Hunting pigs with Kids

G

g123

Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
329
Hey Guys,

Both my boys just passed their hunters safety test and want to start hunting.

I belong to Wilderness Unlimited out here in California and they want to go pig hunting. I have the rifles worked out that they are going to use, but I need some help for myself.

Since I will be taking a back seat and let them do the shooting, I want to get a quick handling back up rifle that can be used incase they do not make a clean shot while learning to hunt. The type of properties we will hunt will provide possibly some pretty close quarters, so I want a rifle that is quick handling and has really good stopping power because some of the pigs will be fairly close and can be very large.

What do you guys recommend so I can back my kids up with the proper fire power? All my hunting has been with a scoped 30-06 or 7mm-08 and I need something with Iron sites, a quick action and a cartridge and caliber that will do the job just in case.

I know my 30-06 and 7mm have this covered, but for back up I want something with out a scope with quick follow up shots.

Thanks,

Geoff
 
How far away do you think you will be??

Have you ruled out a .44 Magnum revolver??
 
I think a lever gun like a marlin 45/70 will fill the bill. Short and easy to pack and you can drop a bear with it, throws a big chunk of lead that will hammer them short range.
 
yep.

Or throw a .458 SOCOM upper on the AR, drop 10 rounds in a Pmag and you can drop half the herd if you need.

You DO have an AR, right????:D
 
I immediately thought shotgutn with slugs too, but I'm pretty much the definition of armchair quarterback, having grown up around lots of guns and then not having used them much in the last decade or so.
 
Either the 45-70 Marlin lever gun or the 12 gauge with slugs. They both will work to anchor a charging pig....or most anything else.
 
These guys have covered it:

A quality shotgun in 12ga brenneke slug is an excellent choice (stay with a Remington 870 or Mossberg 500/590 and you have super reliability, proven performance and tons of accessories).

A Guide Gun in .47-70 is simple, reliable, short and handy and has enormous knock down power.

A .458 Socom is the semi-auto equivalent of the .45-70 in a very light, short and handy package. If you have an AR already then you just need to buy the upper, some ammo and call it a day. I would get a fixed front sight (you can get tritium or fiber optic for low light) and a short range rear sight like the CSAT. It'll have a rail, so you can easily throw on a short range sight like a Eotech 552, Aimpoint Comp M4, Aimpoint T1, etc. for even faster target acqusition or an intermediate range scope (if you're filthy stinking rich look at the Schmidt & Bender Short Dot sight, which I played with in the military and is perfect!) for longer ranges. It's definitely more maintainance and care than a lever or pump, but because of the quick ammo reload capability versus a lever gun or pump it would be my dream zombie-bear hordes slaying gun.
 
I'm getting a shorty on a pistol lower when I get home from the box. :-D I pretty much own out to 50yds with my Carbon 15, but wouldn't want to put that big of a thump into a plastic lower. In the mean time, I'm stuck with the next best close range pig slayer pistol: Smith and Wesson .460XVR.
 
I second (or third?) the 45/70 or 450 marlin guide rifle, but honestly I would feel fine with my 460 s&w loaded w/ some 200gr hornady sst At the ranges your talking about it still has over 2000lbs of hitting power, cant get much faster handling IMHO should put down any pig I have ever seen
You can also throw 400gr solids through the old girl as well as 454 casull or 45colt if you want some thing with less hitting power and bang. I have dropped a few whitetails with the 200 grHPs and they drop, like they were hit in the forehead w/ a sledge;)
 
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Congratulations on getting the younguns through the Hunter Safety Course :D

Not knowing what is in your gun safe, I'll tell you the ones I have that would do that sort of job.

Lever guns:
.30/30
.35 Remington
.44 Mag
.45/70

Semi Auto:
Remington 742 .30-06
Arsenal SA93 AK47 with Winchester 123 grain SP
Colt HBAR 5.56, with my hand loaded 64 grain Winchester SP
SOCOM 16 with 7.62X51 hand loaded 150 grain Hornady SP


12 or 20 GA pump shotgun with slugs
 
I have a Marlin 1894 in 44 mag. I really like it a lot for its quick handling. But I wish it was a 30-30 sometimes. Either round would be great for pigs point blank, imho. But the best option is probably a 12 gauge with heavy slugs
 
Love my Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun! You can leave it stock iron sights, throw on some XS sights, or better yet, a scout style scope with long eye relief. Take down any game on the planet and it's easy to handle.
 
rroundy said:
a good ol' 30-30.

ryan
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I would second this suggestion. The old .30-30 is plenty of cartridge to stop a boar, the lever guns in this caliber are plentiful and ammo is easy to find. Not to mention their light weight, low cost and handiness as a brush gun.
 
TattooBlade said:
Love my Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun! You can leave it stock iron sights, throw on some XS sights, or better yet, a scout style scope with long eye relief. Take down any game on the planet and it's easy to handle.
Click to expand...

I think either the 45-70 or a Marlin 30-30 with the XS sights and scout scope. Very quick on target. You can pick up a nice used Marlin 30-30 at a gunshow for a decent price.
 
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