270 Win. enough on big tuskers?

[reinwood]

For having hunted wildboars in different countries, driving hunts, high seat, at night, spot & stalk.
270win is NOT, I repeat is really not the right caliber for big tusker.

Of course a well placed 270 bullet will do the job, so will a 223 bullet in the ear of a wildboar!

Such a light-for-game caliber do not let any room for error. Wildboars are extremelly extremely resistant.
This January I was hunting in Turkey. With one of my friend we shot on a running big Wildboar about 80-100 yards away, it had 5 shots in it, still running. I was sure of a hit of only my last shot. I killed the beast 15 minutes later in a bush with another bullet, it was still standing facing me. Of course he was dying, but was happy to find it. (1 shot in the neck, 1 in the back, a 3 just rear of the lungs)

I had my 9,3x62 (250gr GMX) and my friend its 8x68s (223 gr RWS KS or HM)

Yes a 270 will kill a wildboar, but if not perfectly placed, you increase the chance of having to pay for the animal without recovering it or not being sure you hit it.

 

[rdog]

I have shot 100s of Australian wild pigs mostly in open plains country with ranges 50 to 300 meters with my 270 Win . But rereading your post i think you may be better equipped with a 9.3x62 not a 300 Win mag for the pig hunting you describe.

 

[ACM]

When I first read this thread title I thought it was a reference to Capstick's story where he utilizes pliers to pull the bullet out of a 270 round, turn it around, tap it in backwards, and brain an elephant charging the cruiser . If anything, Capstick's stories were always entertaining.

Yes 270win is enough for any wild boar in this country or the next. Shoot barnes TSX's and never think twice. Of course bigger is always better, but regardless shot placement is important with any round. I've killed TONS of big boars with a wide range of cartridges 22WM - 450NE. A 270win (with a good bullet) in the shoulder or lungs will do it every time.

 

[Donnachaidh]

Your 270win will be fine. The boar won't be pumped full of adrenaline and you're shooting at relatively short distances. Shot placement is key, and that's easier with a rifle you are used to handling.

 

[colorado]

The 270 Win with 150g Partitions at 2900 fps or better was enough for two Montana grizzlies (back in the day when we could still hunt them ) They are smaller than their Alaskan cousins though.

 

[Bill J H]

When I read threads like this it always amazes me how often the advice is preceded by the phrase “a well placed bullet” or “the right bullet”. I mean this goes without saying, right?
No one ever says, “Use a 300WM (or whatever larger cartridge) but don’t worry about shot placement and don’t worry about the bullet - just use a target bullet…”
Bigger isn’t always better.
You need a bullet of sufficient weight driven at sufficient velocity placed in the correct place, no matter what you’re shooting.
I’ve killed a ton of hogs here in TX and really like hunting the big boars; I either hunt for meat (smaller hogs) or for big old boars. I’ve used 270, 30-30, 30-06, 44mag (rifle), 45LC pistol, 308, and 243. I use good bullets and place my shots well, regardless of the cartridge. All of these are lethal.

 

[Raven]

I’ll admit that when I first read the title, I thought it was a troll asking about using a 270WIN on elephant.

As we all know, John Alexander Hunter shot his first elephant with a caliber.275. And Karamoja Bell shoot them a lot with a 6.5 mm caliber.

I didn't think it was a troll. I thought - finally, a real White Hunter! A tough man!

 

[colorado]

The older I get the bigger caliber I think I need lol

 

[HankBuck]

When I read threads like this it always amazes me how often the advice is preceded by the phrase “a well placed bullet” or “the right bullet”. I mean this goes without saying, right?
No one ever says, “Use a 300WM (or whatever larger cartridge) but don’t worry about shot placement and don’t worry about the bullet - just use a target bullet…”
Bigger isn’t always better.
You need a bullet of sufficient weight driven at sufficient velocity placed in the correct place, no matter what you’re shooting.
I’ve killed a ton of hogs here in TX and really like hunting the big boars; I either hunt for meat (smaller hogs) or for big old boars. I’ve used 270, 30-30, 30-06, 44mag (rifle), 45LC pistol, 308, and 243. I use good bullets and place my shots well, regardless of the cartridge. All of these are lethal.

@Bill J H - Good shot placement and bullet construction “should” go without saying BUT it obviously NEEDS SAYING. The experience You listed confirms a .270 is plenty of any Pig/Hog —-yet this thread will go on and others have a different opinion then you and I. I must respect those opinions as they are shared by many experienced Hunters (even though I disagree).

 

[Hififile324]

I used a .270 Winchester in the attached picture. I have killed many big boars with the .270, along with Elk and Bears. All were one shot kills with a 130 grain Barnes TTSX bullet. You are well equipped for your boar hunt!

 

[thriller]

A 270 will do the job with good placement any 30 caliber and larger will do better. I cull about 100 or so a year with a 308win I use the 165gr soft point because the extra weight is nice but my rifle shoots them at a little under 1/2 inch at 100yards. For marginal shots I don’t like going under 150 grains. I have had a 6mm Remington bullet stop in the Grissel shield on a hog, but I suspect this may have been a ammo issue as my 308 laid the old boar out flat.

