If you’re looking for a hog hunting rifle, well you’ve come to the right place. Hogs are tough and are often hunted in groups (“sounders”), so you may need faster follow-up shots than what you might have for deer hunting. Here are some recommendations:
A Few Hog-Specific Practical Notes
Many hog hunts happen at dusk/night/on bait, so a good scope with low-light performance (or a night vision/thermal setup if you get serious about it) helps a lot. Be sure to check your state and local regulations about legal shooting times.
Shot placement is critical — hogs have a cartilage “shield” over the vitals on big boars, so bullet selection (controlled expansion, decent weight) matters as much as caliber.
If you’ll hunt with dogs (where legal) or in thick brush, a shorter barrel or lighter rifle is easier to maneuver.
Caliber Considerations for Hogs
308 Winchester — Probably the sweet spot for a beginner or veteran hog hunter. Enough energy to reliably drop a hog, especially bigger boars with thick shoulder plates, without brutal recoil.
30-06 Springfield — Also excellent, slightly more punch than 308, still very manageable.
6.5 Creedmoor — Works on deer and is fine on hogs too, flat-shooting and mild recoil, though some hunters prefer a bit more bullet weight for the biggest boars.
243 Winchester — Usable on smaller-to-medium hogs, but marginal on big boars unless shot placement is perfect. Not the first choice if hogs are your main target.
223 Remington/5.56 — Common in semi-auto hog rifles (see below) since hogs are often shot in numbers.
Rifle Options
Bolt-action options Gun Tests has reviewed extensively include the Ruger American Rifle Gen 1 and Gen 2, Savage Axis II, Tikka T3x, and Mossberg Patriot.
Semi-autos are worth considering for hogs specifically, since you’ll sometimes get chances at multiple hogs in a group. The Ruger AR-556 or similar AR-15 platform in 223/5.56 are affordable, provide fast follow-up shots, and are widely supported with accessories.
Other reliable, simple self-loaders are the Ruger Mini-14 or Mini Thirty. In particular, the Mini Thirty in 7.62×39 hits a bit harder than 223 chamberings and doesn’t step up to the AR-10 platform in 308 Win. in terms of cost, recoil, and weight.
Bolt Actions
Some of the best all-around values under $1000 include:
- Savage Axis II (~$400-450) — Chambered in 308 Win, it provides a great trigger for the price and is very accurate, our testing shows.
- Ruger American Rifle (~$450-500) — Shooting the 308 or 30-06, these are lightweight and reliable.
- Mossberg Patriot (~$400-450) — Similar tier, good fit and finish for the price.
- Tikka T3x Lite (~$900-950) — Right at the price ceiling, but they offer a noticeably nicer action and sometimes better accuracy. Many people consider this the best bang-for-the-buck “premium” bolt gun for dispatching hogs.
Semi-Auto Picks
Some of the better gas-gun values include:
- Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle (~$900-1000) — Chambered in 223/5.56, it offers a simpler manual-of-arms than an AR, is very reliable, and doesn’t look “tactical” if that matters where you hunt.
- Smith & Wesson M&P15 Sport II (~$700-750) — This is a budget AR-15 that’s well-regarded for reliability at the price point.
Note: for bigger boars, 223/5.56 is on the lighter side. There are alternative chamberings for the semi-autos that may suit your needs better.
Lever Actions
These can supply faster follow up shots than a bolt gun without the fussiness of some gas guns.
- Marlin 336 in 30-30 Winchester (~$600-700) — Traditional, reliable, plenty of power for hogs at woods ranges (under 150 yards).
- Henry Long Ranger (~$900-950) — Chambered in 308 or 243, it uses a modern rotary magazine so it can handle spitzer (pointed) bullets, making it more range-capable than other lever guns.
- Winchester Model 94 — Available used in some classic cartridges, new-production versions such as the Short Rifle, Carbine, and Sporter are easiest to find in 30-30 Winchester or 450 Marlin.
A Good Starting Rig
If you’re new to the sport of hog hunting, you could do worse than a Savage Axis II or Ruger American in 308, paired with a mid-range scope, such as the Vortex Crossfire II or similar, ~$200). Those offer good accuracy, manageable recoil, and enough power for any hog you’ll encounter.
Recoil matters more than people expect — flinching from a hard-kicking rifle will hurt your accuracy far more than the rifle’s inherent precision helps it. A suppressor or a lighter caliber can make a big difference in your shooting enjoyment.
To see more choices in these rifle types, check out the Top 10 lists below:
Top 10 Lower-Recoil Hunting Rifles for 2026
Top 10 Centerfire Bolt-Action Rifles for Mid 2026
Top 10 Lever-Action Rifles for 2026
