Do you guys think a .308 will do the job on hogs that are about 260lbs at about 500 yards?

Yes..........http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

Do you guys think a .308 will do the job on hogs that are about 260lbs at about 500 yards?


If you can A) see 'em at 500 yards ,and B) place your shot at 500 yards, then the answer is yes.

What Pisgah said.

500 yards? They ain't that spooky..... :p

Do you guys think a .308 will do the job on hogs that are about 260lbs at about 500 yards?
If you don't feel comfortable with taking 500 yard shoots (I don't), then you should have no trouble getting within 50 yards on a hog. They are not blessed with good eye sight but watch your wind, they excell in that department.
Even an old hog deserves our best in "putting them down"
Good luck

I think you are going to loose a lot of hogs. A 260# hog is a tough critter. A 308 bullet is spent at that distance. I know tpv shoots his share, as do I, and his advice is solid... get closer.

A 308 180 grain bullet would have more speed and energy (if that matters) than a 170 grain 30-30 bullet at 100 yards....The man simply wants to know if the 308 is capable at this distance not wheter or not he could or should get closer.IMHO opion a 308 would take a Hog cleanly at that distance with proper shot placement

Thats exactly right jwp475, i do not think i will ever shoot at a hog at 500 yards, i am just wondering if the .308 would still have killing power at that range if i ever did need to take a long shot.

I'm going to say "not likely". As RD says, you're going to lose a lot of hogs. At 500yds, I do not believe the bullet will penetrate the "shield" which protects his vitals. The hog would need to be quartering away, so you could angle the bullet. Hogs organs are more forward than deer and such. A shot behind the ear at 500yds...that's a tough shot ;) .
It can be done, but IMO your odds are low.

Wow, I'm floored by reading the 500 yd shot. On a good day I am lucky to drive a golf ball 300 yds (not using cart path) I scream like a little kid when it finds a fairway. Granted I am fairly new too shooting and not hunting but I have the same feeling when I hit bullseye at a 100yds. Man you guys are good maybe I need to buy more gun. I do know what wind can do to projectiles is there something I am missing here? Dang you guys are good, please give tips besides practice.

Here you go how many think that a 30-30 is adequate for the taking of Hogs....I for one believe that it is,because I have seen it do so.....

Below is the balistics for the 30-30 with a 170 grain Nosler Partion at 2000 FPS

At the Muzzle the 30-30 has 1510 FPE
At 75 Yards the 30-30 has 1197 FPE and a velocity of 1781 FPS


The 308 with a 180 grain Nosler partion with a muzzlw velocity of 2600 FPS has a muzzle energy of 2701 FPE At 500 yards the 180 grain has a velocity of 1759 FPS and an enrgy of 1236 FPE...More than the 30-30 has at 75 yards............
All calculations were computed at sea level at 59 degrees F. and 78% reality humidity...
Since the 30-30 is perfectly capable of taking Hogs at even 100 yards and since the 308 has more energy at 500 yards than the 30-30 does at 75 yards then one must conclude that the 308 can reliably take a Hog at 500 yards provided that the bullet is properly place...........http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

Quigley down under type shooter i ain't. My last two hog hunts were within 50 yds. 30-30 worked fine. More power to you if you are a capable shot at 500.
200 is my self-imposed limit.

A 308 180 grain bullet would have more speed and energy (if that matters) than a 170 grain 30-30 bullet at 100 yards....The man simply wants to know if the 308 is capable at this distance not wheter or not he could or should get closer.IMHO opion a 308 would take a Hog cleanly at that distance with proper shot placement
I agree that the 308 would cleanly take a hog at that distance.
I just get "gunshy" when folks ask those kinds of questions.
I figure , if you asked about it, you considered it.

