Which off-the-shelf round for high-volume hog hunting?

[ThisWildAdventure]

I have put about 2300 rounds through my Grendels by now, but haven't settled on a round for high-volume hog hunting. It has to be something I can order online—my schedule doesn't allow time for reloading. Mostly I have been using the Hornady American Gunner, and it's fine for the first shot on a stationary hog, but it does not perform well on running hogs, even with multiple thumps.

Any thoughts? Currently running a 12.5 Ballistic Advantage with a Sandman Ti.

[Bigs28]

Depends on your budget really. There are plenty of videos of the 90g speer tnt dropping running hogs on this site. Mark from precision firearms can load you up many different rounds as well.

[A5BLASTER]

Federal 120 fusions, Barnes 115 grain grendel ammo and federal 90 tnt.

For keeping some to eat my money would go to the fusion ammo with the Barnes ammo coming in second due to price point diffrence.

The 90 tnt would be a cheaper option but wouldn't be my first choice for meat pigs. If you was just wanting to kill them and have a cheapish factory ammo, them the tnt load would be the best option.

[ThisWildAdventure]

Depends on your budget really.

I'd love to get it done for as cheap as possible, to be honest. They're pests. But I do want them to die quickly. Not interested in wounded animals.

Federal 120 fusions, Barnes 115 grain grendel ammo and federal 90 tnt.

For keeping some to eat my money would go to the fusion ammo with the Barnes ammo coming in second due to price point diffrence.

The 90 tnt would be a cheaper option but wouldn't be my first choice for meat pigs. If you was just wanting to kill them and have a cheapish factory ammo, them the tnt load would be the best option.

The fusion won't group better than 3" out of my barrel on the same day that I can shoot .5" at 100 yards out of my other guns, so it's not a shooter issue.

[sundowner]

The only other one might be the Hornady 123 SST .

[oyster]

I use AG 123's and PPU 120's, they seem to do fine for me. Running hogs, unless a CNS shot, are hard to put down anyway. I've also used SST's and ELD's and I can't say they work "better" on running hogs, just depends on where you hit them. I don't shoot as many as others on here so I'm sure you'll get plenty of info.

[Pwoller]

I have the same barrel and the 90 grain tnt would be my choice. It seems to be a pretty picky barrel. 123sst shot below average groups. The AA120 nosler bt shot well too but are more expensive.

[tdbru]

may i play devil's advocate here for a minute? in terms of bullet cost difference vs real world hog hunting costs, does it even make sense to discuss? if it takes a $40K 4WD, and a rifle rig (AR + thermal optics + suppressor + NFA tax stamp) that runs several thousands of dollars, and enough gas to run from ranch to ranch all night long to shoot this high volume of hogs, does the 25 cent per bullet difference between a cheap bullet and say a 125gr. Nosler Partition even figure into the cost envelope?? if you shoot say 6 - 8 hogs a night for 4 nights out of the week, the cost difference between shooting the cheapest bullet you can find and 125gr. Nosler partitions vs the cost of the rig, the gas, the rifle, etc. it doesn't even make sense not to use a 125gr. partition when out hog hunting, unless of course you're rifle just won't group the nosler partition bullet. with the 125gr. Nosler partition, you won't have to wonder about the on game performance. And from DNS's videos, most of his hogs are taken under 200 yards, usually much closer to 80 yards. the difference in BC between an ELD-M and the 125gr. Partition at 80 yards is nonsense. but the on game performance of the nosler partition is a known quantity vs. possible inconsistent on game performance of a bullet designed as a target bullet, not a hunting bullet. just stirring some thought, perhaps?
-tdbru

[Sinclair]

..... from DNS's videos, most of his hogs are taken under 200 yards, usually much closer to 80 yards. the difference in BC between an ELD-M and the 125gr. Partition at 80 yards is nonsense. but the on game performance of the nosler partition is a known quantity vs. possible inconsistent on game performance of a bullet designed as a target bullet, not a hunting bullet. just stirring some thought, perhaps?
-tdbru

I agree, years ago when coyote hides we're bring good money, I went through the same scenario when shooting a 6mm Rem. The cost of Sierra 85gr varmint bullets vs something cheaper was a no brainer when the sierras performed beautifully night after night. One shot kills and not a single mangled hide. Let me put it to you this way, if those were not feral hogs that run away, but Grizzlies that charge you when you shot at them, would you be looking for the cheapest ammo that you could find, or for something with a known track record for stopping dangerous game? You have already invested enough to take the family on a luxury getaway vacation, why skimp on bullets that might let you down as often as not? Just my 2 cents.

