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22lr and hogs #8355390 08/18/21 05:20 PM
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Mr. T. Online Content OP
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My stand is 63 yards from my feeder. With my 22, I can put 10/10 shots the size of a quarter. If I take my time
and shoot for the ear hole, does my 22 have enough power to knock down a hog?


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355391 08/18/21 05:21 PM
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My money says yes, look forward to your update!


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355402 08/18/21 05:27 PM
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Within stated parameters - yes.


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355403 08/18/21 05:27 PM
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Why?
Why not just shoot them with something you know will kill them?


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: supersixfour] #8355425 08/18/21 05:49 PM
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Originally Posted by supersixfour
Why?
Why not just shoot them with something you know will kill them?

Honestly, I like the challenge of making myself wait and wait and wait to take the perfectly placed shot.
And the 22's I got at BassPro were .06 apiece but the 270 are $2.50 each. That's really not the reason,
I could also shoot coons, etc while waiting on the hogs. Of course, I could just take 2 rifles.
But, I just wanted opinions on if a 22lr was enough gun at that range with proper bullet placement


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355431 08/18/21 05:52 PM
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Do it.


An unethical shot is one you take, that you know you shouldn't.
Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355445 08/18/21 06:01 PM
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A .22 rifle can absolutely kill a hog at that range but you better hit it just right. A .22 long rifle shell that has high velocity will drop a hog because I have done it at that range. BUT....you have to hit them where it counts.

Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355453 08/18/21 06:07 PM
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I’ve killed a bunch of hogs with a 22 over the years, not so much an ear shot as rapid fire spraying them running off but it works. If you want to aim small and miss small mix up a pound of Tannerite and set it on the ground surrounded by piggies at about 150 yards. It’s also very rewarding I’m told.

Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355458 08/18/21 06:12 PM
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Not that I care at all for hogs but is it ethical?

Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355460 08/18/21 06:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Mr. T.
My stand is 63 yards from my feeder. With my 22, I can put 10/10 shots the size of a quarter. If I take my time
and shoot for the ear hole, does my 22 have enough power to knock down a hog?



Yes and no and no.

The ear hole is at the rear of the skull with little or no brain case directly behind it. Just 1/4" off in the wrong direction and you are hitting heavy bone with no brain under it. While your slightly errant .22 may go in, it likely won't have the energy to break up enough bone to do the necessary brain damage that you would get from a proper centerfire round. You may just ring the hog's bell. A 1/2" inch off to the rear and you may miss the head itself, and the bullet pass through muscle and not have the energy for hydraulic or hydrostatic shock to drop the hog. In short, the ear hole is NOT your sweet spot.

Your sweet spot is between the ear and the eye, but closer to the ear, starting about 3/8" below the top of the head. That is where your pingpong ball/lime-sized brain will be. There is not a lot of bone there and the brain should be directly in your bullet's path. Between the brain and top of the head, however, are sinus cavities and if you are too high, the bullet may pass above the brain, through the sinus cavities, not doing the damage you want due to the puny amount of energy and small diameter of the .22 lr bullet. If you hit too low, you may encounter the zygomatic arch and ascending ramus of the mandible (all bone) which would not be shoot. In short, you will need to choose your shot very wisely to be confident of success.

If you do the CNS damage needed, you will not knock down the hog. It will simply fall down. A .50 BMG won't knock down a hog, either, for that matter.

Remember that as you reduced caliber size, bullet weight, and energy, your need for precision increases. You are at the low end of those, so you need to be on the high end for precision in your shooting...to have the highest chance for a quick, clean kill.

Last edited by Double Naught Spy; 08/18/21 06:17 PM.

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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355490 08/18/21 06:32 PM
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My 17hmr is 5 for 5 on hogs. I'd bet it will work.

Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355492 08/18/21 06:34 PM
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Thanks a bunch for all of that information. up


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: ChrisB] #8355493 08/18/21 06:35 PM
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Originally Posted by ChrisB
My 17hmr is 5 for 5 on hogs. I'd bet it will work.

Are you taking the head shot that was talked about above between the ear and the eye?


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355507 08/18/21 06:43 PM
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I shoot hogs and predators with my .22 mag since I carry it 100% of the time in UTV...larger than a .22 but still not like a centerfire rifle. I shoot all larger hogs in the liver area with my .22 mag. and it kills 100% of them. Most will run a little distance but not that far....some drop dead in their tracks or within a few feet. If I had a .22 I would still carry it to use to shoot all hogs and predators.


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: stxranchman] #8355785 08/18/21 10:28 PM
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Originally Posted by stxranchman
I shoot hogs and predators with my .22 mag since I carry it 100% of the time in UTV...larger than a .22 but still not like a centerfire rifle. I shoot all larger hogs in the liver area with my .22 mag. and it kills 100% of them. Most will run a little distance but not that far....some drop dead in their tracks or within a few feet. If I had a .22 I would still carry it to use to shoot all hogs and predators.


This right here. When you live with 'em year 'round, you shoot 'em with whatever you have in your hands at the time. My last hog was shot with a Sig P365...

Mark


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355788 08/18/21 10:31 PM
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Do it, have the patience and make a great shot. It will be rewarding. Pics are appreciated

Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355791 08/18/21 10:34 PM
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Killed a 200# boar at 115 yards a couple of years ago with 22lr. Lucky shot placement? I'm sure, but it can be done.


