.22 For Hog Hunting

[der Teufel]

Originally Posted by Centaur 1

No offense but I don't get it. Can it be done, sure. You're talking about going with an outfitter and you're worried about the price of one or two bullets?

I think this statement pretty well summarizes my feelings on caliber selection. If I'm going to the trouble of driving out to my hunting spot (it costs me ~$15 in gas round trip at today's prices), buying or bringing along a meal for the evening, plus the time and effort involved, I want to be pretty certain that any hog I shoot at is going down. Sure, .22 ammo is cheap and the rifle is lightweight and easy to carry, but if I spot a hog 125 yards away in a pasture, I want to be able to shoot at it with some confidence.

Likewise, if I wound one and have to trail it into the brush, I want more than just a .22 in my hand when I find it.
. . . Of course, that's why I usually bring along my .45ACP

[JeffS]

Originally Posted by der Teufel

I think this statement pretty well summarizes my feelings on caliber selection. If I'm going to the trouble of driving out to my hunting spot (it costs me ~$15 in gas round trip at today's prices), buying or bringing along a meal for the evening, plus the time and effort involved, I want to be pretty certain that any hog I shoot at is going down. Sure, .22 ammo is cheap and the rifle is lightweight and easy to carry, but if I spot a hog 125 yards away in a pasture, I want to be able to shoot at it with some confidence.

Likewise, if I wound one and have to trail it into the brush, I want more than just a .22 in my hand when I find it.
. . . Of course, that's why I usually bring along my .45ACP

I agree why try to save a couple of dollars and end up going home empty handed and having to pay the outfitter. Also I have chased too many hogs that were wounded through thick brush to not use a gun that I know will knock them down. The biggest hog we shot was shot with a .223 in the neck, but we have also had several bullets from the same gun bounce off their skulls. We now usually use a .243 minimum and usually some type of .30 or larger. It lets us shoot them from long range if we have to or make a lung shot on a large boar through the shield.

[castor0troy]

guys
modern day hunting is all about killing the animal as swiftly as possible.
even if a .22 does the job it wont be efficient.
boars are super tough and a .22 is a lousy caliber for that animal.

[jhamilt]

A 22 lr will do the job as long as you are close and the shot is perfect, otherwise you should pass. As a finishing shot from very close range i have shot a hog right behind the ear with a 22 short and killed it instantly, its all about shot placement. i am NOT saying a 22 short is a good hunting rd, just that as a finisher it can do the job. however if you are going on a guided hunt do yourself a favor and take a centerfire, or at least a muzzleloader, its lots of fun smokepoling them

[Marlerboy]

I wanna take my .22 hornet hog hunting.

[Rebel Hog]

Originally Posted by flpete

I have kill many hogs with a 22 . Hit them right behind the ear and its lights out.

Same here!

[dannyoif04]

bn there and done that. Shot hog at 65 yards with 22 long rifle, aimed right into the ear. He dropped right where I shot him. The hog weighed in at 192lbs.