Boar Cal

6.5x55 has just reaped the benefits of the new energy level requirements over here in Norway.
For big game now minimum calibre 6.5mm and 2200 kj @100m. Lead bullets min weight 139 grain. Non lead 120 grain.

Despite what many say alot of hunters still use the 6.5x55 for big game. For boar over bait at short range and suitable bullets (Oryx) should function fine. Kristoffer Klausen uses Sauer 6.5x55 for alot of his hunting.
View attachment 195618
156 grain Norma Oryx shot into water jugs at 100m.
Water jugs are not the same as flesh and bone. Neither is gelatine.
 
Interesting how discussion often comes up on how small you can go on a particular beast. Wild boar can easily be killed with a .243, Oryx were regularly culled with a .222 on Farm I visit in Namibia. All of this is dependent on the accuracy and bullet placement. The reason many countries have min caliber standards is to try to reduce issues when placement is not so good ( I am not talking about shot in back leg - even a 500NE is not enough if just winged). Where I hunt Boar in France, 7mm is min - reason is to have enough gun if follow up shot is needed on a boar - especially if it is coming at you. I have seen plenty of good chest shot boar run 100+m after a 7mm. Same with Oryx - I have shot them in the chest with a 7x64 and had them drop on the spot, also had them run 200m. I must admit I like a 9.3x62 for driven boar. I will keep my .222 rem in the cabinet for boar !
 
Perhaps equally relevant to calibre would be ME, MV and bullet construction - little info available on this apart from recommendations of 2600 ft/lbs ME & 130 gr & .270/7mm cal. expandable bullet. Perhaps those who regularly chest shoot Boar would care to comment?
 
To be fair I have used GMX lead free bullets - but 9.3mm- 230 gr, work REALLY well.

160 gr 7mm Oryx bullets have also worked well in the past.
 
I pigs brain is not very big target!

you get it wrong and it’s a shot to the snout or jaw one way or a shot in the fatty flesh behind the head!

Get it wrong and either shot is a long track with a very experienced dog!

if the dog is not experienced it could get killed, saying that many experienced tracking dogs have been killed by boar, so that is also something to be considered.

bigger the better in my opinion for boar 30-06 / 308 / 270 will do the job in the front end.

I’ve done a fair bit of boar hunting in Germany and head shots are frowned upon for this very reason.

think of the welfare of the animal first also the consequences for those who have to help you if it goes wrong, not what you’ve got in the gun box.
 
Perhaps equally relevant to calibre would be ME, MV and bullet construction - little info available on this apart from recommendations of 2600 ft/lbs ME & 130 gr & .270/7mm cal. expandable bullet. Perhaps those who regularly chest shoot Boar would care to comment?
I‘m not a reloader, hunt in both private- and state forest (lead-free requirement) and thus looked for a lead-free factory load that would work for me in all occasions. On both of my rifles, Blaser CDC (250 gr in 9.3x62 & 160 gr in .308) happens to have proven accurate and effective. It’s an expanding bullet, has so far always produced a good exit wound (to track, if required) and is very forgiving on roe (the typical side/chest shot exit wound on roe is about 1 inch diameter). It fulfils my needs.
 
I pigs brain is not very big target!

you get it wrong and it’s a shot to the snout or jaw one way or a shot in the fatty flesh behind the head!

Get it wrong and either shot is a long track with a very experienced dog!

if the dog is not experienced it could get killed, saying that many experienced tracking dogs have been killed by boar, so that is also something to be considered.

bigger the better in my opinion for boar 30-06 / 308 / 270 will do the job in the front end.

I’ve done a fair bit of boar hunting in Germany and head shots are frowned upon for this very reason.

think of the welfare of the animal first also the consequences for those who have to help you if it goes wrong, not what you’ve got in the gun box.

Ikv_xX.gif
 
I spent some time in the US where they will shoot wild pigs (granted not the same as Boar) with anything from .22LR upwards, .223 is very popular. But, the Americans mainly shoot animals from tree stands over bait stations. The animal is usually feeding so static and good shot placement can be achieved almost every time. In this situation.223 and up is perfectly effective

This is very different from the Polish driven hunt I went on where you just stand on the track (not the little raised towers). I can say its a sobering experience when big blood up Boar come hurtling at you. You’ve got to be good to get effective shot placement if under-gunned. So why take the risk in that scenario?

Surely .270 and above (I would include some 7mm Mags as well) has got to be the bare minimum for this type of shooting? .243 was after all designed as a medium size deer round for whitetail etc in the US. I wouldn’t want to use it on Boar.
 
I‘m not a reloader, hunt in both private- and state forest (lead-free requirement) and thus looked for a lead-free factory load that would work for me in all occasions. On both of my rifles, Blaser CDC (250 gr in 9.3x62 & 160 gr in .308) happens to have proven accurate and effective. It’s an expanding bullet, has so far always produced a good exit wound (to track, if required) and is very forgiving on roe (the typical side/chest shot exit wound on roe is about 1 inch diameter). It fulfils my needs.
Do Blaser use a Norma bullet in their CDC?
 
Do Blaser use a Norma bullet in their CDC?
@tymbraegord,
according to the Blaser website, “the Blaser CDC projectile (Controlled Deformation Copper) combined the required characteristics, such as the best precision and reliable killing effect in an optimum manner. The CDC projectile is specifically determined for light to medium weight game and, thus, precisely fulfills the requirements of the hunters in Central Europe. In order to ensure the greatest possible quality, the projectiles from Barnes are produced and loaded by Norma.”
 
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