My Favourite Pig Rifle

[<<Genesis93>>]

Blaser R8 would be my ideal pig gun, and my choice of caliber for pigs would be .318 WR.

OK, ask Blaser to chamber there rifle in that chambering then....

By why the 318? odd rim size, odd bullet size, odd barrel size, odd name hence the official name of 'Rimless Nitro Express' which sounds more meaningful ..... there are about 200 chamberings I'd choose before it, but each to there own...

I did ask at the Adihex show in Abu Dhabi and they did raise and interested eyebrow.

I dont know why a .318, its just one of those calibers that has always held such a great appeal to me. Its a dream to shoot, its an odd ball size, it just is..........
Also, i know of very few people who have a rifle chambered in .318 and about as few who have ever even heard of it.
Thats the same reason why my primary D.G rifle is a .404 and not a .416, .470 or .500

the 404 has actually gained quite a respectable following of late.... probably because its a larger calibre than the 416s...

[WayneO]

back in 1991 a number of guys used them, then they seemed to fall away the .416 .470, .500 and .505 became the order of the day. However in the last 3 to 4 years more and more people are going to or back to the .404. I dont think that the .007" difference in bullet diameter has much to do with it .423 vs .416.
However we digress, and although my .303 is and has for a very long time been my go to pig gun, I would still love a dedicated pig gun in .318 W.R.

[Title_II]

You guys bring a lot. Here we shoot pigs over 500 lb with .30-06, .223, or anything in between. I think .223 is a little light, but apparently, they are pretty easy to drop.

[MR. WINCHESTER]

Pigs are Pigs are Pigs ....

A 30/06 or .243, will do the 'job', no matter the location.

( hoping Title II is not feeling superior )

[Strikey]

You guys bring a lot. Here we shoot pigs over 500 lb with .30-06, .223, or anything in between. I think .223 is a little light, but apparently, they are pretty easy to drop.

After reading some of these posts you would think our feral pigs have become unbelievably tough in the last few generations and in a few years nothing short of a 50BMG launching AP projectiles will stop them

[<<Genesis93>>]

You guys bring a lot. Here we shoot pigs over 500 lb with .30-06, .223, or anything in between. I think .223 is a little light, but apparently, they are pretty easy to drop.

Yeah but theyre American pounds..... like the fish that was (--------THIS--------) big.....

your 500lb porker was about 50 kilos

[WayneO]

Only in the most experienced of hands should pig be taken with anything less that .40 cal. While novices would be best suited to using rifles in .500 nitro and bigger

[happyhunter]

You guys bring a lot. Here we shoot pigs over 500 lb with .30-06, .223, or anything in between. I think .223 is a little light, but apparently, they are pretty easy to drop.

It's all talk. Most pigs are shot with 30 cal or less. Lever guns in 30-30 and 44 mag are popular. I use either my 308 or 222.

[<<Genesis93>>]

Only in the most experienced of hands should pig be taken with anything less that .40 cal. While novices would be best suited to using rifles in .500 nitro and bigger

what in handguns perhaps...perhaps not, a 357Mag in a handgun would be adequate... and fun, but dont mention fun and killing animals at the same time.... its not humane to enjoy it...

[Mick280]

You know when you say Euro cartridge.... that covers dozens of chamberings from awesome 5.6mm bangers to 12.7mm boomers and up to 700H&H Nitro.... but I know by Euro most think of the 9 and 9.3mm offerings.

the other one I am contemplating is the 7x64 brenneke which seems to be the equivalent of the .280 remmington, I've got about 200+ .270 winchester once fired cases (and no .270w rifles) which is why I am considering the brenneke, but haven't found any solid info on if I can fire form brass for it from the .270w cases.

at the moment I have available to me a .222 which can shoot 40-52gr projectiles, a .243 (partners rifle) for the 80-100gr, .308 for 135-180gr so I'm thinking the 9.3x62 would be the go for throwing heavier projectiles at things.

The 280Rem has an advantage over the 7x64, if you have the brass just go 280; I'm sure a FL resize will suffice...... one of you fellas is a 280 fan so chime in

There are a few 9.3s, the 57, 62, 64,66 - but the 62 is the most popular, not the most potent, but will send the 286grainer at 2400fps with 3700ftlb of muzzle energy.... and was designed for the standard length mauser action and rim...

The .280 Rem is certainly very effective on pigs!!
But imo you'd be better of with a short action lightweight rifle or a good lever gun.
My favourites are my Win Model 70 F/Weight .308 and Win 94 lever action .375 Win.
To get the most out of the .280 Rem you need at least a 24" barrel imo and this can make the rifle a bit heavy as a walk around and awkward in scrub or shooting out of a ute.
I use Rem brass for my .280 and get very good case life out of it and as far as I know,It's still pretty easy to come by.
But,It's fairly pricey and so are good 7mm Projectiles.
I put a lot of work into my load development and found great results using Alliant RL 19 which is bloody hard if not impossible to get these days.
.308 components and powder ( ADI 2208 I use ) are cheap and on tap!!!
Mick.

[happyhunter]

338 Federal is spot on and suits a short barrel.

[<<Genesis93>>]

I was directing my statement at you mick280; 270 to 280 in a FLS??

[Mick280]

Yeah,Caught on to that Genesis93!!!
I've never tried it mate!
I started with 3 or 4 boxes of Rem factory ammo and have had no trouble getting new brass.
Can't see any real issue with it though!
Size one and see how the empty case chambers!
If ok,a mild load and some fire forming should sort the rest out!!!
Mick.

[chriso72]

Hi All,

I have an unusual one for pigs, it's a 303-35 based on a MKIII action I think. I haven't used it for years. The pills I was using were both Woodleigh 225gn and 250gn.Very effective. Not a long range cartridge <100m. Does anyone else have this combination??

