Which Rifle or Gun is Best...

[Captain Oates 911]

BTW: California has this reg:

In the UK its 240 or above thus everyone uses the 243 for deer

We don't have wild pigs outside of the city center discos on a Saturday night

I once shot a rat with a 177 air rifle as it was sat up sniffing the air.

I got it between the eyes but I was aiming for its chest 1.5 inches down

I recommend 50 caliber Barrett for quail and gray squirrels

[Leatherneck 693]

I reckon some self control is necessary if you have a 17 and you see a hog. If you shoot a person center chest with a 308 and you are 2 inches off, they are still very dead but not so with 17. In other words, using 'the available gun' isn't acceptable outside a combat situation. Better to say 'pity' and get it next time. You wouldn't shoot a deer, even at 15 yards, if all you had was a 410 loaded with number 12 shot, and its exactly the same.

I know there are no cruelty regulations on hogs, but many places have a minimum of .240 to shoot even small dear and a piggy can be tougher than that. My 5.65mm AR-15 is too small and illegal for deer so a 17 on a hog ? no that's not respecting the chances of being very cruel when you don't hit within and half inch of your aiming point.

If you committed suicide, would you use a 17 ? and we aren't as tough as hogs.

I guess you could come up with endless scenarios and judgements about a hog kill that take place in your absence. Based

on the variables at that moment "the available gun" was enough to get the job done, and it did get the job done.

Is it your position that a 17 is not sufficient to bring about death to a suicidal person?

If one was suicidal and ready to end it now, and the only firearm available was a 17 HMR, with the barrel placed in the mouth

or against the temple I'd put my money on the fact the local coroner would leave the scene with a body bag.

[Captain Oates 911]

I guess you could come up with endless scenarios and judgements about a hog kill that take place in your absence. Based

on the variables at that moment "the available gun" was enough to get the job done, and it did get the job done.

Is it your position that a 17 is not sufficient to bring about death to a suicidal person?

If one was suicidal and ready to end it now, and the only firearm available was a 17 HMR, with the barrel placed in the mouth

or against the temple I'd put my money on the fact the local coroner would leave the scene with a body bag.

The guy at my club put a 45 in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Now he is less pretty than before but he missed his brain and he is very much alive. In a way that proves your point that placement is everything and it is - so long as the placement is right then people have been killed with air rifles.

My point is not that a 17 won't kill a pig - in fact it will kill a Tiger or a Polar bear - my point is that the placement has to be better than we can reliably guarantee, and therefore we should use something that will still be fatal, even of we miss the aiming point by an inch or two

My buddy uses a shotgun for home defense. He says " I will still hit them, even if I miss them"

So I reckon a 30-30 would be a great gun as it doesn't have to be spot on to do the job in the way that a 17 has to be spot on. The Marlin under-lever rifle comes in 357 magnum too, so that would be a great option for 10 yard shooting - especially if someone is loading 357 for pistols

If I were hunting I would use 30-30 as the loads can be widely adjusted for small to quite big game and I wouldn't want to go out more than 200 yards which is where the 30-30 loses accuracy

[slim 1,530]

Man, I gotta start coming over to OT more often! How did I miss this wonderful thread?

I'm definitely in for a VJ hog hunt if one can be put together. Let me know when and where and I'll be there, si man!

I have to admit that hunting and firearms are like Greek to me but since puercos are plentiful and good for eating, I now have a reason to be interested in hunting. Any suggestions on where I might consider buying a rifle? Should I buy used from a place like Craigslist, pawn shops, eBay???? What should I expect to pay for say a Remington 870 express?

Have a good friend (like TBone!) take you out to the range and show you how to safely and properly handle a firearm. Then, shoot a bit. Shoot some of the guns folks on here are telling you are good choices. See which one you like the best. As mentioned, you can't go wrong with a Remington 870 and in my opinion, every American household should get one of these free from the government. (But that's a topic for P&R)

Next, do some internet research on the firearm of your choice. There are a million websites out there and probably more videos than that on YouTube that'll familiarize you with the various firearms and compare them to one another. Pick which one you want. (I recommend nutnfancy and fpsrussia for some good gun action!)

And start shopping online. As mentioned, Buds is a pretty good site to let you know the bottom dollar for a firearm. Keep in mind you'll pay shipping and handling and a FFL transfer fee. (Typically that's around $50 or so on top of the sale price.) Guns aren't allowed on CraigsList but there are usually a few on there. A good alternative site is swapgiant.com because guns ARE allowed (and encouraged!) on there. AR15.com, AK47.net, concealed carry sites, survival/prep forums, etc., all offer "for sale" sections too.

And don't forget about gun shows! Texas has some doozeys! Go see what all the fuss is about. They're fun and you can learn a lot about the guns you're considering.

I highly recommend buying a used gun, especially if you're going to use it to hunt hogs. No reason to pay retail for something that you're going to beat up anyway. You should be able to find an 870 for around $300 depending on condition. Older, beat up with no extra features will run you around $200 and then you can get a newer one that's all kitted up for home defense (extended mag, special finish on the metal, muzzle brake... all the ####### you don't really need) for about $400. Your other choices in that ballpark will be the Winchester 1300 and the Mossberg 500 with various models of each running a hundred more or less. Basically, you'll get a really decent shotgun for under $500.

Just keep an eye out for deals. About two years ago I bought a Winchester 1300 Defender from the gun show for $250. It had the extended mag and barrel shroud already on it and I added a synthetic pistol grip buttstock to it for another $40. For under $300 I had the shotgun that worked just fine for me.

Happy shootin, and keep me posted on the hog hunt!

