SATX- thank you for the link. Are you saying that the head shot is a good shot to take or not? Also I like the 6.8 because the gun is lighter than an AR-10. But could you still take a large sized boar like 3-400 lbs? Im looking at a 24" from model1sales.com

450 bushmaster is a fun round that the upper goes on a standard AR lower.
downside 150 yd range, and cost / availability of ammo.

I would love to have a 450 bushmaster or 458 socom but the ammo is hard to find. I could order it online but I want a caliber that can easily be found at a store and I don't reload

there is a lot of good advice from these guys. If it were me, I would buy a quality 30.06, put your scope on it, get some quality ammo and have fun. the 30.06 is a well rounded caliber and can take down hogs, deer and varmits with a single shot. The ammo is readily available just about anywhere and its not too expensive. as for the 9mm, I'm sure it would work. I personally don't use one, I use a .357mag with 240grain hollow points or .45acp with 230grain hollow points. that's just me. but it all comes down to what you want to use and feel comfortable with. best of luck with your choice and your hunting.

Thank you to all of you, I have learned a lot in the last day. I really would like to have an AR platform. I was wondering if the 6.8 spc is commonly found in places such as walmart or any outdoor shop chain out west. I think that would be a good round because I could kill a hog at a considerable range and have easier follow up shots. If not I will get an AR-10 or a bolt action in 30-06. So how common is 6.8 spc? Will I have to order ammo online and reload or is it a common caliber out west?

6.8 is rather difficult to buy in retail stores. Cabela's carries a few types as well as Academy. The best value for purchasing 6.8 SPC is ordering online. I usually purchase directly from Silver State Armory or Palmetto State Armory. PSA usually offers free shipping and you can buy Hornday 120sst for around $19.00 for 20. Another recommendation is to go to SSA website and look at local dealers in your area.

I guess it wouldn't be a good idea to get a 6.8spc upper. How about an AR upper in 7.62x39 or just get an AK? Or is that not enough and go with the more common 308, 30.06, or 7mm-08?

Look at this site. Huey regularly takes large boars with his 6.8spc The key is stalking into the wind and shot placement.

http://hogwildhunts.com/photo-gallery/

I wont tell you what type of shot to take. That is a personal choice that should be based on time behind a particular gun. If you are accurate and consistent and are using a well constructed bullet, it is a quick, humane way to put a hog in the dirt.

Within 75 yards I am looking for an ear shot on good sized hogs. Out past that I am looking at the neck. Longer shots or shots on hogs that may be hanging up behind light cover, I look for the shoulder/heart shot.

6.8 ammo availability is still somewhat limited. The Academy Sports near me only stocks 2 brands, and one of those is a varmint round that I prefer not to use on hogs. As said, load up at a gun show or order on line.

An AR upper in 7.62 x 39 would also be be sufficient. Lots of guys taking hogs with that caliber.

You can find DPMS LR308's and other brands of AR style .308 Win carbines with 16" barrels. Lighter than the rifle configuration and you still get the knock down power of a .308 There really isn't any need for 20" barrels or bull barrels unless you also want to do long range shooting.

45-70 is a fine choice for the close to medium ranges.

Nick,
First welcome to the board. Second, I can tell you are excited and that’s great but you are all over the place. No one can tell you the best gun for you or caliber for that matter. First define what you want to do with your new hunting rifle. You say hunt pigs and varmints. Cool. As has been stated anything from a .223 to a tank can take these animals. If you like a bolt gun in 30 cal (or other), get one. If you want an AK, get one. Want a .223, get one. All of these platforms and calibers have different attributes and draw backs but ALL will do what you want. If you are wanting to take follow up shots you might think about an auto loader. Personally I would prefer a “new” hunter and shooter to use a bolt gun. There tends to be more emphasis on accuracy when a follow up shot means manually cycling the bolt. As an aside I bet there are a lot of guys that can work a bolt and get back on target as fast as most can shoot, follow thru and get on target with an auto loader.

You have a G19 and want to carry is as backup while hunting, do it. There are a lot of options in 9mm and the round is cheap and you can get it almost anywhere. My personal opinion is Glocks have no soul and a 1911 is the bomb. I’m sure there are people on this board that would call that heresy and tell me that I am out of my mind.

My point to all this is that weapons and hunting styles are personal. I can no more tell you what you will like than tell you what type of woman to chase (hint, they are all fun to chase). Get to a gun shop and put some rifles to your shoulder. Buy what you can afford and feels good. Later if you want to try a new platform, buy that too! When you make your mind up and get a weapon come back and tell us what you got. Then when you drop a hog, post the pic’s. Good luck and welcome again.

godfather- you are right in that I am all over the place haha. I don't think I will be hunting anymore than hogs,birds, and maybe coyote. It seems that all of those can be done with my shotgun. I just want a new gun that will be a good hog killer, it looks like a lot of fun!

