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Rifles for Feral Hog
- Thread starter james13
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Yup. I have one and it is a boat anchor.
Personally, I’d bring my SCAR with a 1-8x optic, because that’s what I have. I think the .308 is an acceptable cartridge, but I doubt the SCAR is the best gun for the game. But, then again, I don’t shoot anything that bleeds so I’m the last person you should take hunting advice from…
I hope to get more information on that front. I don't know anyone else involved aside from my friend who extended the invite . Fairly certain he hasn't hunted before either.
Mark from MA
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Anything you would hunt deer with really. If you gonna head shoot, I'd say a .223 or .243 is good, otherwise leave the small calibers at home.
Body shots I'd use a .30 cal or bigger for bigger holes, as fat will plug it up, pigs are tough.
Personally, I like the idea of a lever gun in like 35 rem, 44mag, or 45-70.
Body shots I'd use a .30 cal or bigger for bigger holes, as fat will plug it up, pigs are tough.
Personally, I like the idea of a lever gun in like 35 rem, 44mag, or 45-70.
Golddiggie
NES Member
I've seen vids of people using 300 blackout to drop hogs like mad. Get a 9-16" barrel and you're good. If you're going to suppress it, get a 10" barrel and don't worry. IIRC, there's 110gr rounds out there that will drop them like a rock. Go subsonic with 220gr and they'll drop fast at closer ranges. Slap a LVPO on top, or dot with magnifier and you have range options and still be precise in shot placement.
I'm working on a 6.5 Grendel build myself. 18" barrel. Just need to select an optic for it before taking going to the range with it. Might slap one of my dots on it for function testing and see how the recoil is. I'm looking to use the upper for more long range shooting. No plan to hunt, at this point, but I like the round characteristics. I might use it to hunt in the future, since I'll have plenty of options. I also have an AR10 (308 Win) with an 18" barrel. Wouldn't want to lug that around all day. If you're going to be in a stand or maybe driven around, it would be OK. But 308 might be overkill unless you're going after hogzilla.
I'm working on a 6.5 Grendel build myself. 18" barrel. Just need to select an optic for it before taking going to the range with it. Might slap one of my dots on it for function testing and see how the recoil is. I'm looking to use the upper for more long range shooting. No plan to hunt, at this point, but I like the round characteristics. I might use it to hunt in the future, since I'll have plenty of options. I also have an AR10 (308 Win) with an 18" barrel. Wouldn't want to lug that around all day. If you're going to be in a stand or maybe driven around, it would be OK. But 308 might be overkill unless you're going after hogzilla.
I have never shot a hog with one but my choice would be 300 blackout in an AR platform for hogs. Avoid subsonic bullets and a suppressor unless you have some reason to go that route. Sure it’s cool, but a 16” barrel and a good bullet like a 110-120 Barnes tac-tx are going to give you more power, range, and shoot flatter.
Where is the hunt going to be? A 308 is great if you’re going out west and taking shots beyond 200 yards or so. But it’s heavy and a bit beyond what you’re going to need for closer shots.
Where is the hunt going to be? A 308 is great if you’re going out west and taking shots beyond 200 yards or so. But it’s heavy and a bit beyond what you’re going to need for closer shots.
cathouse01
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Here is a good article comparing the .458 SOCOM to the 45-70. One conclusion is that, since it's a semi-auto platform, the .458 SOCOM is better for hog hunting where you might need to make multiple rapid followup shots. If you already have an AR 15 type, getting a .458 upper will be much less expensive than getting a 45-70 lever action. Plus, to get 8 round capacity in a 45-70 lever you need to go with a 24 inch barrel. The SOCOM has ten round mags as standard.
ammo.com
458 SOCOM vs 45 70 - Cartridge Comparison by Ammo.com
458 SOCOM vs 45 70 caliber comparison by Ammo.com. Are 458 SOCOM ballistics comparable to 45 70 ballistics or is 45-70 a superior big game cartridge?
ammo.com
SpencerT
NES Member
Here is a good article comparing the .458 SOCOM to the 45-70. One conclusion is that, since it's a semi-auto platform, the .458 SOCOM is better for hog hunting where you might need to make multiple rapid followup shots. If you already have an AR 15 type, getting a .458 upper will be much less expensive than getting a 45-70 lever action. Plus, to get 8 round capacity in a 45-70 lever you need to go with a 24 inch barrel. The SOCOM has ten round mags as standard.
458 SOCOM vs 45 70 - Cartridge Comparison by Ammo.com
458 SOCOM vs 45 70 caliber comparison by Ammo.com. Are 458 SOCOM ballistics comparable to 45 70 ballistics or is 45-70 a superior big game cartridge?
