I'm planning on a out-of-state trip to go hog hunting with a cousin. I need a fast-handling gun that offers quick follow-up shots and most of my guns are bolt action rifles. Had a thought, get a rifled barrel for my Remington 870, which has a 3" chambers, and use slugs.

Thoughts? Suggestions on ammo and optics? Anyone use shotguns on wild hogs? Any info is welcome

know several who have luck taken hogs with shotgun. as what ammo will let some one else answer. best wishes on your up coming hunt

A shotgun under 40 yards makes a fine hog killing weapon. No need for the 3 inchers though.

Shot a hog with a 20 guage smoothbore barrel. Dropped him one shot below the eye.

Killed many a pig with 00 buckshot under 40 yards

A shotgun is a great weapon. It all depends on the type your using. If you put a rifled barrel on that 870 you will be able to have a longer smoother shot 80-100 yards imo. If you leave it the way it is I would use rifled slugs (Sabots only if you use a rifled barrel) for 30-40 yards out, and Buck shot for real close encounters (spot and stalk) either way your Remington 870 is faster than most when it comes to firing shots. I ought to know, I use one.

get a regular 870 with buckshot

12 gauge with No.4 buck does pretty good as well.

I have hunted many times with a rifled barrel and slugs. I use open sights and need the pig to be close. Nothing wrong with bolt action if you shoot them behind the ear

Sabot slugs = use in rifled barrel and work well out to over 100 yds. I used to set up a pop up blind and bring a Q-beam down on em slowly. Keep in mind, shotgun barrels can be picky about which slugs they shoot accurately so buy a few different brands and hit the range first.
Buckshot = close distance only. I suggest something with a constricted wad like the federal 00 with "flight control wad", or the hornady tap 00 with "versa tite wad" since those will keep the pellets in a tighter group at a little longer ranges.
Foster/rifled and misc slugs = use in smooth bore shotgun barrel. Generally less accurate. I suggest avoid using rifled "soft lead" slugs bc they tend to flatten out and break up and may not penetrate deep enough to reach the vitals. Any deep penetrating slug should do well so long as it shoots accurately enough out of your barrel.

What type of hunting will you be doing? Can't recommend a shotgun for spot and and stalk for sure. I would not recommend a shotgun especially for someone who doesnt do it often. I've killed some with em but your range is limited. If u make a bad shot on a good boar at 40 yards he may come see you. Take your bolt action. Don't get caught up in the follow up shots on the next one. Most hunters I take worry more how many they shoot at rather than focusing on a clean kill with the first shot. Ive seen it more than once a guy get excited and already be thinking about the second shot before the first has even left the barrel. End walking to see he is going home empty handed and knowing he screwed up himself.

Growing up in the swamps of N Florida, Travis Shepherd and I had three of the best hog dogs in the whole darn state. One day we headed out and all we had was a .410 and a 12ga with target loads. We thought if we got close enough, we'd have zero problem making things happen.

We never did that again!

shotguns with slugs are great on hogs. the 870 pump is a good gun, I have a slug barrel for mine...it shoots good. if you hit what you're aiming at it will flatten them. modern saboted slugs with a scope are even decent at longer distance.

saboted shotgun slugs are VERY expensive. you'll probably be paying $5/rnd. regular rifled slugs can also be effective but are lesser on distance performance.

if you're up close just use buckshot. 30-40yds and less...00 or 000 buck will do fine. or shoot the rifled slugs thru your regular shotgun barrel and choke tube....just aim down the barrel.

for up close...you can get a red dot, or hollosight that will mount on top of that shotgun and get a rifled choke tube and just shoot the regular rifled slugs. very reliable to maybe 50yds or so. and fast handling.

we went out to that old sabine bottom WMA out east before...hunted with shotguns out there for the hogs. we had no problems. that was all spot n stalk on foot.

I'd use an automatic

I like to use the 3" federal vital-shok 00 buck with the flitecontrol wad. I use them in a remington 1187 with a IC choke (the flitecontrol wad works better for me in the less restrictive chokes).

I felt like the wad was a gimmick at first but easily adds 10 yards to the effective range of my shotgun on pigs....we've knocked them down easily at 50 yards with them.

I also tried the Hornady 3" 00 with versaflite wads, but, at least in my shotgun, they weren't any better than plain old green remington buckshot. I wasn't impressed but maybe in a different shotgun the results would be different.

The federal loads definitely are tighter than the normal remington green buckshot, by quite a bit.

Here are the ones I'm talking about:

http://www.ableammo.com/catalog/federal-...bx-p-91112.html

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/969212/...t-slug-box-of-5

Chupa

I use the Brenneke Foster-Type Slugs in a Remington 870 improved smooth bore barrel with outstanding results for the price.

Go to youtube and check out Brobee223's penetration test of Federals Truball penetrator slugs.


Chupa