Im about to head out to my local gun shop to look at guns. Im pretty set on getting an AR lower and get a geissele hi speed trigger. I could set the trigger pull less than 1.5 lbs! I could use it for more than hunting as I've also wanted to do 3gun along with hog hunting. Im not sure what caliber I am getting but I will be looking at prices on them.

Thank you to all of you that have replied

Hey I just stopped by my local gun shop and got a Remington 742 in 30.06 for $350. If it doesn't work well I can return it and get a full refund in store credit! It's worth a try. I feel that it will be a good balance of being light yet have a lot of power. Thank you all and I will let you guys know how it does

I quit trying to use my AR. Now I mostly use my wife's .243. Drops them every time.

Ya the cheapest AR in 308 I could find at my shop was $1400, maybe I could get $150-200 off but then I'd have no cash for anything else. Well I'm gonna start getting some 30.06 ammo to test next week. Any suggestions on bullet weight for 30.06? I don't hand load and price isn't a big deal for me

I use the 165 grain hornady SST for my 30.06 . they are great!

and glad to see you went with the 30.06. I don't think you will be disappointed.

Get you a 270 3006. You can buy them all day long very reasonable ammo is easy to get for them any they work good at any resonble distance

We go 30-30 to get the job done

I have two new Ruger bisley 357's I will be getting some pigs with on the 4th of July !

Hey guys I think my younger brother will be hunting with me and my friend so I was wondering if my 12 gauge shotgun will be good and to what range? I can get a rifled barrel if that would be better. Or I also have a mosin nagant he can use.
Thanks in advance

Good buy on the 742 !!

I'm a 30 caliber fan myself. I've shot hogs with a .223 but I prefer a little more firepower. With that rifle you can do pretty much anything you want. I have a friend who has a 742 and it's a very nice rifle.

Obviously the Mosin will kill any hog you encounter, but it is a little heavy and the recoil (by my standards) is pretty stong. It's okay for a few hunting shots but I wouldn't want to shoot targets with it for very long.

Don't know about the 12 Gauge — I don't have any experience with hunting hogs with a shotgun.

Ya the mosin nagants are very bad on recoil. Id rather shoot slugs. I will get the ATI stock for the mosin which has a recoil pad on it. If I use it for hunting, I will also get a timney trigger for it so it can have a pracical safety on it and the trigger pull will be much better. I also will get a scout scope or a RDS for it if I feel that it needs it to be more effective

One well placed shot & one dead animal can be accomplished easily on anything you'd hunt in Texas and most things in Colorado with a 30.06. Ammo is readily available anywhere ammo is sold.

If you think you'll get a lot of opportunities shooting several follow up shots, an AR style is better.

Stick the Glock on your hip when you go out. You aren't hunting with it, but it will dispatch Snakes nicely and finish off any misplaced shots for less $ than a rifle.

Welcome to THF & hunting. You sound like you are educating yourself well. Pass it on.

My choice goes to russian made weapons:
Vepr or Saiga. Some people will claim that these guns are not presicion rifles like custom built bolt guns.
But we are going to hunt pigs, most shots placed within 200 yards range. I repeat: Most shots. Night hunts are even less than 75 yards.
So argument about accuracy is pointless.
My saiga 308 with 20" barrel provides me with at least 2" groups at 100 yards. Rifle could do better, but I am not patient enough. So it is my fault for having 2" groups.
Probably everybody agree that AK platform is very reliable. Rain, snow, dust storm - does not matter, it is still performing as expected.
Saiga and Vepr rifles are AKs modified for civilian usage. Like AR15 vs M16.
Price for Saigas and Vepr is very attractive, they start at about $300-$400, side mount bracket for weaver scope will run you another $30, plus a scope of your choice.
Normal AK round 7.62x39 is very capable. Back in old country we used to shoot 12" x 12" targets with iron sights only using army issue AKs at distance of 150meters. That was a mandatory qualification.
Over 300 yards shot with that round is questionable, though doable.
But for long ranges we have .308 or 7.62x54r.
So the Saiga and Vepr manufactured in many calibers. You can find one even chambered for 30-06.
As the original post said - hog hunts, maybe other game, under $1000 for rifle.
Saigas and Veprs are fit well into provided requirements.

http://centerfiresystems.com/molot.aspx
http://centerfiresystems.com/saiga_rifles.aspx

Best of luck

And I will second many guys here on Glock sidearm to finish off snakes or charging piggy. Put 2 snake rounds on top of magazine, fill rest with FMJ or HP.
This way you will have two first shots for snake and rest for pigs. When wounded pig is charging, you will be surprised how fast you pull that trigger