Freedom Munitions had a large presence at the Northwest Shooting Sports Expo, showing off their relatively new Boar Buster line of ammunition as well as a limited edition rifle purpose-built for the task.
Boar Buster is currently available in 64 grain .223 and in 168 grain .308, with more options planned for the future. In either caliber, the Nosler bonded soft point projectiles are made primarily for — you guessed it — feral hogs, black bears and other animals “with thick hides and strong bones.”
Boar Buster’s marketing is aimed at semi-automatic ARs: “…we saw a need in the market for a modern sporting rifle-specific hunting load…” However, Freedom’s Boar Buster rifles are bolt guns [ed: this turned out to be incorrect. See correction at bottom]. The “limited edition” firearm is a run of five guns, through a collaboration with lifestyle brand EraThr3 (that’s “era three”). I believe these will be a version of EraThr3’s Wrecking Ball and/or Operation Klepto.
Features include:
• Proof Research barrel
• EraThr3 bolt knob
• Jewell trigger
• Manners stock
• Spuhr scope mount
We’re talking $6,000 as an absolute minimum MSRP, judging from EraThr3’s pricing. As Freedom Munitions is a “budget” or at least very affordable brand, I’m not sure I understand this rifle partner and ensuing price point choice any more than creating a bolt gun for ammo specifically marketed at semi-autos. That said, both ammo and rifle do look very nice.
We’ll give the Boar Buster a shot soon.
Hat tip to my friend, “CASES4CASES,” for attending NWSSE and snagging photos and info for us.
Correction! The limited edition Boar Buster rifles will be semi-auto MSRs. These EraThr3 AR-15s in .223, designed with FM’s Boar Buster ammo in mind, will be available in late 2016 or early 2017 and will launch on FM’s website later this year. The EraThr3 .308 bolt gun seen in photos above is effectively a prototype, and may or may not be offered for sale. While the .223 Boar Buster was designed for MSRs, the .308 Boar Buster ammo is intended primarily for bolt guns, with a concentration on taking down wild hogs and bears.