 

[Flbt]

A 270 will do the job with good placement any 30 caliber and larger will do better. I cull about 100 or so a year with a 308win I use the 165gr soft point because the extra weight is nice but my rifle shoots them at a little under 1/2 inch at 100yards. For marginal shots I don’t like going under 150 grains. I have had a 6mm Remington bullet stop in the Grissel shield on a hog, but I suspect this may have been a ammo issue as my 308 laid the old boar out flat.

What 6mm load?
I have used the federal 80gr and they have done fine even going through the plate

 

[Fryeguy]

I have only killed a few small pigs, and one warthog. I wouldn’t hesitate to take a larger gun and would still recommend a bonded or tough bullet with a bigger gun. Why risk a hunt you are paying for? I had a weird encounter with less than stellar bullets for the job this year on a rather large black bear. 7prc with Norma Tipstrike bullets. They were either 160 or 170 grain, and none of them did well. First shot was perfect in front, hit leg bone destroying it but it wasn’t enough bullet to get thru the ribcage. Second shot quartering away which hit behind shoulder barely made it thru the fat and muscle into the vitals. Needless to say I bought a bunch of 175partitions and 160 Barnes LRX for that gun now!!! I said all of that to tell you not to use a weak bullet. A large boar is way tougher than a bear I think. Please use a tough bullet (partition, aframe, etc)

 

[thriller]

What 6mm load?
I have used the federal 80gr and they have done fine even going through the plate

It was some hand load of a friend of mine. We can’t be sure but we think it got a short charge in it.

 

[Flbt]

It was some hand load of a friend of mine. We can’t be sure but we think it got a short charge in it.

Oh ok

 

[Flbt]

I have only killed a few small pigs, and one warthog. I wouldn’t hesitate to take a larger gun and would still recommend a bonded or tough bullet with a bigger gun. Why risk a hunt you are paying for? I had a weird encounter with less than stellar bullets for the job this year on a rather large black bear. 7prc with Norma Tipstrike bullets. They were either 160 or 170 grain, and none of them did well. First shot was perfect in front, hit leg bone destroying it but it wasn’t enough bullet to get thru the ribcage. Second shot quartering away which hit behind shoulder barely made it thru the fat and muscle into the vitals. Needless to say I bought a bunch of 175partitions and 160 Barnes LRX for that gun now!!! I said all of that to tell you not to use a weak bullet. A large boar is way tougher than a bear I think. Please use a tough bullet (partition, aframe, etc)

I would not think the boar worse than a bear.
I would not go after a bear with a knife.
The boar no problem

 

[DieJager]

The boar no problem

A lot of people on this thread think their experience with a feral pig in the US would be the same as with a big keiler in Europe or Asia.

Please take a cameraman with you as you battle a 200 kilogram keiler with a knife. This for educational purposes

Take the advice from the more experienced hunters and the hunters from Europe. Yes you can take it with a 270 in ideal circumstances. But you have a chance to lose it or you have to do a follow-up the next day or in low light circumstances. A wounded keiler is no joke. Listen to your PH. A lot of European hunters use much bigger and stronger calibers.

 

[375Fox]

A lot of people on this thread think their experience with a feral pig in the US would be the same as with a big keiler in Europe or Asia.

Please take a cameraman with you as you battle a 200 kilogram keiler with a knife. This for educational purposes

Take the advice from the more experienced hunters and the hunters from Europe. Yes you can take it with a 270 in ideal circumstances. But you have a chance to lose it or you have to do a follow-up the next day or in low light circumstances. A wounded keiler is no joke. Listen to your PH. A lot of European hunters use much bigger and stronger calibers.

I think many are failing to realize boars in Europe are proper game animals with a value as well. In North America feral pigs don’t hold that value or respect.

 

[Ruraldoc]

A hunting friend of mine once killed two bull elk with a single 150 grain Nosler Partition from his 270.

Meanwhile I have used a 270 with a Barnes TSX for bull elk and big large tusked Alabama hogs.

It will go length wise through boars over 200 pounds.

There is actually very little difference in the terminal ballistic effect when comparing premium 150 grain .277 bullets at 2800 fps and premium 180 grain .308 bullets at 2900 fps.

 

[Ruraldoc]

If you want something to hit appreciably harder than your 270, it is advisable to go up to a bullet of around 225-300 grains from a 338, 35 Whelen,9.3x62 or even a 375.

Then instead of a incremental change in bullet weight, you are doubling it.

Also the frontal area of the expanded bullet and the wound channel will be much larger.

Your 270 with proper bullets will work, not that much gained by a 300 in reality.

I say this after hunting extensively with 270s and 300s for 30 years. During which time, I have killed a few hundred wild boars of all sizes with just about every popular cartridge and bullet imaginable.