Advice on rifle

**Rob 111** · 31-03-2013, 13:26

Hi there.
I have been hunting Jackal and Bushpig and am looking to get a rifle specifically for this purpose. We have used everything from a 22 and 22 hornet (not for pigs) 223, 30-06 and 25-06. I was most impressed with the 25-06.

This will be my first rifle and I'll be buying on a budget. I have seen great reviews on the Howa 1500.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

**Maroelas** · 31-03-2013, 13:59

On a budget a Howa will serve you well. Also look at Savage.

Calibre, since bushpig is on the menu definitely nothing smaller than 25-06. Look at 7mm Remington Magnum as well (not sure if Howa chambers this).

Also important to consider is cost of ammo and availability. Do you reload?

**JS4** · 31-03-2013, 14:07

Get Treeman to build you one of his custom pig-slayers.

**Rob 111** · 31-03-2013, 14:24

I don't reload but with the advice from guys like you I will be reloading in no time.

Pig-slayer?

**Maroelas** · 31-03-2013, 15:17

He built a 458 2". Launches a 500gr bullet at subsonic velocity. Specifically for pig hunting in the dense Eastern Cape bush.

**Rob 111** · 31-03-2013, 15:35

Haha. That's pretty hard core. Can you imagine what that would do to a jackal.

**Geno** · 31-03-2013, 16:29

The short barrels on the Howa rifles do not perform well in .25-06. The calibre really needs a 26"+ barrel.

Why not look at the Howa 6.5x55?
95gr VMax for jackal, and 140gr for pigs.

**Messor** · 31-03-2013, 16:55

Why not a .308?

With suppressor fitted zero recoil, probably the most widely avail reloading components of any caliber, readily avail in all rifle makes, very cheap to reload, suitable for experts or novices, long barrel life, loaded with varmint bullets more than adequate for jackal, loaded with normal rounds more than adequate for pigs, and then it doubles as a hunting rifle as well.

Good advice or wishful thinking?

**Ds J** · 31-03-2013, 17:11

Which area and circumstances do you hunt? We hunted bushpig in Levubu, and the shorter the gun was, the better. I would have loved to have a lever-action in those bushy ravines - .357 or .44 would have been good enough. The Rossi Puma's are available. I saw several @ roughly R2500 used.

If terrain is not a problem, then Messor is probably right. Get a 308 - simply because it's a proven accurate, reliable and easily reloadable cartridge. Get one because everyones got one, and no jackal is safe quite a distance.

**Rob 111** · 31-03-2013, 18:48

It seems like I keep considering larger calibers. In all honesty, price is the most important factor right now. I hunt on a housing estate that I manage so a big bang in not popular. I honestly don't know what to do. I am scared to go through all the hassle of a Licence just to get a second hand gun with problems. Where do you get a used gun that you know is in good working order.I hunt near Nottingham Road in KZN at maze bates and in maze lands.