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Friend of mine wants me to help eradicate some hogs on his land.
I have never killed a hog and am excited by the opportunity, but,,,
Currently I don't have a rifle in the safe.

Been wanting to build a "Black Rifle" for quite a while,
but may have to choose a less expensive rifle for this mission.

Need your experience and advice please.

1. Black Rifle .223 5.56 308

(if I could put it together affordably then it would be a great excuse to get one.
Haven't held one in 20 years, last one was Government issue.)

2. Bolt or lever action and caliber choice?

3. Guess the XDm .45 is out of the question.
unless it's probably closer than I will want to be.

4. Remington 870? she doesn't get out enough.

( I took my first deer when I was 12 and have taken many since. But I understand
feral hog is a different critter and I sold off all of my rifles several years ago.)

Complete novice with hogs, so all of your suggestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you,
Michael

.223 with proper placement works. Nice thing about hogs is that there is no such thing as "too big a round". I've nailed them with .223, 12ga "00" Buckshot, .30-06, .270, .30-30, and the 54R. ALL worked.

Kill as many as you can! We need the help!

(kill the sows as much as you can...little guys are good eating...bigger = nasty eating in my opinion)

If it's near Fort Worth I will bring all the rifles we need.

pbwalker wrote:.223 with proper placement works. Nice thing about hogs is that there is no such thing as "too big a round". I've nailed them with .223, 12ga "00" Buckshot, .30-06, .270, .30-30, and the 54R. ALL worked.

Thanks pbwalker, I've been reading several "hog and hunting forums", but this is my home for several hours a day and I trust this bunch here. So if all else fails,, My Remington 870 with 00.


Kill as many as you can! We need the help!

(kill the sows as much as you can...little guys are good eating...bigger = nasty eating in my opinion)

My Buddy's been running cameras and said the area is so thick with pigs he didn't see any deer.
400+ pics and ALL PIGS. Going to take the .45 with me just in case they get too close. Thinking Hardball FMJ.

I would suggest the 5.56 and then you can safely shoot .223 and 5.56 in the same rifle.

sookandy wrote:If it's near Fort Worth I will bring all the rifles we need.

Wish you could, but it's deep in the piney woods of East Texas.

Think about a Marlin 336 in 30-30, for under $500 you can get one equipped with a very good scope and should have no problems dropping then out to 150 yards. Besides every home in Texas should have a lever gun.......

Well,
Now that you mention it Salty1, I may try Hog hunting soon.

My Niece's husband is recovering from an illness and he is an avid hog hunter. I may get the chance to go with him and if I do, I think I'll leave the AR at home and take my Henry H006M .357 lever!

I've heard that 30-30 is a favorite amongst a lot of folks but I'm with pbwalker said about there is no such thing as a too big a round.
I live in the Dallas area now but am from East Tx and know a lot of good ol boys that would jump at this opportunity if you were to extend an invitation their way.
Depending on where you're talking about I might even be willing to come down for a weekend to help do my part, if you'd have me of course.

As far as what you listed, the 870 will work just fine.
If you are just dead set on building an AR platform rifle I would personally go with 6.8, 7.62 or 308.
I haven't found a place to slay any pork but I'm ready and willing I'll be using either my Sig 556 with Hornady TAP 75gr rounds, my Saiga 7.62 or my Mosin. But those are just my choices.
Bigger is better as long as you can manage the recoil and tolerate shooting it all day.....not the Mosin. lol

2up1down wrote:

pbwalker wrote:.223 with proper placement works. Nice thing about hogs is that there is no such thing as "too big a round". I've nailed them with .223, 12ga "00" Buckshot, .30-06, .270, .30-30, and the 54R. ALL worked.

Thanks pbwalker, I've been reading several "hog and hunting forums", but this is my home for several hours a day and I trust this bunch here. So if all else fails,, My Remington 870 with 00.


Kill as many as you can! We need the help!

(kill the sows as much as you can...little guys are good eating...bigger = nasty eating in my opinion)

My Buddy's been running cameras and said the area is so thick with pigs he didn't see any deer.
400+ pics and ALL PIGS. Going to take the .45 with me just in case they get too close. Thinking Hardball FMJ.

I carry FMJ in my XD (my standard OWB carry when hunting or out in the brush) when hunting. No animal is worth a $1 round. lol I've had to put a finishing shot on a 250lb hog once and the FMJ did the trick. Right in the head and he was done.

MedicMan218 wrote:I've heard that 30-30 is a favorite amongst a lot of folks but I'm with pbwalker said about there is no such thing as a too big a round.
I live in the Dallas area now but am from East Tx and know a lot of good ol boys that would jump at this opportunity if you were to extend an invitation their way.
Depending on where you're talking about I might even be willing to come down for a weekend to help do my part, if you'd have me of course.

As far as what you listed, the 870 will work just fine.
If you are just dead set on building an AR platform rifle I would personally go with 6.8, 7.62 or 308.
I haven't found a place to slay any pork but I'm ready and willing I'll be using either my Sig 556 with Hornady TAP 75gr rounds, my Saiga 7.62 or my Mosin. But those are just my choices.
Bigger is better as long as you can manage the recoil and tolerate shooting it all day.....not the Mosin. lol

I'm not sure I'm in on the .223 but the others I agree with. Unless you go after the little ones. But momma always seems to stay close. Got a Mosin carbine for sale!

My friends uncle is up in north east Texas and drops them all the time with his .223. He says there are so many he can pick them off from his bedroom window or back door! As for me personally I have shot two with my .30 .30 lever action and a couple with my 10mm both are more then enough. I have also taken a feral pig with 180 umc ball in my Glock 27. Worked well also.

Also, let me make it clear I have never gone out intending to kill hogs. They are just always there when I go on deer hunts with my buddies. I have actually taken more hogs then deer. I am not a big hunter I have only taken 6 deer in my time. My buddies are the ones who hunt the most.

Heck ill go too. Ill bring a 45/70 lever action and an AR in 7.62x39 we will drop them. You dont want to drive all that way by yourself. Cmon im a fireman ive had my background check already

You could build up a black gun in 6.8spc. That will take 'em down real good too. Then later on if you still have a hankerin' for a 5.56, just buy an upper and swap them out.