Use soft points. I've taken a M-N carbine several times, but never gotten one with it.

You didn't say which model but keep the bayonet handy if they charge

Good luck!

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MikeG

If I was carrying a rifle or shotgun, a handgun woould be the last thing I'd take. Just useless weight. If you want to hunt with a handgun, then DO it, and take only a handgun.

Wolfen's list of "stuff" is pretty good, If you are hunting remote I might add a 5 gallon jug of water to clean it up (ice in cooler is also good).

Alot of what to take depends upon where and how you are going to hunt. Over bait, a light rifle and a head shot is THE way to go. Over hounds, a handgun is fun. Walk and stalk, any deer rifle. Hogs are morning and evening animals so I prefer a scope, for clarity and light gathering.
While I have a 44 lever, I prefer the 375 Marlin lever for hogs.

I am from Idaho and I want to do a spring pig hunt. Where can I go to find a big one ? Who knows what part of the country I should go ? Thanks- Chuck

We leave next week for our 5th trip to a place in Georgia where we have had excellent luck at taking some really big hogs. I'd suggest late winter to early spring (Feb-Mar), as cooler weather seems to keep them moving and feeding a bit more than the warmer weather. If you'd like to PM me I'll send you some contact information for the place we go to.

Good luck and I'll bet you that you'll enjoy giving hog hunting a try!

__________________
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

I like to carry a handgun when hunting and almost always do. I don't see it as useless weight at all. I have no need to justify carrying it to anyone but me....I like it.

The first hog I ever took, 20+ years ago, was shot with an 1886 Win. in 40-82 WCF and handgun was 3rd gen. Colt SAA in 45 Colt, both loaded with smokeless and cast. One shot with the 40-82 did the trick....eventually, but, to be frank the shot was a bit far back. Penetration was complete and fortunately we found the hog....close to 1/4 mile later.

The remainder of the hogs I have killed have been taken with my Shiloh Sharps in 45-90 loaded with a 480 gr. NEI bullet cast 25-1 over 80 grs. of black. Handgun has been the same Colt SAA. Of the 4-5 hogs I killed with that rifle the farthest one travelled was almost 10 feet. The shots were better placed than the 40-82 killed hog but none were CNS hits.

I haven't hunted hogs in several years....I need to go again. If I were to go today my rifle of choice would be either my German double in 43 Mauser or my Reilley double in 500 BPE. I have complete confidence in either. I would prefer the 43 Mauser to shoot a bit heavier bullet but I have only found one load to regulate in it, however, 340 grs. of 25-1 lead should suffice. Handgun would be the same.

__________________
In general the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens and giving it to another class of citizens. Voltaire

There is no right way to do a wrong thing

NRA Benefactor, 2008

One thing, if you are in thick brush a handgun is a lot easier to bring into action than a rifle. Not necessarily easier to HIT with, but easier to bring into action at close quarters.

Up to the individual to decide what their needs / skills are.

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MikeG

Lots of very good advice ahead of me. I am in the UK but over the last 27yrs have spent two or three weeks a year in the US, specifically Texas and my favorite game by far is the hog. All of the kit mentioned before I recommend and particularly facilities to move the animal. Guns, well I have shot hogs with everything from 243Win to 458 Win mag and my advice is simply this, make sure whatever calibre that yourt aim is true and DON'T shoot BEHIND the shoulder line because as I believe Mike has said, from there back is all guts. Enough gun and a gun bullet through both shoulders should do the job. I only carry an Encore single shot carbine these days in 375JDJ 16 inch barrel which is as handy as a hand gun in a tight situation.

Just packing for a few weeks of hog hunting and fishing in the south. Been reloading and thinking of choices for this year hog hunts. I take a 12 ga for pheasants, so I threw 3 boes of slugs, in case. I've killed hogs with slugs and my red dot which clicks on to the shotgun.

But I really prefer a rifle for hogs. Over the years I've killed them with lots of rifles, but this year I felt like a change. Taking the BRNO Stopper Double Express in 8 mm rimmed. It has a nice feel and is heavy, but it is really a powerful gun and works good at close range with a 2x7 Leupold set on 2x. For any long field swamp shots, I like the double triggers (single set) and crank the scope to 7x for up to 200 yards.

Only downside is can't buy ammo anywhere...So I better not run low (took 2 boxes).

On the hog hunt I just returned from yesterday, one of the rifles I brought along was my double in 9.3x74R with a Leupold VX-R in 1.25-4 on top. Unfortunately, no hogs showed themselves the night I used it. Darnnit!

__________________
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

Tn sounds great. I ordered my double in 8x57R specifically. when it came in, the importer brought two rifles to my house. the ordered 8mm and a 9.3x74 ( i love rimmed cartridges). I could have had it for costs. Stupid me I passed on the second rifle, been kicking myself ever since. I would have been a nice grizzly bear rifle (I have to use my 416 instead). When I get a hog I'll post , back in two months.

Doubles are just too cool! I was wondering which 8mm yours was in. There are no flys on the 8 X 57R. Drillings have a farily high cool factor also. I sure enjoy my doubles and drillings. Good luck with it Harry.

__________________
In general the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens and giving it to another class of citizens. Voltaire

There is no right way to do a wrong thing

NRA Benefactor, 2008