Boar Hunting load

[lakehopper]

I am shooting a nice group with my 54 swamped Getz barrel 45 inch long 70 grain 2f with a .530 rd ball with a .015 ox yoke patch at 50 yrds and that I use for deer in Pa.

Should I be looking at a heavier load for hunting and harvesting a 150-250lb pig. I know of their shoulder plate and their vitals are a small target. I am very comfordable at a 50yd shot or less. Any comments or suggestions?

[xring2245]

Yup, try 90 Gr. 2F.

I've killed a few wild boar and you want something that's gonna hurt them and put them down.  They can get nasty.

James

[lakehopper]

That was my next choice of load, I have ordered .018 and .020 patches both dry and ox yoke patches just incase I need to change up the formula.

Thanks xring

[ironwolf]

  I'd also go with a .535 Ball.

  K

[lakehopper]

I have to ask why a .535 rd ball?? Would I get a tighter seat with an .018 patch?

[Daryl]

.005" tighter - tighter is always better from the standpoint of accuracy.  I've never seen a looser load shoot better.

Some guys here started with balls .010" under, as in your .530" ball, but they usually end up shooting a .535" in .54 with a .020" to .022" patch.

[Habu]

Just a thought: how good a tracker are you?  Your load seems light, and while probably adequate, you might want to plan on follow-up tracking and a finishing shot. 

Xring has suggested 90 gr. FFg, and I think that is a good starting point before working up.  In my current .54, I'm shooting 110-120 gr. FFg.  (Depends on the powder, 110 of Goex, 120 of the old Elephant I'm still shooting up.)  That load has been adequate for 6 pigs, with no tracking and no followup shots.  Aim for the opposite shoulder: even if you don't break the shoulder you'll do enough damage the pig won't go far. 

Jim

[Don Getz]

I would still recommend a .530 ball  in a hunting rifle.   You need something that can be loaded without breaking a ramrod
and that can be started without a hammer.   I would recommend more powder.....90 to 100 grains of FF.   I have no doubt
that both Taylor and Daryl can load almost anything with a big swat of their hand, but, how many of you guys ever met
these fellows?   Both are great guys and I enjoyed talking to them when they made their trip to Dixon's, but these guys
are some husky fellows.    They also shoot some outstanding targets, something that most people on this forum are not
capable of doing............1" to 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards.   In my 50 years of shooting these things, I have never done
that......with open sights no less.   As I said before, I would still use a .530 ball, but more powder.   After all, we are only
looking for minute of pig accuracy.............Don

[Dr. Tim-Boone]

I agree Don. I want to load my .54 fast and easy in the pig world...... also I am building a .53 cal pistol to carry as back up.... Here in GA the range to the pig is usually not more than 30 yards...........

[roundball]

And if I assume correctly these are somewhat close shots...ie: 25-50yds...and unlike a deer, no more than a hog moves it head a lead ball in its ear will be easily doable and work just fine.
If it was me, I sure wouldn't start reinventing everything all of a sudden just to shoot a hog...if its 25-50yds, just use what you know works.

[Habu]

Most shots I've seen were at targets moving away, often at a fair rate of speed, in mixed cover.  An ear shot would work if the opportunity presented itself, but it probably isn't something to rely on.  Maybe if a guy was stand hunting over bait, or watching a trail, but that often gets into times when the light is poor or absent.

I can understand the good Dr. Boone's desire for a pistol; I had such good results with my Bess that I'm planning a large-bore rifled carbine.

Jim

[roundball]

"...hunting and harvesting a 150-250lb pig..."

Can you better describe the typical conditions under which you'll be taking a shot?

[Daryl]

We tent to forget everyone wasn't raised on horse meat. (just kidding) Don, you're a good friend, but even my wife and daughter shoot the same loads I do - ball and patch wise. Neither one will shoot my 14 bore.

Taylor and I were supportive & instructive of these types of loads that our friends use now - same as us, mostly. Not difficult- technique is important.

At the proposed ranges the lighter than prudent, 90gr.2F powder charge will probably work just fine on pigs - as long as it is accurate enough and should be - very close range. The velocity will only be some 1,350fps and that means a striking speed of around 1,100fps which will work. Sounds light, doesn't it.

As far as velocity goes, 90gr. isn't much different than 70gr. as far as impact at 30yards goes - maybe 100fps only- but it wil be slightly more accurate.

[lakehopper]

The terrain will be similar to Pa woods with openings, hills and valleys, at least thats what I have been told


glenn

[longcruise]

Well, first off, even a 250 pound pig does not have much of a gristle shield.  It'll be there, but won't be near as "impenetrable" as they are often described.  Most hogs are shot pretty up close and personal.  On one hog hunt of my own experience in the mesquite and plumb thickets of the TX panhandle, we killed nine hogs and the longest shot was just under 100 yards.  The other eight were all under 30 yards.

If your gun shoots well with 90 grains, then by all means, do it!  OTOH if 70 is the magic number then stick with it.

The main thing about hogs is that their "vital area" is quite a bit further forward than on a deer.  

