is the 25-06 cal. A good boar hunting cartridge?
by admin on Monday, July 26th, 2010 | 6 Comments
Hello I’m getting interested in boar hunting and I own a 25-06 ruger and was wondering if it would make a good caliber to hunt boar with, I know it’s fast and flat,and very accurate but does it have knock down power?, Thanks
It might be a bit small, but with a well placed shot it will probably be fine. Don’t push the range you’re hunting them at, either.
I think it’s a great cartridge but it’s not ideal for boar, IMO.
There are two camps of hunters. The O’connor camp champions high velocity, light calibers. The Keith camp favors slower moving large projectiles. Jack O’conner and Elmer Keith were gun and outdoor writers in the past who frequently fueded, mostly publicly, about which philosophy is best.
I personally think for larger boar, above 250 pounds, something with very deep penetration and some weight is in order. I wouldn’t hesitate to wack a 200 pound pig with you 25-06, but any larger pig deserves a larger killing and I might pass. It also depends on the distance and shot placement and gender of the boar – males being much tougher.
I’d go out with it, but be selective on what you decide to shoot.
It wouldn’t be one to pick if you were buying, but since it’s what you have, find a load with a good tough 117 or 120 grain bullet, and you’ll do OK. If you handload, you may want to keep your velocities down a little: flat doesn’t mean squat for hogs, and all that velocity has a tendency to make bullets expand prematurely.
I have to agree with Middeltown, John DeWitt, and FMJ. The .25-06 is a little light for wild boar. All three of these guys are highly knowledgable. It is a bit light — probably nobody’s 1st choice for wild boar. But as John mentioned — it sounds as though the decision is already been made. So .25-06 it is.
In that case — IMO — the best advice would be to limit your shooting range to about 100 yards, and to avoid the large ones. Stay with a medium 120 to 150 pounder. They taste much better as well.
Two pieces of advice:
1) Hornady offers their “SuperPerformance” ammo in .25-06. It has about 300 ft lbs more energy than the standard .25-06 ammo. It kind of increases the power of your gun, to something more appropriate for the wild boar. It is about $40 per box
2) The .25-06 probably won’t “knock down” your Wild Boar, but your best shot is likely through their shoulder area, and into the heart/ lung “boiler room” area. But if you are a good shot, and can get a 50 yard shot,on a standing wild boar — a shot behind the boars ear with absolutely drop him in his tracks. I am not recommending this per se — I don’t know your capabilities — but just mentioning it. If you are a good shot — that shot will take the boar down instantly.
Try to limit your shots to 100 yards, and try to keep it to the smaller/ medium sized wild boar. Think about the Hornady “SuperPerformance” ammo, and consider your shot placement. Shot placement is critical.
Due to the fact the .25-06 is a flat shooting, long range round with a fairly light bullet, you will have plenty of time for the second shot if the first don’t do the job. Many hogs have been killed with a .22 LR, but far be it from me to advise even an expert shot to use it, but if it is what you have, use it. If it works, fine, but if it don’t, get a bigger gun, or get out of the hog hunting business.
The 25/06 will work fine. Your not hunting Elephant or Cape buffalo. People kill em everyday on ranches with the 222 and 223. And they are meant as varmint rds. What you see her is personal prefence of a lack of knowledge of a larger caliber to boost ones moral on a game animal that isn’t going to gore you to death or leap out of a brush thicket and take your inards or throat out. Most of these animals are hunted from a stand or with dogs. And a majority of em are killed with bows and pistols far less powerful than a 25/06. There are some great bullets nowadays and the 25/06 has plenty to choose from. The triple shocks, SST’s, Nosler Partitions and Accubonds are some real penetrator’s and at the 25/06 velocities they will work great! I tell you what if you don’t think the 25/06 is powerful enough to kill a wild hog with just, you can barrow my 8mm Mag or my 340 Wtby and i’ll use the 25/06 I have in my Ruger and roll them over all day long. That isn’t boast, that’s a fact!