Anyone hunt hogs with 125 NBT supers?

[mstarling]

Guys,

Anyone hunt hogs with 125 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips in the supersonic mode? Will be used with a 16" 300 BLK chamber.

What kinda result you seeing?

Thanks!

[martineta]

I bought another Encore barrel for my brother two weeks ago. The man I bought it from said he shot three pigs that ran off so he was getting rid of the barrel. I have shot plenty of deer but no pigs. Guess they are pretty tough critters. I still cant imagine why a bullet in the brain pan wouldn't drop one in their tracks. Anyway, I made him happy when I bought it and I am happy to have aquired it. It shoots great.

[Alleycat]

I've seen plenty of pics of dead hogs next to a Whisper. Some people need as much power as they can get to make up for poor shot placement

[patwa]

I have killed plenty of pigs with the 125 NBT, but nonw over 150 lbs or so. A few head shots, but most through the shoulder, either way, they drop and stay. I can't remember one that ran off in several years hunting with it. I have not shot real big hogs with it, not too sure it would be enough gun. As Alleycat said, shot placement counts.

[RTodd]

Sir,
I have not hunted pigs much, and have killed only two at 190lbs & 200 lbs respectively. I did "autopsy" both as part of butchering and have the following observations that may help.

The pigs have an extremely tough section of hide starting at the front shoulder and extending upward and backward to cover most of the vitals up to the spine. It is tough to get through with a knife, and sounds like a sheet of plywood when rapped on with the knuckles. I suppose God put it there to protect the animals when fighting but it will also render punching through the pigs ribs a totally different prospect than letting the air out of a white tail. With careful placement, I'm sure a Nosler 125 BT can take a pig via the chest cavity, but I don't think a lightly constructed bullet would be my first choice. My 270 entered above the right shoulder from a head on shot, and 12" later the 130 Nosler Solid Base was basically a cup with only a tiny bit of the lead core left. The spine played a part in stopping the bullet and in doing so ruined the pig's snack in an immediate fashion. Just for comparison I've never recovered this bullet from a whitetail . .. Obviously running lengthwise down the spine is likely to stop most reasonable calibers, but the bullet had to get through a bunch of thick hide, fat, and muscle just to get to the spine.

The head is also a tough prospect, with lots of thick bone both between/above the eyes, and from alongside the ear. I shot a boar at basically point blank range with a .45 cal 310 gr flat nose Lee gas checked bullet traveling roughly 1150 fps, and while the pig never even quivered, niether did I get an exit wound. The bullet traveresed from just below the ear, through the brain cavity, broke the lower jaw on the offside and lodged inside the tough hide. Spliting the head with a meatsaw showed just how heavy the skull is built.

I hope this is some help to you as you consider your shots. I'll bet you kill 8 out of 10 pigs as though struck by lightning with the fast frangible bullet, but I'd not be surprised if on occasion one runs off like nothing ever happened making recovery difficult or impossible. Maybe someone with more experience with the .300 can weigh in on a little tougher bullet construction.

By the way, our pigs were better than any commercially raised pork, and I'd always been told that wild pork was gamey at best. Good luck with your pig hunt, and keep in mind your dealing with a heavily built animal compared to the deer we're used to here in the south.

Randy

[martineta]

Excellent first post!

[mstarling]

Thanks Guys!

<chuckle> Have hunted Texas piggies a number of times but have tended to test loads for much heavier rifles on them (.338 Win Mag, 9,3x62, 9,3x74R, .375 H&H, .416s). All of those yield instant kills pretty much regardless of impact angle as long as the projectile's path goes through the vitals.

Have also taken Warthog and Bush Pig in Africa with the 9,3x62.

Have a butcher in Houston that does wonderful pan sausage. Makes a lovely breakfast egg scramble with onions, mushrooms, and cheese. Nice one pan meal.

Built the 300 BLK suppressed use on piggies at night with NV equipment. But the delivery of the suppressor and the Form 4 is taking forever. Not sure it's going to make it for the fall hunt at this rate.

So ... was wondering abt the lighter bullet at supersonic velocities as I really want to use the BLK on game.

[Rancid Coolaid]

Beware of relatively small (and slow) bullets and big pigs.

A 400+ pound Russian boar won't take kindly to a 125-gr bullet - and I know this from experience.

[mechanicuss]

A 400+ pound Russian boar won't take kindly to a 125-gr bullet - and I know this from experience.

What about 5 or ten of 'em in rapid succession :uzi2: ?

[mstarling]

Rancid,

I agree ... will have a 9,3x62 in the blind with me as well. Have killed animals as big as Wildebeast with it so am sure it will handle a larger piggie.

EH

[Rancid Coolaid]

So long as the bullets hits the exact right spot, a 22LR will take down a large boar.


Therein lies the problem: most people cannot shoot, even if it is - literally - to save their lives.

Shot placement trumps bullet velocity, design, and weight; however, as placement deviates from "intended" placement, any/all will help make up for that error.

M original point remains: a 125-gr super, put in just the right spot will do the trick (as will a 220-gr sub); but miss that spot by just a little bit, and you'll need several more rounds on target.

Little piggies, no problem, shoot'em up; big boars, not so much. With the big boys, they are hunting you too, and can be quite mean.