Garand for Hog Hunting

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  • Cameramonkey

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    How do you guys think a Garand with HXP would work on feral hogs?
    Just make sure you change out your gas block to an adjustable and be VERY careful.

    Modern hunting rounds can cause enough overpressure on a stock Garand to bend the op rod. :spend:
     
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    Leo

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    Combat ammo made for the M1 has been used for game. I have never used any of the foreign Greek made ammo. If you would shoot it for targets, it should be fine for a tough old boar.

    The M1 is up to the task just as much as any iron sighted rifle. There are two round clips available if you are hunting in a place that regulates how many rounds you can have in your rifle.
     
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    Mij

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    In the corn and beans
    10 yrs. ago, guided hunt in Fla. 45-70 hand load soft lead point. From 100 yards. Through both lungs and hart, ran ~ 100 yards through palmetto groves. Gun, bullet, don’t matter. It’s the spirit in the animal. Found about 200 yards away. Just happens to be rite above my chair.
     

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    Mij

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    In the corn and beans
    I’ve killed over a hundred ( Ind.) deer with my load, never had one even take one step after the shot. When I saw that hog take off, then the guide looked at me and said “did you hit him” I said I think so. We sighted in the night before. My hunting partner went around the grove, me and the guide crawled through the trail. We got halfway through and my partner shouted he found him. Bout a hundred yards on the other side of the grove. Gave me a whole new respect for wild hogs.

    By the way, they taste like s***, my BIL loved it. If anyone tells you they taste good their full of crap. Citrus country feed. Pure wild.
     

    two70

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    How do you guys think a Garand with HXP would work on feral hogs?
    It will work fine with hunting bullets provided you work up a Garand friendly load or install an adjustable gas system. The .30-06 is more than plenty for hogs. Despite stories to the contrary, they're not really that tough. The problem is that their vitals are situated a bit differently than most people are used to. The lungs on a hog are higher and more forward than deer. If you make a perfect, low, behind the shoulder shot on a hog like many do on deer, then you've likely gut shot the hog and it will be extremely difficult to find. Instead aim for the shoulder and at or slightly above the midline of the body. The head/neck vital area on a hog is nearly as large as the heart/lung vital area and can be another good option.

    Standard military FMJ will work but if it were me and that was the only option, I would restrict my shots to the head/neck area, only shoot when the hogs were close enough that I could accurately place a shot with limitations of the rig, and be prepared to take follow up shots if it does not go down immediately.

    As for edibility, feral hogs really don't taste much different than domestic hogs. Their diet can affect the flavor of the meat a bit but in most areas, feral hogs will not have regular access to the types of things that make the meat taste bad. However, an uncut feral boar will have a strong, unpleasant flavor that many/most will find objectionable the same as a domestic boar would if you tried to eat it. They taste about like they smell, only worse. Sows and really young boars are fine for eating though, in most areas they'll likely be leaner than domestic pork.
     

    Mij

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    In the corn and beans
    It will work fine with hunting bullets provided you work up a Garand friendly load or install an adjustable gas system. The .30-06 is more than plenty for hogs. Despite stories to the contrary, they're not really that tough. The problem is that their vitals are situated a bit differently than most people are used to. The lungs on a hog are higher and more forward than deer. If you make a perfect, low, behind the shoulder shot on a hog like many do on deer, then you've likely gut shot the hog and it will be extremely difficult to find. Instead aim for the shoulder and at or slightly above the midline of the body. The head/neck vital area on a hog is nearly as large as the heart/lung vital area and can be another good option.

    Standard military FMJ will work but if it were me and that was the only option, I would restrict my shots to the head/neck area, only shoot when the hogs were close enough that I could accurately place a shot with limitations of the rig, and be prepared to take follow up shots if it does not go down immediately.

    As for edibility, feral hogs really don't taste much different than domestic hogs. Their diet can affect the flavor of the meat a bit but in most areas, feral hogs will not have regular access to the types of things that make the meat taste bad. However, an uncut feral boar will have a strong, unpleasant flavor that many/most will find objectionable the same as a domestic boar would if you tried to eat it. They taste about like they smell, only worse. Sows and really young boars are fine for eating though, in most areas they'll likely be leaner than domestic pork.
    Me, only, I shot exactly where my guide told me to shoot, and hit where told me to hit. Still tasted like ****.
     

    two70

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    Me, only, I shot exactly where my guide told me to shoot, and hit where told me to hit. Still tasted like ****.
    From the photo you posted it looks like you killed a nice mature boar which was most likely intact. Intact boars are going to taste terrible to most people. I know people that say boar meat is not bad if spiced up enough and my FIL actually likes the taste. However, I can't even stand the smell of it cooking let alone the taste.

