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Jeff Higgins,
At the time my only two centerfire rifles between .22 and .30 were a 6.5X55 and a .243 sporter benchrest built by Karl Kenyon in 69 that I inherited. I didn't want to modify either one. My god daughter's dad had a .243 but... Both my nieces and the god daughter with her boyfriend started with single shot .22s then moved on to lightly modded 541-X the AR-15s using light bullets w/ Blue Dot that will not cycle the action followed by full power ammunition. Later the 22-250s, .220 AI, FAL, AR-10, .30 cal bolt guns. The one they wanted to practice with was the .220AI. Basically competitive accuracy games out to 300 yards. I think it is much better to keep them shooting rifles they want to shoot and which they work to shoot better. Confidence in shooting a firearm goes a long way.
Patience is instilled in training. Having them play competive tic-tac-toe with clay targets making the game progressively harder, further out then only punching the center of the clay, etc. with having to go down range to set targets results in a competitive yet patient atmosphere. My nieces went home with an RWS 34 to continue the tic-tac-toe in their garage with Neco candy wafers moving down to aspirins, while a BSA went the other pair. I believe spring piston air rifles are very good trainers as they are intolerant of sloppy inconsistent holds or poor follow through.
Fostering competition between siblings or BF/GF as to who can out shoot who, while enforcing strict safety procedures (forcing the offender to sit and watch for a few hours while their counterpart continues to train) has shown pretty good results.
In Texas you can hunt over bait. The goal is a successful hunt. Known distance they have shot over and looked at the animals helps. Trying to train them to watch and anticipate when shot can be made successfully helps.
As far as walking hogs in the brush I'll pass unless I'm with someone I know, trust and has proven to function under stress. On hunting with dogs I like dogs (95% of dogs are better than 95% of people) so I have passed on that method.
I have no experience with the Roberts, limited use with the 6mm Rem, but more with the .243. Having seen the results of the .220 AI with the 64 gr. Nosler compared to most RemChemster .243 I know which one I'm using for both tissue destruction and penetration. Good shots with “good caliber/bullet” may not result in a bang-flop unless you get a CNS hit. How many heart/lung shots with both lungs holed or the heart partially/totally destroyed resulted in the animals moving 5-100-200 yards?
I prefer to be “over gunned” than the opposite and try to practice to a standard that I can succeed with something less powerful, accurate, etc. in order to give me greater odds of success.
Of course they went out with an adult. For the hogs the range to the bait is 170-190 yards from an elevated position and I was carrying a nice GAP AR-10 w/USO SN-3 loaded with 178gr. AMAX plus a 44 mag.
Over the years I have come to the conclusion that muzzle blast is more of an issue than recoil up to a certain point. How many “hunters” have you encountered over the years who have bought a rifle that is enough but not trained with it? How many of those are awed by the Hollywood killing power of these same rifles and not trained due to various stated reasons?
I don't know Otto's situation as pertains to funds, time available etc. I am guessing that his idea of a hog hunt is ancillary to a trip to Texas not as the primary purpose of the trip. .223 with proper bullet selection and usage can be quite effective. .223 is cheap for practice ammunition. If the primary purpose is to hunt/shoot hogs and walking into cover etc. then I think he should select a 16” barrel on an AR-10, FAL, or M1-A in .308 or better .358 with a LPVO.
S/F, FOG
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