My father in law is taking me on a texas pig hunt, and I really want to shoot my 223. Anyone know if it is a legal caliber for taking hogs in TX. Also alll I have are 30 rd mags?
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My father in law is taking me on a texas pig hunt, and I really want to shoot my 223. Anyone know if it is a legal caliber for taking hogs in TX. Also alll I have are 30 rd mags?
Not sure of TX regs but I do know hig hunting...I would go bigger than .223 Anticipating all head shots on moving targets ranging up to 400+ lbs is setting yourself up for failure. Think 125gr bullets and up. 300 Whisper/Blackout is nice.
Yeah that is what I was kinda worried about. Went hunting their last year, and used a 30-30 without issues
Don't do what I did my first time, I took a 12 gauge and used rifled slugs. I did get 2 myself, and my wife and both her kids got one each using a .243 bolt action with 100 grain soft points. I just had to be a lot closer. One person we met there said a .223 will kill a boar, but not until he runs off and dies a day or so later. He and his wife used a pair of Yugo SKS rifles with 124 grain hollow points and took down a couple of 250 pounders at about 125 yards.
Guess I will take my 30.06 this year. Now to find a good flashlight to duct tape to my barrel
Use a spotter with a rangefinder and a 1 million + candlepower spotlight.Quote:
Originally Posted by van7559
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d1...423_095005.jpg
My first piglet
Bunch of guys using 6.8 caliber post up photos of their hunts in TX and elsewhere here --> http://68forums.com/forums/forumdisp...ith-the-6.8-mm. Assuming you were talking about using an AR in .223, the 6.8 would require a swap to a new upper w/BCG assembly plus magazine.Quote:
Originally Posted by van7559
I know a guy that uses a .22-250...so I assumeth, that a centerfire .22 is legal
If I recall, any centerfire is OK in TX, that being said, last time I shot one in TX, I was about 12 and shot it just below the eye with a 7mm mag.
Texas pig hunting is beyond fun. But it's not like here, distances are short (under 100 yards) and it's VERY FAST to get on them. (damn things never stop moving). A slug shotgun would be an excellent tool. They are TOUGH creatures, while you can take .223 (hell, .22LR if you want to, there are NO rules on pigs in texas), I would shoot bigger if you can.
A nice double rifle would be a hell of a tool.
M1 Garand!
I'd go with a .30 cal minimum.
Gonna drag the. 30-06 this trip. The first time I went I shot a huge pig with the 30-30 chambered with hornady leverolution damn if that fucker didn't do the running man in a circle on the ground for a minute or two on his side and jump up and ran. Never did find it :( the pig in the picture was a baby compared to the one that got away. I was bummed!
It's always the one that got away!
I have a 6.8 for the piggies.
Picked up a streamlight waypoint spot light for this hunt. I must say for the money this thing is badass!
Ill tell you what if you take me we can take turns using my 308.. And my rangefinder.. And I'll buy a mount so we can mount that light to my rifle :-) what say you! Have always wanted to go hog hunting in Texas! Good luck and have fun
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8158/7...79daf5ec_m.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by coloccw
yote setup :)
Your good to go, have fun! Keep the straps.... yum!Quote:
Originally Posted by van7559
Last time I went pig hunting in Texas, I took my M1A and used my favorite 165gr GameKing hollowpoints. And, I went for head shots. My buddy was using my .338-06; he went for a shoulder shot at 85 yards like you would with a deer and the pig just ran off. ("Don't shoot it in the shoulder! Hit it in the head!" I said..."It's a .338-06!" He said. "It'll go down like a rock!" Yeah, not so much...)
The one thing I learned on that hunt...next time I'll have a night scope.
45-70 with 410 grain Barnes X bullets at 2100ft/sec is an excellent 1 shot stopper even on the shoulder.
My experience pig hunting in Texas is in the brush country which required stalking. You do not want to wound these guys. They will charge you!
Not sure I would trust a 223 on a head shot.... but a modern 45-70 with high pressure ammo is wonderful.
I have shot dozens of pigs with my .223 ar with no issues. Even used 55 fmj on occasion. If you use soft points around 62 grains or more you will be gtg
My brother in law dropped a 300 pound pig with his 700 in .223. Went through the boar plate, and we found what was left of the bullet in the other plate. He was using 55 grain soft points. Texas really doesn't have a caliber restriction, it does have to be center fire. 223 is the smallest I would go though. Winchester makes cartridges specifically for hog hunting. I think they are called razorback bullets.
We always do a quick Department of wild life and game search on google for the state our pro staff hunts in for a quick run down of laws. That usually answers any question you might have. Most states are so happy to get rid of them they don't care what you use as long as they are dead.
federal sells some 223 with 69gr nosler partitions
but I'd err on the side of more gun the better
I have some (1k) 75gr BTHP non magnetic rounds coming in next month I was going to use for coyotes out of my 20 inch build. I might see how those do against a hog. But now I am looking at either getting a .450 Bushmaster or .458 SOCOM upper to use as a swap out for heftier game. The only worry I have is that the 5.56 round may not have enough stopping power and I get charged.
Ditto. For a NC pig hunt, I used a 45-70 loaded with Garrett's Hammerhead 45-70 ammo. Shot lengthwise through the hog and on another broke both shoulders. Plan on using my Rossi 92 in 454 Casull on my next one with 335gr hard cast bullets. Had one tree me once and prefer not to relive that experience again.Quote:
Originally Posted by Colorado Osprey
As my board name implies, I shoot 6.8 SPC Spec II and that (I am told) is a fantastic round for hogs in an AR platform. I am looking at doing my first hog hunt this Spring once I get the arrangements worked out. Surprisingly, the guys shooting 6.8 go with the 95gr Barnes TTSX bullets for hogs up to around 300ish pounds (the good eating ones) and 120 gram soft points for the big monsters. Depended on what type of hunt they are looking to do - food or trophy. 6.8 is a great round because it holds more energy at 250 yards than 5.56 does at muzzle AND, the standard bullet is 115gr so you are already double the weight of standard 5.56.
Hog hunting is just one reason for a 30-round mag for an AR.
700 Nitro ExpressQuote:
Originally Posted by Marine24
Black Hog Down
You guys interested in feral pig hunting might enjoy this video:
Sheesh. Remind me to never let that guy hunt next to me.Quote:
Originally Posted by DHC
i'm all for taking care of business, but i think my methods would have a little more... discretion.
Just had a friend return from a Texas hog hunt and they were using .223 AR's, shooting them in the head. Did well on those well placed shots. I shot mine with a .50 cal muzzleloader, did the job but they are a tough animal.
Holy cow!Quote:
Originally Posted by DHC
I'm not sure about a .223? I guess you could. Shot placement is 90% of tthe battle on them. Just an FYI. They don't die quick! And you don't want to shoot up your meat. I would go with a .270 personally or something with more stopping power.
These guys suck at shooting! Man. I don't think they got a clean shot on any of them? They just shot random. Have some ethics on a hunt. Or at least learn how to do a clean kill? Something.
^THIS^
I have no problem with hunting, but this was sickening.
A: No fucking shot placement - loved the bit where he thinks he's in a video game, one-handing it.
B: Once it's down and screaming in pain - FUCKING KILL IT!!!!! No more shooting at it's friends, or popping off random shots into it's side.
C: NO FUCKING SHOT PLACEMENT.
Stupid bastards.
This video really is "wrong" I really don't see how they enjoyed what they did.
follow up kill shots should be done as quickly as possible ....i hate seeing anything suffering like thatQuote:
Originally Posted by Dingo