Taking the 375 for Florida hogs

[Eric Anderson]

I was looking on the Speer website at the 235 gr Hot-Cor bullet.
It looks like a cup and core type bullet where the lead is not bonded to the jacket, where the Barnes TSX is solid copper.
I would think comparing the Speer 235 Hot-Cor to the Barnes 235 TSX would be night and day when it comes to performance on game.
Wondering how you feel about this?

Speer 150 grain hotcore in .308 is lights out for my 30-06.
They smack the white tails here with more authority than anything else I have tried.

And they fragment, a lot, but not until getting to the vitals. It’s like...magic....

Punch right through a rib, go in 2 more inches.. and... hand grenade. Hit the front leg bone, 2-3 more inches... hand grenade. Front shot, little high, never reaches the spine, but the front of the neck looks like a grizzly took a bite out....
I can’t explain how the bullets know what to do, but with over 40 whitailes down with them, no losses. I had to track one about 70 yards. By track, I mean follow the Texas chainsaw massacre bloodtrail.

 

[BeeMaa]

Nice piggies congrats! To take overkill to the next level here's a hog I shot several 7ears ago at 8 feet in the brush (shot him between the eyes, 570g TSX exited out of his ham) with my son using my 500 Jeffery ...

That's how you plant 'em with a 570 gr half-inch anchor.

 

[AR167]

Nice piggies congrats! To take overkill to the next level here's a hog I shot several 7ears ago at 8 feet in the brush (shot him between the eyes, 570g TSX exited out of his ham) with my son using my 500 Jeffery ...

That's awesome! I should have taken a picture of the sow I shot with a 500gr DGX moving at 2600fps. I tried after wards but there wasn't anything left.

We did dirt nap this 230lb boar the other night with the thermals.

 

[Tim Kirk]

never underestimate the 235 gn speer for your job.
(if still available)
bruce.

I am experimenting with Speer 235 grain Hot Core soft points at reduced loads (2200-2600 fps) for deer and hogs with excellent results in my .375 Ruger. You can probably over push these with current powders and all that case capacity. If you want higher velocity, you may need a tougher bullet. I love my big Ruger in 375 H&H, but never could find a very consistent reduced power load. The 375 Ruger case seems more flexible in loading options for the majority of the hunting I am currently doing; while full power loads are readily available for bigger game. I may be weeding out the gun locker, but the 375 Ruger will remain front and center.

 

[Tim Kirk]

I was looking on the Speer website at the 235 gr Hot-Cor bullet.
It looks like a cup and core type bullet where the lead is not bonded to the jacket, where the Barnes TSX is solid copper.
I would think comparing the Speer 235 Hot-Cor to the Barnes 235 TSX would be night and day when it comes to performance on game.
Wondering how you feel about this?

 

[Oldschool280]

Just got a smokin deal on 100 270 btsp speer’s . They seem to have a good bc and have acted like gamekings in most other cartridges i load for, hoping this will be my longer range h&h load. I would like the ability to take larger game to 500+ yards if the opportunity presented itself. Our 1000 yard range is looking to expand to a mile! Going to have plenty of bench time and data before next hunt. Will have to up the optics in that case. 4.5-14 is what i have available to take the place of the 1-4.

 

[bruce moulds]

tom,
235 speers will kill pigs.
so will 270s.
pigs seem very susceptable to shock, and cup and core offers this.
bruce.

 

[Shootist43]

I've used my 35 Whelen and 225 Gr. Speer Hot Core bullets on hogs without any issues at all. IMHO there is no reason to use premium bullets on them.

 

[AR167]

FWIW, 350gr .458 Hornady interlock moving at 3000fps work great on unruly swine.

.223 seems, ahem, almost anemic. ;-)

 

[Tim Kirk]

I just went to Speers reloading website and some of their loadings are running over 3100 FPS.
So the Hot Cores must be tough enough for those recommended loads and speeds.
The old Speer #12 book listed a reduced load using SR4759. I tested 28 grains at about 1600 FPS,
but prefer other loadings for 2300-2500 FPS. Accurate, effective, and mild enough to shoot all day.

 

[AR167]

I probably need to get a .375 H&H. Think I have my eye on a .416 first though.

 

[Dr Ray]

Isn’t the 375 H&H a bit much fir such animals?

 

[AR167]

Isn’t the 375 H&H a bit much fir such animals?

Nah, dead is dead.

 

[Tim Kirk]

Wild pigs are varmints. Shoot well with whatever caliber you like and you'll have a great time.
It makes for really fun practice with your chosen firearm and you can become a better hunter of other game.

 

[Oldschool280]

The 375 h&h is proving to be my new all arounder. With todays bullets and powders it does just about everything i need, that and my 223 and i’m good , although I love all of the cartridges in between that i own.

 

[BeeMaa]

Wild pigs are varmints. Shoot well with whatever caliber you like and you'll have a great time.
It makes for really fun practice with your chosen firearm and you can become a better hunter of other game.

I'm not sure I would call hog hunting a "training tool", but maybe a stepping stone to game that are not a nuisance animal.
Learning proper shot placement, or where not to shoot.
Teaching the difference between an ethical shot and a marginal one with a chosen caliber.
Also learning to hunt within your capabilities and the capabilities of the rifle/caliber.
Tracking a hog shot with a 375 would be much easier as well.
Maybe they are a useful training tool

 

[AR167]

The hog I shot the other day did a mock 'charge' at me...even though it was in a trap it got my blood pumping a bit so in my mind it was good practice.

 

[Scrumbag]

Well, they say 9.3x62 is the "Calibre superior" for hunting wild boar so a lighter bullet in 375 should be great! Happy hunting amigo!

 

[Tim Kirk]

I'm not sure I would call hog hunting a "training tool", but maybe a stepping stone to game that are not a nuisance animal.
Learning proper shot placement, or where not to shoot.
Teaching the difference between an ethical shot and a marginal one with a chosen caliber.
Also learning to hunt within your capabilities and the capabilities of the rifle/caliber.
Tracking a hog shot with a 375 would be much easier as well.
Maybe they are a useful training tool

Exactly my point. Hunting pigs provides ample access to learning what works best and can make you a better hunter.
You can train someone in a skill like shooting, but the finer points of hunting better are learned through experience.
Pigs can provide a lot of opportunities to get out there and gain that experience. But I've not had to do much tracking of
pigs shot with my 375. Keep hunting, keep learning, be safe, and have some fun.