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smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? #4084287 02/26/13 04:28 PM
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Im thinking a 223 but i didn't know if that was pushing it... obviously shot placement matters but realistically what do you guys use for hogs?

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Brock77] #4084301 02/26/13 04:32 PM
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I have used 223, and would use again. The benefit to 223 in my mind is the 30 round mag in case a whole sounder comes in. My go-to for pigs is 45/70.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Brock77] #4084304 02/26/13 04:33 PM
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.22 short if he's in the trap. .22 mag if he's close. .223 is fine for most shots.


Sometimes it's hard being me! But somebody has to do it.
Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Brock77] #4084305 02/26/13 04:35 PM
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Originally Posted By: Brock77
Im thinking a 223 but i didn't know if that was pushing it... obviously shot placement matters but realistically what do you guys use for hogs?


I've taken pigs several times with .223, but to be honest I've never been 100% comfortable with it.

I quit feeling a little undergunned when I fill my hand with .257, so I guess I would say that is the minimum caliber I'm comfortable with. That or one of the 6mm options...

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: GriffGruff78] #4084326 02/26/13 04:42 PM
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223 is ok for most situations. Good bullets make it a better killer. Remember, hogs are tough animals and a BIG hog can be hard to bring down. I use a 7-08 for a lot if hog hunting and it is great.



Brave Rifles!
Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: GriffGruff78] #4084327 02/26/13 04:43 PM
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This question gets asked about once a week. The answer is any gun CAN kill one if you hit them in the ear hole. For behind the shoulder shots it depends on the bullet type, distance, size of the hog, where you hit them, etc. I never had one run with my AR and I shot most of them right behind the shoulder with a Hornady soft point. None of them were 300 lb boars but I wouldn't hesitate shooting one that size with it, and if I lost it then oh well, its just a dam pig. The most important variable to me is bullet type over caliber. A partition out of that .223 will punch through about any hog you shoot with it whereas a bullet like a Vmax is more likely to explode on impact and not get the penetration necessary to enter the vitals.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: aggiehunter03] #4084358 02/26/13 04:57 PM
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9mm is my prefered gun.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: aggiehunter03] #4084359 02/26/13 04:57 PM
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Mostly .223 in the earhole. But took 1 w/ a .204Ruger


"I can't be over gunned because the animal can't be over dead"-Elmer Keith
10/30/2012 I VOTED for The American
Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: CitySlickerHunter] #4084402 02/26/13 05:20 PM
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Mostly .223 with 55gr SP or 62 gr HP... just because both of those work great out of my rifle.

Good Luck!


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Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: LRHead] #4084660 02/26/13 06:54 PM
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Any gun that will put the bullet in the right place will do the job.

I've killed a bunch with a .243, but then again, I've killed them with a 22-250.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyO7dcF1n8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUx_oEpyTw

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: LRHead] #4084661 02/26/13 06:54 PM
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Any gun that will put the bullet in the right place will do the job.

I've killed a bunch with a .243, but then again, I've killed them with a 22-250.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugyO7dcF1n8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eUx_oEpyTw

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: DFWPI] #4085119 02/26/13 10:19 PM
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The question should be how much faith do you have in your own shooting skills. Me personally .308 or bigger is first choice but .357 makes a challenging hunt. I have witnessed a 9mm head shot in the dark and I have seen 5.56 absolutely level hogs. I tend to blow my load fast so I need all the help I can get from my gun.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Adelbridge] #4085138 02/26/13 10:25 PM
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I've taken piglets with my .17hmr.

But my "go to" hog caliber is 6.8spc these days. Lost to many using .223.


To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.

www.NewHopeEquine.com - Health and Healing through Horses.
Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: dkershen] #4086132 02/27/13 04:35 AM
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This turned my work day into a huge argument! A guy I work with (total drunk - alwys slurring after lunch) alleges he regularly hunts with a pellet gun and dominates hogs from 100+ yards. I called b.s. but he swears.

Is there any way he is killing a hog with a some high dollar/high powered BB gun? Edgar and I called b.s., but this dude is wanting to bet a $500 that he can drop a hog this weekend.

Would you take the bet?

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Doe boy] #4086233 02/27/13 05:49 AM
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Originally Posted By: 1stunna
This turned my work day into a huge argument! A guy I work with (total drunk - alwys slurring after lunch) alleges he regularly hunts with a pellet gun and dominates hogs from 100+ yards. I called b.s. but he swears.

Is there any way he is killing a hog with a some high dollar/high powered BB gun? Edgar and I called b.s., but this dude is wanting to bet a $500 that he can drop a hog this weekend.

Would you take the bet?


There are air rifles that can do it, but I'd have to be there when he shot it to pay off on the bet. There are vids on youtube showing big bore airguns taking down pigs.


Old age ain't for sissies!

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: toolman] #4086355 02/27/13 11:42 AM
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17 HMR all day long, I have shot alot of pigs with mine and out to 100 plus yards DRT easy everytime, never lost one with the 17


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Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Doe boy] #4086848 02/27/13 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted By: 1stunna
This turned my work day into a huge argument! A guy I work with (total drunk - alwys slurring after lunch) alleges he regularly hunts with a pellet gun and dominates hogs from 100+ yards. I called b.s. but he swears.

Is there any way he is killing a hog with a some high dollar/high powered BB gun? Edgar and I called b.s., but this dude is wanting to bet a $500 that he can drop a hog this weekend.

Would you take the bet?


The two links I posted above you are of guys using air rifles to take pigs.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Adelbridge] #4086977 02/27/13 04:46 PM
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Originally Posted By: Adelbridge
I tend to blow my load fast so I need all the help I can get from my gun.


This is begging to be in someone's signature line...

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: DFWPI] #4087839 02/27/13 11:24 PM
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Thank for pointing out those videos of pellet guns. However, I would not consider their portrayal as a "normal hunting scenerio" and definitely not more than 30 yards.

I think I am going to take the bet.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Doe boy] #4089371 02/28/13 03:57 PM
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Originally Posted By: 1stunna
Thank for pointing out those videos of pellet guns. However, I would not consider their portrayal as a "normal hunting scenerio" and definitely not more than 30 yards.

I think I am going to take the bet.


Figure out what he has first, then make sure he produces irrefutable video evidence of a 100+ yard kill.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: GriffGruff78] #4090191 02/28/13 09:55 PM
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32grain .204 Ruger'd this one. It weighed 170 lb.


Last edited by lglidewell; 02/28/13 09:55 PM.
Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: lglidewell] #4090196 02/28/13 09:56 PM
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Shot one with a 17 HMR in the ear and he dropped like a log.

Only about a 50 lbs'er...

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Nathan Nelson] #4090298 02/28/13 10:46 PM
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I have killed dozens of hogs with a 22lr and dozens with a .17hmr. It's shot placement that matters. My biggest hog (280+) was killed with a .17hmr

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: STXHO] #4090486 02/28/13 11:59 PM
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9mm carbine is my minimum caliber.

Re: smallest caliber you feel comfortable taking a hog with? [Re: Grantw9066] #4090488 03/01/13 12:00 AM
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Go to is my 12ga with rifled barrel and sabot slugs. Totally drops em.

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