Pig/hog hunting with a .22LR

L

Lt.Col.Vortex

Joined
Jul 22, 2012
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I recently acquired a Marlin Model 60 and got it back up to working shape. And now that its working, I'd like to see how it preforms in taking down pig. A .22LR had enough power to kill, but its all in shot placement. And its that shot placement that is a little fuzzy. I would appreciate any and all suggestions/experience on dropping pit with a .22LR.

The gun is a Marlin Model 60, 22 inch barrel and has a 18 round mag tube. The pig I will be dropping is anywhere from the low 200lbs to the mid to high 300lbs range.

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All I can say is a .22LR is what was always used on my grand father's farm to kill hogs. However, this was at point blank range to no more than 20 yards or so. Shot placement was indeed important. In my experience, between the eyes for a head on shot or just behind the eye for side on shots.
 
Well my point blank is like less than 3 feet (I raise pigs). I've heard of behind the ear, and I think the goal is to get the bullet into the brain box and just let it bounce around. But I would think this shot requires an upward angle. The between the eye shot is what I'm thinking about doing, but I've used a .38 before and watched the rounds bounce off (point blank range, like ON the pigs head). I think your suppose to hit just above the nasal cavity but just below the harden rump of the front (forehead) half of the skull. And that shots leaves for only a few inches of play.

This is why I wold like experience suggestion mostly. I know how to do it, I just want someone who's actually dont it to give me some pointers.
 
Some people literally stick the barrel of the rifle into the pig's ear and pull the trigger (shot placement for morons). Personally, I prefer a more a more powerful gun so shot placement isn't as critical. I wouldn't use anything less than a .223. Just watch out for whatever else happens to be around as a pass through is a very real possibility.
 
Shots lots of them caught in snares using high velocity stinger rounds. Shot placement was in the back of the head or between the eyes in the forehead area. Only had to shoot them once. I've used the same rounds to slaughter cattle with no problem.
 
A successful pig drop. I used the .22 and shot between the eyes, but at a bit of a down angle. Dad was standing by with eh.38 in case it didn't work. But the pig dropped on first shot (dad still put a .38 in it because he thought I shot too low). I slit the jugular and let her bleed out, I'll post some pictures later on today. She looked to be around a 200 pounder.
 
Boar spear and a knife. C'mon, this is blade forums! Do it old OLD school! Impress the neighbors.
 
Wild hogs will get what's like armor on the skin from fighting. I've seen these areas stop bullets. So just beware, also be sure to stay out of the way of a pissed off hog.
 
jimh0220 said:
Boar spear and a knife. C'mon, this is blade forums! Do it old OLD school! Impress the neighbors.
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What ends up happening is the .38 would only stun the pig and I would go slit the jugular, same thing here. When I made the cut the heart was still beating. Its better that way though, the heart pumps all the blood out.

OK, picture time :)

This is for you bacon lovers. This is an unprocessed, 6 pound slab of bacon. Thats my Buck Special top right with a 6 inch blade (some size comparison).
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Its about 1 1/2 - 2 inches thick slab.
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And these are some ribs (left) and pork chops (right). The meat on the back of the chops is about 4 inches across.
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Dropping a pig in a snare, a .22 should work fine.

For a more mobile, potentially agitated one (assuming wild), I personally would prefer a bit more oommph behind the lead to help cover the likelihood of imperfect shot placement.
 
My suggestion is don't. Raised a pig, shot at point blank between the eyes, knocked it out and slit the jugular.

When I helped my neighbor slaughter and clean his three, one didn't get knocked out from a .22 with the head shot. Tense for a bit with a very angry animal. Wild ones are tougher. Bigger gun is what I'd recommend. I did know of one guy that used dogs and did use a knife on wild boar...life is exciting enough for me without trying something like that. (I also known several old farmers that are missing fingers from hogs too.)

Grizz
 
Be careful around wild hogs. If a wild one hooks you with a tusk on the inside thigh, you can bleed out pretty fast.

My advice, because you can use a 22lr to kill one doesn't mean you should. I'd rather spend an extra dollar or two and have a larger safety margin personally.

A 30-30 is generally a pretty cheap rifle on the used market and is a much better place to start. In my case, I just bought a 300 AAC Blackout but, I'll still take my double rifle out when the numbers are low. For larger groups, a 60 round SureFire mag of 300 AAC Blackout is where it's at for me.
 
I assume you are talking about wild pigs. If so, yes a .22 will kill them. If your shot placement isn't good it will also just piss them off. a 200-300 lb hog is a big wild hog in the US.
I am getting to old and fat to run from a pissed off hog so I use an AR loaded with 25 rounds of 6.8 spc.
If you are just talking about loading a hog up in a shoot to kill before slaughter then yes a .22 is preferred.

Side note: don't try to shoot a wild hog in the head with a .22. If so, be sure you have on a good pair of tennis shoes.
 
It will work behind the ear
I have shot many of them in a cattle trailer with a 22 mag pistol which is close to the 22lr out of a rifle barrel.
 
RWT said:
It will work behind the ear
I have shot many of them in a cattle trailer with a 22 mag pistol which is close to the 22lr out of a rifle barrel.
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A good point for the original poster. Trapped wild hogs are a different issue from free running wild hogs.
 
I'm confused, are you "hunting" as your title suggests, or are you culling livestock? If hunting, I would consider it very poor sportsmanship to attempt a quick and humane kill with a .22lr. Personally, I don't use anything less than 6mm rifle or .41mag pistol, but normally .30-'06 rifle and .460S&W mag pistol.

If culling a .22 can be effective, and slitting the jugular is very good practice.


-X
 
Never killed pigs with firearms. We confine them in a small pen, let them calm down, provide a diversion of food and then stick em, or slice open the throat. But for something on the run a .22 will do fine, but quickly follow through with a knife, as many times they are temporarily stunned and can wake up without any notice.
 
Where is the light on that gun? ;)

I agree with Fast14. If hunting, trying to take down a big hog with a .22 lr is not humane. Yeah maybe it can be done. But it can also run into the bushes dying a painful death over the next week. Only people I know who HUNT with a .22 are doing so illegally and want as little attention as possible. Otherwise use a round that will cause enough trauma and shock to drop the animal even with bad shot placement.

I guarantee if the roles were reversed you would want it as quick and painless as possible. A responsible hunter wants the same thing for his kill. I have let countless animals walk because a good shot wasn't possible even with a 30-06 that will easily drop most everything in Florida, even with bad shot placement. Not trying to give you a real hard time, just my take on it.
 
Save your .22 for rabbits and squirrels. Hogs require a much larger firearm to humanely kill the animal, not to mention a pissed off boar can kill and eat you if it feels the need to do so. 44 mag. minimum for my tastes.
 
The .22 rimfire is legal and used here regularly for smallish hogs. Outside of a few managed hunts, rimfires are the only legal round for hogs, unless you're hunting them during big game season. Most use the Winchester .22 Magnum solid, but it does expand a bit. These guys are hunting from elevated stands. Killing the breeding sows is the objective, they're pests.
 
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