for this. But then I'd have two ARs instead of an AR and a 700.

For that matter, can I toss a .308 upper on a regular lower receiver and just use the appropriate magazine? Or would I need to get a whole separate build to support the different dimensions in the design?

 

[Heretoimproveforhunting]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: sentry1</div><div class="ubbcode-body">can I toss a .308 upper on a regular lower receiver and just use the appropriate magazine? </div></div>

the .308 uppers won't run on a .223 upper. The magazine wells are different.

 

[relentless]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

308 & 223 both sufficient w/ soft points & proper bullet placement.
I like the .300 Win. Mag. for twofers though.
relentless

 

[h4everything]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 50calcruiser</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Super Bee 950</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I like using M80 ball on pigs. You need the penetration for the big ones. Every pig I have shot with a 168 Amax, ran off. At night shot placement isnt going to be great at times, so get something that will penetrate. 5.56 green tip is devestating on pigs as well! </div></div>

Yup, ball ammo works great. Don't waste your money on amax/smk/sp etc. Pigs are not some mythical creature. I'd even argue about perfect shot placement, somewhere up front seems to get it done for me. </div></div>

Yes they're not bullet proof. They wont attack except under extreme circumstances and 50 cal is an artist with his P-22. It's amazing what a SS 22lr will do.

Get a 308 or a 300. Both will pile up hogs as high as you can stack em

 

[txgw]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I've shot them with everything from a 22lr to a 300 WM. We kill a few hundred every year and have used all kinds of bullets. We haven't had as good of luck with ball (they ricochet to bad hunting around cattle) or soft points (don't penetrate/do as much damage). We have had REALLY good luck with Sierra Gameking Hollow points out of any caliber. I've also had extremely good luck shooting 7mm-08 100 gr sierra hollow points. Lately we have been using R25 .243, DPMS .308, and AR-15.

As far as pistols go. The last one I shot with a pistol was one that had already been shot in the face with a 7 mag and I hit it 9 times while chasing it in a pickup from the back of the head to shoulder with a 40. I finally dropped it on the last shot in the mag lol. I've seen a 41 mag bounce off one's forehead 3 times before they walked around and shot it in the back of the head. Moral to that story, shoot them in the back of the head if possible.

Just about anything will work, as others have said shot placement is the biggest factor. If you don't hit them right the first time they can sure suck up a lot of lead before they go down. Shoot all of them you can!!

 

[Night Hunter]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

Good luck with the hogs. We do quite a bit of it as well, but we do most of it with archery equipment. Just our cup of tea I guess... But as stated, I would go with a semi as you will be in a target rich environment. I have killed more with a stick and string and a .22LR than a centerfire.

What part of Bama you in?

 

[sentry1]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I'm actually not too far from you, about 30 minutes north of Cullman. Where do you suggest I go looking for hogs around here?

 

[Brock Golson]

Re: Feral Hog Hunting

I want to take a trip to Texas and blast some pigs from a helo. Here in Alabama I think there are just to many trees to fly low level and try to bust a pig from the air.