...then one must conclude that the 308 can reliably take a Hog at 500 yards provided that the bullet is properly place...........http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

Good luck placing that shot! I hunt a lot of hogs, I live on the place I hunt, and I introduce a lot of hunters to hog hunting. There are two facts that utterly amaze every hunter; the size of the vitals and the lack of a stationary target. A hog's vitals are amazingly small for the size of critter... big heart, small lungs. A hog NEVER stops. There is only a momentary lapse in their movement if you watch their snout. As they move their nose stays out ahead until they smell something to eat. At that point their nose no longer is ahead as it stays on "point" with the object to be eaten. As the nose comes back to the fore foot, there is a moment of hesitation as they grab "it" and they are moving again. It's continuous movement even over bait. The first time hunters I put on hogs always miss opportunities because the fact that they never stop puts them ill at ease with the shot. I can't imagine a 500-yard shot with any caliber.

The jacket on a 30-30's bullet is designed for maximum expansion at the energy levels discussed. I would bet the bullet in consideration isn't and the expansion would be poor.

To each their own. They are a pest here and most ranchers gut shoot them so they don't have to drag them out of the fields or off the ranch roads.

The 308 with a 180 grain Nosler partion with a muzzlw velocity of 2600 FPS has a muzzle energy of 2701 FPE At 500 yards the 180 grain has a velocity of 1759 FPS and an enrgy of 1236 FPE...More than the 30-30 has at 75 yards............
All calculations were computed at sea level at 59 degrees F. and 78% reality humidity...
Since the 30-30 is perfectly capable of taking Hogs at even 100 yards and since the 308 has more energy at 500 yards than the 30-30 does at 75 yards then one must conclude that the 308 can reliably take a Hog at 500 yards provided that the bullet is properly place...........http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

Key phrase in the last sentence..."...bullet is properly placed." Your computations completely disregard any wind that may be present, quality of rest, shooting skill of the hunter, and movement of the hog after the trigger is pulled. How many of us actually have access to a 500 yard range to see what REALLY happens at that range with your rifle and load, and the wind-of-the-day? 500 yards is way out there. I can't see the "need" to take such a shot on a game animal. A whole lot of difference between 400 yards and 500 yards. But as RD indicates, game animal, or varmint? And should there be a difference in our evaluation?

Worthless rhetorical questions aside, there are some that do the required practice and can make those shots. I practice quite a bit, and I'm not one of them.

The following post is from here;

http://precisionlongrangehunter.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7011083821/m/8541083822


First, I want to thank Damon at the Diamond A Ranch and all the people that came!!!! Couldn't have done it without you!!!!
Basically, we got in on Thursday afternoon. Everybody headed to the range to check zeros and confirm dope, banging steel out to 700 for awhile..then back to the lodge for supper and the BS session.
Friday morning found us up at 3:30 am for breakfast to give us enough time to get some people in stands that were auodad hunting and us to get set up for the hogs. About 7 am, 60-80 hogs, mostly Russian or Russian/Feral cross came out on the "feed grounds" and at the count of three we sent a volley, sending four hogs to the wallow in the sky. Three were clean kills and one moved as the shot was made and was gut shot....but a quick follow up on the blood trail and a double tap from my 1911 to the head as he charged me humanely finished him off. Friday night saw 6 go to the great wallow in the sky. Sat morning came up empty...we sent 2 vollies into the hogs the night before and they were pretty spooked. Saturday night they were good and hungry again and came out to say good bye to 4 more of their buddies. Then Sunday morning saw no hogs but a coyote meeting his maker. After everybody left for the airport, my wife and I snuck back up top and she dropped another big sow Sunday evening.
So I'll list shot distance and equipment here:
Chris- I was shooting one of those 7mm-08 POS- you know....the 7mm 175 MK that doesn't hit anything hard enough to kill it. (By the way, I shot 2 trophy boars at 400 yards, one was 300 lbs, the second was over 400 lbs- high shoulder shot- complete pass through, busted both shoulders, missed the spine, but went through 6" of grissle plate and bone. Both stumbled for about 10-20 yards)
Diana- another can't kill 7mm-08 (Sorry guys, she out shot everybody with 3 sows and 1 trophy boar)
Rimfire- LSR 300 WSM shot 3- 2 at 400 and an awesome drop in it's tracks shot at 550 and a coup de grace for a boar at 535 to help another shooter out.
Blacktail2- Took a nice blackbuck....he'll eat good!!! And made the spectacular shot at 430 yards on the coyote Sunday morning. Derek (Rimfire) caught the trace all the way in...4 others saw impact and it swapped that coyote end for end!!! He did make it to the cedars and wasn't recovered. The LSR 7mm WSM (starting to see a pattern here???) put a 175 MK through him so fast he dropped the rabbit he had!!!
Buffalobob (Spencer 240 Wby) and son (Rem 40X 308) made a couple of nice 400 yard shots on a couple of pigs and a trophy boar at 550.
Heather and Brian were short range hunters from womenhunters.com that my wife knows and they came to see what this LR stuff is all about. Heather got to nice eating size pigs and a small auodad ram using a factory Win 70 in 25 WSSM, while Brian whacked a silver medal auodad ram with a Browning 7mm WSM (I won't say a thing...)
Randy (TBA 300 RUM) and his buddy Brian(factory Rem 308) were there (sorry they post over on LRH...LOL!) They harvested a couple of pigs to fill their coolers for the drive home at 400 yards.
JeffM (LSR 7mm WSM) and Kris (buddy of Derek's, LSR 338 Lapua) rounded out our group, but unfortunately didn't connect on a big. But JeffM did give a the lowdown on the Amish Featherlite Warbler... http://precisionlongrangehunter.com/groupee_common/emoticons/icon_wink.gif
So to sum it up- 16 pigs, 3 auodad, a blackbuck and a coyote fell to LR hunting methods this weekend...plus alot of valuable info was shared and a few strong friendships were made

