Pig/bear question

[dmize]

Much to my suprise I found out for my birthday my oldest bought us a hunt in Arkansas for choice of 5 pigs or 1 bear each. There was also a deer but decided with the size of deer down south it wouldnt be worth the money. Apparently shots on pigs are supposed to be 50 to 100 yards and not sure about bears. I have my Lipseys 44 Special really tuned in with 8.0 Power Pistol and 250gr MiHec HP's 70/30 air cooled and my 45 Colt with 280 Mihec HP's 50/50 air cooled and my 480 Raging Bull with 400gr MiHecs from water dropped WW . Will also take along my Guide Gun loaded as a light 458.
My son is still recovering from last years car accident and recoil from everything but my heavy loaded Marlin 1894 44 and Ruger model 96 still hurts his back.
Apparently these "pigs" are just feral hogs. Will a 100 gr SST out of his 243 handle them? Have no idea on the bears but I dont see them being any harder to kill. He is an exceptional shot from a rest with that rifle,can hit put clip after clip into a 2 inch dot at 100 yards.
If it wont I can download the 45/70 with 400 grain hard casts,I can get recoil down but trajectory gets pretty ugly.

[c8101]

We have killed a butt load of hogs here in California in the 100 - 200 lb range with a 6mm Rem, I'm not sure how big those Arkansas hogs get but like anything else when they are hit right they go down and it sounds like your son can can do the job!

[stevemb]

Sounds like you should rent a refrigerated truck ! Good luck. stevemb

[boxhead]

I would not use the SST as they are pretty "explosive". In the 243 I have used the 95 gr Partition with typical good success. It would be my pick or their 90 gr E-Tip.

[Markbo]

Despite popular opinion, pigs are not armor plated. Know their anatomy and place a shot accordingly and even big ones can be killed with a 6mm. Here is one poster I like for it's detail:



Now all this being said, a shot that is not perfect a bigger hole (preferably 2) is better! For instance I head shot a 300+ pound boar a few years ago with a .270. to my surprise he kicked but didn't die for minutes.. seemed like forever. I finally snuck up behind him and finished him off with a .22 to the back of the brain. My first shot was off. They have quite small brains and I actually hit back and below about an inch. Knocked him right over but did not kill him.

If you shoot him in the head, right in the ear hole from the side or between the eye brows (imagine it) from the front. If you/your son choose a heart shot hit that front leg... the heart is low in the chest and right behind it.

So for YOU... can you hit 6 inch circle at 100 yards consistently with a handgun? If you can just pick one. If you can't why don't you pick a 6 gun to have if conditions are reight and carry one of those long guns for longer shots?

If you decide to go for a bear, the 6mm IMHO is marginal at best and bigger is definitely better.

[foxtrapper]

25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m35hd3bcjb1rnua94o1_1280.jpg. Al gore will school ya.

[taffin]

Apparently these "pigs" are just feral hogs.

WHAT OTHER KIND ARE THERE??? ( ALL PIGS ARE FERAL HOGS) THERE ARE NO PURE RUSSIANS LEFT.

[tjwilson]

dmize, good luck on your hunt and happy birthday!

I don't mean to hijack, but c8101, where in CA do you find this "butt load" of hogs? I am in CA and would love to hunt some.

[c8101]

tj, I'll send you a PM

[dmize]

Thanks for the input.
I was mistaken with my beliefs on the SST's
I picked up a box of 6mm Partitions for the 243 and a box for his mothers 7-08 tonight and will work with them.
For the record my son is still pretty slow,I am going along for a good father/son time and to be HIS camera man/backup gun.

[jwp475]

The Partitions will go work. Good luck

[whitworth]

They're not armor-plated, but they are a heck-of-a-lot more densely built than any deer, and it it's a big boar, the gristle plate will play hell on a bullet that isn't well constructed.