How much Energy is needed to take an hog ?

kc · #8 02-18-2012, 08:34 PM

I should always remember there are people who can shoot a heckova lot better than me.

aggie99 · #9 02-28-2012, 10:51 AM

I live and hunt in east Texas and have killed more pigs than I would care to count. I have used recurve bows, compound bows, 9mm, 22 mag, 22-250, 25-06, 6.5x55, 30-30, 30-06 etc. and all are more than capable of killing pigs. Some how pigs have gained an almost mythical ability to survive any cartridge and that is not the case. If you can hit the vitals they will die the same as any other animal so just pick your favorite weapon and help us thin the herd.

curtis · #10 02-28-2012, 01:32 PM

If I'm using a .25-06 w/ a 100 gr Remington Cor-lokt to go hog hunting and I see a hog at...let's say 100 yards, do I need to wait for a quartering away shot to get the bullet up into the vitals (missing the shield) or will I be OK busting through the shield, into the vitals at a broadside shot?

aggie99 · #11 02-28-2012, 03:25 PM

The shield would only be a problem on very large males. The largest boar I have ever shot (far too large to put in the truck) was about 250 yards and quartering to me. The 30 cal entrance wound looked like a large exit wound but he was DRT. On the average hog either shot will be effective.

Taken with a Ruger #1 in 25-06 at about 175-200 yards. He was quartering hard to me. The entrance wound was about 2-3 inches behind and slightly below the ear. He kicked for a minute but never took another step.

35RShooter · #12 03-02-2012, 09:01 PM

I personally am not a fan of 22 caliber rounds for anything bigger than a coyote. When i pig hunt back in Florida i use either my .308 or 35 Rem. Any cartridge .243 or up will be sufficient given proper shot placement within a reasonable yardage. Happy hunting. 35RShooter.

nateisw · #13 03-09-2012, 04:47 PM

Anything comparable to .243 or above should have sufficient power to take any size hog at any reasonable distance with good shot placement. In Hawaii, the rule is anything greater than 1,200 ft/lbs ME, so .223's are legal. I personally use a 7mm rem mag on hogs, but my cousin uses a 30-30 and my coworker uses a .270. At very close range, even a .22 lr can put a big hog down in one shot, but I wouldn't chance it.

Twanger · #14 03-12-2012, 04:46 PM

Talking to the outfitter for the hog hunt we just completed he said a 7.62X39 is about the smallest he recommended.
We had one of those in our group and it worked just dandy on the 50-pound boar that it took.

Our group brought a .308 (mine), two 7.5X55 Swiss SK's, and a 300-mag. These were all more than adequate.