Here's a pic that might help.

http://i126.photobucket.com/albums/p98/shilohranch/ShilohRanchHogVitals.jpg

[Daryl]

Good picture, Mike. Fellows up from Texas and others from Alabama told us the 'gristle' shield is mostly in the imagination of some people. The more it's talked abotu in hushed tones, the bigger, thicker and tougher it gets.

They told us on a huge hog, it would be there, but nothing to be concerned of in normal pigs or with adequate weapons.  I've never butchered one so cannot say from experience.

I'd like that to change, some day.

[Rasch Chronicles]

Fellows,

I have killed a couple dozen truckloads of them over a couple of decades; 189 of them to be exact.  Any boar hog over a couple hundred pounds, and they don't often get that big, will develop the infamous shield. The older they get, the thicker and gnarlier it is. That has led me to believe that age more than size has something to do with it. Now I also raised wild hogs. BTW they get tame in three days. They are a lot smarter than people give them credit for. A neighbor had an old boar, and that animal looked like an out of place miniature rhino, has shield had shields! My favorite boar Gordy, had a big thick shield also, though he still had all his hair compared to Grandpa down the street.

I guarantee you that anything less than a 40 caliber minie type ball would be marginal. I would would bet that a pure lead ball in 40 would be stopped, especially since most people shoot above and behind where a hogs heart is, which happens to be where the shield is thickest. Think about why they have the shield. They brawl like two wrestlers with knives! Their strikes are predominantly from the neck to the shoulder blades. And believe you me I ave seen the results!

Anyway, If they are slightly quartering away, you can get through the thinnest part of the shield. But as Brown Bear said, a modest sized boar hog's shield will not stop a 45 ball and stout charge of BP.

If you know that you are after a truly trophy sized hog, then arm yourself appropriately for an ethical take. 54 Cal ball, tight patch and accurate shooting will anchor it right there if you do your part. The important part is as to load appropriately as Mr Getz mentioned. If you want to shoot a big bore, load it big. Anemic loads will work on deer, but not on pigs. BTW pigs don't bleed well, and are hard to track.

And lastly, I've been charged a few times, mostly because I was standing where they wanted to go. It's not like they see all that well poor buggers.

Best regards,
Albert “Afghanus” Rasch
Charged! Hog Hunting at its Best!
ΜOΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ!

[Dphariss]

I would shoot wheel weight balls for bigger hogs. Though I have never shot one.
Hard balls/bullets have been the answer to penetration for a very long time. From lead balls hardened with Mercury in the early 19th century to steel jacketed solids for heavy game today.
If the rifle has narrow lands even hard lead can be loaded OK.
I have a ML "dangerous game" rifle and its shoots hard lead as well or better than soft.
I would not shoot hogs with a caliber less than 54.
Dan

[lakehopper]

Wow talk about interesting facts about hog hunting. This has helped in planning my hunt.

Thank You

[roundball]

From articles I've read, wild hogs have a couple litters a year and they're populations are expanding rapidily...they destroy deer habitat...destroy turkey nests / eggs...

[Standing Bear]

I have only killed 18-20 or so.  First was w/ a .50 TC Hawken in 1976.  100 gr of FFg pushed a maxiball that hit just behind the right ear.  Hammer time. 

Since have taken one each using 12ga w/ 7 1/2 shot when squirrel hunting (saw the shot column bounce off the rib cage 2X at 12 yards), .40 PRB with 75 gr FFg (brain shot) and a .30-06.   

ALL of the others were taken using .22 pistol or rifle.  Smaller ones with lung shots but most were head shots.  I wasn't trying to harvest most, just killing them so as to lower the population on the lease and shot what ever I had in my hands. 

Hogs are prolific (3-4 litters of 4-12 ea year and breeding at 3-6 months), have few natural predators, will eat anything, and are fast and nimble on short runs.  Young fawns are very much in danger.   As Albert said, if you don't have them, try to keep it that way.

A .54 with 70-100 gr of powder will do a great job on hogs.  Shot placement as always is the key.

TC

[blunderbuss]

I've only shot one Russian hog but it was a big one around 300 lb got him with a .577 rb pure lead 70 gr ffg it was a lung shot. he was in a pack when I shot and turned and ran away from the pack. A wounded deer will run with the heard. I would guess he ran maybe 25 yards. No blood for maybe 10 yards then only one little drop, closer I got the more blood finally right before I found him there was allot of blood on both sides up high on the cactus. Ball went clear through  I know about the heart thing but this one was running full tilt I was satisfied with hitting the hog

[fdf]

Hogs are prolific (3-4 litters of 4-12 ea year and breeding at 3-6 months), have few natural predators,.

Per Texas Parks and Wildlife, bob cats, coyotes and mountain lions are very fond of feeding on young piglettes, I was advised not to shoot coyotes when young pigglettes are about.  Are the biologiest wrong?

[Standing Bear]

Sure the young of any species are at risk.  There are few if any natural predators of adult hogs besides man.

[longcruise]

Here is a discussion of vital areas and shot placement for a number of animals including hogs.

http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=084174