bigrich wrote:GQshayne wrote:I have shot some big pigs with the .243, using 87gn Interlock projectiles mainly, but 85gn Sierras in the early days.
I cannot imagine the 6.5 ever being limited on pigs with the right load.
that's the key . the right bullet/load . and good shot placement . i recently stepped up to a 30-06 ,and running 165bt's ,thinking more power better, and had some full length pin hole cause of no bone contact . i know my swede with a 140sst in the same situation would've had a better result . 150's in the 06 probably woulda worked better, but if that's the case i probably shoulda just got a 308
i recently read online a article from ssaa magazine, "saint or sinner" , which was a detailed story on the authors experiences using a 243 for pigs/hunting including up north . it's a good read.
the most emphatic pig gun i've owned was my 358win mod 70 . i like the idea of lots of energy transfer putting stuff down immediately .my favorite projectile, the 225 sierra, is just about impossible to get . as are 225 woodleigh RN . maybe one of the rifles from my other topic on 44mag vs 444 marlin might satisfy me. yeah, i know , i'm looking for a excuse to get another toy
I have seen a similar problem even with the .243, which was a real surprise. My dad loaded some Noslers (I dunno which type) up thinking they would be better than the usual projectiles we used at the time. But on smaller pigs they were not good at all, with lots of them running off. As soon as he switched back to cup and core projectiles it stopped happening. No doubt if we had only seen very big pigs it may have been different. On balance, the cup and core stuff does the job better I reckon. Of course, a shot behind the ear etc makes no difference, but that is not always possible in thick scrub on running targets.
Change the calibre and that equation changes of course. I have never used a 6.5, but have always liked the idea of a 7mm/08 as a pig cartridge, and reckon 120-140 gn projectiles would be very good. But I would not be using too heavy a construction first up.