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suitable calibres for wild boar?


flash
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after speaking to a mate last night, i have been possibly offered some wild boar shooting down near me in devon. it would be for me and my father.

his current rifles are .243, .308 and a 30 06.

 

of these three calibres only the 30 06 is without a scope. but it is still accurate with iron sites up to 100yrds.

im guessing from these 3 calibres, only the 30 06 and .308s are suitable for the job, with ballistic tips of course.

 

also whats the best way of tackling them, from a hide, high seat, vehicle or on foot?

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THE 2 calibre youy mentioned should do the job, I think a 243 is the lowest calibre recommended but I would go for the bigger ones!

 

Not so sure about Devon but in australia they wait at the watering hole in a hide and shoot the boars when they come to drink, theres some good videos on youtube. They use a 308 and it drops them 1 hit without them running!

Edited by Bigthug87
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Bigthug, with respect, I recall you don't have an FAC yet: the .243 is not the lowest calibre recommended. In fact it's nowhere near suitable - I wouldn't dream of using mine on boar. Home Office guidance advises .270 Win as the minimum. Having shot a lot of boar, I would go for the .30-06 with a 1.5-6x scope, although the .308 will do an equally good job. If you ever want to shoot boar in France though, you will not be able to use a military calibre like a .308 or .30-06.

 

Personally I use a .30-06 now for boar, and used 12g slugs, 9.3x74R and .375 H&H on a very regular basis when I lived abroad. Don't even think of using ballistic tipped rounds. Boar are very substantial, tough animals.

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Why is a .243 not suitable with appropriate bullet. I would not like to show my butt to one at 50 yards, surely they have enough stopping power.

 

105g .243 approx 2000 ft-lb

150g .308 approx 2600 ft-lb (Ok you can go bigger)

Edited by markm
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That's just it - it's about stopping power, which isn't directly related to muzzle energy. Where the .243 comes up short is the lack of momentum the little round offers when compared to a slower, fatter .308 round. Hydrostatic shock isn't as important as penetration and bone-crushing power offered by a bullet with a greater frontal area and mass. Incidentally, I wasn't aware that 105g heads were available for a .243 that aren't A-Max (or other non-expanding heads).

 

I agree though Mark, I wouldn't want to bare my behind to a .243 in any situation.

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A mate of mine has shot 3 LARGE boar in the last few months all with a .243. One was shot between the eyes and the other two behind the ear. Worked a treat. :oops:

 

Harry

 

Rather him than me, Harry, but then surely you, as a police officer, wouldn't condone using a calibre below the Home Office's recommended limit of .270?

 

Flash, have you got a reliable, steady dog with a good nose? On the off-chance that you wing the boar, it'll just vanish into the undergrowth.

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Bigthug, with respect, I recall you don't have an FAC yet: the .243 is not the lowest calibre recommended. In fact it's nowhere near suitable - I wouldn't dream of using mine on boar. Home Office guidance advises .270 Win as the minimum. Having shot a lot of boar, I would go for the .30-06 with a 1.5-6x scope, although the .308 will do an equally good job. If you ever want to shoot boar in France though, you will not be able to use a military calibre like a .308 or .30-06.

 

Personally I use a .30-06 now for boar, and used 12g slugs, 9.3x74R and .375 H&H on a very regular basis when I lived abroad. Don't even think of using ballistic tipped rounds. Boar are very substantial, tough animals.

 

 

My mistake Baldrick mate, it was the 270 I had in mind at the time that should be the lowest, like I said I wouldnt like to be using a 243 on one of those monsters!

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Just to add my 2p worth.

 

I am going Boar shooting and have been adviced to go for 30 cal minimum by folk more experienced that myself,

so with that, i take the more experienced advice, not from someone who "thinks" they know.

 

After saying that, we are not shooting from a high seat so we will be possible Boar snack's if a Boar is a bit "Pd" off by having a whole pricked into its side by a calibre not big enough to do the job.

 

I have gone with 30.06 shooting as heavy bullet as possible with regards to accuracy and not ballistic tips or match bullets.

Edited by Dougy
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Shotgun option.

post-11568-1222523053.jpg

Shotgun and slug. :yes: If they are in and around bushes and undergrowth, a 1oz slug will smash through any twigs in its path, possibly the same with large shot LG in centre of picture 9mm and 6 to the oz. to the left just for comparison a .410 slug and to the right a 12 bore Brenneke 1oz slug that would probably stop anything on legs.:oops:

Edited by Paladin
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I'd use the .30-06 with irons if you can use them well.

 

With respect to Harry, police guidelines are just that, a guide. They say .22lr isn't good for Fox, but plenty of people use it. Head shots on a still Boar shouldn't be a problem with the .243, but I think the issue comes in when shooting them running. When a body shot is considered, obviously a bigger calibre would be an advantage as there is a lot of heavy muscle for the bullet to contend with :oops:

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I live and shoot in Germany and shoot alot of pig , don't know just how big the big ones have got in UK but I do know UK has alot of learning to do as regards wild boar.There is a delegation from UK comming over here shortly to a friend to do a fact finding mission on Boar , so at last you may get some real info and a minimum caliber..............we wait and see.

In a rough sort of way I can tell you what I know , they are tough as hell, can kill people and as such should be regarded as dangerous game when hunting them.

I shoot them in various manners, high seat, stalked ( very difficult) and driven , and would reccomend a caliber of no less than 7mm for all of the above.When shooting driven pig the preferd caliber for me is my 9.32x62 , it wallops them a little more.

I never shoot at boar at more than 80m even when stood still , and have experienced boar shot with my .308 with a 185g soft nosed bullet at 40-50m run nearly a k with a boiler room shot!!!!!

The head of the boar smashes like a dropped glass when hit with a bullet, however it is a difficult shot and not reccomended as if you guff it you leave a wounded boar on the loose and that is a very very dangerous animal!!!!!!I condone in no way at all head shooting boar.

Loads more to asy on the subject , and if you would like to know more please ask here or PM.

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the ower has taken a few of them with his 9 bored and SSGs. but im not convinced.

i think our best bet is to bait them into a spot for a few nights and take them from a highseat. using either the 30 06 or the 308.

 

what bullet head and weight is recomended for the above calibres?

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A mate of mine has shot 3 LARGE boar in the last few months all with a .243. One was shot between the eyes and the other two behind the ear. Worked a treat. :oops:

 

Harry

 

Rather him than me, Harry, but then surely you, as a police officer, wouldn't condone using a calibre below the Home Office's recommended limit of .270?

 

Flash, have you got a reliable, steady dog with a good nose? On the off-chance that you wing the boar, it'll just vanish into the undergrowth.

 

Baldrick,

 

As stated it's a recomendation not a legal requirement. I can condone someone who is known and trusted by me to make a decision in the circumstances as to whether the shot is on.

 

Cheers

Harry

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