Airgun Hunting · Field Guide
Hog hunting with an airgun: big bore setup and shot placement
Researched by James · Updated September 26, 2026 · Editorial policy
On this page
- What caliber and energy do you need to hunt hogs with an air rifle?
- Where do you aim on a hog with an air rifle?
- Is it legal to hunt hogs with an air rifle?
- How close do you need to get?
- James's hog hunt: the Arken Outrider on an FX Impact M4 in .30 caliber
- Do you need thermal or night vision for hogs?
- FAQ
- Sources
Caliber and energy specs below come from AirForce's and Umarex's own product pages and an independent Hard Air Magazine review; the legal example comes from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's published regulations, all linked in Sources. Full methodology & editorial policy →
What caliber and energy do you need to hunt hogs with an air rifle?
Enough to punch through a hog's dense shoulder and hide, which starts well above small-game territory. The two verified production big bores show the range:
| AirForce Texan | Umarex Hammer | |
|---|---|---|
| Calibers | .257, .308, .357, .457, .510 | .50 (.510) only |
| Muzzle energy | 175 FPE (.257) up to 600+ FPE (.45 TX2 valve) | 700+ FPE with a 550-grain slug |
| Shots per fill | ~10 | 3 full-power + 2 diminishing follow-ups |
| Price | $1,039.95 (all calibers) | $1,099.99 MSRP |
As a working floor: 150-250 FPE from a .30-.357 handles hogs under roughly 100 lbs at moderate range, and 400-700+ FPE from a .45-.50 gives the margin a 200+ lb boar deserves. That's the same energy-scales-with-animal-size logic behind the 12+ FPE floor for rabbits on the airgun FPE chart — hogs just sit at the far end of it. The full breakdown of calibers, shot counts, and fill pressure across big bores is in big bore air rifles: power, calibers and what they can hunt.
Where do you aim on a hog with an air rifle?
A head shot behind the ear, angled toward the far eye, is the standard clean kill airgun hog hunters look for, and it's the shot James took on his own hog hunt. A true broadside shot high on the shoulder works too. What to avoid is a steep quartering-toward or straight-on shot on a mature boar: the cartilage shield that builds up on a big boar's shoulders can glance a slug that isn't hitting the vitals square-on. Wait for the angle instead of forcing a marginal one — with single-digit shots per fill, there usually isn't a fast follow-up if the first shot only wounds.
Good fit
- Hunters who already have a big bore PCP or are ready to invest in one just for hogs
- Patient, close-range stalking and stand hunting where you control the shot angle
- States and properties that classify feral hogs as unprotected, legal game
Look elsewhere
- A standard .22-.25 small-game PCP — it doesn't have the penetration for a hog's shoulder
- Shots past 60 yards, where a slug's energy has dropped and a marginal hit is more likely
- Hunters who haven't confirmed their state's rule on feral hog classification and methods
Is it legal to hunt hogs with an air rifle?
How close do you need to get?
Closer than most rifle hunters are used to. A big bore's low shot count changes the math: the Texan gets about 10 shots per fill at its lower-power calibers, and the Hammer gives you 3 full-power shots before the next two taper off. That's not a rifle built for a quick follow-up on a running hog. Most airgun hog hunters keep shots inside 50-60 yards, using wind, cover, and a slow stalk to close the distance rather than relying on a flatter trajectory at range. Glass first, confirm the angle, and only close the last stretch once you know your shot is a genuine broadside or head-angle opportunity.
James's hog hunt: the Arken Outrider on an FX Impact M4 in .30 caliber
Sponsored: Arken Optics sponsors James's channel and sent this scope before its public release; they didn't review or approve this page. On his one hog hunt so far, James ran a pre-release Arken Outrider 2-12x42 on an FX Impact M4 in .30 caliber, shooting ACE FRAG slugs, with the load chronographed beforehand. The hogs on that property were invasive and doing real damage, and the landowner asked for help. Nothing was wasted — hams, shoulders, backstraps, and tenderloins went in the cooler.
