Will .243 drop a pig?

[anotherone]

Sorry to post so many times but I'm really narrowing things down. I know that .243 will drop a blacktail or even whitetail deer, but is it strong enough to drop a pig?

[edbon9]

depends on where you hit the pig, really. I take my 300winmag when it comes to piggies, you don't want to wound one and have it chase you all over. I leave the 243 for the deer

[anotherone]

depends on where you hit the pig, really. I take my 300winmag when it comes to piggies, you don't want to wound one and have it chase you all over. I leave the 243 for the deer

That's what I figured. I was thinking that with .243 if I don't hit the head or dead on in the vitals I better start climbing the nearest tree.

[blkA4alb]

Well my buddy hunts boar with his SKS and his .44 magnum revolver for back up .

[metalhead357]

IF you do go with a .243 find/get the biggest slug you can for it. It WILL take down small & medium sized ones; but I'd balk at the big ones with a .243 and start climbing that tree!!!!!!!

[Fjold]

I've seen it done a number of times. A 90 -105 grain bullet behind the shoulder or in the earhole will work but you'd better be a good shot under pressure to do it.

I'm supposed to go to Vandenburg AFB this winter for pigs and I'm going to bring my 375 H&H magnum for grins. Usually I would recommend a 7-08, 308, 270, 30.06, etc., just about any standard deer caliber will work. A lot of people have taken pigs with everything from 223 up through 458 win mags it all depends on how good a shot the hunter is and if he is patient enough to wait for a perfect shot.

[Vepr62]

243

.243 will do its part as long as you do yours, but I hunt pigs with 7mm, or .280, and .44 magnum for back-up is a must. And for "Fair Chase", bring a pair of clean pants and underwear.
Vasiliy

[tankerman]

No head shots with a 243, unless it's in the ear. Not a good hog round. 6.5's have a better sectional density if your just trying to find something with minimal recoil. Still need very good shot placement.
I prefer bigbore for hogs, big, slow, hardcast.

[whomper]

That's what I figured. I was thinking that with .243 if I don't hit the head or dead on in the vitals I better start climbing the nearest tree.

Yeah, that happened to my friend's older brother. 2 solid hits with a semi-auto 243 and the boar charged him. He proceeded to scramble up the nearest tree and fired 12 times with his 357 backup (he'd dropped the rifle running to the tree). Anyway it was a 450 lb boar. He started cutting him up and found that he had been shot with a 44 mag, and a 22 of some sort, prior to his own shots. I got a 30-06 bolt gun. I figure thats a great all aroung gun for game here. 150 gr bullets for light game on up to 200+ gr. for bigger stuff.

[David002]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nVX0y2Pcj_s&mode=related&search=

[metalhead357]

He proceeded to scramble up the nearest tree and fired 12 times with his 357 backup (he'd dropped the rifle running to the tree). .

What the heck was he shooting 12 rounds of .357 through??????

[whomper]

Sorry. I forgot to mention he reloaded a 357 revolver once. Sorry. He's a big Texas boy, so I would have loved to see him hanging in a tree one handed shooting and reloading at a hog that chased him 40 yards or so.

[BigMac]

I use a .270.

They don't run if you hit them in the side of the head (right in the ear).

[NRAhighpowershooter]

What the heck was he shooting 12 rounds of .357 through??????

belt fed 357?????

[stator]

Sorry to post so many times but I'm really narrowing things down. I know that .243 will drop a blacktail or even whitetail deer, but is it strong enough to drop a pig?

My buddies in college would usual have two rifles... one in .243 winchester and the other the biggest cartridge they can find for bragging rights. They did fine with the .243 for deer, pigs, and stuff I will not mention here. These guys were all from farming communities up in the north central valley. Places like Marysville, Yuba City, Hamilton, and Chico. They grew up shooting.

So, I would say the .243 winchester will work fine for pigs. I do not see much friends shooting .243 winchester any more. It's popularity seemed to taper off somewhat.

If you are rebarrelling, I would recommend that you consider 7mm-08. I shoot that in my M1 Garand. Great round, IMO. Maintains much of the good characteristics of the .243 but with a heavier bullet.

There is alot of folklore of pigs being built like Tiger tanks but it is absolutely not true. Pigs are just like any other game.... how good of a shot you are determines the rest afterwords.