270 Win. enough on big tuskers?

[dchum]

@jnotzon has a .270 that he loves and has killed some hogs with it.

I know he killed a really large boar with a 150 gr partion
On the boarder near Laredo, TX

 

[Flbt]

That is a great achievement for sure. I hunted wild hogs when visiting Florida with a rifle. I admire the guys that go after them with a knife, you have to have some big balls doing that. Definitely would love to try it with guys who know how to do it.

That said I would not even think about doing that with a big keiler over here in Europe. Those things are not the same

Not so much big balls it was cheaper than buying bullets and to keep the dogs safe. At least according to dad
And honestly it’s the dogs. If the dogs can hold it works. If the dogs can’t it’s a mess.

And there been a few over the years that dogs could not hold. We shot those.
One of the reasons I am such a big fan of the 44 mag.

Down around liberty farms in the mid 80s there was one old razor back that had 3 legs he would spin around on the nub of his back leg and keep the dogs from catching.
The catch dogs bayed with the baying dogs.

We stayed on him all night. ( could not have guns in there at night)
Hade it weight it out to send people back to the camp to bring in a gun.

 

[mark-hunter]

Red leg speaks wisdom. Bring enough gun. I dont hunt 600 pounds boars, mine are up to 270 pounds, but my caliber for this game is 9.3x62. I dont leave nothing to chances.

 

[Flbt]

Most of the truly large wild pigs I’ve seen here look like they were eating out of a trough until shortly before they met their demise….

The largest true wild pig I’ve personally seen and had a hand in weighing was shot under a feeder by a friend of mine. Weighed 352 lbs. He had apparently been caught by dog hunters at some time in his youth because he was missing the family jewels. Could’ve been another boar that did it I guess. Point is, he likely only got to that weight because of his castration. In actual agricultural areas I don’t doubt they get that large or larger but I’d say any actual “hogzillas” on this side of the pond are mostly behind high fences… Or are in the “Black Belt” of the south.

Around the sand ridge forest we usto call the bear hog bear because the hogs and bear were close to the same size. Small
Over the years where dog hunting was replaced by stands and feeders and food plots even thing starting getting bigger.
Since the 90 up around the farms and deer leases the hogs have gotten huge.

I put a 55 gal roll barrel out a 2in hole for the hogs to stay bussey instead of getting in the field . And had hogs bigger than a 55 gal barrel show up.

Hogzilla from what I remember was around a fish ponds where they raised ga giant bream
There a lot of high protein fish food
And they said it was getting in to the food.
When the tv people Doug it up they said it was not as big a claimed . But with dna it was a mix of demostic and wild hogs.

I bet most of ours are . But like I have said there’s story’s of brought in European stock
And when you run into them they have a different look to them. And a bit meaner.
And some times there cought around the hunting ranches.

I know of a farm that rased mulefoot hogs and wattle hogs that over 25 of there breeding stock got out and went to the swamp. And that was some where around 1”2016

 

[BJH65]

I would definitely use at least a good quality 150 grain bonded bullet for that 270. I’ve killed about 40 wild pigs in my lifetime, about half in the Central Valley of California and Northern California and the other half in the Texas Hill Country. Most of this occurred back in the early 90’s through the 2000’s.

Nobody used a 223/5.56mm back then, it would’ve been considered insane. All of the hunting outfits recommend 270, 308,30-06, 7mm Mag at minimum with a good bonded bullet. Learned a lot about California wild boar etymology from Bob Robb’s excellent book: Hunting Wild Boar in California.

The largest boar I killed pictured below was taken on a large ranch near Red Bluff in Northern California about ten years ago. I don’t know it’s exact weight because the scale topped out at 320 lbs and this boar had the scale pegged! A good trophy boar in CA would be in the 200 lb range, and a very large boar in the 250-275 lb range and a really huge boar could go between 300-400 lbs.

I read about a free range record wild boar taken between Cloverdale and Fort Bragg, CA back in 2012 that weighed 733.5 lbs! I used to hunt this area and never saw a boar near that size. That boar must’ve been raiding some rancher or farmers grain bin! That record boar was killed with a 270 btw.

I know nothing about hunting wild boar in Europe but I have a healthy respect for wild boar here in the U.S., many of which still carry on their Russian/European lineage. On old boar is smart, tough and a worthy game animal to hunt although I recognize they’re considered vermin now in Texas.

 

[Rimbaud]

I’ve hunted boar in Hungary with a .270. It was enough for a large gold medal boar. Of course, the first shot is everything.

 

[Wishfulthinker580]

Introduced and invasive vermin in every state they’re in. Fun to hunt but they ideally would be eradicated. They harm native wildlife directly and indirectly and cause agricultural damage.

 

[Ruraldoc]

My daughter at age 14, with a 175 pound boar with dogs.

 

[Flbt]

My daughter at age 14, with a 175 pound boar with dogs.

Very nice

 

[Scott CWO]

Recommended? I look forward to @Scott CWO 's thoughts.

As I remember, their guidance is that a .270 with premium 150's can legally be used for all big game in Alaska, but strongly recommends .30 cal or larger (if the hunter can manafe it) with 200-220 gr premium bullets as a minimum. My personal minimum for bear - brown or black - is a 9.3 or .338.

