Driven boar caliber

[Jagare]

.270 and up are all good calibers for driven boar. 7mm, .30, 8mm, 9mm and 9.3. There's a reason you see very few 45-70 and 375's on a driven boar day. Some people buy these types of rifle but very few practice enough to be competent with them. Ammo can be expensive and lets face it often they are not pleasant to shoot. Practicing with your rifle of choice is just as important as the caliber you choose.
In Portugal the .300WM seemed to be popular but they do like to try and make up for their lack of shooting skill with sheer fire power.
Pick a rifle/ammo combo you can shoot comfortably. I've shot with Laterals, post #2 9.3x74R in his double rifle and a nice shooting experience it was. I've read that shooting the same round in a Merkel double rifle is extremely unpleasant.
I shoot a .308 and since last year a double Merkel 8x57JRS that is a joy to shoot. The 8x57 and the 8x57 JRS are very under appreciated calibers for shooting driven boar

 

[finnbear270]

Stu its not a matter of being recoil shy its more to do with the shape and length of the stock with the Marlin. I dare say that a .45-70 in a bolt action or double rifle would be a much nicer rifle to shoot than the Marlin underlever when shot free style.

Finnbear had or possibly still has a.45-70 Marlin and I genuinely felt sorry for him watching him subject himself to so much abuse when shooting that rifle. The horrendous muzzle blast is something to behold. He also I believe had a bit of a problem keeping a scope intact on the rifle for a while. Perhaps that's why he is taking his trusty .270 on his next boar trip.

Mike, leaving the Winmag home this year (Makes mincemeat out of the smaller stuff!) , the .270 is just right.

 

[Triggermortis]

Does it have to be a CF rifle, I have 20g slugs for boar or have you considered a drilling?

 

[Southern]

8x57mm with 200 grain bullets is perfect. Likewise, a .30-06 with 180 or 200 gr RN at about the same velocity and energy (2,500+ fps). The Marlin in .444 has recoil about like both those cartridges, and hits hard with 265 / 270-gr FN bullets, but does not have anything like the long range capabilities of the 8x57 and .30-06. The Marlin is fast for follow up shots, and staying on target.

Rather than just looking at the cartridge, the fit of the rifle and how well it mounts quickly, and how well it swings for you, are more important factors in how well you will shoot it on moving game or a quick shot when it pauses. Shooting well means you will hit where you are supposed to, with quick kills. And a poorly mounting rifle will kick you much harder. So go after fit and "shootability" for yourself first; then worry about the cartridge.

 

[8x57]

8x57mm with 200 grain bullets is perfect. Likewise, a .30-06 with 180 or 200 gr RN at about the same velocity and energy (2,500+ fps). The Marlin in .444 has recoil about like both those cartridges, and hits hard with 265 / 270-gr FN bullets, but does not have anything like the long range capabilities of the 8x57 and .30-06. The Marlin is fast for follow up shots, and staying on target.

Rather than just looking at the cartridge, the fit of the rifle and how well it mounts quickly, and how well it swings for you, are more important factors in how well you will shoot it on moving game or a quick shot when it pauses. Shooting well means you will hit where you are supposed to, with quick kills. And a poorly mounting rifle will kick you much harder. So go after fit and "shootability" for yourself first; then worry about the cartridge.

8x57 with a 200grn bullet, now you're talking.

As for the Marlin being fast for follow up shots? Well not as fast as an express rifle for the second shot, and if you feel the need to fill the air with lead then not as fast as a Helix, Maral or a Blaser either.

Spot on also about rifle fit. Why is it of so much concern to shooters when buying a shotgun but totally disregarded when buying a rifle?
When I purchased my Chapuis SxS the gunsmith (note gunsmith not just gun seller/shop assistant) absolutely insisted that the stock be altered so that the rifle fitted me properly. And NO it wasn't simply so that he could charge more because there was no additional charge and he refused to take payment until the rifle was fitted and tested on the running boar range later that afternoon.

 

[JTO]

Does it have to be a CF rifle, I have 20g slugs for boar or have you considered a drilling?

I was wondering why no-one has mentioned slugs in a shotgun for close moving targets.

 

[8x57]

I was wondering why no-one has mentioned slugs in a shotgun for close moving targets.

I would think that this might be because slugs restrict your effective range and depending on where you go there may be a requirement to take shots at longer ranges possibly up to 150 yards.
I think the use of shotguns may be going out of fashion, where I have shot in France other than some of the trackers with their short barrelled shotguns I only saw one shooter using a rather tatty and aged B25 Browning. It wasn't a pretty sight when he shot a large boar hitting it in the hind leg. The poor boar dragged itself up a bank with a leg hanging off until a couple of the rifles put it out of its misery.

 

[Triggermortis]

So why not a drilling, best of both worlds?

 

[Jagare]

So why not a drilling, best of both worlds?

I like drilling and combi's and for roe my combi is my favorite weapon. For driven boar its neither fish nor fowl. Its like shooting driven with a single shot rifle and to shoot slugs well a drilling needs to be in most cases regulated to be able to shoot slugs well. I would not take drilling over a good double or bolt rifle. You just have to ask yourself why you see so few slug guns and drilling on driven boar day.

 

[8x57]

I quite fancy having a combi or a drilling it might be quite useful when skulking around my little shoot but I don't think that I would use it on a driven shoot. I think I would stick with one of my doubles or the Sako rifle.

 

[reiver]

8x57 with a 200grn bullet, now you're talking.

As for the Marlin being fast for follow up shots? Well not as fast as an express rifle for the second shot, and if you feel the need to fill the air with lead then not as fast as a Helix, Maral or a Blaser either.

