Short, light, semi-auto hunting rifle

[michael_aos]

After hauling my Remington 700 SPS stainless in 270 WSM with a Leupold VX-L 3.5-10x50mm through the woods in Eastern Oklahoma / Western Arkansas, I have a better idea of what I think would work well for hogs in that area.

According to our host, they can get as big as 350lbs, but that's exceedingly rare. More like 150-200lbs is much more common. 200yds would be considered a very long shot. 100yds being much more common.

Figure roughly 30-30 Winchester class cartridge at minimum.

I was looking at AR-15 based cartridges, such as 6.8 SPC, 6.5 Grendel, 300 Whisper, 300 RAR, etc -- but they all seem to be on the low-end power-wise, especially with a 16"-18" bbl.

I was toying with a 16" AR-10, but you're at ~9lbs right out of the gate.

Seems like the Remington Model 750 carbine would be darned-near perfect. Can't decide between 308 or 30-06 though.

Any other options I'm overlooking?

[GunTroll]

I'm not the authority but I hate semi for hunting. Fast follow up means squat to me. I'm not trying to sound cocky but the first one is your best shot. My father-in law likes his remington 7400??? I think that's right. Quick light somewhat dependable. I'm thinking your lever action idea is better. iron sights,rear aperture,low power scope adjustable or not would be my choice. I like my marlin 94 in 44mag for close up shooting. I even put a leupold vxIII 1.5-5 on it for a while but liked my rear aperture sight better. Decisions,decisions!

[michael_aos]

I shouldn't have even used "hunting" in the title. I'm not really talking about traditional hunting.

More like large varminting.

The idea is to shoot / kill as many pigs as possible. Sort of like shooting rats at a garbage-dump. Even if you have no intention of eating any of them.

There can be 10 or more in a "unit" (herd?). Our host said his personal record was 6 hogs with 5 shots.

Mike

[Irving]

Suppressor is the answer to this question too!

[SA Friday]

Read a while back some guys in Texas are using their AR's in .223 loaded with 77gr Barnes TSX bullets on hogs. Apparently, they drop them on the spot.

You can always look at a Benelli R1 in 300WM...

[michael_aos]

I'm still fuzzy on that piece. Oklahoma DOW says suppressors are illegal for "hunting".

But killing hogs doesn't fit their definition of "hunting".

So I still don't really know if suppressors are legal for hog-killing in Oklahoma.

Mike

[michael_aos]

You can always look at a Benelli R1 in 300WM...

I looked at the R1 a little. It's heavier and has a longer barrel and is more-expensive than the Remington Model 750.

Figure a gun in this environment is going to get pretty banged up.

Mike

[GunTroll]

I shouldn't have even used "hunting" in the title. I'm not really talking about traditional hunting.

More like large varminting.

The idea is to shoot / kill as many pigs as possible. Sort of like shooting rats at a garbage-dump. Even if you have no intention of eating any of them.

There can be 10 or more in a "unit" (herd?). Our host said his personal record was 6 hogs with 5 shots.

Mike

I think you need an AK with some sort of red dot sight installed. 30+rounds and better hiting than 223. Maybe other AR platforms but AK's are cheaper. I knew guys in GA that whent this route.

[SA Friday]

Sorry, my bad, they are 70gr TSX bullets

Here: http://www.barnesbullets.com/informa...h-speed-video/

Check out the Triple shock bullet vid on the bottom of the page. I think 223 hog death is very possible with one of these.

[michael_aos]

AK's are cheaper. I knew guys in GA that whent this route.

You're on the right track, and I was thinking along the same lines.

I was thinking it would be a pain to mount any sort of scope and / or get "hunting" 7.62x39mm ammo.

Don't AK's tend to be pretty heavy as well? (I don't know much about AK's)

Mike