Best Hog Hunting Guns: Rifles and Shotguns That Handle Pigs

Why hogs are different

Deer hunting is usually a single animal, a careful shot and a long wait. Hog hunting often isn't. Feral pigs travel in groups called sounders, feed at night in many areas, and bust out of thick cover at short range. A lot of hog hunting is also pest control on farmland, where the goal is to remove animals that damage crops and pasture.

The scale of that damage is why so many states encourage hog removal. USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service puts U.S. feral swine damage at a minimum of 3.4 billion dollars a year, and says 12 states have eradicated feral swine since 2014. USDA also stresses integrated management, not hunting alone, so think of the rifle as one tool in a larger effort.

All of this shapes the gun. You want something that handles quickly, works with a light or a low-light optic where that's legal, and fires a solid expanding hunting load. This is an editorial reference built from maker and retailer specifications. We haven't hunted with these specific guns; we're matching published specs to the job.

The picks at a glance

Match the gun to the hunt

Most hog hunts fall into three styles. Work out which one you'll do most, and the pick follows.

1. Feeder or blind hunting. You're sitting still, often over a known spot, with time to set up a rest. Shots can stretch out. A scoped bolt rifle in .308 or 6.5 Creedmoor fits, and weight doesn't matter much because you aren't carrying it far.
2. Spot-and-stalk or walking field edges. You're covering ground and may get a shot at anything from close to medium range. A lighter bolt rifle or a semi-auto with a low-power scope makes sense. Carry weight starts to matter.
3. Thick cover and close encounters. Brush, creek bottoms, palmetto and cane. Shots are short and fast. A handy semi-auto like the Mini-Thirty, a lever gun or a slug shotgun is the better tool here, and a light may matter more than magnification.

If you'll do a bit of everything, the .308 bolt rifle with a low-to-mid power scope is the safest single choice. It isn't the fastest in brush, but it covers the widest range of shots.

Best all-round: a .308 bolt rifle

If you'll hunt hogs from a blind over a feeder, along field edges or at moderate distances, a bolt rifle in .308 Winchester is hard to beat. The cartridge has a deep bench of hunting loads, wide availability and a long track record on medium game. A bolt gun is also simple, accurate and easy to mount a scope on.

Bergara lists the B-14 Hunter in .308 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor, .30-06 and other chamberings, with a molded synthetic stock that shrugs off weather. If you're weighing it against a cheaper rifle, our budget bolt rifle comparison covers the entry tier.

Budget alternative: Mossberg Patriot

If the rifle is going to live in a ranch truck and get scratched, a budget bolt gun makes sense. The Mossberg Patriot Synthetic in 6.5 Creedmoor is listed with a 22-inch fluted barrel, an adjustable LBA trigger and a weight of 6.5 pounds. Best for: a working rifle you won't baby. Skip if: you want a premium feel.

Ammo: .308 Winchester hunting ammo. Choose a load marketed for medium or large game with a bonded or controlled-expansion bullet, not range FMJ.

Best for brush: Ruger Mini-Thirty

Close-range hog work rewards a short, quick rifle with fast follow-up shots. The Mini-Thirty fits that brief. Wikipedia notes Ruger introduced it in 1987 in 7.62x39, and that it was regarded as an effective deer rifle. Its Mini-14 roots go back to 1973.

The 7.62x39 is a mid-range cartridge, so keep your shots reasonable and choose expanding 7.62x39 hunting ammo, not steel-cased range ammo. Our Mini-14 vs Mini-Thirty comparison explains why the Thirty is usually the better hog choice of the two.

.300 Blackout rifles

Many hog hunters use short semi-auto rifles in .300 Blackout, which runs well from short barrels. If you go that way, pick a hunting load built to expand at its velocity. See .300 Blackout ammo. AR-pattern rifles are covered in depth by our sister site sportingrifles.co.

The shotgun option: slugs

If you already own a pump shotgun, you may already own a hog gun. A 12 gauge with slugs is effective at short range in heavy cover. The key upgrade is a barrel with sights or a scope mount, and ideally rifling for sabot slugs.

The Mossberg 500 Field/Deer combo listed at Ammunition Depot pairs a 28-inch vent-rib bird barrel with a 24-inch fully rifled slug barrel and includes a 2.5x20 scope. Best for: a hunter who wants one gun for birds and hogs. Skip if: you need range beyond what slugs deliver.

Pattern and zero with the exact 12 gauge slug you'll hunt with. Slugs from different makers can hit in very different places.

Lever guns get a nod

A lever-action in .30-30 or .45-70 is the classic American brush gun, and plenty of hogs have fallen to one. It's short, quick to point and carries well. We leave the deep dive to our sister site: leverguns.co's first lever gun guide and its brush gun piece cover models and cartridges.

Lights, optics and night hunting

A lot of hog hunting happens at dusk, dawn or after dark, where it's legal. That puts your sighting system on par with the rifle.

• Scope: a low-power variable scope with a bright, simple reticle covers most hog work. Browse rifle scopes.
• Weapon light: for close work where legal, a rifle-mounted light lets you identify your target. See weapon lights.
• Thermal or night vision: a big step up for night hogs where permitted. Read our thermal vs night vision explainer before you spend; dedicated optics coverage lives on our sister sites.

Cartridge notes

Hogs have a reputation for being tough, and big boars carry a thick shield of gristle over the shoulders. The practical answers are boring and reliable:

• Use a hunting bullet. Choose loads made for medium or large game. Skip full metal jacket range ammo.
• Know your effective range. Short cartridges like 7.62x39 and .300 Blackout are close-range tools. .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor reach farther.
• Place the shot. Placement matters more than cartridge. Learn hog anatomy before you hunt; vitals sit lower and farther forward than many deer hunters expect.
• Practice with the hunting load. Zero with the same ammunition you'll carry.

After the shot

USDA notes about 8 percent of feral swine carry brucellosis, which can make people sick. Wear gloves when field dressing, avoid contact with blood and fluids, and cook the meat thoroughly. If you're hunting to help a landowner, ask how they want carcasses handled.

Unload before you climb down, cross fences or get in a vehicle, and store rifles locked between hunts.

The bottom line

Editorial note: This is an independent editorial overview built from manufacturer specifications, retailer listings and published sources. We have not performed hands-on testing of the products discussed, and nothing here is a performance guarantee. Verify specifications, compatibility and the law where you live.

Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links to Ammunition Depot. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Our editorial choices are not influenced by commissions. Check current price, stock and specifications directly with the retailer.