I'm just curious. As a guy that has never even shot a pig but killed plenty of deer & black bear. Why over-analyze caliber? It always comes down to 2 things IMHO. Penetration & shot placement. I would imagine you want something in a semi-auto (ar platform seems popular since you can mount optics easily) & with enough punch to still penetrate on those running, follow-up shots. To an inexperienced pig hunter, I would think a good ol' .308 (7.62x51) in a good ol' ar10 would be everything you need & more. Cheap(ish) to shoot, a million different projectile types to choose from
& plenty of knock-down power at about any range with light enough recoil for easy follow-up shots. Am I way off?

You're not way off, in my case I get a kick out of over-analyzing things and repeating something until it is done as the mind's eye has it down.

We all feed in the same valley but depending which direction you came from to get there you'll certainly experience different scenery and terrain.

http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5305457/130lb_pig_vs._17hmr#Post5305457

This is fall out as a result of this thread. Not much different than other threads of the same discussion over the years. But this should provide some entertaining information to continue the "dis-cuss-ions".

Sorry I know it's a little long and if you read the description, it explains the scenario. This was a .270 WSM (I know, WSM isn't in the list) at 108 yd stepped off. If you have the patience to watch in hd, the impact is semi impressive. Double lung and he never even blinked. Will try and locate the 230# boar from our first test with the Rage Hypodermic. He made it about 15 yds. Don't think it ever made it to YouTube but I'll see if I can dig it up.
--edit-- ok so it doesn't link to YouTube for description. Cliff notes version: pulled up to ranch with plan to get a smaller hog for to eat over the weekend and spend a few days prepping feeders, plots and blinds. Hogs were already out and we hadn't even unpacked so cameraman wasn't rigged, couldn't find bag our boots were in, grabbed first gun we could reach and took off. This was the result. But we did eat good for three days. Ps...if you were going to ask why we didn't shoot a larger one, two reasons, waste not want not and we didn't feel like working that hard.

223


308


243 (6-284L)


300wm


338 Lapua


458 socom

Nice post Scotty -

Which way is up or down in the 458 SOCOM picture, it is hard to tell that was even a pig at some point

And it took me awhile to find the pig in the 308 photo, had to relook on the computer screen instead of the phone screen

Haha yea that one killed with the reapr 308 was a little one but none the less a pig. And the 458 socom turned that pig inside out. Head shot at 50 yards with a 350gr Barnes bullet moving 1800fps pushed his head to his A$$ literally.

My step-daughter dropped five hogs with a 242 100 gr core lok. Four dropped in their tracks, one made it about 50 yards. All were at 80 yards.

As for as unusual calibers, I have used my 9.3x62 as well as a 375 H&H. The only reason that I used them was mostly for trigger time, but I do enjoy shooting the 9.3. These hunts were from a stand and over a feeder.

I have a friend that has dropped a nice sized pig with a .22 LR in it's ear.