.30-06 for Feral Hogs

[Doug Hamilton]

I have a question for my learned friends on AH. I'm passing my dad's .30-06 on to my nephew. He says he would like to kill some wild hogs. Easy so far. Now the problem. He lives in California and must use non-lead ammo. I am not a fan of the monometal bullets and do not have any experience hunting with them. He does not reload and will have to buy ammo.

What should I tell him to buy?

 

[DPHunter4570]

I've used the Federal Premium ammo loaded with the 165 and 180 grain Barnes TSX and have no complaints. Shoots really well out of my model 70.

 

[WildWill]

I'd recommend Barnes Vortx loaded with 168gr ttsx.

 

[Smull1010]

Another vote for Barnes TTSX

 

[Rem280]

I use a 280 Rem(7mm'06) with Federal Trophy Copper bullets 140 grains. Here is the slug and heart from 200 yard on a larger boar. Highly recommend Federal,

 

[Ruraldoc]

I have had good luck with Barnes TSX as well as Hornady GMX( now called CX).

I tried the Federal Trophy Copper and they seem to be really quick killers and are my new favorite of the all copper bullets.

 

[Ryan]

Barnes Vor-Tx 168 grain 30-06 ammo was my go to for my first trip to Namibia on five animals from warthog to kudu and zebra, and a couple caribou. I started handloading the same bullet for later hunts with my T/C Encore. It will take any hog out there. I honestly wouldn't hesitate to use the 150 grain Vor-Tx ammo either for hogs. I use a 150 grain TTSX 30-06 handload for my Ruger #1 and it drops caribou bulls with authority.

 

[Andrew62]

Barnes, easy choice

 

[Skshyk]

Barnes, all day.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I use a 280 Rem(7mm'06) with Federal Trophy Copper bullets 140 grains. Here is the slug and heart from 200 yard on a larger boar. Highly recommend Federal,View attachment 646623View attachment 646624

And the boar said, "Don't worry Ma'am. It's just a flesh wound."

 

[R eight]

I have a question for my learned friends on AH. I'm passing my dad's .30-06 on to my nephew. He says he would like to kill some wild hogs. Easy so far. Now the problem. He lives in California and must use non-lead ammo. I am not a fan of the monometal bullets and do not have any experience hunting with them. He does not reload and will have to buy ammo.

What should I tell him to buy?

I’d politely suggest a plane, bus or train ticket to another state.

 

[Skshyk]

I’d politely suggest a plane, bus or train ticket to another state.

Great suggestion, I am working on it as we speak. Even though I still will use Barnes.

 

[YancyW]

I have never had a bad experience with any mono bullet. Barnes is an easy choice, so are several options from Hammer Bullets.

 

[deewayne2003]

30-06 + 150gr Barnes TTSX …..

There is no swine on earth this combo can’t handle.

 

[Zinz]

180gr Barnes X out of my tried and true Win Featherweight M70 .30-06. One shot in the beaner and it never moved… This boar was pushing that 300 pound mark.

We shot a lotta hogs. Any bullet in the ear will anchor a pig. Any big pig will run some if shot in the shoulders. I recently backed up my brother… a 350gr soft point from his Shiloh Sharps .45-90 at 100 yards hit a 100 pounder square through the shoulders. It ran 30 yards and piled up. Not one drop of blood left in those 30 yards.

Last piece of advice… shoot for the head, reload quickly and stay on them. If they pick up their head at all, give them another round. Feral hogs are notoriously tough.

Shoot every pig you see.

I like my Rock River AR-10 in .308, suppressed. Quick follow up shots and ammo is cheap. Same for a short barreled .300 Blackout…within 100 yards, or so.

Or Ruger No.1 in ‘06…

Ed Z

 

[Doug Hamilton]

Great suggestion, I am working on it as we speak. Even though I still will use Barnes.

Barnes? When you could use real bullets? Can't see a single good reason to do that! I just gave to tell him what he has to get if he's going to live in California.

 

[Tex .416]

For .308 and .30-06 and pigs, the Barnes TTSX 130 or 150 is my go to choice regardless of whether lead free is required. For monometals, use lighter weight and keep the velocity up.

 

[Skshyk]

I guess we can both agree on leaving California, but if you don’t think Barnes is a “real” bullet then you don’t know what “real” bullets is.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

30-06 + 150gr Barnes TTSX …..

There is no swine on earth this combo can’t handle.

Until the copper shears off and fills in the grooves. Then the rifle won't group, and cleaning that much junk out of the bore becomes a pain in the ass. Yes, that happened to me with Barnes bullets. I understand they're better now, but I'm not inclined to try them. The last hog I shot in California was a boar over 200 pounds. One shot in the shoulder from a .30-06 with a 150 grain lead core bullet (Sierra Game King, maybe). He went about 10 yards, fell over and died.

 

[Doug Hamilton]

I guess we can both agree on leaving California, but if you don’t think Barnes is a “real” bullet then you don’t know what “real” bullets is.

Have it your own way, but my experience wasn't good.

Anyway, did you ever see an old Western where the good guy said, "Put your hands up or I'll fill you full of brass." Just doesn't sound right does it? ;-).

And a whole lot of dead animals could tell you that a jacketed lead core (real) bullet does the job well. Bonded bullets are even better.