The jacket on a 30-30's bullet is designed for maximum expansion at the energy levels discussed. I would bet the bullet in consideration isn't and the expansion would be poor.



I used 2 like bullets (Partions) for comparison,one could substitute a 180 Balistic Tip with a BC of .507 instead of the .464 of the Partion and then retained speed and energy would be even higher and the Balistic Tip will certainly open at the impact velocxity of a 308 at 500 hundred yards....

The 308 with a 180 grain Nosler partion with a muzzlw velocity of 2600 FPS


What 308 are you using that shoots a 180gr Partition at 2600fps :eek: ?
I guess it shows you can plug in whatever numbers you want in an effort to prove your point ( a senseless one at that).

I know there are areas of the country where truly long-range shots (I mean 300+ yards) are offerred on a regular basis. And I know there are some hunters, extraordinary shots with extraordinary equipment, capable of making such shots reliably.

The fact is, though, that in nearly 50 years of hunting I've realized that few people are even capable of judging ranges accurately beyond 50 yards. If you judge a shot to be 500 yards and misread it by even 10 yards, you've got a miss. Quick, now -- is that 500 or 515?

Laser rangefinders can eliminate most -- not all-- of the potential error. So, tell me -- where does your rifle shoot at 500 yards? How many practice shots have you taken at that range? And how about the wind? If it's dead-calm where you are, it may be blowing 10 mph left-to-right from 100 yards out to 500. How far will your bullet be pushed to the right?

In reality, your odds of even seeing your quarry beyond 2-300 yards are not that great -- and, if you DO spot something the size of a 260 pound hog at 300 yards, to most folks it's going to LOOK like 500. I had a rare experience on day while taking a midday break with 2 of my deer hunting buddies. I happened to glance up from my sandwich and spot a buck standing in a powerline right-of-way. I pointed it out to my friends, and we guessed at the range. I said 220. My buddies both thought 300. All three of us felt we could make the shot, so we agreed to take turns trying it. Friend #1 settled down with his .270, got steady, and fired -- clean miss high, the buck looking around to see what the fuss was but not moving. Friend #2 took his turn with his .30-06 -- clean miss, high, and now the buck got nervous and began moving slowly towards the treeline. From my sitting position, I aimed my 6.5 Swede dead on and fired -- and the buck collapsed mid-stride. Subsequent measurement proved the range to be 225. My friends, estimating 300, had held just a couple of inches high over the back -- and miseed a couple of inches high over the back.

I relate the story not as a brag (though Lord knows I still rag those two guys! :D ), but as an illustration that it's hard to judge range, and at long range a missed estimate is a missed shot.