The full hog hunt on an FX Impact M4 .30 with the Arken Outrider 2-12x42, sponsored.
The full first-hunt verdict on that scope, including the caveats, is in the Arken Outrider 2-12x42 review. For the scope-cam setup that films hunts like this one, see the DNT Zulus 4K review.
Do you need thermal or night vision for hogs?
Often, yes. Hogs are heavily nocturnal and crepuscular in most of the pressure they get, and states that treat them as invasive frequently allow hunting them after dark on private land — Texas places no method-of-take restriction on feral hogs there. Thermal is the better tool for finding a hog in total darkness or brush since it detects heat rather than reflected light; digital night vision costs less but needs some ambient or infrared light to work. The full comparison, including price ranges and detection distance, is in thermal vs night vision for hunting and best thermal scopes for hunting. Night-hunting rules vary sharply by state and by species, so check the specifics in night hunting with an airgun before you plan a hunt after dark.
Air supply for a big bore hog rifle
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Verdict
Hog hunting with an air rifle is a big bore game: .30-.357 for smaller hogs at 150-250 FPE, .45-.50 for mature boars at 400-700+ FPE, a head or broadside shoulder shot, and a plan to get inside 50-60 yards because the follow-up shot isn't coming fast. Confirm your state's rule on feral hogs before you build a setup around it — the animal's legal status, not the airgun, is what decides whether you can hunt them at all.
FAQ
Can you hunt hogs with an air rifle?
Yes, with a big bore PCP air rifle, generally .30 caliber and up. Smaller hogs (under about 100 lbs) are manageable at 150-250 FPE from a .30-.357, while mature boars call for .45-.50 caliber rifles making 400-700+ FPE. A standard .22 or .25 small-game PCP does not have the penetration for a hog's dense shoulder and thick hide.
What caliber air rifle do you need for hogs?
.30 caliber is the practical floor, and many hunters step up to .35-.457 for a comfortable margin on bigger hogs. The AirForce Texan spans .257 to .510 on one platform; the Umarex Hammer is a dedicated .50 caliber rifle rated at 700+ FPE with a 550-grain slug.
Where do you shoot a hog with an air rifle?
A head shot behind the ear, angled toward the opposite eye, is the standard clean kill and what most airgun hog hunters aim for at close range. A broadside high-shoulder shot works too, but a mature boar's cartilage shield can deflect a hit taken straight from the front or a steep quartering-toward angle, so a true broadside or head angle is safer for a one-shot kill.
Is it legal to hunt hogs with an air rifle?
It depends on your state's classification of feral hogs, not on airguns specifically. Texas treats feral hogs as a nongame, non-protected species with no closed season, no bag limit, and no license needed on private land with landowner authorization (Texas Parks and Wildlife Department). Other states manage hogs as a game animal or restrict methods, so confirm your state wildlife agency's current rule before you hunt.
How many shots does a big bore air rifle get before you need to refill?
Very few. The AirForce Texan gets about 10 shots per fill at its lower-power calibers, and the Umarex Hammer delivers 3 full-power shots plus 2 diminishing follow-ups. Big bore hog hunting is built around one well-placed shot, not a follow-up string, which is exactly why range and shot placement matter more here than with a small-game PCP.
Do you hunt hogs at night?
Many hog hunters do, since hogs are often most active from dusk through early morning, and states that treat them as invasive frequently allow night hunting on private land (Texas doesn't restrict means and methods for feral hogs on private property). A thermal or digital night-vision scope is the practical tool for finding them in the dark; see the thermal vs night vision comparison for which technology fits your budget and situation, and confirm your own state's night-hunting rule before you go.
What's the effective range for hog hunting with an air rifle?
Most airgun hog hunters keep shots inside 50-60 yards. Big bore slugs shed velocity and energy faster than a small-game pellet, and a follow-up shot is slow to come by, so closing the distance with good fieldcraft matters more than magnification or a flat trajectory.
