what gun for wild hogs?

Slugs work great, but don't expect exits on large boars.
Most calibers do not exit on hogs over 300 hundred.
Big hogs have a shield over their vitals from the point of the shoulder to around the end of the rib cage. This shield can be up to 2 1/2 inches thick {that is the thickest I've seen}. The shield effectively expands and slows the bullet almost instantly. Killing shots depending on your level of confidence and skill would be in this order for me:

1. head/neck
2. Quartering away, bullet placed just behind the last rib aiming for the opposite shoulder.{looks like a gut shot}
3. behind the shoulder.
4. quartering towards ,shot placed between the neck and shoulder. {hard shot to make at a moving target}
5. straight away, bullet place at the base of the tail. {also very hard shot to make,usually requires a follow up shot}

my recommendation to the beginners is quartering away and behind the shoulder.
 
We are ate up with hogs in E. Texas. I couldn't say how many hogs we've killed in the past 5 years but its alot. I mostly use a 223 and shoot them through or just below the ears. My brother shoots them with his 22-250. I would agree with some here that say use a .243 or up for those that don't hunt hogs on a regular basis. IMO and experience though, hogs are not hard to kill and using a large 30 caliber is a choice, not a neccessity.
 
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dcmtex, you are right hogs are not that hard to kill under normal circumstances.
I think where they get that "energizer" reputation is that 1 out of every hundred or so just don't want to die. It is Generally a large hog over 200pounds that was shot while he or she was on an adrenalin rush and those hogs can be tough to kill. Ask Tony Tebbe about the big boar he shot here with me.

the most memorable "energizer hog" for me was the first one. I had killed plenty of hogs through the years and had heard all the horror stories about the hog that was shot 20 times and kept coming .We've all heard that story.

A buddy and I were hog hunting. Me with a bow and 357 for back up and him with a .270 with 9mm and 44 for backup.You'd have to know my friend ,he looks like rambo in the woods. Anyway he shot a hog out of a group that dropped right there. Then ran nearly 300 yards to get a long shot at another which he hit in the hams. He walked up to it shot it in the head with the 9mm and left it for dead. 30 minutes later as we went to load the hogs I walked up and did the kick test on this hog which didn't weigh an once over 125 and low and behold he had hit it thought the jaws with the 9mm shot and rendered it unconscious but far from dead! She let out what can only be described as a roar and came at me! I emptied my 357 into the hog anywhere I could hit her while circling to avoid getting cut. She rolled and I had time to say "I'm bout outta" before she was up and coming again! I circled towards my friend and he put a 44 through the top of her skull that ended it. This was an "adrenalin rush" hog. a fairly rare deal since I've killed hundreds and only had a hand full react this way.

In the beginning hog may seem tough, but the more you kill the more proficient you become.

One of you East Texas guy need to invite me out. We have plenty of hogs but not nearly the population you guys have.
Thank goodness
 
Hey, you experienced hog hunters, I am traveling to Oklahoma this spring to try and kill a hog, I hope one with a bow and one with my .44 magnum. I know what broadhead to use, but what round would you suggest for the .44? I am thinking a Hornady 240 grain hp xtp. What do you think?
 
Guess, I will have you down at the ranch when its all said and done. Just have to iron out the "family ownership thing" if you understand. It'll happen though because I want your savy.

Just this year we were heading in to deer hunt and saw a boar (275-300) among the cows. He got clear and I anchored him (I thought) with the .243. Another group was working the other side of the pasture so we went over to have a look and they had moved into the woods. We were in the golf cart and went back to check the boar. He proceeded to charge us with only the use of his rear legs (pushing if you will) and it forced him in a circle. I shot him point blank in the neck with the .243 ending it but his intent was obvious. There are always the exceptions, with that I definitely agree with you.
 
I would say the 240 or 300 gr would work just fine. You could also look at a heavy lead cast bullet, that way if you have to track you will almost always have a pass through. Buffalo Bore makes some awsome hard cast bullets, as does Federal.
 
Having hunted on Central Florida ranches several years where hogs were shot on sight and could be found most any day, I always kept my Marlin 39A (22LR) in the jeep for hogs. One shot in the brain is 100% dead hog. With 4X scope was good for about 50 yards. 22mag was good for a little over 100 yds. Shot anywhere except brain or upper spinal collum and they may move around. Even in your direction.
 
i USE A 308, 22Mag. 12 ga, 41 Mag, or a 35 Remy. The 35 Remy is my personal favorite shooting hornady leverevolution
stuff. It tends to be pretty thick here and the shots can be up close and personal and hogs can pack a lot of lead. They can also hurt you if you piss em off.
 
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Will a 300 WSM with a 130 Barnes TSX kill one?



It might but just barely.

I kid! Like has been said already hogs CAN be killed with a .17HMR. I would take a 6mm or a .257 at the least if I was going out after pigs. If I was varmint hunting or predator hunting and happened upon pigs I would not hesitate to shoot them with a .204 or .223
 


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