77gr TMKs for hogs?

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748rpilot

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#1
I realize the TMK effects on game have been discussed quite a bit already and I've read a decent amount of those threads.

I'd like to plan a hog hunt or a few. Currently have .223 in bolt and gas guns. Would 69gr or 77gr TMKs be a reasonable choice for hogs? And if so, to what distance? Confidence wise I'd probably limit myself to ~250 yards in good conditions (and assuming appropriate terminal performance would be achieved).

Gas gun barrel is 16.5" 1:7, bolty is 24" 1:8. I know pretty well that the bolt gun shoots 69gr Norma and 77gr SMKs pretty well.

For the purpose of popping hogs, would you specifically prefer a gas gun over a bolt gun, or vice-versa? I mean, I could always take both but just curious where folks preferences lie.
 
#2
I don't worry too much about hogs since I don't care about meat preservation and I still try to aim for head area. Most any bullet will kill if you shoot the head. Are you trying to go for heart/lungs? Are you shooting runners? If so, I would probably like the heavier 77 for more penetration. I think the 69 will work alright but I'll favor the 77.
 
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#4
stello1001 said:
I don't worry too much about hogs since I don't care about meat preservation and I still try to aim for head area. Most any bullet will kill if you shoot the head. Are you trying to go for heart/lungs? Are you shooting runners? If so, I would probably like the heavier 77 for more penetration. I think the 69 will work alright but I'll favor the 77.
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Probably mostly heart and lungs although I wouldn't say head shots are out of the question. I'd like to get a nice mount or two and then some eaters.

Almost certainly I won't be shooting runners, my abilities aren't up to task.

I don't have hogs near me so I'll be booking guided hunt(s) and traveling, at a fair expense. Most guides/outfitters seem to charge as soon as blood is drawn, so from that perspective alone I'd like to be confident in a kill and recovery.
 
#6
zeroz said:
If you're head shooting singles, it's fine. If you are shooting multiples, care about clean kills and want to recover the hogs Id shoot something bigger. They are tough critters. Ive shot and killed them with 22LR up to 308 and I pretty much just shoot them with grendels now.
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I'd either be head or lung shooting singles I'm pretty sure. Not sure I'd want to chance it on movers. And yea I do want to recover them, both for the table and I'd be paying per animal.

I could convert the gas gun to a 6 ARC or 300 BLK with a bolt and barrel swap, I'm pretty sure. Last I checked factiry barrels were about $1000, though, so maybe I just look at a different bolt gun.

If not shooting movers is there any clear winner between a gasser and a boltgun ?
 
#7
@748rpilot

Hogs run in groups around here. We try to eradicate as many as possible, so self loaders are the go-to option. Most guys I hunt with have gone to suppressed 300BO or suppressed Grendel. I am a poor, so I still use the poodle shooter with 64gr Nosler; it works well. Someday I will make up a Grendel gas gun so I can run with the cool kids. We have had good results on woods deer with the Grendel bolt gun.

With the cost (time and money) of a guided hunt, I would consider buying whatever rifle your outfitter recommends. It is false economy to do otherwise.
 
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#8
John? said:
@748rpilot

Hogs run in groups around here. We try to eradicate as many as possible, so self loaders are the go-to option. Most guys I hunt with have gone to suppressed 300BO or suppressed Grendel. I am a poor, so I still use the poodle shooter with 64gr Nosler; it works well. Someday I will make up a Grendel gas gun so I can run with the cool kids. We have had good results on woods deer with the Grendel bolt gun.

With the cost (time and money) of a guided hunt, I would consider buying whatever rifle your outfitter recommends. It is false economy to do otherwise.
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Curious, are you guys hunting public or private? Around here public deer hunting is a bit of a crapshoot, especially for the 2 day firearms season. Wondering what odds might be like to go for hogs on public after gaining some experience.
 
#9
748rpilot said:
Curious, are you guys hunting public or private? Around here public deer hunting is a bit of a crapshoot, especially for the 2 day firearms season. Wondering what odds might be like to go for hogs on public after gaining some experience.
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We hunt private land. It’s more pest control than sport. Deer, hogs, coyotes, coons, etc just tear up what we are trying to raise.
 
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#10
@748rpilot

When I was stationed in LA and NC we hunted public land quite a bit. Compared to private land, public land hunting is quite a bit harder because of the pressure on game. Might be different out west, I never hunted west of Kansas.

