.243 for hogs?

HRstretch · #8 05-03-2009, 11:22 PM

We kill a 100 plus hogs a year off a place in South Texas and everyone shot with a 243 died just as well as the ones shot with a 30-06, sometimes better because of the shooter. I would chose your own 243 over a ranch hands truck gun. The truck gun may be just fine, but why take the chance???

kstrick · #9 05-04-2009, 11:02 AM

100/year!!! wow! Sounds like fun to me.
I understand hogs are a bad problem in many parts of TX.
I am in N. AL...so far we are pretty lucky. Seems like most of the hog problems are further south of us. I understand hogs can decimate deer herds and turkey flocks.
Our club rule - you see a hog..kill it.

HUAINAMACHERO · #10 05-04-2009, 02:16 PM

I would definitively go with my gun!!! The gun you dont know could be better but could be worst and you would regret not having your gun there. If the hogs are hit well enough they would go down with the 243 for sure.
Remember the movie “The Ghost and the Darkness”, the guy goes to the hunt with a gun that wasnt his and misses the shots to the lion, because it wasnt his gun. He took it only because it was of a greater caliber. I know it is only a movie, but it is a good example.
Please keep us posted on how you did on the hunt, and if you take your 243, tell us how it did on the hogs.
Just my two cents. Good luck.

esshup · #11 05-05-2009, 01:08 AM

I shipped it today, so it'll be there in plenty of time. It'll be interesting, they've had a bunch of rain down there last week, one county had 15" in 15 hrs.

novaman64 · #12 05-05-2009, 10:37 AM

Cool, good luck and let us know how it goes. Are you planning on sticking with the TSX bullet?

Dont forget to check zero on your rifle when you get down there.

#13 05-05-2009, 03:11 PM

May be a little off base but my dad has killed does @ 450 to 500 yrds with his 243. It will get the job done if you put it were it counts

esshup · #14 05-05-2009, 07:33 PM

Yes, I'm still sticking with the TSX. I haven't had any time to do any load testing this year, but I'm pretty happy with the load. The 100 g TSX works very well in my .257 Wby, so even tho the .243 throws them a bit slower, I think they will work just fine. I haven't ever had a problem with an animal that was shot with a Barnes, especially at very high impact speeds (Corsican with the .257 Wby @ 25 yds.) The ram stiff legged at impact, and was dead before the hair floated to the ground. Thru and thru, high shoulder, $.50 piece sized exit hole.