MNGunTalk.com

Requirements:
1) cost effective. I'd like to be <$2k for a pig gun and optic. Maybe this will see a little range use but primarily just annual pig shooting
2) auto loader. Preferably AR platform, because they are cool.
3) readily available ammo. I've never reloaded for a rifle. I'd like off the shelf, affordable ammo for now.
4) 1x + some level of magnification

I was thinking about a colt .308 AR and dropping a 1-4 on it. Recommendations?

ar platform is great. .223, 300BLK, 6.8spc or .308 all work well. 300blk with a suppressor is awesome. 6.8 and .308 will obviously stot retch the range, but most shots are pretty close. Shot placement is key. Can't shoot them like deer. You are looking for a head / spine shot for DRT effect. Otherwise recovery is a bitch.

Hornady TAP ammo is what I use, but anything that you would use on deer will work on hogs.

Vortex Strike eagle would work great. Razor 1-6 would be awesome.

Kill light 250 as most hunting is at night.

http://elusivewildlife.com/xlr-250.html

http://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2013/3/14/the-ultimate-hog-gun/

The sight "options" for night vision or thermal imaging are likely to bust your budget though!

Whatever you hunt deer with.

I shot some good sized Russian boar with a .30-06 and 180 grain swift a frames that gave through penetration with elk. They stayed in the hog, albeit on the off side shoulder. Hogs are tough, but not bullet proof.

If you are willing to pass up everything that is "iffy" then a varmint gun will work as well, but you better be head shooting. They are usually in pretty thick cover so a lack of blood trail will cause some possible losses of meat. If you are not an experienced hunter, stay away from the small caliber stuff at first. They will work, but you need to be cool about shot selection.

6.5 through .375 with good sectional density at reasonable velocity. Same as deer.

300BLK, 6.8 or 6.5 Grendel.

It's common on the Grendel forum to take 2 hogs with one shot.

Either a 1-4, 1-6 or for the Grendel maybe a 3-9 would be sufficient.

I like the idea of 300BLK for an eventual suppressor. Since that isn't in the total budget how does the round do at supersonic velocities?

I think I'm probably just going to get a .308.

Ron Burgundy wrote:I like the idea of 300BLK for an eventual suppressor. Since that isn't in the total budget how does the round do at supersonic velocities?

I think I'm probably just going to get a .308.

Do you own an AR now? Because it's easy to swap uppers. That's the benefit of the AR platform and in my opinion you've got a lot more options with an AR15 than an AR10, plus cost is significantly better for the 15's.

300BLK also kills supersonicly but at shorter distances than the .308.

Do you reload?

I don't own an AR. I know, it's almost unAmerican.

I reload but pistol only. I think it will be a while before I shoot enough rifle rounds before I justify new dies, tool head, and all the other crap that's needed.

Well in that case you need to get what makes you happy.

If I were you, I'd get the blackout and then add a 5.56 upper. Then someday you add in the suppressor because you can.

Have you considered building your own AR? Buy a stripped lower through FFL and everything else can ship to your door.

Throw on the 1-4 or 1-6 of your choice and you'd have a good 300BLK hunting rig and the 5.56 for cheap ammo alternative and depending on how you set it up a potential varmint rig.

I've dropped hogs from 80-120 lbs with .308 and 6.8 AR's. Barnes tsx or ttsx solid copper bullets. The .308 went thru two hogs and kept going. All were chest cavity shots and none made it more than twenty yards before collapsing.
And a 1-4 scope is good, leupold, trijicon, etc.

I have a nice 300BLK AR for sale if anyone who has gotten the hog hunting bug is interested. PM me...

Sorry for the shameless self-plug.

Nice thing about 300AAC Is you can make them from 223/5.56, I've never bought any factory new yet. Brass is plentiful.

I went with a .308 win and 1.5 X 5 scope. Plenty of energy and easy to find ammo. Under 2k for everything.

This is my .458 SOCOM, basically a 45-70 in an AR-15, topped with a Leupold in 1.5X-5X.
You can buy a complete upper for $400-$425.
There was a whole set-up including optics at the Mankato Gun Show this past weekend for $850.

cobb wrote:

458socom_impacts_2946.jpg

This is my .458 SOCOM, basically a 45-70 in an AR-15, topped with a Leupold in 1.5X-5X.
You can buy a complete upper for $400-$425.
There was a whole set-up including optics at the Mankato Gun Show this past weekend for $850.

Where can I get a complete upper for 400-425? That's a huge projectile. The novelty and cheap upper might make up for the very expensive cost of loaded rounds.