Last I looked into these guys offered a full rifle for about $4500 or an upper only for about $2300 if you have a DPMS pattern lower. Doesn’t help with the weight over .308ar but it’s a good reason to justify another rifle in my opinion and would allow rapid follow up shots if needed.
Christine 45-70 Auto
Phoenix Weaponry "Christine" .45-70 Auto rifle is a powerful and accurate firearm chambered in the iconic .45-70 Government cartridge. With its custom design and precision engineering, it offers exceptional performance and reliability for shooting enthusiasts and professionals. Proudly made in...
www.phoenixweaponry.com
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Knob Creek
NES Member
I'm going next spring and using a 350 Legend in AR Platform. My 45/70 lever gun will probably come along too. And I might carry my Super Blackhawk or a 10mm Sig P220 too. Too much?
Now that we have crossed into the silliness threshold.
I hog hunt with these. Always go full retard.
Wear a kilt and practice your death scream. Let those hogs know whos boss.
Show no fear. Kill the leader and the rest will bow to you. Eat its heart and smear its blood on your face.
You can then ride them into battle, like Abraham Lincoln did astride a Triceratops at the battle of the Alamo.
For the 2 legged hogs, this bags em every time
I hog hunt with these. Always go full retard.
Wear a kilt and practice your death scream. Let those hogs know whos boss.
Show no fear. Kill the leader and the rest will bow to you. Eat its heart and smear its blood on your face.
You can then ride them into battle, like Abraham Lincoln did astride a Triceratops at the battle of the Alamo.
For the 2 legged hogs, this bags em every time
widnerkj
NES Member
6.5 Grendel is pretty magical on the angry bacon. It's a pretty slick caliber to shoot, bucks wind really well. I don't have one any longer, as other things fill that niche pretty solidly. .300 Blackout with a Hornady 125 grain SST pushed by 17.5 grains of H110 is my go to for a lot of things these days. Behaves like a light 30-30 inside of 200 yards.
Edit...
The 110 grain Barnes Tac-TX are really good, if you can find them. But the expense is a little much. Not as wild as loading Lehigh projo's, but closing in on that. I did try out the Nosler 110 grain Varmeggeddon pills. And they are pretty fast out of an 8" barrel, but mostly only good for breaking apart jackrabbits. For the deer sized things here, 125 grain pills seem to be the sweet spot.
For blackout magazines, I just use standard 20 round AR mags. So visually I won't put it in a 5.56 upper, and .300 blackout specific mags are a marketing scam.
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While a 45/70 AR is very cool, I dont think it is $2300 or $4500 cool. For a lot less the OP can buy a 458 + a 45/70 lever action and still have enough money left for the flight, hunt and beers.Last I looked into these guys offered a full rifle for about $4500 or an upper only for about $2300 if you have a DPMS pattern lower. Doesn’t help with the weight over .308ar but it’s a good reason to justify another rifle in my opinion and would allow rapid follow up shots if needed.
Christine 45-70 Auto
Phoenix Weaponry "Christine" .45-70 Auto rifle is a powerful and accurate firearm chambered in the iconic .45-70 Government cartridge. With its custom design and precision engineering, it offers exceptional performance and reliability for shooting enthusiasts and professionals. Proudly made in...
I don't own a 458, but I own plenty of 45/70 guns. 45/70 ammo gets heavy. Just 40 rounds contain 2.5lbs of lead if using the common weight of 405gr (does not include weight of brass and powder). When walking, every pound adds up. With a lever action that would be OK as the rifles are fairly light. But with a heavy AR, f*ck that.
SpencerT
NES Member
Oh there are better options for sure in the AR platform and if I was going 45-70 I’d go lever gun but it’s still cool haha, if it was 1/2 that price I’d probably scoop one up.
I would get a Winchester in 45/90 ... or as @Michael J. Spangler pointed out to me today, Winchester also made one in 50-110 ... which looks like is more powerful than a 458 Win Mag. I guess that is good when you want the round to cut the pig for you.
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Ar15, night vision , side-by-side to drive,
Put corn in a 5 gallon bucket sealed let it sit in the sun to sour and sprout for three days.
Dump it in the trail maybe two hours before dusk. And then just slaughter them.
Or set up some fence in the kidney shaped with a one-way door and then just shoot them while they’re in the trap depending on where you live.
Not that I know what I’m talking about,
Mark from MA
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Perfect....was seeing if I could turn a hog hunting rifle thread into an NES 40 is gay thread......Winning!!
I've shot a bunch of them with an AR in 6.8 SPC. I use 95gr Barnes TTSXs and they drop like they were struck by lightning.
