.243 for Texas hogs (West: to move, land, distance)

[Westerntraveler]

Hi, I want to go hog hunting again. I have a .243 that I've killed 8 deer with using 100grain soft points. Is that load enough for a hog? I've been hunting at my friend's land for hogs. The only shot I took, I missed so I've never witnessed it's effectiveness on a hog.If it's not big enough, my dad has a .264 mag I could use.Thanks in advance.
-Westerntraveler.

[neddy]

I would use the mag but I believe the other would work also. Good luck to ya. They are hard buggers to stop once they start running!

[Westerntraveler]

Thank you.Ya, those hogs sure are tough.

[gguerra]

Aim for the head. Hogs have a thick breast plate which will deflect many bullets, especially if using a lower grain one.. Here's an article Where to Shoot a Wild Boar Hog - Boar Hogs Aren't Built Like Deer

[Westerntraveler]

Thanks for the article, but I would try to shoot a hog in the shoulder/heart/lungs area.I try to shoot deer through the shoulders.I would like to move up to a 7mm mag someday.If you aim for the head, there is too high of a chance of missing in my opinion.

[gguerra]

Originally Posted by Westerntraveler

Thanks for the article, but I would try to shoot a hog in the shoulder/heart/lungs area.I try to shoot deer through the shoulders.I would like to move up to a 7mm mag someday.If you aim for the head, there is too high of a chance of missing in my opinion.

It all depends, distance, accuracy of the gun, using a scope or not and of course your shooting skill. If it's close and you have a scope on your gun it should be ok. They do have a big head so it's not such a small target.

[Westerntraveler]

Good point, i would kinda like to see a feral hogs head blown off.I may have to try that some day

[Grainraiser]

A .243 will kill hogs all day and twice on Sunday. You just need to use a quality bullet instead of run of the mill ammo like coreloks. Anything that will kill a deer will kill a hog. I have been packing the freezer with hogs for years and have used a .243 on them many times.

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Westerntraveler

Hi, I want to go hog hunting again. I have a .243 that I've killed 8 deer with using 100grain soft points. Is that load enough for a hog? I've been hunting at my friend's land for hogs. The only shot I took, I missed so I've never witnessed it's effectiveness on a hog.If it's not big enough, my dad has a .264 mag I could use.Thanks in advance.
-Westerntraveler.

A .223 is perfectly adequate for all but the biggest pigs. Most of what you see will be boar in the 250-350 range and sows under 150 lbs. Bullet placement is the important thing and, in many ways, a .243 is an ideal pig round.

Do not attempt headshots - the target is too small and pigs move their heads too much for this to be a reliable formula.

If you draw an imaginary line between the ear and the middle of the shoulder, the half-way point between the two is the boiler room. A dead-center hit will drop the pig and bleed it out in a matter of seconds: no tracking, no loss of game. A hit slightly off target (about a 4" radius) will still be a very rapidly incapacitating and fatal wound. Please see diagram below for an example.

If it were me, I would take the .243 that I am comfortable with, familiar with and I know puts the bullet where I want it to go.

PIG SHOT PLACEMENT.pdf

[TedH71]

I prefer to chase 'em with dogs and stick 'em with knives. More fun that way.