    As for shot placement, that you found the hog is a pretty good indication that your shot placement was spot on. Poorly hit hogs are often not recovered, giving rise to the myth of their indestructability. Here's a diagram of a hog's vitals showing what I'm talking about.
    Hog Diagram.jpg
     

    rhslover

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    HXP is good ammo, but I do think there are companies that make M1 friendly hunting rounds if you don't handload. I really like the M1 and it's sights for hunting use as long as you've got decent light
     

    1nderbeard

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    From the photo you posted it looks like you killed a nice mature boar which was most likely intact. Intact boars are going to taste terrible to most people. I know people that say boar meat is not bad if spiced up enough and my FIL actually likes the taste. However, I can't even stand the smell of it cooking let alone the taste.

    As for shot placement, that you found the hog is a pretty good indication that your shot placement was spot on. Poorly hit hogs are often not recovered, giving rise to the myth of their indestructability. Here's a diagram of a hog's vitals showing what I'm talking about.
    View attachment 225735
    I've killed a few. Boars are terrible. Sows are very good; really lean meat. Any time I go to the gulf area I try to get a guided hog hunt in. Basically the cheapest guided hunt you can do, and a high rate of success.
     

    Mij

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    In the corn and beans
    From the photo you posted it looks like you killed a nice mature boar which was most likely intact. Intact boars are going to taste terrible to most people. I know people that say boar meat is not bad if spiced up enough and my FIL actually likes the taste. However, I can't even stand the smell of it cooking let alone the taste.

    As for shot placement, that you found the hog is a pretty good indication that your shot placement was spot on. Poorly hit hogs are often not recovered, giving rise to the myth of their indestructability. Here's a diagram of a hog's vitals showing what I'm talking about.
    View attachment 225735
    I’ve killed and cleaned more wild game than a lot of folk, I wanted to clean that boar but I think the guide had a financial agreement with the skinners. I think it would have been better if I’d done it. But my French in-laws loved it, and I just wanted the mount. ( I did it to p*** off my taxidermist). Got a surprise for him, he also hates antipope, Guess where I’m going after harvest? Montana, out of Helena. ;)
     

    Creedmoor

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    I’ve killed and cleaned more wild game than a lot of folk, I wanted to clean that boar but I think the guide had a financial agreement with the skinners. I think it would have been better if I’d done it. But my French in-laws loved it, and I just wanted the mount. ( I did it to p*** off my taxidermist). Got a surprise for him, he also hates antipope, Guess where I’m going after harvest? Montana, out of Helena. ;)
    You and my dad would have been friends, he had a stinkin Tar in his den.
     
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    roscott

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    Will the Garand work? Heck yeah! And you’ll get bonus style points for using it!

    Will it be heavy and perhaps a tic slower due to iron sights? Yes.

    Just make sure your load isn’t too much for the rifle, as mentioned above.

    Shot placement is very important with hogs. Their hide plate seals up the wound channel pretty snug, and even a double lung shot pig may not bleed much, although they are still certainly mortal. I shoot for just below the ear, although that can make the taxidermy job a challenge if that’s what you’re after.

    As for taste: it’s excellent. Just as good as store bought pork, even the big boars. I used to adhere to the same sentiments posted above, that particularly the uncut boars are nasty, but really it’s all in how you treat the meat.

    Most importantly, don’t let the meat sit in the heat. This may seem self explanatory, but hogs live down south, and even 75 degree temps will throw off the taste if you let the meat set.

    Second most importantly, there are glands in male boars that hold that gamey taste! They are roughly the size of a lima bean, in armpits and hip area. If this gland stays in your meat, it will taste as described above; it’s gross.

    Finally, brine the meat to get the blood out. Just plop it in a cooler of ice water and salt overnight, and it will come out white and perfect.

    I left lots and lots of boars lie, never knowing that they could be every bit as good as store bought pork!


    Big uncut boar:
    C10DCA1D-9AC9-4F46-8724-A89E1AD87BCC.jpeg

    Becomes smoked pork tenderloin:
    01AAD67D-64CB-4D60-B0A0-D5E0C54B3E77.jpeg
     

    two70

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    I’ve killed and cleaned more wild game than a lot of folk, I wanted to clean that boar but I think the guide had a financial agreement with the skinners. I think it would have been better if I’d done it. But my French in-laws loved it, and I just wanted the mount. ( I did it to p*** off my taxidermist). Got a surprise for him, he also hates antipope, Guess where I’m going after harvest? Montana, out of Helena. ;)
    I think the taste of boar meat is much more appreciated in foreign countries. My FIL first had it in Italy where it was pretty common/popular. When I went to South Africa my outfitter insisted I try a popular local "sandwich" (think Hot Pocket with stew filling or a pot pie deep fried and intended to be eaten like a sandwich) at a convenience store we stopped at. I opted for warthog meat in mine and it was unfortunately a male warthog.

    I disagree on boars tasting as good as sows or commercial pork. Proper care should go without saying, though is usually the first culprit in poor tasting game meat. Removing glands, soaking the meat, and brining all help reduce the strong flavor but don't remove it completely, IMO. Maybe I'm just more sensitive to the flavor but even a hint of it turns my stomach.
     
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