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Double Naught Spy] #8355810 08/18/21 10:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Double Naught Spy
Originally Posted by Mr. T.
My stand is 63 yards from my feeder. With my 22, I can put 10/10 shots the size of a quarter. If I take my time
and shoot for the ear hole, does my 22 have enough power to knock down a hog?



Yes and no and no.

The ear hole is at the rear of the skull with little or no brain case directly behind it. Just 1/4" off in the wrong direction and you are hitting heavy bone with no brain under it. While your slightly errant .22 may go in, it likely won't have the energy to break up enough bone to do the necessary brain damage that you would get from a proper centerfire round. You may just ring the hog's bell. A 1/2" inch off to the rear and you may miss the head itself, and the bullet pass through muscle and not have the energy for hydraulic or hydrostatic shock to drop the hog. In short, the ear hole is NOT your sweet spot.

Your sweet spot is between the ear and the eye, but closer to the ear, starting about 3/8" below the top of the head. That is where your pingpong ball/lime-sized brain will be. There is not a lot of bone there and the brain should be directly in your bullet's path. Between the brain and top of the head, however, are sinus cavities and if you are too high, the bullet may pass above the brain, through the sinus cavities, not doing the damage you want due to the puny amount of energy and small diameter of the .22 lr bullet. If you hit too low, you may encounter the zygomatic arch and ascending ramus of the mandible (all bone) which would not be shoot. In short, you will need to choose your shot very wisely to be confident of success.

If you do the CNS damage needed, you will not knock down the hog. It will simply fall down. A .50 BMG won't knock down a hog, either, for that matter.

Remember that as you reduced caliber size, bullet weight, and energy, your need for precision increases. You are at the low end of those, so you need to be on the high end for precision in your shooting...to have the highest chance for a quick, clean kill.


^^^^

This is exactly right and I think many folks are not aware of the actual anatomy of a hogs skull. The brain pan is rather small and is NOT at the 'ear hole'. Shots from high powered rifles will certainly kill them when shot at (or near the ear hole) BUT it is NOT the correct shot to take for the reasons cited above.

See this skull I bisected that shows where (and what) you should really be shooting at.

And the general admonition NOT to take head shots unless you have no other choice. There is little room for error when taking head shots. Not to mention the only thing moving more than the head on a hog is its tail. Use enough gun and take responsible shots (neck or high shoulder IMO).

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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: garyrapp55] #8355843 08/18/21 11:23 PM
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A 22 in the earhole is not ethical or responsible in my book. If you screw up you leave an animal to die an long, agonizing death.
Nothing deserves that, not even a hog.

Originally Posted by garyrapp55
Not that I care at all for hogs but is it ethical?


Last edited by supersixfour; 08/18/21 11:23 PM.

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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355899 08/19/21 12:18 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. T.
Originally Posted by ChrisB
My 17hmr is 5 for 5 on hogs. I'd bet it will work.

Are you taking the head shot that was talked about above between the ear and the eye?


I’ve taken several w the 17 hmr out to about 75 yards

Between the eyes or in the ear, depending on how they were facing

I’m sure a .22 at 63 yards would work but if it doesn’t shoot another anyways lol

Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: flintknapper] #8355900 08/19/21 12:19 AM
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Originally Posted by flintknapper

^^^^

This is exactly right and I think many folks are not aware of the actual anatomy of a hogs skull. The brain pan is rather small and is NOT at the 'ear hole'. Shots from high powered rifles will certainly kill them when shot at (or near the ear hole) BUT it is NOT the correct shot to take for the reasons cited above.

See this skull I bisected that shows where (and what) you should really be shooting at.

And the general admonition NOT to take head shots unless you have no other choice. There is little room for error when taking head shots. Not to mention the only thing moving more than the head on a hog is its tail. Use enough gun and take responsible shots (neck or high shoulder IMO).

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]

Thanks for sharing. I hunt pigs with a air rifle and have found between the Eye and Ear is DRT. Right behind the ear will drop then in their track but may not be as immediate. That shot will break the neck and damage the spinal cord. So if you are shooting quarters you will be fine. I would use a hollow point if I had the choice.


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355909 08/19/21 12:29 AM
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Originally Posted by Mr. T.
Originally Posted by ChrisB
My 17hmr is 5 for 5 on hogs. I'd bet it will work.

Are you taking the head shot that was talked about above between the ear and the eye?

in the hog trap chicken


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8355917 08/19/21 12:38 AM
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I've killed several this year with a 22. I shoot just behind and under the ear about an inch and they all have dropped DRT. CCI Standard Velocity solids. All were 50-65 yards.

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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: ntxtrapper] #8355936 08/19/21 01:00 AM
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Originally Posted by ntxtrapper
I've killed several this year with a 22. I shoot just behind and under the ear about an inch and they all have dropped DRT. CCI Standard Velocity solids. All were 50-65 yards.

[Linked Image]



^^^^
For a broadside shot that is about the correct shot placement. If you were to draw a line straight down from the ear and straight back from the eye. the intersection is roughly correct for a brain pan shot.


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Re: 22lr and hogs [Re: Mr. T.] #8356009 08/19/21 02:27 AM
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As we teach our hunter education students to make sure we make clean and ethical kills making sure we cause no excessive pain and suffering to any animal. Why would you use such a marginal round testing your skill set at the expense of any animal. Even a hog deserves to be dispatched in a quick and painless manner!!!!

Last edited by Flashprism; 08/19/21 02:30 AM.
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