First off, the minimum caliber I like for brown bears is .338 WM but I do have a guy hunting in 2026 with a .300 Wby. He’s hunted with me several times and his son is also hunting and using my .375 H&H camp rifle. I will be backing up with 458 Lott. I would NEVER recommend a 270. Why would anyone want to use a 270? Sure, we kill brown bears with bows and handguns but if rifle hunting, why leave anything to chance? It’s a helluva expensive hunt and Alaska law is if you wound a bear, you’re done. That law wasn’t in force throughout Phil’s career.

As for a Nosler Partition on brown bears, that’s a rat bullet and not welcome in my camp, no matter the caliber. Phil is a great guy but was likely duped by the great marketing job done by Nosler, like many other people. I just witnessed a 300 grain NP from an 375 H&H used by a friend all but disintegrate in a kudu a couple weeks ago and a second shot was required. No thanks, especially on DG!

 

[The Gamshunter]

I used a .270 Winchester in the attached picture. I have killed many big boars with the .270, along with Elk and Bears. All were one shot kills with a 130 grain Barnes TTSX bullet. You are well equipped for your boar hunt!

View attachment 698950

Congratulation on this great boar!

 

[The Gamshunter]

Have you ever even seen a mature central European wild boar? They can absolutely dwarf that cute little piggie against which you are kneeling.

A number here have bragged about how many feral hogs they have killed (with BB guns for all I know) - big ones in Alabama someone noted - and of course the legions in Australia. I live in central Texas. So have I. I often use a 5.56 ( at night at an animal that doesn't have clue I am there). A big boar in Central Europe might as well be a different species.

And yes, whoever was going to take on a large European boar with a knife, do please have it filmed.

This is a typical Spanish wild boar (and as @grand veneur notes the biggest boars don't always have the largest tusks - these are exceptional) His Central European cousin can can double or triple his weight. Please at least use a quality 150 gr bullet.

Congratulations, on this amazing european Keiler!

 

[The Gamshunter]

I would definitely use at least a good quality 150 grain bonded bullet for that 270. I’ve killed about 40 wild pigs in my lifetime, about half in the Central Valley of California and Northern California and the other half in the Texas Hill Country. Most of this occurred back in the early 90’s through the 2000’s.

Nobody used a 223/5.56mm back then, it would’ve been considered insane. All of the hunting outfits recommend 270, 308,30-06, 7mm Mag at minimum with a good bonded bullet. Learned a lot about California wild boar etymology from Bob Robb’s excellent book: Hunting Wild Boar in California.

The largest boar I killed pictured below was taken on a large ranch near Red Bluff in Northern California about ten years ago. I don’t know it’s exact weight because the scale topped out at 320 lbs and this boar had the scale pegged! A good trophy boar in CA would be in the 200 lb range, and a very large boar in the 250-275 lb range and a really huge boar could go between 300-400 lbs.

I read about a free range record wild boar taken between Cloverdale and Fort Bragg, CA back in 2012 that weighed 733.5 lbs! I used to hunt this area and never saw a boar near that size. That boar must’ve been raiding some rancher or farmers grain bin! That record boar was killed with a 270 btw.

I know nothing about hunting wild boar in Europe but I have a healthy respect for wild boar here in the U.S., many of which still carry on their Russian/European lineage. On old boar is smart, tough and a worthy game animal to hunt although I recognize they’re considered vermin now in Texas.

View attachment 699366
View attachment 699369

Congratulation! Amazing Keiler! Almost looks like our European ones.

 

[The Gamshunter]

My daughter at age 14, with a 175 pound boar with dogs.

Thx. Great picture. Congratulation to your daughter for this great boar!

 

[DG870]

250 lb hog killed with a 175 grain round nose bullet from a 280 Remington. Shot was about 75 yards - bullet was complete pass through. I saw dust fly from the hill behind the hog and wondered how I’d missed. He ran another 25 yards and dropped dead. I’d use as big a bullet as I could to get through the gristle plate. Speed isn’t necessarily your friend. Big slow bullets seem to do a good job. I’ve used 338 win mag, 7mm Mag, 35 Remington, 30-06, 44 Magnum in a rifle with 265 grain bullets and 35 Whelen. The faster bullets in the 7 mag didn’t pass through and I had to shoot it twice, the 44 bullet was recovered under the hide on the off side, the rest were complete pass through. I feel the impact on the gristle plate opens the faster bullets up and the increased diameter of the bullets opening up this early limits bullet penetration. I’ve built a 338-06 for the next time I go. I think this will be a good compromise between speed and bullet weight. Can you get 160 grain Partitions for the 270 yet? I know they’re not real fast but should do a good job on a good sized hog.

 

[NoStepOnSnek]

I have killed more hogs with a 5.56 than anything else, granted none of mine have exceeded 200 lbs. I know a guy who kills hogs as a side hustle and exclusively uses a 22LR. He’s killed some whoppers. I think that most dedicated boar rifles seen in the US are 6.8 SPC ARs, aka the mini 270. Change bullets and call it good. Or, use it for an excuse to get a new gun.

 

[Slickshooter]

I would never consider a 270, I would be packing a 30 cal minimum.