most economical rig for hunting hogs and yotes?

fieldgrade

fieldgrade

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One of my boys is jonesing to get out and blast some critters, hogs and coyote specifically. I think he has some friends or co-workers that have some experience with this.

He was thinking of putting a 300BO upper on an AR and adding an optic, but also looking at buying a dedicated bolt gun and optic for the task. Maybe Savage Axis in 6.5 Creedmoor?

And this needs to be economical. I’m not buying it, he is.

What say y’all?
 
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fieldgrade said:
One of my boys is jonesing to get out and blast some critters, hogs and coyote specifically. I think he has some friends or co-workers that have some experience with this.

He was thinking of putting a 300BO upper on an AR and adding an optic, but also looking at buying a dedicated bolt gun and optic for the task. Maybe Savage Axis in 6.5 Creedmoor?

And this needs to be economical. I’m not buying it, he is.

What say y’all?
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What’s the max distance game shots will be taken at?
 
FOR FERAL HOGS ... Really about any centerfire rifle with good sights or optic (or some pistols at closer range) will do the job as long as the person behind the trigger does. Now when you start thinking more specialized type hunts like night and quiet hunts you’ll look for more special gear. I’ve picked more off at distance with my 700 in .308 ... doubles and a few triples with multiple shots from a suppressed .300BO ... I have a couple with a good old lever .30-30 that were just opportunity kills.

Now yotes are different and a more deliberate type hunt ... there a nice optic is more called for that you can pull a cold bore shot with unless you hunting over an open field and able to lead a moving target pretty well you only get one shot on a yote. If I’m specifically going for a yote I’m likely going 6.5 Grendel and doing a little range work prior to verify the optic is spot on and cold bore dopes are confirmed.
 
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Does he already have an AR rifle/pistol? If so, and availability was what it was 100+ days ago, I would’ve advised buying a 6.8 upper.

I did find a complete 6.8 AR for $599, but I know he can go another route for a good bit less.
 
One of my friends is an avid hog hunter, owns all kinds of thermal & NV goodies. Plenty of rifles various calibers like 300 Blackout, 338 Spectre, 6.8 and 308 but his weapon of choice is usually an AR in 5.56! When I asked why he said because it's the cheapest to shoot and he shoots a bunch of ammo when they get on the pigs. They aren't trophy hunting just trying to control the numbers on their club.
 
Considering the fact that both hogs and coyotes aren't really game animals, and come in packs larger than 1 where multiple shots are required, I'd say any AR in whatever boutique caliber you can afford. I'd just use 5.56 out to 200 yards just like deer.
You said "economical" and I take that to mean both cost of purchase and continual feeding.
 
Ikarus1 said:
Considering the fact that both hogs and coyotes aren't really game animals, and come in packs larger than 1 where multiple shots are required, I'd say any AR in whatever boutique caliber you can afford. I'd just use 5.56 out to 200 yards just like deer.
You said "economical" and I take that to mean both cost of purchase and continual feeding.
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I’d think a 556 running 69-77gr would knock em dead out to 350-400 easy. Given it’s not a crazy windy day
 
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AH64 said:
I’d think a 556 running 69-77gr would knock em dead out to 350-400 easy. Given it’s not a crazy windy day
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5.56 running 77gr Sierra Ballistic tips will easily drop a 'Yote at 350-400... Ikarus is right, you should consider the gas gun for hogs and 'yotes. You want fast multiple shot capability.


5.56 w/77 grain Sierra Ballistic tips in the Az desert. 300 yard targets

V__FB77.jpg
 
AH64 said:
I’d think a 556 running 69-77gr would knock em dead out to 350-400 easy. Given it’s not a crazy windy day
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I use 64gr Nosler bonded which are more of a soft point expanding round, so I limit my range to 250-ish but yeah a 77TMK or SGK would crush a hog. Coyotes can be dispatched easily with 55gr FMJ and won't ruin the pelt.

Sierra actually makes what I think is the best overall hunting bullet in .224 diameter with the 64gr TGK aka "Gamechanger" but I've not tested it extensively.
 
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For an AR, I’d look heavily at the 6arc.
It’s not a “new” round, 6mm AR’s have been around a while but Hornady makes it standard.

that would be a nasty round for numerous things. Hunting, precision, critter clean up.... the 6mm bullets have a weight/bullet for it all.
 
I’ve got two ARs he could use.
One is chambered 5.56 16” 1/7 twist,
and the other is .223 Wylde, 16” 1/8 twist

What heavier projectile would run best in either?
 