What 308 are you using that shoots a 180gr Partition at 2600fps :eek: ?
I guess it shows you can plug in whatever numbers you want in an effort to prove your point ( a senseless one at that).The Sierra "Rifle & Handhangun Reloading Data" Edition V, List exactly 11 different loads that produce 2600 FPS with 180 grain bullets in the 308 (page 540).
This thread has gotten off track,since the question was "is the 308 capable of thaking Hogs at 500 yards,not whether or not someone should...The original question is one of a ballistics nature not one of Ethics...........



The Hogdon web site shows 6 loads that are 2600 FPS +

here; http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp With the highest velocity being 2683 FPS.....

The Sierra "Rifle & Handhangun Reloading Data" Edition V, List exactly 11 different loads that produce 2600 FPS with 180 grain bullets in the 308 (page 540).



I stand corrected. My Hornady manual shows them a full 200fps slower.

Opinion stays the same...target practice should be done at steel plates, not hogs.

[Quote] by Duckbill
Opinion stays the same...target practice should be done at steel plates, not hogs. [Quote]

I am not (nor is anyone else) that I am aware of is trying to change your opion of long range hunting....I am sure that anyone can give examples of unqualified hunters blowing shots both long and short....I can give examples of qualified hunters making the shots, so what? Each needs to hunt and shoot at what ever range is comfortable and fun for them.........http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

[Quote] by Duckbill
Opinion stays the same...target practice should be done at steel plates, not hogs. [Quote]

I am not (nor is anyone else) that I am aware of is trying to change your opion of long range hunting....I am sure that anyone can give examples of unqualified hunters blowing shots both long and short....I can give examples of qualified hunters making the shots, so what? Each needs to hunt and shoot at what ever range is comfortable and fun for them.........http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif


Your point is noted. Obviously there are folks qualified to take those shots. In this thread, the poster asked if it was possible? My thoughts are that if he had to ask, then he has a long way to go before he is capable of making such a shot. No offense, to the poster, by the way. I am not qualified to take that shot either. In order to shoot effectively at that range, you have to have a great understanding of the balistics involved in that particular gun, cartrideg, bullet, etc.

This thread has gotten off track,since the question was "is the 308 capable of thaking Hogs at 500 yards,not whether or not someone should...The original question is one of a ballistics nature not one of Ethics...........


I don't see how the two could be separated. :confused: If the question was..."is the 308 capable of banging steel plates at 500 yards?" then ethics wouldn't have been drug into it. But since the targets are hogs, ethics should automatically be a consideration. But, picking nits at this point....

I'm viewing the hogs as game animals, not varmints. And I'll take 500 yard shots at varmints. Perhaps the original poster looks at those hogs as varmints.

by Shawn Crea
"I don't see how the two could be separated." [Quote]


I don't see how one can automaticaly combine the 2 as the poster stated that only wanted to know from an accidemic nature and had no intension of shooting a Hog at 500 yards....

[Quote] by Shawn Crea
"Key phrase in the last sentence..."...bullet is properly placed." Your computations completely disregard any wind that may be present, quality of rest, shooting skill of the hunter, and movement of the hog after the trigger is pulled. How many of us actually have access to a 500 yard range to see what REALLY happens at that range with your rifle and load, and the wind-of-the-day? 500 yards is way out there. I can't see the "need" to take such a shot on a game animal."

I did not address these issues because that is not what the question asked,the question was (is) does the 308 posses the ability and IMHO the answer is yes......

Read this thread. I do know how long range hunting and shooting is performed

http://precisionlongrangehunter.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/7011083821/m/9911043131

I also understand how to deal with the wind and when I should take a shot or not,but that is not what this thread is about.....http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

....as the poster stated that only wanted to know from an accidemic nature and had no intension of shooting a Hog at 500 yards....

I sure didn't read that into his two posts, jwp. But, no sense in arguing it anymore, it has gotten a little off-topic.

Yes, it has. I would like to say "good luck" and enjoy the hunt. This has run it's course.

ok i know this was a stupid topic, so what if i say what do you think is max range on a hog with a .308?