[Leatherneck 693]

<br />The guy at my club put a 45 in his mouth and pulled the trigger. Now he is less pretty than before but he missed his brain and he is very much alive. In a way that proves your point that placement is everything and it is - so long as the placement is right then people have been killed with air rifles.<br /><br />My point is not that a 17 won't kill a pig - in fact it will kill a Tiger or a Polar bear - my point is that the placement has to be better than we can reliably guarantee, and therefore we should use something that will still be fatal, even of we miss the aiming point by  an inch or two<br /><br />My buddy uses a shotgun for home defense. He says " I will still hit them, even if I miss them"<br /><br />So I reckon a 30-30 would be a great gun as it doesn't have to be spot on to do the job in the way that a 17 has to be spot on. The Marlin under-lever rifle comes in 357 magnum too, so that would be a great option for 10 yard shooting - especially if someone is loading 357 for pistols<br /><br />If I were hunting I would use 30-30 as the loads can be widely adjusted for small to quite big game and I wouldn't want to go out more than 200 yards which is where the 30-30 loses accuracy<br />

<br /><br /><br />

Ok, I'm in agreement with your point. In my original comment I was pointing out that I had used calibers from 17 HMR up to 300 Win Mag.

In neither case was I hunting for hogs when I shoot the hog with the .300 Win Mag or the 17 HMR. The ocassion when I shot the hog with the 300 Win Mag I was deer hunting and the hogs were eating the corn and apples around the feeder. It was too cold, I woke up too early and I spent too much money buying an out of state hunting lic. to let those hogs ruin any one of my 5 days to deer hunt, they needed to be dispatched quickly.

So I agree with you that a 17 HMR is not ideal and in my humble opinion a 300 Win Mag is too much. But for me, the mess it made of the hog and the punishing recoil gives me pause. Considering I put 10 rounds down range adjusting a new scope the previous day. My choice of weapon for a hog hunt would be a 12 gauge with 00 buck or my 30-06.

[Robert&Karen 264]

If you want to shoot them from a distance get a good rifle, I'd suggest 30-06. If you happen upon them you need something easy to carry and powerful. My personal favorite is my Serbu Super Shorty.

[Captain Oates 911]

<br /><br /><br />

Ok, I'm in agreement with your point. In my original comment I was pointing out that I had used calibers from 17 HMR up to 300 Win Mag.

In neither case was I hunting for hogs when I shoot the hog with the .300 Win Mag or the 17 HMR. The ocassion when I shot the hog with the 300 Win Mag I was deer hunting and the hogs were eating the corn and apples around the feeder. It was too cold, I woke up too early and I spent too much money buying an out of state hunting lic. to let those hogs ruin any one of my 5 days to deer hunt, they needed to be dispatched quickly.

So I agree with you that a 17 HMR is not ideal and in my humble opinion a 300 Win Mag is too much. But for me, the mess it made of the hog and the punishing recoil gives me pause. Considering I put 10 rounds down range adjusting a new scope the previous day. My choice of weapon for a hog hunt would be a 12 gauge with 00 buck or my 30-06.

We are definitely agreed

I have just sold all 3 of My Lee Enfield .303's coz my iron sights days are over and that rifle has killed more elephants that all other rifles including the big boomers. I reckon if you are standing 50 yards away from an african elephant, a head shot is no problema !

Good point about the magnums - seeing as placement is everything, we need to have lots of practice which means comfortable recoil. UPS wont let me ship ammo (cheaply) so I went up to the range and fired off 100 of my 303's. It was hot and I was wearing a T shirt and my shoulder was like tenderized steak when I got back. No recoil pad.

My first shot with a 12 gauge was using a 3 inch magnum cartridge with a full load of no 4 at 5 yards at a rabbit. Then I wondered why it wasn't edible. Like a soggy sack of lead. I was 13 so I was learning. I don't know about eating piggies after a shotgun splatting. Praps people just leave em to rot if they are a nuisance

jeez I am old - I can remember walking into a gun shop in England when I was 13 and buying the biggest shotgun they had and walking out. I needed a 10 shilling license from the Post Office - 2 minute job - they just wanted the money and a name.

Not like that now.

Hey Slim - if this was on P&R we would be asking if Jews & Moslems ever went pig hunting out of hate rather than hunger. I had better shut up coz we aren't on there.

ok OP over to you - get the brown sauce ready

[slim 1,530]

Hey Slim - if this was on P&R we would be asking if Jews & Moslems ever went pig hunting out of hate rather than hunger. I had better shut up coz we aren't on there.

Everyone knows only rwCnjs go pig hunting. (I also didn't say that in this forum.)

[Captain Oates 911]

Everyone knows only rwCnjs go pig hunting. (I also didn't say that in this forum.)

If god hadn't meant us to eat pigs, he wouldn't have made them out of meat

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Pork is the other white meat!

[Captain Oates 911]

Pork is the other white meat!

Us being the first - sounds like the cannibal who passed his cousin in the jungle

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

When we go hoggin up here in Alaska the weapons of choice are a case of beer along with a fifth of tequila and a box of condemns...hotel rooms are an extra that are only needed if it's raining/snowing and you don't have a canopy on the back of your truck.

[TBoneTX 45,570]

box of condemns

No condomnation here, no man.

[Captain Oates 911]

When we go hoggin up here in Alaska the weapons of choice are a case of beer along with a fifth of tequila and a box of condemns...hotel rooms are an extra that are only needed if it's raining/snowing and you don't have a canopy on the back of your truck.

Careful with that hoggin' in 'laska, you might bag Bristol Palin

Bristol's

.

Edited October 7, 2011 by Austin Devon

[Bad_Daddy 2,209]

Careful with that hoggin' in 'laska, you might bag Bristol Palin

Bristol's

.

If Bristol's like any other Alaskan gal then she was bagged in Jr. High.