Good .22 Magnum for hogs?

Hog and Hawg,

Your mention of shooting hogs with a 30/30 brought to mind something from a couple of years ago. I had trapped 8 or 9 feral hogs (approx 100 pound body weight) in my big fixed trap and I hadn't started using the 22 LR to kill them at that time. I was using my 357 Mag and had a 100 round box of reloads with me. The 125 grain JHP load, which was pretty hot, did not kill them effectively. I switched to some old 148 (or was it 158) grain lead wadcutters, which weren't hot loads, and they did the job much better than the 125 gr JHP's. I have no explanation for why the lower velocity pure lead wadcutters worked so much better. Both head shots and chest shots were made. All I can assume is that the JHP's opened up too fast, whereas the wadcutters blasted right on through.
 
i would say your right about the hps opening up to fast. most guides ive looked at dont like the hps for hog hunts
 
Why anyone would deliberately set out to hunt hogs with a gun that will only kill them reliably if you shoot them in the ear is beyond me.

Sometimes when you're hog hunting the action gets fast and furious. If you really think you're going to get a perfect head shot on a 400 boar that's charging you, you're deluding yourself. Hogs call for a real deer rifle. Magnums are not required, but something in the 30-06 class is just the thing.
 
Sometimes when you're hog hunting the action gets fast and furious. If you really think you're going to get a perfect head shot on a 400 boar that's charging you, you're deluding yourself. Hogs call for a real deer rifle. Magnums are not required, but something in the 30-06 class is just the thing.
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I agree with you, but not the first part of your post as the OP can't use his centerfire rifle where he hunts.
 
Why anyone would deliberately set out to hunt hogs with a gun that will only kill them reliably if you shoot them in the ear is beyond me.
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Because i like to hunt hogs in small game season. i like the feeling of sometimes being the only hunter on 18,000 acres of federal land. Therefore i play by the rules and use a rimfire rifle. Most of my .22 magnum hogs are killed at ponds and feeders from tree stands.

Sometimes when you're hog hunting the action gets fast and furious. If you really think you're going to get a perfect head shot on a 400 boar that's charging you, you're deluding yourself. Hogs call for a real deer rifle. Magnums are not required, but something in the 30-06 class is just the thing.
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Last year i killed 48 wild hogs. This year i've trapped and shot over 50 of the suckers. Yep, hogs can be big and mean but they ain't rhinos.

400 pound wild hogs are very rare. i've killed only two or three hogs in the past 11 years that came close to 400 pounds. Most of the 400 pound hogs i see on the internet are 200-225 pound hogs.
 
What thallub said about hog weight is so true. I finally bought a scale (now named 'The Lie Detector') because everyone was so sure their hog weighed 250 or more. The last 250 pound hog I weighed was actually 198 pounds.
 
Then cut jugular while heart is still pumping.
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I shoot em in teh head, then I have a long knife from the packing house days, I use it to cut the throat and slide it down to pierce the heart. We catch the blood and use it for bait on cats down at the river.

Used to be an old gent took all teh stuff I didnt want, he made some fine head cheese, jowls, knuckles and smoked ear sammiches. Them old guys are gone now so Ijust bag it and leave it for the garbage pickup guys.
 
Why anyone would deliberately set out to hunt hogs with a gun that will only kill them reliably if you shoot them in the ear is beyond me.

Sometimes when you're hog hunting the action gets fast and furious. If you really think you're going to get a perfect head shot on a 400 boar that's charging you, you're deluding yourself. Hogs call for a real deer rifle. Magnums are not required, but something in the 30-06 class is just the thing.
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As has already been answered, during squirrel season, I'm limited to squirrel-legal guns. If I want to hunt hogs from Oct. - Feb on the WMA (outside the 5-7 days of deer season), then I need to use a squirrel-legal gun.

The fact that hog hunting can get "fast and furious" is mostly irrelevant since I don't plan on shooting them that way. If it's fast and furious, I've already failed in stalk hunting them (unless I've already shot one).

I'm not too worried about being charged, first it's not likely, second, I'll have my 329PD; while I can't use it for hunting or to dispatch a hog, I can use if for self-defense, which is perfectly legal (see note 29 on the .pdf I posted above).

A 30-06 will certainly work for hogs, but it's not much more useful than a .22 WRM in a "fast and furious" situation (if any) and it's totally useless during squirrel season, at least on an AL WMA.
 
As has already been answered, during squirrel season, I'm limited to squirrel-legal guns. If I want to hunt hogs from Oct. - Feb on the WMA (outside the 5-7 days of deer season), then I need to use a squirrel-legal gun.
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I do have to sympathize; this is a ridiculous situation. If you see something that doesn't make any sense at all, there's usually a government bureaucracy involved.

The fact that hog hunting can get "fast and furious" is mostly irrelevant since I don't plan on shooting them that way. If it's fast and furious, I've already failed in stalk hunting them (unless I've already shot one).
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Pigs often travel in groups. Shoot one and suddenly there's pigs running everywhere.

I'm not too worried about being charged, first it's not likely, second, I'll have my 329PD; while I can't use it for hunting or to dispatch a hog, I can use if for self-defense, which is perfectly legal (see note 29 on the .pdf I posted above).

A 30-06 will certainly work for hogs, but it's not much more useful than a .22 WRM in a "fast and furious" situation (if any) and it's totally useless during squirrel season, at least on an AL WMA.
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Sorry, but a 30-06 is a LOT more useful than a 22 mag when you have to take a fast shot at a running animal. I agree about the squirrels. :)

I'm not in favor of using the 22 mag on pigs for any reason, but if you must I'd recommend the CCI Gamepoint. http://www.cci-ammunition.com/products/detail.aspx?use=2&loadNo=0022
 
Pigs often travel in groups. Shoot one and suddenly there's pigs running everywhere.
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Correct, and at that point, I probably won't care since I have one already down (hopefully).

