Head shot. Buck shot makes a mess out of meat
I would swap that full choke for a modified. Trust me, 9 out of 10 guns DO NOT pattern buckshot well with a FC. The pattern is too tight, it constricts the pellets against each other, deforms them, and makes them fly erradically.
Besides, hogs are some tough critters. That thick shield can absorb a load of buckshot without it penetrating the vitals.
I just saw you have the same gun I do. I shoot #1 buck, 3" mags with a modified choke tube. That is by far the best patterning combo I have found. When I was running dogs, that was a deer rolling gun
dixie slugs is supposed to be making a limited batch of #1 shot one of these days. my prefference for their ammo is that they use an alloy (mostly lead) that is a lot harder than the regular lead used and should penetrate better.
It seems that buck shot has issues with penetration as well as grouping. Would it not be better to just go with a slug? what is the draw back with a slug, seems to be a better option for Hogs.
You should definately change from Buck shot to slugs. I shot and hit three hogs one time with 00 Buck shot, 12 Gauge 3", five shots taken in total at about 25 Yards. 1st hog (approx 180 lbs) head shot, dropped in her tracks, jumped back up, shook her head and kept going, second hog (approx 150 lbs), shot second round in head, hog flipped and did a somersault, jumped back up but shot #3 was a heart shot and she ran off, third hog, shot #4 head shot and flipped her little A _ _, somersault (80 lb) and she jumped up and ran off. One shot left in the gun and I forget to reload and go searching for hogs. 1st one is long gone, second one I find blood, and follow until I see the hog laying down on her bellie looking at me, as I approach about 30 yards away she decides she doesn't much like me, stands up with a broken front leg and comes a running. Took my last shot, between her eyes at about 15 yards and she drops. Then I realized my gun was empty since this all happened in about six minutes from the time I time I took the first shot. Never again with Buck shot on hogs.
Buck shot for deer, if that's your thing since there skin, skull, head, hide and body are not made of concrete and thick leather like a hog. For me, the only thing I would use Buck shot for is Fox, Racoons, Opossum, Armadillo, or Yotes...
My two cents. Try a 3" solid slug for hogs with a rifled shotgun barrel and you can kill them accurately out 100 yds with one shot in the vitals. Do not head shoot them unless you can place the shot in there ear.
Alot of guys shoot them with a .22LR, .22WMR, .223 but that is an ear shot only, IMHO. I guess if you are shooting them in the open under a feeder or out in a field you can shoot them in the ear. I've never done it, but that's not saying it can't be done..
