Thread: Shotguns & pigs

I've read of people dripping candle wax on a load of shot (size unknown) to make a solid slug. Anyone here ever try it?

yes apparently some of the old farmers used candle wax to make a solid to shoot the old cow for dog tucker which brings us to a point using a shot gun on pigs etc is almost third world - the only gun one has a 12 gauge so they use everything from solids on big animals to no 7 on sparrows - but why would one now with all the calibers available - buckshot meat damage can be bad at times you may loose the shoulders - yes some pine blocks no centerfire I get that - but use an accurate caliber and head shoot for meat

Originally Posted by Max Headroom

I've read of people dripping candle wax on a load of shot (size unknown) to make a solid slug. Anyone here ever try it?

There is not much shotgun wise I haven't tried...including the "buck fifty" as seen in young guns movie....a stack of coins. Candle wax helped hold shot together.....results weren't flash for me,did nothing a good #2 load couldn't do better.

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

yes apparently some of the old farmers used candle wax to make a solid to shoot the old cow for dog tucker which brings us to a point using a shot gun on pigs etc is almost third world - the only gun one has a 12 gauge so they use everything from solids on big animals to no 7 on sparrows - but why would one now with all the calibers available - buckshot meat damage can be bad at times you may loose the shoulders - yes some pine blocks no centerfire I get that - but use an accurate caliber and head shoot for meat

Why use a shotgun for pigs? good question.

In my case I'm paid to control animal pests on privately-owned QE2 covenant land. Ideally all animals seen will be killed. Meat recovery is not a consideration.

I'm hunting mobs of pigs and goats in very steep, scrubby regenerating bush country. After the first shot all the animals are on the move and I need to deck as many as possible before they disappear. All shooting is done offhand from wobbly position and targets are often partly obscured by weeds and low branches. The action is all close up, 30 yards is a long shot in this rubbish. The spread of buckshot and instinctive style of shotgun shooting (with no sights to align) gives me more opportunities than a scoped rifle.
With a good semi auto shotgun, 5 + 1 rounds of heavy buckshot is brutally effective within its range limits.

Just buy a Lee Shotshell Slug Bullet Mold 12 Gauge 1 oz - 90281 and an old lee hand loader and your off.

But, personally I'd use a 308 (or similar) rifle with a simple peep sight or low power scope.

Never hunted bailed pig but killed many domestic pigs to butcher. Similar to a bailed pig as to close range but different in that animal is calm and snout in a bucket of feed. I always did a centre head shot above the eye line with No7 birdshot at max 10-15 feet, single shot 12g. Made a pefectly round hole, pig drops instantly with splayed feet. No shoot thru. Easy then to stick and bleed. But a bit of a bugger if you like eating pig brains.

lot of meat on a pigs head actually not a bad feed but not the brains - more the cheeks and roasted

Originally Posted by rockland

Why use a shotgun for pigs? good question.

In my case I'm paid to control animal pests on privately-owned QE2 covenant land. Ideally all animals seen will be killed. Meat recovery is not a consideration.

I'm hunting mobs of pigs and goats in very steep, scrubby regenerating bush country. After the first shot all the animals are on the move and I need to deck as many as possible before they disappear. All shooting is done offhand from wobbly position and targets are often partly obscured by weeds and low branches. The action is all close up, 30 yards is a long shot in this rubbish. The spread of buckshot and instinctive style of shotgun shooting (with no sights to align) gives me more opportunities than a scoped rifle.
With a good semi auto shotgun, 5 + 1 rounds of heavy buckshot is brutally effective within its range limits.

See if you can find some #7 buck....it's smaller pellets are more like 22 cal than 32cal but there are thirty ish not nine of them.... Could well be useful on goats,it sure was better on wallabies,but then again BB or #2 was better still....sure would be better if run into mob of younguns...

having done quite a bit of aerial on goats the big 9 pellet buck shot is the way to go- at one shoot could not get it and the buckshot we could get was 12 pellet smaller size - was bloody useless crap - so many goats needed two shots - never used it again

Originally Posted by Barry the hunter

having done quite a bit of aerial on goats the big 9 pellet buck shot is the way to go- at one shoot could not get it and the buckshot we could get was 12 pellet smaller size - was bloody useless crap - so many goats needed two shots - never used it again

Interesting as the 12-15 ball is usually .30cal not 32.... So not a lot of difference in weight. For guy on foot the second shot thing might be off set by anchoring more,let's be honest a wounded goat isn't hard to find to finish off. They scream something terrible but don't go far.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

See if you can find some #7 buck....it's smaller pellets are more like 22 cal than 32cal but there are thirty ish not nine of them.... Could well be useful on goats,it sure was better on wallabies,but then again BB or #2 was better still....sure would be better if run into mob of younguns...

I do use the Falcon Buckshot 7/0 cartridge, loaded with 19 pellets of about .25 calibre. The manufacturer designed it for high-volume aerial shooting on wallabies. It can be used on goats although the small pellets run out of steam pretty quick, so I only use it out to 25 yards... maybe 30 yards but this is stretching it on big goats.

Would not suggest using this round on pigs, other than at bailing range.

Yip that's the stuff,haven't seen it for years.