Auto, 18-24" smooth bore barrel with rifle sights for backup, red dot scope as primary sight, foster slugs (rifled). Super cheap to run since the ammo won't cave in your wallet. What do YOU think?

Barrels are cheap enough for a shotgun, you could also have a rifled barrel with sabots for the longer ranges and never be in much need of any other hog gun! This is also pretty much all you'd need for deer..or thick timber elk, bears, or whatever else you feel like pointing it at!

I've been running a similar setup for a couple years and really like it. I only have the rifled barrel so I'm running sabot slugs only. For frequent hunts where you actually get to do some shooting, those sabots start draining the gas money pretty quick! Naturally this is for those folks that prefer short range hunts..

are you asking or selling?!

Just asking what people think. I've become quite a fan of slug hunting and wondered if any other short-range hunters had any opinions on my idea.. Why, you looking to buy? LOL...

'Course it does rather look like a sales pitch! Consider the setup though and let me know your thoughts about effectiveness, etc.

I like '00'.

Yes! That's where the smoothbore barrel comes in! Buck or slugs.. This idea originally came to me several years ago when discussing SHTF guns at work. Adaptability being the greatest aspect, a shotgun makes high marks! I haven't been able to use buckshot with my rifled barrel, but I've seen the (deadly) result of buckshot unleashed on various critters and have no doubt to it's effectiveness! Hog hunts in cattle country would be one spot where buckshot might get you permission vs. a high powered rifle.

Also to be considered is how many public and drawing hunts are for shotgun only. I used to avoid those lands because I wanted my high powered rifle in case I needed a longer shot. However, I now know that my rifled barrel and sabots are plenty good for the ranges I encounter 95% of hogs at! If they're any further I just try to close the distance..and usually can with no problem.

I have thought of setting up an autoloader with my red dot and a scope set up to remove and replace while maintaining zero. I'm considering an 11-87 for this. The only thing I haven't been able to decide on is whether I want to get a rifle sighted barrel and use a saddle mount for the scope (not as accurate), or skip the iron sights since the optics should handle anything I'm gonna throw at them on purpose or accident. Considering the kill zones of all huntable critters, the slight variation in accuracy really shouldn't be a detriment-especially if a gunsmith 'pins' the barrel to the receiver. Of course, that setup would be more for the sabot slugs. A buckshot or rifled slug rig brings your ranges down enough that a red dot would probably be the only necessary optic.

My reason for bringing this topic up is that I don't find many folks actually excited about hunting with slugs. Usually it's more of the 'if I just have to' approach. It's only been through a few years of hunting that I've realized how effective they can be. Certainly not the limitation I thought they once were! Ok, and I'm bored and wanting to go hunting!

I saw hitchcock 45 using a smooth barrel shotgun hitting a target at 260 yards off hand. I think he had 10 inch groups.


That guy can shoot.

I wouldn't really call slugs, even Forster slugs, cheap...

When I first got into pig hunting I used a shotgun, but I soon moved away from it. They are really not that versatile IMO, and if you're using them with slugs then you might as well just get a rifle.

My favorite pig gun is a Winchester 94 Trapper in .44 Mag. My most effective pig gun is my Spikes middy AR15 with a 1-4x scope. Kills em from 1-300 with ease...

At the end of the day it will always come down to each person having different tastes and wants. However, any gun that can launch a slug that would stop a pig, then just by changing ammo-or even a barrel switch out-then go bird hunting..that's pretty versatile!

I'd be willing to take my slug gun on any hunt! I've also hunted about everything (round here) with it-even killed a bobcat with one at an easy 100yd. As an aside, since some will think it blew the thing clean in half, I'll mention that it did exactly what big, slow and heavy slugs do-clean hole in, clean hole out.

I'm not saying that a shotgun isn't the most versatile weapon on the planet- in fact, that's what I've always recommended as a one and only gun.

Just saying there are better guns for fast paced hog hunting at varying ranges...

you'd probably like my .450 bushmaster then.... lol

Those 450's ARE sweet!

Heck yeah, if I could afford to shoot it...

I'm still toying with the idea of building a 7.62x39 upper. That's still my favorite all around sub 200 yd caliber...

i use a mossberg 500 rifled barrel setup for my main bigger game gun. i have also looked at going semi automatic 1100, 1187 and even the 930. as mentioned, slugs and sabots are not cheap unless you search the internet for deals and have them mail to you.

the problem that i am crunching numbers now is going semi automatic would mean more rounds down the chamber if there is a lot of targets present themselves. the one side says stay rifled barrel and use pricey sabots and the other side says stay smooth and maybe choke and use cheaper slugs but affecting range.

the next number problem is if i find a cheap plain jane 1100 lets say for 400 then add a 200-300 rifled barrel and add scope, synthetic stocks, lights, bipod and magazine extension then i am getting into the AR price range. i have switched my search to look for a slugster since the rifled barrel is the biggest investment after the gun or a from the factory tactical with synthetic stock and extension if i decide to go smooth bore.

ya i still haven't been able to get my .450 on some hogs yet... only a bobcat and a few deer... its needing to spill some hog blood!

Pafree, you're absolutely right about the price! You really have to hide in the bushes and be ready to snag the best deals when it comes to setting up a slug gun..

You guys quit talking about all that other cool stuff-you're distracting me!! LOL..

Remington 760 in 35 Whelen.

my 50 Beowulf, 324 gr hollow point, or my Super Blackhawk 44 mag 245 gr hard cast lead

I use a AR in 458 Socom. It shoot the 405 gr rem at 1650 fps.It is one heck of a brush gun.

I like my Marlin 45/70.

I've got Mossberg 500 rifled slug barrel with rifle sights if you need one. $100 shipped....

I prefer my rifled 1187 with a dot sight personally.....

480 Ruger in a 16" carbine lever rifle! got one luv it.

Hahahaha..some nice pig irons for sure! I'm diggin' that .458 Socom, maybe someday! For now, my perfect brush gun will have to remain the shotgun...at least until better times come around and I have play money again! I'm gonna go research that socom though!

Question was "Perfect hog gun for thickest cover.." and obviously related to shotguns.

"For thickest cover"? I say Smooth Bore, semi auto, with open sites.
Thick cover shots will be very close. Pattern a good rifled slug and it will easily be accurate enough. With open sites, you will get a faster sight aquisition through the thick cover and a shot on a moving hog will be much easier. Semi auto would give good fast follow up chances at doubles and triples considering how hogs tend to herd. The smooth bore will give you the buckshot option. My reasoning for a slug gun in Texas is to take advantage of the shotgun only public hunting opportunites. There actaully are some public areas that are buckshot only, no slug. This gun option would fit all shotgun only public hunting possibilities.

But...
If you know the areas you hunt are not normally in "thickest cover". A dedicated slug gun with full rifled barrel and scope would be my choice. Sabot slugs with a bolt action or single shot, accuracy out to 200 yards is not unheard of.

Everyone knows the perfect gun for thick brush hog hunting is a open sight lever gun in either 30/30 or 35 rem. It's a classic.

Reggie