Hog Hunting w/ .50

[luieb45]

Well, for my senior year graduation gift we are going to Edgar Springs, MO to hunt hogs. My dad wanted to use his .50 cal great plains and he has roundball and TC Maxi hunters which both shoot great. On a 200 lb. hog will the ball pass through if hit behind the shoulder? I was planning on using mine but I wanted to use my bow because it's a lot harder than a muzzleloader. So will that ball make a pass through?

 

[blackpowderscout]

Depending on the load it definitely could but there's no sure thing from hog to hog. No two 200lb'ers are the same if you catch my drift.

If you are worried about a pass through for blood trailing purposes and it's the place I read about in Edgar Springs, I wouldn't be concerned. It's 400 acres fenced. You find whatever you hit as long as it's a good shot. It won't die any better just 'cause of having an extra hole in it.

 

[Little Wattsy]

Id be shooting 85 grains PLUS wit haccuracy formost in mind. Yes a .50 should just get thru a pig at 75yards or less.. double lung or a heart shor easy even if not out the other side completely.

 

[George T.]

Low behind the ear and trailing is real easy! Geo. T.

 

[Supercracker]

you can kill them with a field tipped arrow if you put it in the right spot. or even bird shot if you're close enough (ask BPS about that, lol) A .50 PRB in the right spot will drop them in their tracks just fine.

OTOH, if you put it in the wrong spot a 12 Bore safari load wouldn't drop them. They really are very tough little critters. But they do have an off button.

 

[LtGeorge]

or even bird shot if you're close enough (ask BPS about that, lol)

Haha got one with heavy shot during duck season this year ran after my dog.

I havent used my BP rifle on hogs yet this season so take this with a grain of salt, but ive killed a passle of them with anything from a .223 to a .308.
With the smaller calibers i tend to go behind the shoulder but when i get in the the 30 cal range i go for neck shots whenever possible. I have never had one run off from me when hit like that. Most pigs even when hit usually dont go more then 50yrds (my experience I am by no means an expert)

Good luck and enjoy the hunt!

 

[luieb45]

We had a great time! My dad got a 170 lb. sow with his .50 and maxi hunters and I tried my best to make a stalk happen with the bow but couldn't get close enough or have a clear shot due to the thicket they live in. Ended up getting one with the 30-06. Even though this was a fenced 500 acre ranch, these pigs are wild, wary, and smart. If you go in there thinking it will be easy, you'll go home empty handed because you gotta make a good quiet stalk on them. And sometimes they just get up and never quit running to offer a shot. Definitely a lot more challenge than deer hunting.

 

[silly goose]

Perseverance and success with your chosen discipline will prove elusive if you continue to leave yourself a way out(ie 30-06). Just something I learned along the way. I like many others I'm sure, always took a handgun with me when I went deer hunting in hopes of taking one with said handgun. In a relatively short while, I learned to leave the long arm home and let the chips fall where they may with chosen handgun. Oh, the sweet taste of success. Congrats on your success and a great hunt with your dad. Mine will be gone 9 years this month, I'd gladly take him on a hog hunt if given the chance.

Wow, I initially wrote "hug hunt", freudian slip I suppose.