[headspace]

P1010819.JPG (108.43 KiB) Viewed 7251 times

I'm planning on a European cartridge for my "NT rifle", for pigs and bigger things, am stuck on the idea of a 9.3 x 62 with blued/dark metal in a walnut stock.

Like this Scotty/

[duncan61]

.460 weatherby???seen one in a gun shop in portsmouth.must have some serious recoil

[alan j]

at 300 yards i use my .22lr with subsonic long Z. My word it drops em.

[scotty87]

I'm planning on a European cartridge for my "NT rifle", for pigs and bigger things, am stuck on the idea of a 9.3 x 62 with blued/dark metal in a walnut stock.

Like this Scotty/

That was the plan, still got the 9.3 x 62 but in a blaze orange synthetic stock! Damn impulse buys, saving up for a classy scope for it.

[bigpete]

Hi All,

I have an unusual one for pigs, it's a 303-35 based on a MKIII action I think. I haven't used it for years. The pills I was using were both Woodleigh 225gn and 250gn.Very effective. Not a long range cartridge <100m. Does anyone else have this combination??

I've only heard of them. Sounds likeba pretty good cartridge to me

[Jeff303]

Another vote for the mighty 3-oh here. 150gn hornady pills in mine. Deadly medicine.
Although been using my parker hale 30-06 a lot lately, loaded up with those new nosler 125gn ballistic tips. Now you wanna talk mess, absolute carnage

[COLLECTOR 1]

My fav is a 30/303 on a number 4 action with 3 mags. It runs 150gn hornady interlocks and is devistating on a big mob.... Love it

Collector 1

[Heckler303]

My fav is a 30/303 on a number 4 action with 3 mags. It runs 150gn hornady interlocks and is devistating on a big mob.... Love it

Collector 1

You tell em collector. Funny about the 303. The reason that there were wildcats made for the .303 was at the time (Post WW2, 1950s) the .303 was as many people put it, too heavy for most Australian game. That's the reason why they made 303-270, 303-25, 303-243 and 303-22. Yet if you are present when people have their conversations regarding their game-rifles and the game itself, they'll dribble on about "Uggh, mah 338 win mag for whitetail" and "Muh 458 winny for piggies". They're magnum crazy and probably can't put place their over-sized shots properly. Even for vermin like the rabbit, I've taken plenty just with subsonic 22 alone, but some people, they'll tell you how they use 223 and 22-250 at some ridiculously close distance (Long distance bunny shooting with high velocity stuff is fine, hence my reasoning for wanting a 303-22.

[COLLECTOR 1]

Hahahha.....show your age here...303/22 falcon or the 303/22 sprinter.... I dare you...lol....


Young ones of today just have NO idea.....

Collector 1

[Heckler303]

Hahahha.....show your age here...303/22 falcon or the 303/22 sprinter.... I dare you...lol....


Young ones of today just have NO idea.....

Collector 1

Old Man and me both collectively use this account dude. So what's was point back there exactly?

And 303-22 Falcon was/still is the one to go for.

[Gwion]

Yep. You never know it you're talking to Heckler or Heckler Snr.

[COLLECTOR 1]

No young ones where I come from have ever heard of 303 wildcats that alone mentioning bore size, common Aussie names etc etc....it's nice to find ANYONe that not only recognises Aussie history but still uses it....hence the comment.

And it's no indictment on age either, I'm 56 going on 21...and hope to be shooting till I'm 156.

[Heckler303]

Fair enough collector. I'll admit it was me, Heck Jnr. who made that post back there. Old man has a different style of posting, making everything pretty boring.

I doubt many any people as young as me also reload, trim cases, weigh stuff down to 0.01 of a grain, fire-form, use head-space gauges, or rely a lot on vernier calipers. Lee Enfields are my go-to for a lot of things, and if it hadn't been for Heckler Snr I'd only have 1/5 of the knowledge I currently have. My name even puts that out on show I'm an enfield fan. Too bad I have Heck Snr always on my back but that'll soon change by next year.

Unfortunately, the bigger picture is you're unlikely to find someone else my age that isn't a complete pansy around firearms. I got thrown out of my college library for having my PC background to a No.4, that's a whole other story but I was told "It could make students think up all the wrong ideas".

By the way, latest toy is a 303-25 Epps/Improved in an M17 action and custom stock.

[Mr.Seacucumber]

Fair enough collector. I'll admit it was me, Heck Jnr. who made that post back there. Old man has a different style of posting, making everything pretty boring.

I doubt many any people as young as me also reload, trim cases, weigh stuff down to 0.01 of a grain, fire-form, use head-space gauges, or rely a lot on vernier calipers. Lee Enfields are my go-to for a lot of things, and if it hadn't been for Heckler Snr I'd only have 1/5 of the knowledge I currently have. My name even puts that out on show I'm an enfield fan. Too bad I have Heck Snr always on my back but that'll soon change by next year.

Unfortunately, the bigger picture is you're unlikely to find someone else my age that isn't a complete pansy around firearms. I got thrown out of my college library for having my PC background to a No.4, that's a whole other story but I was told "It could make students think up all the wrong ideas".

By the way, latest toy is a 303-25 Epps/Improved in an M17 action and custom stock.

I wanna hear the story

[COLLECTOR 1]

303/25 eps, m17....by any faint chance you got some photos....now that would be a classic Aussie pig rifle I reckon

Collector 1

[Heckler303]

303/25 eps, m17....by any faint chance you got some photos....now that would be a classic Aussie pig rifle I reckon

Collector 1

Just a teaser of me working on the stock:



More to come when it's back together.


Doh, now I have a story-thread to write.