Be forwarnd 90% of the stuff you reed on the internet is a bunch of hogwash. I could post a picture on the net right know of me and 10 hogs and tell everybody that I shot all of them at 500+ yards and place a fancy rifle becide the hogs in the picture and the majority of the people would beleave it. I am not saying everybody who says they have made a 500+ yard shot can't do it. There are some that are very capable of doing so but one little mistake and 500 yards is not forgiving. I have shot hogs with the following rifle calibers: .308, .30-06, .270, .375 H&H magnum, .45-70, and a .223. One of the main reasons deer hunters have problems with hogs is they do not know the anatomy of a hog it is much different from a deer. A hogs shoulders for the most part completely inshroud its vitals. if you shot it behind the shoulder from a broad side shot you mostlikey just gut shot it. A .308 is perfictly capable of harvesting a hog a 500 yards however I would not even attempt it.

ok i know this was a stupid topic, so what if i say what do you think is max range on a hog with a .308?

How far away can you hit where you are aiming? I've killed them in traps with a .22 rimfire, so power isn't the issue.

I've seen a hunting partner knock them down at a laser-ranged 250-300 yards with a .308, no problem. In fact I was sitting right next to him and he was shooting over the hood of my Bronco.

I can shoot MOA out to 700m with my .30-378Wby Mag.

Would I consider it ethical to target a hog,in an hunting environment, at 500yards ??? No I would not. ---pruhdlr

.308, every person will give you a different answer to your question. The truth is every rifle, scope and shooter has limitations. To what extent is the basis for controversy. There are quite a few bullets, 165 & 180gr that will make a 300 yard shot easy, some further. The controversial point is at what range does the bullet loose the necessary energy to kill cleanly. What is the necessary energy? Most bullets in the 165 to 180 class carry 1100 to 1500 ft lb.s at 300 yards. Is that enough? I would opt for the ones that hit the 1400+ range. Large boar are very tough. There is allot of bone and muscle that must be penetrated for a kill. They also have a habit of crawling away even w/ a good hit, so not only does your bullet need to hit home, but you need to walk and find the little bugger. Good luck w/ your quest. Jim

hello and greetings here, ranchdog,
iam bit confused??? you said in one your replys that at 500 yrds the .308 cartrigde is about spent.. now iam not trying to challenge your knoweledge or abilities here. but in my experiance there is plenty of *** on .308/ also refered to as the 7.62*51) ... just so there no confusion between baby cartridge and papa cartridge... the for ever klashincoffs claim to fame. the 7.62*39.) the 51 cartrigde is designed for the 1000 yrd take down so to speak for a man now i realize thats a stretch really. but i know that at least half a mile abour 800 rds + will do a mans melon on top of his shoulders. so how is that your findings proves that the shell is out power and or distance. i again not trying to say your wrong or challenge your experiance. i am wondering if i missed something here or if i maybe misunderstood something here.. now if your talking about the baby .308 then we would be in total agreement that little round is about out of steem and accuracy about 300 yards+ a little more maybe 400 hundred if your lucky. so please let me know what your thoughts on this are iam always looking for deeper wisdom amd know how /knowledge. so i will look for your reply...... Karl J/joekid25





I think you are going to loose a lot of hogs. A 260# hog is a tough critter. A 308 bullet is spent at that distance. I know tpv shoots his share, as do I, and his advice is solid... get closer.

Here you go how many think that a 30-30 is adequate for the taking of Hogs....I for one believe that it is,because I have seen it do so................http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d62/jwp475/thumb.gif

Exactly.


More game, big or small, has fallen to the venerable 30-30. It will kill Deer, Pigs, Bear, squirrels, rabbits, jackelopes, and the odd Badgerdillo.

listen to the words Ranch Dog, he knows of what he speaks!

I've never been a sniper before....well, not on humans anyway. Seems there's not much to compare in sniping humans and pigs, where any hit on a human "counts" because it takes him out of the fight, vs sniping pigs - a game animal in most cases - where just "any" hit doesn't count. You're not trying to "recover" the human, but you are trying to recover the pig.