New guy — hog hunting levergun?

[nobliecustomknives]

Hey all,
New to the forum — glad to be here. Been thinking about taking a levergun for hog hunting this season. Looking at .30-30 or maybe .45-70. Any of you run leverguns for hogs? What’s worked best for you?

Appreciate any advice.

[Griff]

In my inexpert opinion, since I know fellars that hunt hogs with handguns, it's really more about your ability to shoot accurately at ranges you find yourself in, than a particular cartridge. I like to keep my shots inside 100 yards, so either the .357 or 45 Colt levergun will get the nod. Maybe even the .44-40 Lightning pump rifle. Beyond a 100 I'll go with the .30-30. While the .45-70 throws more mass downrange it does so at a trajectory I find frustrating on moving targets, at unknown ranges. But, I just don't shoot it as much, therefore a lack of familiarity doesn't help.

[vancelw]

I have 3 dozen leverguns from .22LR to .348 Win to .450 Marlin and more. Have killed hogs with all of them.

That being said, a .348, 444, 45-70 and 450 Marlin make nice thumps!

[348win]

If you are gonna hunt up close and personal and don't mind a straight stock

Browning 92 in 44 mag oughtta do it. Quality rifle.

I'm a 348 guy, but are you hunting for meat?
348 makes BIG exit holes

[348win]

Also check out BIG HORN ARMORY if ya wanna drop some coin on a lever chambered in big bore pistol cartridges!

[GunnyMack]

I shot 1 hog in my life. It was a cross breed and had the mass of a big ol domestic hog but shaped like a real wild boar.
I used my Ruger 44 Carbine, 300 gr XTP. I shot from about 15 or 20 yards. The hog didn't even flinch on impact and just walked about 25 yards and fell over, perfect broadside double lung. The exit hole was about 3/4" in diameter.
The same day one of my buddies used a 12ga with slugs, another used a Desert Eagle 44 and another guy used a S&W 29. 44 mag is plenty for most hogs in my limited opinion.
On the other hand 44 is plenty for most things!

And WELCOME ABOARD!!

[OldWin]

No hogs here. I've never shot or seen one in my life.

Assuming the 30-30 is capable of putting one down, it would easily be my choice over 45-70.
Wether you handload or not, it's cheaper to shoot, allowing more practice and making you more effective. If you are going to need to shoot at moving targets at some point, I would think with a faster and flatter bullet flight, it would be a better choice.

[barbarossa]

Myself I would take my miroku 1895 carbine in 30/06

[AJMD429]

.
As others have said, it is mostly about "can you shoot well with the particular rifle?" and "are you using a bullet up to the task penetration-wise?" than it is about a particular cartridge.

I think 35 Remington would be a nice choice, or 375 Winchester, as cartridges that make larger holes than 'mere' 30 caliber, but are a bit easier to shoot quickly than the 45-70 or other large cartridges.

Certainly 44 Mag and 45 Colt would be good choices as well, provided you use hard-cast bullets, and the capacity is generally 10 versus 6.

My 'thumper' is a Big Horn Armory 500 S&W, that is a bit shorter and handier than a Marlin 1894, and about the same heft as a Marlin Guide Gun. Power-wise it is a monster, I think in the 4,000-plus ft-lb category with some loads. Yet I'd say it feels about like a 20 gauge breakopen slug gun to shoot.

[mickbr]

I shot most my hogs with 357 158grain xtp and 44mag 240xtp. The latter will kill any hog that walks. Large deer species are tougher than hogs in my opinion.

I also used subsonic 357 and 44 bullets on hogs and 22wmr believe it or not but in those cases it was short range over baits, small to medium sized hogs, at night.

Id hit them and follow up in the morning. They'd usually run a short ways and expire. I had to hunt those particular ones that way as it was small farms close to town areas.

I never needed nor used hardcast. 45-70 and 444 would be fun but heavy loads in a 44 mag or 45colt lever works fine

[Tycer]

30-30 is an easy round.
Finding, shooting, reloading
It’ll take everything in the Americas except maybe the big bruins.
You’re limited by range to a couple hundred yards. My limit is 150ish
I’ve hunted WT with 357, 358 win, 32-20, 30-30 and 45-70. All working perfectly.
Of those the 358 is my favorite but only because reloading can be done for bunnies to bears and my limit is 400 yards.
If it’s just one gun I vote for the 30-30
Don’t hunt big game anymore so most all I shoot is 32-20. It’ll take a small deer all the way down to mice.

[ESisk]

Hey all,
New to the forum — glad to be here. Been thinking about taking a levergun for hog hunting this season. Looking at .30-30 or maybe .45-70. Any of you run leverguns for hogs? What’s worked best for you?

Appreciate any advice.

Killed my first pig 65 years ago with a .22 lr. I occasionally hunt a WMA, where i am limited to rimfire, with my 94-22M. 357M, 44M, 45cplt will certainly do the job. A 30-30 lever gun is as universal "kill it and grill it, survival, bad times" rifle as you can find. 30-30 ammo is available everywhere but get a 30-30 Lee Loader you won't save money but you can shoot a lot more for the same coins. JMHO

[Grizz]

30-30 is an easy round.
Finding, shooting, reloading
It’ll take everything in the Americas except maybe the big bruins.
You’re limited by range to a couple hundred yards. My limit is 150ish
I’ve hunted WT with 357, 358 win, 32-20, 30-30 and 45-70. All working perfectly.
Of those the 358 is my favorite but only because reloading can be done for bunnies to bears and my limit is 400 yards.
If it’s just one gun I vote for the 30-30
Don’t hunt big game anymore so most all I shoot is 32-20. It’ll take a small deer all the way down to mice.

good points Tycer. as far as big and bruin go, a hard cast 190Gr flat point should be more than enough with an aimed shot.
it's more about the bullet construction and terminal forensics than the bore diameter. i think.

[1972RedNeck]

1886 Japchester in 45-90. There is nothing on this earth that a 405 grain bullet leaving the barrel at 2400 FPS won't kill. Including your shoulder.

Never taken a hog, but I suspect my 1895 in 30-06 would do well.

[Eddie Southgate]

Tell about the area you will hunt the most , are the shots under 50 yards generally or over . What to buy depends on the area you hunt as much if not more than the game hunted. I have killed many hogs with a .22 short in the soft spot behind the ear but I did it at close range , not at 100 + yards. My hunting is usually shots 75 yards and under so I use a .45 Colt Marlin quite a lot . If I hunted where I got a lot of shots at 100 yards or over I'd use a rifle cartridge such as the .30-30 you mentioned.

[AJMD429]

Don’t hunt big game anymore so most all I shoot is 32-20. It’ll take a small deer all the way down to mice.

I'd expect it probably field-dresses the mouse for ya...!

[JimT]

I have only shot hogs with a handgun. Used the .475Linebaugh and the Bowen .41Magnum. Never had to shoot one twice.

Like has been said, use what you can shoot without having to think about how to operate it and that you are able to place the shot where it needs to be.