RE: your hog hunt. Is your outfitter providing night observation gear or is it day only hunting? Switching from NODS to thermal was a game changer for me. Being a poor, I know little about various thermal optics. I do know that the close-out Steiner I bought works well enough despite it being a battery hog and slightly larger than a cinder block.
 
#11
748rpilot said:
I realize the TMK effects on game have been discussed quite a bit already and I've read a decent amount of those threads.

I'd like to plan a hog hunt or a few. Currently have .223 in bolt and gas guns. Would 69gr or 77gr TMKs be a reasonable choice for hogs? And if so, to what distance? Confidence wise I'd probably limit myself to ~250 yards in good conditions (and assuming appropriate terminal performance would be achieved).

Gas gun barrel is 16.5" 1:7, bolty is 24" 1:8. I know pretty well that the bolt gun shoots 69gr Norma and 77gr SMKs pretty well.

For the purpose of popping hogs, would you specifically prefer a gas gun over a bolt gun, or vice-versa? I mean, I could always take both but just curious where folks preferences lie.
Click to expand...

Head or center neck. Stay away from the vitals on anything big and shoot for the CNS. Under 200 yards really regarding distance.

I'm sure that there will be someone on shortly to correct me in that they shoot massive boars all the time with the .17 Fireball and V-Maxes. However, you are playing against the odds. It is all fun and games until you piss one of them off real well and they come back at you (so go with a gas gun). After that happened to me the second time - I went ahead and started playing with larger cartridges.

If you pick your shot on a solo hog and anticipate nothing more, as well as hunt from a secure location... then the .223 is a decent enough cartridge as long as you put the bullet exactly where it needs to be. I've killed quite a few with a 5.56, but I've also lost more wounded hogs with that cartridge than my others combined.
 
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#12
Sounds like I might need to consider a bigger boat. I've contacted some guides so I'll find out more on how they run their hunts and if the .223 is good to go for their circumstances.

I was at the gun shop looking for alternatives today, a few options popped up. Browning BAR mk4 DBM is an 18" semi-auto .308 with integrated pic rail and box mag. S&W 1854 lever gun comes in 357 mag, 45 Colt and 45-70. Beretta BRX1 in .308 with a 20" 10 twist might also be an option? A straight pull bolt action might make for faster followups than a lever action.

Buffalo Bore, Blackhills and Underwood all have 158 or 180gr 357 loads between 1500 and 1700 fps and 750-790 lb-ft. That might be a solid option inside 100 yards?
 
#13
People kill deer and pigs all the time with 55 grainers. I think the 223 will work good for you with the right bullet so long as you take ethical shots and aren't rushing to get them off.

Do I believe there is a better round? Sure! But so long as you're not trying to break ELR records with the 223 on these pigs, you'll be fine. Keep distances reasonable.

You now have a decision to make. Stick with your original plan and run the 223, focus on making the right shot, and have fun.

Or...

Play it safe. Get something bigger, and have peace of mind that if you don't necessarily get the perfect angle, perfect distance to target, etc, you're more prepared.

Only you can answer how you wanna go on this.
 
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#14
After laying down a bunch of deer/pigs in various ways w/ various bullets/calibers, Ive settled on the following…

If I want it dead where it’s standing…head (any bullet, any caliber) base of head/neck junction (any bullet, any caliber), or high shoulder…in the middle of the upper half of the shoulder blade/scapula (small caliber tough bullet, or bigger caliber, any bullet)

If I wanna shoot something behind the shoulder not hitting any CNS… I want a bigger caliber for bigger holes and better chance at blood on the ground because 9/10 times it’s gunna run regardless of caliber…I’ve seen 100# does and blackbuck whacked with 6mm up to 338 Normas behind the shoulder and still run 25-100+ yds into the brush. Thick brush in south tx so most of the time we aren’t going to see where they drop

If I was taking a 223, regardless of bullet, I’d shoot them in the head/base of the head…not because a hit in the vitals won’t kill them…but because the chances of good blood on the ground to follow for recovery isnt always great.
 
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#15
Vermin reduction operations get the AR10 308/708. Anchors better on non vital shots. AMAX/SSTs work really good.
Pay per hog style then bolt gun and the guide will put you into a position to kill just fine with a center neck shot with a 77gr 5.56.
Up the bullet construction and do a Hammer 57gr HHT for 5.56.
 
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