Well, I've been reading about hog hunting since deer season ended and it looks likes I'm finally going to get a chance to go sometime in august. I have to talk to the guide to find out more details about the conditions i.e in a shooting stand over bait or hunting on foot and the such, but i've already decieded I'll be taking a levergun with me. I know the hogs aren't too big none over 300lbs and I might just shoot a sucklin I've heard the meat is much better. Here's the choice though, 444marlin with scout scope and 300gr XTPs or Marlin 1894 Willaims fp and firesight front shooting 270gr Speer gold dots. If on foot I think I might take the 1894 as its lighter. But shooting out of a stand I might lean more towards the 444. I'm really excited about this hunt. What would you take?

Matt, I think that either will serve you fine.

I've killed hogs with rifles from my .250 Savage on the low end to the .458 Win Mag on top, and with a .45 Colt revolver, .45 ACP, and finished off one once with a .40 Glock.

Unless your guide has a real strong preference one way or the other, take what you want. Might ask about ranges; the .444 gives you a bit more reach as you surely know. Over bait it probably won't matter. The quality of your optics may be a big factor due to hogs often coming out about when it normally be time to quit deer hunting.

Shot placement is everything. It's mostly guts behind the shoulder; either center up the shoulder, or aim slightly in front of it if the hog is quartering toward you.

I take head shots when I can but that greatly depends on the conditions. Neck shots work great; get another shell in the gun though.

Little ones are better to eat and easier to clean, but if it's your first hunt, shoot the first one you see. If there is a big group with piglets, the biggest hog is normally a mature sow and that will be real good eating. A single hog by itself is usually a boar. Sometimes you see boars in small groups, but there won't be any piglets with them.

Have fun..... get pictures!

I'd personally opt for the 1894 whether stand or still hunting. As you mentioned, it would be handier than the scoped 444. Hog hunting is close-range shooting, from what I understand, so the optics really won't be that important.

I'm in the early planning for a boar hunt myself and will use my 1894FG .41 Magnum with iron sights.

I'd personally opt for the 1894 whether stand or still hunting. As you mentioned, it would be handier than the scoped 444. Hog hunting is close-range shooting, from what I understand, so the optics really won't be that important.

I'm in the early planning for a boar hunt myself and will use my 1894FG .41 Magnum with iron sights.

Range-wise, yes; but find out ahead of time if they've gone nocturnal due to hunting pressure. Hope you get one too, Bill.

Either gun is OK. The only difference is shooting range and gun weight. If you are going to do a lot of walking, take the 44. If you are hunting from a stand, take the 444. Or take both and decide after you see the hunting conditions.

I'd take them both and kill a hog with each of them. I hunt them several days a week and prefer the 444 over the 44, but this is just my shooting preference.

The hogs I hunt receive no hunting pressure except the pressure I place on them. No other hunters for miles, no dogs, etc. and they still move very late in summer time temperatures whether coming to bait or wandering the woods. I like to tell guys that are new to hunting them not to expect to see them until it is dark enough to see the fireflies. In that light, low powered optics may work better... again just my experience.

I like quartering away shots immediately behind the shoulder with a projected wound channel out the chest just in front of the far side shoulder. Hits about two thirds the vertical height of the body will really turn all the vital organs to mush.

I spent the afternoon shooting my 444 and feel a little bit better. Getting ready to go back out this evening...

Michael

Hey, RD -

Go get that big one that growled and stalked you!!! Sounds like he needs shooting before he hurts someone. :D

Good luck with this evening's hunt - be sure to leave some for seed so MikeG has something to shoot at!

kdub...

I didn't go after the big fellows but I did go back to that weed patch to see if the young boars where still looking for a fight... I caught up with one of them just a little while ago and put out his lights.

mattpair... I also put in some thought on your question. Study up on what your guide tells you but I would sight your 444 in at 100-yards and plan on using it. Hogs operate on the edge of night when visibility is falling rapidly. Go out into a field with both rifles. Wait until the fireflys light up and then see which sight system works for you. The flys had just started when I shot the boar hog this evening. I didn't have any problems placing the crosshairs between his eyes. I don't think I could have seen any of the front sights I have.

I went hog hunting this past March and killed three mature sows with three different lever-guns. The longest shot was about 100 yards. I have no patience for sitting in a stand, fortunately the area I was in was terrific for spot-and-stalk hunting though it was definitely a challenge. I love hog hunting in red clay and brush country! It's a poor man's elk hunt. The hogs were good eating, too. When it comes to field-dressing them, haul them back to camp if you can, skin them, remove the quarters, the backstrap and the tenderloin and don't worry about gutting them. Oh, the rifles I used were my 1895G with Garrett ammo, a 7mm-08, and an old .30-30 with open sights. All did the job, but the biggest sow took three bullets from the .30-30 before she expired.

Personally, I think the sighting system has more bearing than the caliber in the two choices given. I'd go with the .444 with the scope. Listen to Ranch Dog. Very good advice. If 'ya can't see 'em to hit 'em, caliber doesn't matter. Only good hits count, and you do NOT want to be screwing around with a wounded pig in the brush in the dark. My 2 cents. ;) Lee.