If you had 2-3 grand what would be your ideal setup. Gun/scope/silencer. what rig would you want for a hog hunting machine? Hunting both day and night

If I had the money, I would put a thermal scope and suppressor on one of my 6.8 SPC rifles. I have a Pulsar N750 on one of them now, no suppressor. Unfortunately, I don't see a time when I will be able to afford to go the thermal/suppressor route.

Cheapest thermal monocular I could afford

Anything over 5.56 and 300 bo for a rifle

At least 500 rounds of ammo

Top it with a digital scope and aftermarket IR

That's 2-3k , more like 3k with the ammo stock

Your budget doesn't even cover the scope I would want to put on my ideal rig.

I currently run a Thor 336 3x, and ideally would step up to something in the 640 range which is a bit more clarity, usually comes with more mag, and just a better picture. Love my scope though, so not planning on upgrading anytime soon.

For a gun, I would stick with something semi auto in or above 5.56 and would go with rifle length free floated stainless barrel with a Gisselle SSA-E trigger, probably want to coat the whole thing to keep
It weather and scratch resistant. I really love my apex gator grip hand guard so would want something like that, and a nice adjustable stock. I am Not picky and could most likely get the gun within budget.

Texas buckeye, I know I could spend a whole lot more and looking at some scopes like an armalite I could get a really good setup for 5x my budget but we all have to start somewhere. If my girlfriend breaks up with me though then we could look at something more...lol

In my mind, bare budget for thermal scope is 3k, and that's for the basic, not ideal.

Now if you are asking what is the best you can get for 2-3k in a hog rig, that's a different story.
I would drop the thermal scope and go digital nv and get a thermal spotter. Much more utility for a spotter than the scope, initially, but a basic spotter is gonna set you back another 2-3k. It's a money pit!! But a fun money pit!!

I run a Sightmark Photon 4.6 on a .300 BO shot barrel, Gemtech HVT QD suppressor and a Bushnell Digital NV monocular. I know Digital NV pales in comparison to thermal technology, but for my price point this setup works exceptionally well. I shopped around and have roughly 1,500.00 in my entire setup excluding the $200.00 tax stamp.

So you let her drive?! And you're not married?!

0.0

Ha, I am surprised it took this long to get a comment about that. We might as well be married. Our priority is supposed to be saving to build On the land we bought, but I always have new hunting stuff come up. She got a new elite bow this year though so I need a new gun

At least you found one that like to hunt. Mine rather spend all my money at the mall.

I built my 6.8 for roughly a $1k catching sells over time. should be able to sub any barrel for roughly that same price.
added a photon xt and IR light for under $600
and a suppressor on the the way for $1,200 including the stamp..

that's under the $3k

How in the world did you manage to stay under $1,500?
Photon $450
Gemtech $750
thats already $1,200.

For my 6.8 I bought parts as they went on sale. I spared no expense and put nice stuff (ARP Barrel, ARP Super Bolt NiB Coated, SSA-E Trigger, Fail Zero BCG with all parts coated, etc.) in it. The gun and night vision setup which is a Photon XT with a Burris PEPR QD Mount, Evolva T38 IR FLashlight and mount and then an Ultimate Nightvision DVR I have $2300 in it. I'd like to get a suppressor at some point, but where we hunt we don't have many open fields so 1 shot is probably the most you can get before they run off into some thick stuff. It would be convenient, but just not a necessity at this point in life. Thermal would also be great, but then we're talking a minimum of $3500 just for that. I can't justify it right now when my setup gets me in the woods and pigs on the ground.

-Purchased A Sightmark 3.5 from a board member for 375.00 and the unit had an issue after a year of use. Sightmark upgraded me to the 4.6 at no additional cost.
-Picked the Gemtech brand new for $475.00 which included the QD attachment
-PSA Blem Lower 139.00
-Radical Firearms 300 BO upper 199.00
-Nickle Boron BCG $119.00
- Bushnell Equinox NV monocular $239.00
$1546.00 excluding tax stamps.

I got lucky on a couple of the purchases.

idk enough yet to pick an ideal set up but im learning a lot about how to shop around in this thread

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbth...sup#Post5977604

Just a link to dispel the myth that a suppressor will allow more than one shot at a sounder of pigs. All the suppressor does is get the weapon to within ear healthy levels of noise, it does not silence the weapon so follow up shots are possible. With the noise levels still seen in these weapon systems, a sounder is going to bolt the same they would with a non-suppressed weapon.

Posting this in response to what Cooga said above, most of the time its one shot and firing at runners anyway man...

It's been a mixed bag in my experience. Sometimes they run off and indon't see them again, sometimes they barely move, sometimes they run but stop after a shot distance and sometimes they run off but come back.

I'm 100% convenienced that my total kills have gone significantly since I started using my suppressor. For me it's been worth every penny I've spent.

Worse place you can go to get advice on Hunting is a hunting forum. We are all full of ways to spend other peoples money.

And that is all that matters! I am glad you have enjoyed your purchase! I have thoroughly enjoyed my thermal purchase and I know my hog kills have gone through the roof with it. Boys and our toys

Both thermal and suppressors raise your body count. Thermal allows you to see so much that you miss with NV or digital. Suppressors are not quiet in the idea of silent, but much easier on the ears. They reduce recoil so that it is easier to stay in the scope for the 2nd, 3rd, 4th...shot. Also, they disburse the sound and I have noticed that hogs don't seem to know which direction the shot came from...confusion...and they end up circling more often for follow on shots. I have observed everything bigjoe has related about suppressors. Both of you are right, each of these tools increase your chances.

At 3 grand for gun and all, you can get in the night game. I wouldn't term it ideal by any stretch, but you can get started. Warning: It is addictive and generally results in an upward climb for better gear. I'm sure many a relationship and marriage has been strained over it. LOL...

Do you not have a rifle at all right now?

Ya, I have a 223, 243, 30-30, and 7mm Mauser. Just wanted to get in the AR game

Is your .223 not an AR?

No, it's a little savage axis I bought for the little ones to use

OK, then, just thinking, do you really need the .243 AND 30-30? I'm trying to find a way you could sell or trade for a .223 AR. Then you can buy a Wilson Combat 6.8 SPC match grade barrel for just short of $250.00. Great barrel! You could then get in the thermal game with a Pulsar XD50. If you look hard, you can find one for about 3 grand. This might put you $500 over budget, but you would be way better off. I'm not usually a fan of the lower end thermals, but the XD50 is acceptable. Just trying to find a way for you man...

I appreciate it. I will look into it. I don't need the 243, just kind of a gun hoarder. If thermal really is the way to go I may just take my time and get what is best the first time around (don't mean a $10k thermal, but a thermal vs NV). I hate settling and then spending more later for what I should have bought in the first place.

And I know I don't have a lot of guns, but I hate selling the ones I do have