Crossbows for Hog Hunting

I have shot guns for a long time and wanted to try something new. I have a place near me where I can hunt hogs and wanted to try a crossbow. I am a complete beginner to crossbows and have only shot one at least 5 times in my life, what would be some good recommendations?

They are a lot of fun to shoot pigs with. I recommend using the 125 grain Muzzy Phantom broadheads, they have really impressed me.

I meant a crossbow as a whole, sorry for not making it clear. Thank you for what broadhead to use though.

Excalibur and Ten Point make some nice ones. I shoot the Barnett Buck Commander @ 365 fps. Never had any issues with it. Fast, accurate, and easier on the wallet.

Much depends on your budget. In moderately priced compounds, Wicked Ridge has a very good reputation. Higher end, you might look at 10 point or Ravin, but be prepared for sticker shock. Barnett, Bear and Centerpoint also make moderately priced compounds. I personally had an entry level Parker (now out of business) crossbow with which I was generally happy. It was slow (270 fps), but had a great trigger and seemed accurate enough. I recently upgraded to a new-to-me Excalibur Matrix Bulldog 380 recurve, and am so far very happy with it. The recurve will be slower and harder to load, but also easier to maintain. When I was shopping, it came down to Wicked Ridge vs a used Excalibur, and I found the right deal on the Excalibur.

Thank you, I’ll look into them. If you land a well placed shot into a hog how far will they run?

Thank you for the information. If you land a well placed shot on a hog how far will they run? (Saying around 360fps)

They're all different. Typically, a shot through the vitals with a good broadhead and that pig (or deer) will die in about 10 seconds FME. Now, in that time frame they may go straight down. They may run 20 yrds, or 150 yrds. I've had them run away, and then come right back where I shot them and pile up next to me. With the 125 grain Phantoms, I never had one run farther than 50 yrds though. It opens them up pretty good and they bleed out fast.

I was surprised on a deer the wife shot this week, double lung shot with a Rage Hyperdermic in a crossbow bolt running about 365fps 13 yard shot at least a 2 inch clean cut through both lungs and the deer ran about 150 yards 50+ of that was up hill. (of course that was in it's mad dash)

Interesting one years ago with a Bear Broadhead 2 blade from a recurve, 10 yard shot from a tree stand, in between ribs and out between ribs no bones hit, deer took 2 jumps, stopped looked around walked to arrow and got the wobbles and fell over while selling the arrow. That made for a very easy recovery

Crossbow on hogs I have shot a few with one and all with 125gr G5 Montech. It worked and killed 4 hogs with one broadhead after it had killed a deer.

Good stuff. I shot a doe one time with my old compound, 20 yrd broadside double lung shot. She jumped one time and just stood there looking around. Got the wobbles and went down right there. Never took a step.

I have a Barnett 410 Ghost & have shot a couple deer & two coyotes(at 55 yards). I use Rage hypodermics. Off a solid rest get 6" patterns at 70 yards. I passed a shot at a good buck last week at last light at 70 yards. If it was a hog for sure I would have taken the shot.

I like Rage expandables because for sure the point of impact matches field points.

If I was buying a crossbow right now it would be a 400-410 FPS model from a major manufacturer. For hogs I would try some sort of cheaper/tougher fixed broadhead.

I use a Wicked Ridge (by Tenpoint) Invader with 100gr Hellrazors. Never had one travel farther than 30 yards after the shot...though shot placement makes a difference.

Biggest problem with a hof is fat plugging up the hole and no blood trail.

I just had this happen during an evening hunt. It's got me leaning strongly towards using luminocks or similar. In low light situations, you can't just head shoot them like you can with a rifle.

125 grain Muzzy Phantoms will penetrate bone and open them up every time FME. Ain't no plugging up, they bleed out externally and quickly if you hit vitals.
I have used different broadheads in the past too with different experiences on pigs. I only brag on these because they work at all angles, not like some of the failures I've experienced in the past with mechanical broadheads and quartering away shots. How they also hold up through bone is impressive.

Good to know.

I was deer hunting Wednesday morning with my crossbow (entry level Barnett Wildcat). About 25 hogs came into the feeder area below me and I shot one (pass thru double lung). Last time I'll hunt with the crossbow. It just felt inadequate when i could only take one shot. I'll hunt with the AR for hogs and wait until gun season to take a deer.

JR

I've killed 3 hogs with my wicked ridge crossbow and slick trick broadheads that didn't move and one boar that turned around in circles before dying a few feet from the feeder. I have a couple more that went 30 yards or so.

I hunt public land with mine. Tough hunting but fun and exciting when you get on them. I bought a PSE Fang with the stock sight. All seems to work fine. Cheap bolts from Academy and fixed broadheads cheap online ones. Hogs are tough and mechanicals seem to be another weakness. JMO. Had it restrung in the spring because where I go I'm getting my strings roughed up by vegetation. Last one I shot was a through and through. Lung shot. She was hurt but no blood and no findy. Had many others run off after solids hits. Pic is from sighting in after restringing. 3rd set of shots at 20 yds.