Some calibers don’t need a big frame or a heavy rifle to do serious damage to hogs. They don’t beat you up, don’t cost a fortune to feed, and still drop pigs where they stand. These aren’t long-range sniper rounds or boutique wildcats either. These are workhorse calibers that stay flat enough, hit hard enough, and leave you with a hog on the ground instead of one limping into the brush. You might be surprised at how many “small” cartridges do a better job up close than rounds that look twice as intimidating on paper. If you’re looking for calibers that consistently punch above their weight class when the sun’s going down and the hogs start moving, here’s where to start.
.300 Blackout
If you’re hunting hogs inside 150 yards, .300 Blackout will get the job done without shaking your fillings loose. It doesn’t look impressive on paper, but in real life, it punches like a much bigger round when you run the right ammo. Supersonic 110- to 150-grain loads hit hard and create enough energy transfer to anchor pigs fast.
You’ll appreciate the control you get with fast follow-ups too, especially if you’re hunting from a thermal scope setup or working thick brush. Recoil is mild, and you can use standard AR-15 mags. With good shot placement, the blackout doesn’t play around—it puts meat on the ground quietly and quickly.
7.62x39mm
People like to dismiss the 7.62×39 as “cheap commie ammo,” but that’s not giving it enough credit. With proper soft points like the Hornady SSTs, it has zero trouble putting hogs down for keeps. It hits with more authority than .223 but doesn’t come with a big weight penalty.
The round’s been dropping pigs for decades, often through beat-up SKSs or AKs that barely get cleaned. It’s not picky, it’s not fancy, but it’s deadly effective at hog ranges. If you’re stalking in brush or hunting over bait under 200 yards, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a round that performs this well for the price.
6.5 Grendel
When you want a little more reach than .300 BLK or 7.62×39, the Grendel starts to shine. It carries more energy farther downrange and flies straighter while still fitting into an AR-15 platform. That makes it a favorite among hog hunters who need a flatter trajectory without stepping up to a big-frame rifle.
Terminal performance with 120- to 129-grain loads is solid, and most hogs don’t make it more than a few yards. You’ll notice the punch when you’re shooting through bone or shoulder. It’s not overkill, it’s precision with authority—and it’s earned its reputation in the field.
.357 Magnum (Carbine)
Out of a carbine-length barrel, .357 Magnum transforms from a snappy revolver round into a legit hog thumper. The longer barrel boosts velocity and energy to levels that make it highly effective on medium game. With the right soft points or hard cast ammo, it crushes through shoulders and gets the job done cleanly.
Inside 100 yards, it’s deadly accurate and easy to shoot. Lever guns chambered in .357 are lightweight, quick-handling, and great for thick terrain. It’s an old-school option, but it still works. Plenty of folks have stacked hogs with it for a reason.
5.56 NATO (With the Right Load)
Most folks shrug off the 5.56 as too small for hogs—but they haven’t seen what a Barnes TSX or a bonded soft point can do. Shot placement is critical, sure, but with a quality load, the 5.56 will punch through and stop a pig in its tracks.
It doesn’t give you much margin for error, but it’s flat-shooting and fast for follow-ups. If you’re hunting with an AR and can keep your shots under control, it absolutely works. Don’t run steel-core or FMJs. Go with a purpose-built hunting round and keep your range in check.
6.8 SPC
The 6.8 SPC doesn’t get the attention it used to, but it still fills a solid niche. It packs more energy than 5.56 and runs great in short barrels, which makes it a natural for hog hunting at night or from a blind. With 110- to 120-grain soft points, it hits with authority and opens up fast.
It was designed to give better terminal ballistics out of AR-15s without needing a new rifle platform, and it still delivers. The recoil’s manageable, accuracy is consistent, and it doesn’t need to be babied. If you want something that hits harder than .223 without jumping to a big-frame .308, this is worth a look.
.44 Magnum (Carbine)
Like the .357, the .44 Magnum turns into a different animal when you run it out of a rifle barrel. Velocity jumps up, and with a good 240- to 300-grain load, it crushes through thick hide and bone. That makes it more than capable of dropping big hogs cleanly at 75 to 100 yards.
It’s not a long-range option, but it doesn’t need to be. Most hog shots are close. Lever guns chambered in .44 Mag are handy, quick to shoulder, and easy to carry in tight woods. If you keep things traditional and want knockdown without a lot of fuss, this round delivers.
.30-30 Winchester
The .30-30’s been killing hogs since before your grandfather had a driver’s license. It’s not sexy, but it’s reliable, and inside 150 yards, it puts pigs on the ground fast. Soft point loads in the 150- to 170-grain range penetrate deep and expand well without blowing meat apart.
Lever-action rifles in this caliber are lightweight, fast, and easy to swing through thick cover. That’s ideal for hog country where quick shots matter more than long-distance precision. The .30-30 might not be flashy, but if you’re after clean kills in the woods, it still pulls its weight.
.458 SOCOM
This is where things get rowdy. The .458 SOCOM was designed to knock stuff down—hard—and it does that job well on hogs. It throws massive bullets with serious weight, usually 300 grains or more, and those rounds dump energy fast on target.
It’s not a long-range round, but inside 150 yards, it hits like a freight train. You’ll notice the recoil, but you’ll also notice how fast hogs drop. If you want to anchor big boars and don’t mind carrying a heavier rig, the .458 SOCOM doesn’t leave much to chance.
.35 Remington
The .35 Remington has been around forever, but it still works like a charm on hogs. With 180- to 200-grain soft points, it delivers great energy and deep penetration. It’s a favorite in brush guns for a reason—it hits hard and tracks straight through heavy tissue.
Most rifles in this caliber are old-school lever guns, which makes them ideal for hunting close in timber or swampy terrain. Recoil isn’t bad, accuracy is solid, and performance on medium game is proven. It may not be popular at the range, but it sure earns its keep in the woods.
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Here’s more from us:
Calibers That Shouldn’t Even Be On the Shelf Anymore
Rifles That Shouldn’t Be Trusted Past 100 Yards
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