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fieldgrade said:
I’ve got two ARs he could use.
One is chambered 5.56 16” 1/7 twist,
and the other is .223 Wylde, 16” 1/8 twist

What heavier projectile would run best in either?
Click to expand...

Shoot groups at 100 yards ( longer if possible ) with both guns. Maybe try a few different "off the shelf" performance loads in various grains. Might be a great data gathering/learning experience.
 
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Good medicine......
2w7mLgg.jpg
 
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fieldgrade said:
I’ve got two ARs he could use.
One is chambered 5.56 16” 1/7 twist,
and the other is .223 Wylde, 16” 1/8 twist

What heavier projectile would run best in either?
Click to expand...
For hogs I’ve used good old Speer Gold Dot SP 64gr rounds on feral abatement with no problems ... but the ferals are not huge trophy type boar. They’d likely run well out of either AR ... just have a little fun and test session at the range.

For yotes I’d try a polymer tipped ballistic round ... like Hornady’s 55gr VMax or such ... and I’d say your 1:8 .223 Wylde might be more likely to like but again just have a fun range test session. Now if you really want to get serious and handload Hornady 62gr VMax over the right 4166 load out of a nice 1:8 barrel would be my choice ... it’s a lot of work and that’s more like out west for open area type yote hunting where you don’t get that close.
 
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First things first.
The heading says most economical.
That will be a single shot or bolt.

and for all you guys saying AR for fast follow up shots.
Sounds like this is the first time this person has even tried anything like this, maybe its best to take it a little slow. Learn to kill an animal cleanly first before you worry about shooting them all.
Have any of you seen the after burners that hogs and yotes turn on at the sound of gun fire. Do you think its good to just spray lead everywhere at a running animal? In NC? Maybe out west at night with NV and a suppressor but remember he said economical.

Just a few thoughts.
 
fieldgrade said:
I’ve got two ARs he could use.
One is chambered 5.56 16” 1/7 twist,
and the other is .223 Wylde, 16” 1/8 twist

What heavier projectile would run best in either?
Click to expand...
This may be your answer to economics.
55’s or 69’s shoot them and see. I have two, one shots the 55’s better the other the opposite.
Neither shoot anything over 69 any good.
 
From talking to @Sneakymedic it is all about IR and Night Vision, not Which Rifle in What Caliber.

I've got a Savage 110 in 243 with a Redfield 3-9x scope and a red or green spot light. That's economical, but not very successful. I'll invite @Sneakymedic to explain what works.
 
I just got a text from my boy, he found a 300BO upper he likes, and buying back an AR he built that I bought from him awhile back, so I guess this question just answered itself.
 
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fieldgrade said:
I just got a text from my boy, he found a 300BO upper he likes, and buying back an AR he built that I bought from him awhile back, so I guess this question just answered itself.
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I’ve seen what a .300 BO will do to deer, it ought to completely massacre a ‘yote.
 
And I agree with @Tailhunter on this. Especially at night, in unfamiliar territory. I get taken to all kinds of unfamiliar places to Yote hunt. I like one shot one kill, and no follow up shots. When they start to run, and you dont know the territory, or where the cows/horses/residences may lie, blasting isnt really the way you wanna go. Ive killed a bunch of hogs and yotes, and I wouldnt hunt with 5.56/223. You CAN kill them with that, but there is a high chance you wont, since they are hard to kill. If seen a coyote trying to chew off his own guts to run away on a bad shot. And freaking pigs are like little tanks, unless you make a good head shot on them. I would suggest something .30 cal /6.5/or the like and take one variable off the table. You can make a bad shot with any of those calibers too, but they are a little less forgiving,
 
Sneakymedic said:
And I agree with @Tailhunter on this. Especially at night, in unfamiliar territory. I get taken to all kinds of unfamiliar places to Yote hunt. I like one shot one kill, and no follow up shots. When they start to run, and you dont know the territory, or where the cows/horses/residences may lie, blasting isnt really the way you wanna go. Ive killed a bunch of hogs and yotes, and I wouldnt hunt with 5.56/223. You CAN kill them with that, but there is a high chance you wont, since they are hard to kill. If seen a coyote trying to chew off his own guts to run away on a bad shot. And freaking pigs are like little tanks, unless you make a good head shot on them. I would suggest something .30 cal /6.5/or the like and take one variable off the table. You can make a bad shot with any of those calibers too, but they are a little less forgiving,
Click to expand...
The .300 Black upper will be by my house tonight for a viewing when son gets off work.
 
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