Really wanting to get into some night time pig hunting this spring. I have an optic on order and I'll put it on my AR-15 for now. Siltting in a blind yesterday I got to thinking....which is going to cost me money.

I'd really like another gun on the AR platform, bigger than the .223, that I could shoot suppressed inside 100 yards and unsupressed will full power ammo at longer distances up to 250-300.

The optic I bought allows you to save multiple zeros so thinking it would be easy.

Question is, is there a caliber out there that will get me nice and quiet inside 100 with an opportunity for multiple pigs, and still allow me to shoot at 200+? Or am I looking at 2 guns?

Everyone is going to reccomend the grendel.

I'm going to reccomend an AR10 or a AK.

AR-10, good ole .308 Win, 16" barrel

Couple for sale in the Trading Post on this forum. If you don't like what they weigh, swap whatever parts you want to cut the weight down.

I’d say 300BLK very quiet suppressed especially out of a 16” barrel. Can shoot out to 300 yards easily.

Also even suppressed pigs scatter when the first shot is fired. So multiple pigs at 100 is doable but they aren’t just going to stand around when you shoot just because you’re suppressed.

Can't handle a .308 huh?

Lol of course I can, but I like super short and lite guns 8” 308 vs 8” 300BLK you might as well use the smaller case and smaller frame.

Now that all the poor choices have been mentioned I'll suggest 6.8.

I guess that makes sense... Super short.

No such gun exists. This is what I had in mind before I received my suppressor. They still scatter for the hills at the first shot. I took my suppressed .22 with me to the bow stand. It is so quiet that you can hear the firing pin drop. Shot a pig right in the ear at 25 yards and he dropped without making a noise. All the other pigs scattered as if I was shooting a howitzer.

Experts lol. You’re going to get lots of different recommendations here. I personally don’t like AR-10’s for two reasons.

1) Too heavy. Most of my night time pig hunting is done stalking.
2) More recoil makes it harder to stay on target for additional shots on pigs when they’re running.

Won’t get into another caliber debate but I’ll just say this. I have a suppressed 300 blk with digital NV that is my dedicated night time pig gun, and it has killed I don’t know how many hundreds of pigs under 200 yrds. 200 + at night it starts getting real hard to see anyway, at least with my Pulsar N750. The Barnes bullets are hell on pigs, quiet light weight rifle, no recoil so easy to stay on target, and very accurate. I also have a sweet spot for the 6.8 SPC.

Or even better than the 300 BO is rocks. Yeah, and a sling shot.

I actually have nothing of value, just bored.

So if multiple stand still shots isn't a reality, would you stay AR platform or go to a bolt action to make the suppressed shot as quiet as possible?

As much as those videos of 3 people opening up on a group of hogs on the run entertain me, not sure I want to be tracking pigs on the run and taking shots in the dark. Gets a little chaotic and dangerous.

AR10 is to heavy to enjoy and you’ll wish you went ar15 platform.

I like the 6.8

Honestly I’ve never had an issue with 223. Follow up shots, 2 is better than one

6.8, 6.5 Grendel , 300 bo, 300 hamr

Multiple stand still shots do happen every once in a while, but they are almost always going to run after the first shot. The sound of the bullet in the air and the impact is what scares them, that and the squealing.

If you're just going to be stand hunting at night and not doing eradication type work in open country, then a bolt gun will work fine and be a little bit quieter. There's nothing chaotic and dangerous about shooting multiple pigs on the run on open ground, unless you're hunting with a knucklehead. Safety 101 and a little common sense goes a long way.

Before you buy a new rifle, consider upgrading the bullets in your current AR15. Barnes TSX, Hornady GMX, or try the Nosler bonded 64 grain bullet. The Sierra 55 and 65 game kings are pretty good too, but the mono metal bullets will probably give your more penetration.

this is true, you pop one. they scatter. if its dark, you're out of luck. if its light, they may come back

The best way to get multiple, suppressed rifle shots on a hog sounder is to do it from more than 300 yards away.

Had em close in on me several times.

Regardless of how far away and suppressed you are, they are still going to hear ssssshhhhh...THWACK! And your second shot they will be on the move.

That is not always the case.

Take 2 guns.

The hundred yard and 300 yard hunts would be from different blinds. Wouldn’t happen on the same hunt.

I put mine on a 300 bo.

Nuff said...that’s your list, look at your ballistics and figure out which one scratches your itch. I think you’ll be happy with most of those. Only way I’d pick a BO over a hamr is if you want to mess with subs...otherwise, they are worthless to me. The hamr it’s better in every way except subs, don’t take my word for it, look at the ballistics.

Yes, the hammer is the 6.5 Creedmoor of the pig hunting world.

I don't shoot subs on pigs. I just kill them, with a 300 blk and 110 gr Barnes bullets...it works, that's why I'm still using it.

Got it!!!! So glad I just had a new rifle built.