Spot on also about rifle fit. Why is it of so much concern to shooters when buying a shotgun but totally disregarded when buying a rifle?
When I purchased my Chapuis SxS the gunsmith (note gunsmith not just gun seller/shop assistant) absolutely insisted that the stock be altered so that the rifle fitted me properly. And NO it wasn't simply so that he could charge more because there was no additional charge and he refused to take payment until the rifle was fitted and tested on the running boar range later that afternoon.

The Marlin .444 is not faster than a double i agree for the first 2 shots but it is on the third and i would think the Helix/ Blaser would have to be going at some speed to beat it to put 6 rounds all on target and not just spray and pray!! Sometimes for boar more than 2 shots come in handy but only if you can hit your target with the next 3 or 4 ??

 

[sikadog]

First trip out on the boar in November with the lads from Chester new rifle 338.06 and 185grn Fox copper bullets, everything sorted on SD where else

 

[Heym SR20]

7x57, 270, 7x64, 7x65r, 308, 30-06, 9.3x62 and 9.3x74r all do the same job. There is a huge difference in size with boar. Frankly a piglet or yearling a 222 or 243 would be enough, but in the same drive you can easily be faced with a 200kg plus boar. I know some who use heavy Big game doubles on boar. If you have, then why not.

Rather than calibre, it’s rifle fit and choice of bullet that is key. Rifle fit - on driven boar you need to be able to determine its a shootable animal, mount rifle and and shoot in a second or two, or as little by as it takes to cross a track or ride. If your rifle / scope don’t fit and point instinctively it’s not going to work. First shot as always is what counts.

Bullet - go heavy for calibre at a moderate muzzle velocity. Too fast it blows up and not enough penetration on a big boar. A partition type bullet is pretty good and all my German friends love the H-mantle. Lots of shock even on little pigs, but will go through a large boar.

 

[BryanDC]

Over here in DK it is a minimum bullet weight of 9 grams with a minimum energy at 100m of 2700J or a minimum bullet weight of 10 grams with 2000J at 100m. The same applies for everything bigger than a Roe dear; Red, Fallow, Sika, Muflon, Boar and common seals.

 

[Heym SR20]

Over here in DK it is a minimum bullet weight of 9 grams with a minimum energy at 100m of 2700J or a minimum bullet weight of 10 grams with 2000J at 100m. The same applies for everything bigger than a Roe dear; Red, Fallow, Sika, Muflon, Boar and common seals.

In Germany it’s 6.5mm and min of 2000 joules at 100m on anything bigger than Roe.

 

[308Swedish]

As mentioned previously it’s the muzzle velocity that determines suitable calibers.
Here in Sweden wild boar are “class 1” game that requires a class 1 weapon.

To classify as class one a weapon must shoot -
a 9 G (140 grains) bullet at 100 m or more at, at least 2700 j
a 10 G (155 grains) bullet at 100 m at, at least 2000 j
And expanding ammunition must be used.

I’ve seen wild boar taken here with 6.5 Swedish to 9.3x62 (which I consider to be an obscene round for hunting boar.) most common is .308W and 30.06 .

 

[Sash]

I’ve seen wild boar taken here with 6.5 Swedish to 9.3x62 (which I consider to be an obscene round for hunting boar.) most common is .308W and 30.06 .

I am interested in this: I use 9.3x74r for driven shoots in France, and it is widely-used there. No one seems to consider 9.3mm a poor choice of bullet/round. Looking at the the rounds, 9.3x74r delivers 3400 joules at 100m, and 9.3x63 between 3400 joules and 3800 joules, so above your lower limit for a 140g bullet, but not excessively so. What are your objections to it?
thanks

 

[Jagare]

Nothing obscene about the 9.3x62. The 9.3x74R , 9.3x62 and even the 9.3x57 are all great boar rounds. I've mentioned in other threads that not that many years ago it was hard to give away a 9.3x62 but with the boar explosion in Sweden its become a very popular round again. There are 4 calibres of ammo you can buy down my local shooting range, 6.5x55, .308, 30-06 and 9.3x62.

 

[308Swedish]

I am interested in this: I use 9.3x74r for driven shoots in France, and it is widely-used there. No one seems to consider 9.3mm a poor choice of bullet/round. Looking at the the rounds, 9.3x74r delivers 3400 joules at 100m, and 9.3x63 between 3400 joules and 3800 joules, so above your lower limit for a 140g bullet, but not excessively so. What are your objections to it?
thanks

Nothing obscene about the 9.3x62. The 9.3x74R , 9.3x62 and even the 9.3x57 are all great boar rounds. I've mentioned in other threads that not that many years ago it was hard to give away a 9.3x62 but with the boar explosion in Sweden its become a very popular round again. There are 4 calibres of ammo you can buy down my local shooting range, 6.5x55, .308, 30-06 and 9.3x62.

My personal opinion is 9.3x62 is overkill when shooting from a stand.
I have mates who’ve taken down some pretty big African game with nothing more than a .300 win mag...
I appreciate the need for stopping power on driven hunts, but from a stand you usually have to time to pick your pig and your shot placement.
I choose my words poorly when I said obscene, as I said I’ve hunted with fellows using that round and never felt compelled to bring it up with them, wheras if I felt they were doing something “obscene” I would.
The 4 calibers you can buy at your local range Jagare...oh hold on you’re Swedish...as you know are Sweden’s most popular rounds. Where are you? I’m in Kronoberg Län.

 

[bbrc]

Thanks for all the information and opinions