Which Caliber ?

[CSACANNONEER]

Yep, a .308 caliber round is all you need for anything in CA. Now, you just need to decide which cartridge you want to shoot the .308 caliber bullet from. Some of the more popular ones would be 30-30, .308 Win, 30-06, 300WM and even 7.5x55.

[B!ngo]

So I don't know how hog hunting is done here in CA, but in TX it looks to be a pretty exciting sport. A series of misses and they could be on you. And they don't appear friendly or particularly mindful of having a gun pointed at them. If that's the CA style as well a gun that can be swung quickly, is reasonably accurate but can offer up a second and third shot quickly seems like a wise choice.
Would a gas-gun like an FNAR - perhaps with a shortened barrel to improve maneuverability be appropriate? If this is safe long distance shooting, then any competent and accurate .308 would do. My preference is a Tikka in .308 which is light and quick for a 24" (I think) barrel.
One more thing. I recall reading that a high percentage of hogs in these TX hunts were laden with blood ticks from head to toe. That just doesn't seem like the basis for 'good eats'! Is that true?
I'm just trying to learn here so apologies if I'm way off the mark.
B

[Tarasdad]

Dropping any game animal is more about shot placement than what caliber you're shooting at it. It doesn't matter what diameter the bullet is or how much powder is behind it if you don't put the shot where it needs to go. There is simply no substitute for practice, practice, practice! I worked many years behind the counter at what was the largest gun dealer (by volume, confirmed by multiple manufacturers) in Texas selling hunting rifles and giving the same advice.

Deer are relatively fragile. Put the bullet in the chest cavity and they're going down, and generally pretty quickly. The better the shot placement the faster, of course. Heart is best but lungs are swift kills as well. Neck shots are instant drops if you're comfortable with your ability and know where the spine runs. Pigs, on the other hand, are TOUGH! They carry a thick layer of fat and gristle around their ribcage that can make even the best shot into a long tracking job. Or, as I've seen quite often, they'll drop like they've been poleaxed and never take a step. You won't know until you shoot which it will be. The only 100% sure shot I've ever seen is one to the brain.

That said, I'd recommend the 7mm-08 as a superb all-around cartridge. You get the compact length of the .308 case combined with the ballistic superiority of the 7mm bullet. Add in modest recoil and you have a combo that is hard to beat. For the rifle my personal choice would be the Winchester Model 70 Featherweight with a Leupold 2.5x8 Vari-X III.

Then again, I might be slightly biased where rifle choice is concerned - hardcore Model 70 fan for life!

[fighterpilot562]

308 / 30-06 is perfect for pigs

I was thinking the same thing. If I was choosing a pig gun, it would be either 308 or 30-06..... I wouldn't use anything smaller.

[waveslayer]

I want another bolt rifle for general hunting from wild pig to small deer. I'm thinking 308 but is that too much for wild pig?

Thanks

Just buy a 6.5 Grendel! Perfect for what you want. Just get it in an AR. Bolt guns are cool but now with the AR abilities you can have quick follow up shots. Or stick with the bolt and get a 6.5 Grendel. Plus you will have a tack driver that out performs the 308

[toby]

None are any better then the other from a 243 on up to 300 mag. All answers are opinions.

[waveslayer]

None are any better then the other from a 243 on up to 300 mag. All answers are opinions.

Ballistics speak for themselves. So there are differences in performance. .22 will do just fine too. It just depends on shot placement. So yes, opinions on calibers part is true. But ballistic data and performance is not

[toby]

Ballistics speak for themselves. So there are differences in performance. .22 will do just fine too. It just depends on shot placement. So yes, opinions on calibers part is true. But ballistic data and performance is not

I quoted 243 up and trust me, animals know no difference when hit from one of these bullets within reasonable shooting ranges they will all work adequately. It does not take superior ballistics to kill animals. Hell we've been killing them with round lead balls since guns were invented and the lead balls still work.

[riftol]

308 / 30-06 is perfect for pigs

+1.

[JohnCCW]

.308 is a good bet for all around caliber.
Can shoot ground squirrels to moose with the propper bullet choice.