Just make sure you change out your gas block to an adjustable and be VERY careful.How do you guys think a Garand with HXP would work on feral hogs?
Great question. Let's say daylight to dusk.Day or night? Is that the only option?
Why? HXP is Greek 30-06 M2 Ball Ammo.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.
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.How do you guys think a Garand with HXP would work on feral hogs?
Me, only, I shot exactly where my guide told me to shoot, and hit where told me to hit. Still tasted like ****.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.
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.Me, only, I shot exactly where my guide told me to shoot, and hit where told me to hit. Still tasted like ****.
I was thinking of a different round.Why? HXP is Greek 30-06 M2 Ball Ammo.
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.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.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
You and my dad would have been friends, he had a stinkin Tar in his den.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’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.