[ThisWildAdventure]

may i play devil's advocate here for a minute? in terms of bullet cost difference vs real world hog hunting costs, does it even make sense to discuss? if it takes a $40K 4WD, and a rifle rig (AR + thermal optics + suppressor + NFA tax stamp) that runs several thousands of dollars, and enough gas to run from ranch to ranch all night long to shoot this high volume of hogs, does the 25 cent per bullet difference between a cheap bullet and say a 125gr. Nosler Partition even figure into the cost envelope?? if you shoot say 6 - 8 hogs a night for 4 nights out of the week, the cost difference between shooting the cheapest bullet you can find and 125gr. Nosler partitions vs the cost of the rig, the gas, the rifle, etc. it doesn't even make sense not to use a 125gr. partition when out hog hunting, unless of course you're rifle just won't group the nosler partition bullet. with the 125gr. Nosler partition, you won't have to wonder about the on game performance. And from DNS's videos, most of his hogs are taken under 200 yards, usually much closer to 80 yards. the difference in BC between an ELD-M and the 125gr. Partition at 80 yards is nonsense. but the on game performance of the nosler partition is a known quantity vs. possible inconsistent on game performance of a bullet designed as a target bullet, not a hunting bullet. just stirring some thought, perhaps?
-tdbru

I can't deny the logic behind your argument. Some of us MFers are just cheap. I think your point landed squarely in my medulla though. Time to reconsider.

[Klem]

tdbru,

You make a good point.

I will add that hunting is not a high volume shooting session. Only a handful of rounds per night.

[oyster]

tdbru,

You make a good point.

I will add that hunting is not a high volume shooting session. Only a handful of rounds per night.

Except in hog/deer depredation shooting. Then the rounds add up pretty quick. The first shot is usually pretty solid but after that you shoot until you run out of ammo or hogs. It's true in the scheme of things, ammo is relatively cheap but having that $$$ to spend on gas, etc is good too. I predominately use AG and if put in the right place they drop, once they start running I haven't noticed much difference in different variants of bullets since most will be body shots on a tough motivated target. And if they run a 100 yrds before dropping it doesn't make much difference. And a lot of the times the farmer is happier if they make it to the woods before dying. Just my 2 ct.
Jay

[VASCAR2]

I wonder how many nights DNS uses more than twenty rounds. A really good hunt he might get 10-12 hogs if his videos are a good representation. The cheaper ammo like the PPU 120 grain HP BT bullet could be purchased at $.75-$.85 per round. Federal 90 grain TNT at $.96 each, Federal Fusion $1.00 each, Hornady 123 grain SST $1.10 each, Hornady ELD-M $1.00 each, American Gunner 123 grain BTHP at $.80 each and Barnes 115 grain TTSX Vor-Tx $1.50 each. I got these prices off of Target Sports web site but is indicative of prices. Cheapest is about $15 for 20 cartridges (Wolf Gold/PPU) mid priced Federal TNT, Fusion and ELD-M are $20 for a box of twenty while most expensive $30 for twenty cartridges.

I think you can reduce ammo cost if you reload but if you consider the time and selling once fired 6.5 Grendel brass the factory ammo might not be much more expensive. If you hunt four nights a week and use twenty rounds each night your at $60 for Wolf Gold, $80 for TNT/Fusion/ELD-M. Your at $88 using 123 grain SST and $120 for Barnes 115 grain TTSX.

Hunting fifty weeks out of the year your at $4000 per year using TNT/Fusion/ELD-M. I bet DNS Tundra cost more to operate per night than the cost of the ammo. You throw in the cost of batteries and other equipment your talking about a significant sum of money.

[Oso Polaris]

I think that Speeds TNT's are great for plinking or hitting steel at reasonable ranges. It is a quality bullet that is very reasonable on price in all calibers offered.

I believe in bringing the most lethal bullet. Regardless of whether or not I am hunting to harvest or eliminating pests, I am an ethical hunter and want to quickly kill my prey. Also, I am a LAZY HUNTER.... I don't mind cleaning/butchering my kill, but I refuse to take unnecessary step tracking, lone enough dragging a big pig through the brush. Honestly, my cardiovascular days of pushing cars that ran out of gas are well behind me. My endurance test is dealing with staying properly hydrated during a night hunt with 95F at midnight in Texas.

Long and short is a busy night is 10 shots, which is a lot of pigs to clean. I can save $2 by using less efficient bullets, but in turn spend an additional hour tracking or dragging hogs??? Math doesn't work for me... that's an extra hour of sleep!

Barnes TTSX bullet. Factory ammo is the Barnes VOR-TX

[tdbru]

i hope i didn't ruffle too many feathers.

if you're like DNS and like to experiment with a wide variety of bullets and do the required necropsies to build a knowledge base, that's all and good.

if your intent, however, is to just put down feral hogs to eliminate a property damaging pest, i propose that you should be using the best performance hunting bullet or if you don't reload, the best performing hunting load you can get. the cost differential won't be that big a deal, compared to you gear and gas costs, and if it puts the pests down more reliably and quickly, it seems the right way to go to me. as long as it will group well enough in your rifle for the distances that you shoot these pests at.

you are of course free to disagree and i don't mind at all. i have 0 experience shoot feral anything as we don't have that up this way. and for the few times a year i get out coyote hunting, i will be using what i think will be the best bullet for the job at hand. given my coyote calling skill, the shot volume when i coyote hunt is... ahm.... pretty low.

now for general plinking, depending upon the goal, then i can see pursuing the least expensive per round option.
-tdbru

[Pootie]

IMO - If you aren't getting multiple shots, use the cheapest ammo that goes where you want it to. On CNS shots the hog doesn't care what bullet killed it.

[FLshooter]

American Eagle 90g TNT 500rd box

[ThisWildAdventure]

I bought a case of the 90gr TNT at $1.11 per round delivered, after factoring in shipping and tax from SG Ammo.