What is the smallest caliber to use for Hogs?

Most likely 50-200 yards.

I was going to take my new Ruger 6.5 Creedmoor, but I had to send it back to Ruger.

I do have a 22-250 & a Ar in 5.56.

Let me know what you would use.

TIA. Howard

We really need a can of worms emoji. JP?....

If I had those two choices only, I would make sure to use a tough bullet (bonded or monometal, like an accubond or TTSX) and take the 22-250. Speed kills. If I had larger choices, I would pick a larger caliber.

Oh, and BTW,

I would choose my gun based on the hunting conditions. Sitting in a blind vs stalking in heavy cover will require 2 different types of weapons in my opinion.

When I am in a blind I use a bolt action and when I am on the ground I prefer my AR, But not in 556 but if that is all you have just buy some good bullets like Barnes.

Welcome

I'd use whichever of those 2 you have/can get heavier hunting bullet. 75grain SP in 556 is better than 55 grain FMJ in 22-250. It's not just the rifle that matters.

I’m running 55 gr Nosler ballistic tip in the 22-250.

Running 68 hp in the Ar.

Hopping to get the 6.5 creedmoor back soon enough to take on the hunt.

BTW: Thanks for the welcome!

As has been repeated on this and other forums, bullet placement trumps all else. Pick the rifle that you know will give you be best chance on placing a bullet in the eye, ear, or neck of the hog and use it. A large bullet, poorly placed, will not do the job!

And welcome to the Forum!!

Shot a hog twice earlier this year with a 22 WSM at about 150 yards, Not enough , but it was what I had in my hand, so...

A couple of weeks ago I shot a big boar with 223. It ran off and didn't leave much blood, but I was sure I hit it. Found it the next day about 75 yards from my shot,

Bigger is better, but at the end of the day, it is what you have with you at the time. Best is in the eye of the beholder.

Howard, are you a deer hunter? Any caliber you would feel good about using on a deer at those distances should be fine for a hog at those distances.

Yes I do hunt deer, but not often enough!

I haven’t been in about 8 years, but my friend told me to come down to Catulla (spelling)?

Need to help him clear out his doe over population & rid the property of as many Hogs as I can shoot.

I have probably shot over 100 hogs, and over 50% of them with a ruger, mini 14 in 223. Never lost one with it.
But a 308 is my favorite hog gun.

I think most/a lot of people started hogs hunting with .223. Everyone has a favorite though. Mine is 6.8SPC.

NEVER send your Creedmoor off without having a 308 as a backup

Get to Walmart ASAP and getcha a 308 beater to use in the interim

Sale it when you get the c-moor back

Trade the 22-250 or 555 or both for a backup larger caliber

Soooo many options so little time

Cotulla/Encinal area.....great places to hunt. Good luck.

I have lost track of how many I've killed with this 10/22. Never had one take a step after one shot. CCI SV to the dome. Behind the shoulder shots need hydrostatic shock to work, so I'd never try that with less than a .223 and the correct bullet construction for the size of the animal.

Is this supposed to read 22WMR, or 17WSM? I don't think th 22WSM exists, does it?

I never seem to hunt with anybody that "has never lost a hog." Correction, I have hunted with two, who then lost hogs while we were hunting together.

Yes, sorry, not thinking - WMR

Nope! I’ve got it covered if I want to pull the M1A out or I can grab my Husqvarna 30-06 out,

But I really don’t want to lug the heavy M1A out in the wild & mess it up. I just might take the 30-06 .

I believe the 68 gr is a match bullet. Of those two, I would go with the 22-250 with Nosler ballistic tip....However, I would probably choose the 30-06 over the 22-250...maybe. What are you shooting out of the 30-06?

It a older Husky & it’s a 1 in 12 twist, so it likes the lighter bullets.

I’m shooting a Sierra 125gr sp. it was really accurate, but I haven shot it in a few years.

I’ll have to go site it in & check it out.

Hopefully I’ll have my 6.5 creedmoor back in time, I’m shooting a 140gr interlock through it.

125 gr in a 30-06? or a 22-250? Ricky Bobby?....Just ribbing you. Of the two, I would pick the 30-06 first, and the 22-250 second. If you don't have time to check zero on the 30-06, go with the 22-250. Others might have differing opinions.

Listen Up! It doesn't take much to kill a hog. Me and my friends in the Airgun world kill the snot out of them all the time. What ever rifle he can shoot the most accurate is the one to use. I have killed multiple 200 lb hogs with an 80 grain, sub-sonic .257 AirForce Condor. Shoot them in the heart, they die, shoot them in the ear, they die. Doesn't matter how big they are, make a good shot and they die. That's how it works.