Hog Hunting outfit??

[Texpppr]

What would you say would be an ideal hog hunting outfit for texas. scoped or not? Would a Ruger .44 carbine be good, or a marlin lever .45-70?, Winchester 30-30 carbine? A scoped 3006 like I use for deer hunting? I guess the 2 big things here are scoped or not and how far the shots usually are.

[1st cav sgt ret]

Texpppr from my experances with hunting with captkb and reading on texasboars the best hunting happens at night(I know I learned my lesson its not like deer hunting!!)therefore I am useing my normal deer hunting rifles but am spending money on some very very good optics,cause I cant see iron sights at night(even with a LARGE spotlight)any of the cals you mentioned should work(but I would suggest buying the best scope with the largest objective lense you can afford)with captkb shots can be anywhere from 50yds to 300yds depends on terrain and amount of cover,Bobcat and others what do you think

[CoonDawg]

The best glass you can afford is first. Then think about how you will be hunting day, night stand/blind stalking/ using dogs and then the type of area you will be in light/heavy brush.

You can beat a good 45-70 Marlin.

[captkb]

I believe the Sgt. hit the nail on the head. Hogs can be hunted day or night and when looking for a hog rig you should consider getting something that works for both. Personally I have to have a scope in order to hunt at night, for hogs or anything else. Caliber is something you should feel comfortable with, but like Sgt. said shots may range from 50 yds to 300 yds and at 300 yds you need a bullet that still has a good kick. All of the cartridges you mention are good and will work to knock down a hog, but out of the ones you mention that would work for close and long range shots I would have to go with the 30-06. Just my .02 cents!

[Bobcat]

I would use you 30-06. My guess is that you shoot it more and are more comfortable with it. I also agree with using a scope. Of course with my eyes I can't use iron sights any more anyway. ;D The 45-70 is a great hog gun but also more difficult to shoot well at longer distances if needed.

Good Hunting,

Bob

[Rapier]

Considering how much blood trailing I had to do on the last hog hunt with a .250 Savage, I am seriously considering using a .375 H&H on the next one.

All kidding aside, ditto on the 30-06 with glass of your choice.

BBJ

[CoonDawg]

Rapier if that little 375 can't handle the job I'm sure one of us would loan you a 416 Rigby to handle some of them baby pigs ;D

www.boarhuntermagazine.com just did a story on the Marlin 45-70 and the S&W 500 pretty good reading too.

[hayseed]

I dont know why you boys shoot such big guns, if yall would learn to shot a little better you can use a smaller caliber gun.

all in fun,
hayseed

[Bobcat]

Hey hayseed,

I use my 22-250 with 60 gr. Partitions a lot on hogs. I just dial it in right behind the ear. They drop in their tracks. I am going on a monster hog hunt in 3 weeks up in the panhandle and will hopefully show y'all what it can do on a monster hog.

My go to hog rifle is usually a 7mm-08 with 140 gr. Partitions, but I had to sell it do to some set-backs.......I will have another one ASAP.

Good Hunting,

Bob

[snakeriverrufus]

FWIW, I use a marlin .45-70 with a tasco pro-point, good day or night. A 405 JFP @ 1950fps gets the attention of most anything.

[Bobcat]

SRR,

That is a great hog set-up!!

Bob

[billyp]

hey guys all you need is a good set of dogs & a good knife. really i have had great resullts with my 270 wsm.