This is due to the local environment on the Black Warrior WMA and the fact that there's only two real directions: up or down. I'm sure if I get a hog, it will all be "up" when I'm dragging one out of the woods. :D


BTW: I had a dream about this last night, it's pretty funny considering this thread and your posts in it - and I usually don't remember my dreams past the time I wake up.

I was in the woods and came up on a big old boar hog. I shot him and he took off - directly for me! I don't recall what I did with the rifle (nor what type it was) but when he went right by me, I jumped on him and stabbed him with my ESEE-4 knife! DRT!

When I woke up, I said to myself - "yea, like that will ever happen!"
 
Despite experiences and references so far posted, I would never use a .22 rimmy for feral hogs under any circumstances. Not all hunters can place their shots perfectly and I doubt many of the hogs pose waiting for a hunter to take perfect aim.
Most here decry a .22 for a personal defense gun but some here will use it on a 300 lb wild hog. Doesn't make sense to me.
I'll use a deer caliber rifle for hogs when I get the chance to hunt them.
 
Most here decry a .22 for a personal defense gun but some here will use it on a 300 lb wild hog.
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I keep a 22 in the truck, tractor, combine :) I respect the round and know full well its abilities. It will kill, is it my first choice? No but if ti was all I had, I would use it.

A stalk on a hog is just that, hog dont know you are there, then you place the shot perfectly and dead hog to eat. Same as a arrow on a deer, moose, bear etc.

A Minister from Salvation Army was stationed in Alaska, he told me of a hunt the Inuit indians took him on, a bear hunt, they used a 22 rifle and got the bear. He had 8mm film and such. Was in the early 60s.
 
Well, if that's all they allow, then that's what you use. You just have to be very patient and wait for the perfect close shot to come about.

Actually, I like the idea of the Crickett. I didn't know they offered them in adult sizes and in .22 WMRF caliber until just now. I'm thinking that they can be pretty accurate out to 40 yards with a scope on it. And they are very lightweight and don't cost much either. No need for a fast follow up shot. You either drill it in the ear or you don't. If you do, then it's dead. If you don't then it's long gone. I think the danger thing is overrated. The ones I've seen are quick to run away if you miss the first shot.
 
I didn't know they offered them in adult sizes and in .22 WMRF caliber until just now. I'm thinking that they can be pretty accurate out to 40 yards with a scope on it. And they are very lightweight and don't cost much either. No need for a fast follow up shot.
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The Cricketts are chambered in .22 WMR. The .22 WRF is an older, shorter cartridge, typically only seen in Winchester pump rifles.


I'm sure they would be plenty accurate beyond 40 yards. When doing accuracy testing, I shoot my 882SS at 100 yards (even before I scoped it). ...And I take it on every prarie dog shoot (150-300 yards). Just because it's a rimfire, doesn't mean it has to be a 50 yard rifle. ;)

The centerfires do most of the heavy lifting for sod poodles; but the .22 WMR holds its own, and adds a little more fun.
 
My Pop is one of those guys,,,

You know the ones who say,,,

"Why hell boy, you don't need one of them big rifles,,,
You can kill anything you can eat with a good .22 rifle."

And he did too,,,
During the depression he hunted,,,
And killed deer with a .22 single-shot using shorts.

But he was stalking and hiding waiting for that perfect opportunity for the behind the ear shot.

I did tease him a bit last December,,,
I called to announce a visit to him and he said,,,
Bring your big rifle 'cause there's a dog I need to kill.

And there was a big mongrel dog roaming his property,,,
I dropped it with a H&R Handi-Rifle in .357 Magnum.

We found what we think were two bullet wounds in him,,,
Dad had taken a couple of shots at it with his .22,,,
But his 79 year old eyes aren't so great now,,,
That perfect behind the ear shot is gone.

I left him a 12 gauge shotgun. ;)

The moral of this story is,,,
If you can still make that behind the ear shot,,,
You are probably okay hunting monster pigs with a .22 Mag.

Personally I want something with a bit more whang!

Monster pigs are why God made 45-70 rifles.

Aarond
 
A 30-06 will certainly work for hogs, but it's not much more useful than a .22 WRM in a "fast and furious" situation (if any) and it's totally useless during squirrel season, at least on an AL WMA..................
FTG-05.........Thats about a silly statement..........except about the squirrel..........
I have a Remington 742 Carbine..30-06..With 180 grain bullets it is devastating..........Say you come up on a large group of pigs.......Yes you can shoot and kill the first one..with a well placed shot......If you kill another..you are just lucky.......The 30-06 will be layin em down.........
 
I have a Remington 742 Carbine..30-06..With 180 grain bullets it is devastating..........Say you come up on a large group of pigs.......Yes you can shoot and kill the first one..with a well placed shot......If you kill another..you are just lucky.......The 30-06 will be layin em down.........
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Yea... except that it is illegal when he wants to hunt.

Read the thread!
 
I have shot many feral pigs here with a Winchester 9422- not my favourite as it is a bit light but it is a target of opportunity on any farm here. I put the little slug in right behind the ear.

I would NOT try this with my 9417 though. The HMR does not penetrate well enough.

I also aim for smaller pigs- large pigs are a bit iffy for this round. But any swine you can stop breeding is worth taking out.
 
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