15-22 on Wild Hogs

[indamtnsbj]

Anybody here taken their 15-22 hog hunting?

I have hogs a plenty to shoot on the Tombigbee River.

We have killed several with head shots with 22 LR's... so I dont need to hear that a 22 cant do the job.

Just looking for some feedback on ammo choice, etc from others that have hog hunted with their M & P.

 

[smith17]

"so I dont need to hear that a 22 cant do the job."

Nearly anything CAN do the job. The question is, will it do the job every time without letting the animal unduly suffer?
I guide folks on hog hunts for part of my living. I don't let them use .22 long rifle. I have got to where I discourage using a .223 since I have seen too many get away and find them festering and still alive (barely) a few days later.
My opinion.

 

[indamtnsbj]

I will be bringing my m & p alongside my 30-30, and will only take close range shots with the 22 lr.

I am going to try it out, and if need be, I can finish off the hog with the 30 30.

I want to keep the noise level down with the M & P, but will have a backup high caliber rifle if need be.

 

[Dragon88]

Nearly anything CAN do the job. The question is, will it do the job every time without letting the animal unduly suffer?
I guide folks on hog hunts for part of my living. I don't let them use .22 long rifle.

I agree. Hunting hogs with a 15-22 is ridiculous.

 

[Kelly Green]

"so I dont need to hear that a 22 cant do the job."

Nearly anything CAN do the job. The question is, will it do the job every time without letting the animal unduly suffer?
I guide folks on hog hunts for part of my living. I don't let them use .22 long rifle. I have got to where I discourage using a .223 since I have seen too many get away and find them festering and still alive (barely) a few days later.
My opinion.

You are 100% right Smith17. This is the kind of stuff that lights my fuse. The reason we have different caliber guns and rounds is that each is designed for a specific purpose. Hunting is not a game it’s a serious endeavor. As a hunter, your obligation to your prey is to effectively dispatch it in the most efficient way possible. If a person doesn’t understand that, then they have no business hunting.

 

[smith17]

indamtnsbj:
I think your plan to take a 30-30 is a good one. It is very capable of taking down hogs of all sizes. Just be careful on the big ones when using very small calibers, particularly if you have a large hog hemmed up. But I am sure you are aware of that. Be careful.
Ed

 

[clang444]

Stick with the 30-30 for hog hunting. If you are going to shoot an animal, it is irresponsible to not take precautions that help insure a clean kill.

 

[dkees]

+1 for Kelly Green

 

[Jswiney9]

hunting hogs with a .22? ive heard it all now. I dont know how large the hogs are where you hunt at but the ones we have in kentucky and virginia are monsters. I have literally seen shells bounce off of skulls before and the hog just kept on coming. they have a super tough shoulder as well. you be careful if you go hunting with a 22 LR ive discouraged people from using .40 and 9mm at close ranges as well (seeing a bullet bounce off of somethings head and it not even care is a scary sight)

 

[NE450No2]

One time while rabbit and squirrel hunting I came upon some wild pigs.

I was hunting with a 22LR rifle.

There was a small one that would be just right to cook whole.

I loaded some CCI Quick Shock ammo into the gun.

I snuck up real close and put one round right behind the shoulder.

The pig took off.
I had a fairly long follow up, but I was able to get close again and shot him in the head as he looked at me....

WEhen I gutted him I took a hard look and the damage done by the 22LR and I was not impressed.

So long story short, I would never shoot a pig with a rimfire again.

I shoot a LOT of pigs, they are my favorite 4 legged game meat, I do not shoot them and leave them lay, they are just too good to eat.

Even the 300 and 330lb [weighed] boars I have killed tasted great.

Even if they smell bad on the "outside" the meat has always been good.

I do not even hunt them with a 223.

 

[DownRange&Upwind]

When I first read this thread when it was first posted, I knew there would be alot of of people that would not be overly happy with this. But they are right, the 15 22 can kill, but its not gonna be a quick kill everytime. And that is the hunters responsibility to their game, to ensure a fast and as least painfull death as possible. Small game hunts with the 15 22 sure, but a boar.. is well.. a boar. And ot a rabbit or squirrel, or fox.

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

I don't know. To get a good kill with a .22 is hard. To hunt for "fun" with a .22 resulting in 10 follow up shots is kindda cruel. Here hunting big game w/ a .22 is illegal. But if your survival firearm is a .22, yes, it will take a pig, a deer, an elk, I know a guy that even took a bear. 1 shot. A ton of spec ops folk swear by the .22 pistol in a survival sit. for large animals. Most carry compact .22 as back up. In short, if you don't plan on using a .22 as your survival arm then why risk an injured animal. If your 15-22 is your choice survival weapon stick to stalking/killing smaller predators, though I caught a little guff here for mentioning taking a coyote. Bottom line your probably gonna take a few shots and still end up tracking it a couple miles. Do what I do and have some one drop some small balloons up stream a creek and pop 'em off before their gone. Will improve aquisition wich is the main goal here. Also it's VERY rare that even a deer drops with the first shot using a .223. Good shot, right where it needs to be, but he still can take off for a mile. I hunt to feed my family, not hang a rack. I go for the head shot every time, even a 6 point elk.

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

But if it was a survival situation wouldn't you do the same?

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

I have deleted a couple postings in this thread. We don't do personal attacks here. Thanks guys

 

[Duke426]

I don't think it is morally acceptable to shoot an animal with a particular gun and if "it" doesn't do the job, let the animal suffer while I attempt to finish it off with a larger/more powerful/more suitable weapon.

That is the kind of behavior that gives us all a bad name in non-hunting circles.

 

[kennyb]

I don't think it is morally acceptable to shoot an animal with a particular gun and if "it" doesn't do the job, let the animal suffer while I attempt to finish it off with a larger/more powerful/more suitable weapon.

That is the kind of behavior that gives us all a bad name in non-hunting circles.

i totally agree....whats the point of a 22??i hunt boar and they are tough

 

[reelman]

I'm not really sure what you really want out of this thread. You say you are looking for advice on what bullets to use yet you claim to have shot pigs with 22's before and you knew darn well that people were going to attack you for saying it. If you really have used 22s for hog then use the same bullets that you used before.

 

[TurboniumOxide]

I hunt boar with a 308. DRT. I can't stand to see an animal suffer.

In a survival situation, if 22lr was all I had, it would be different and I would change my hunting technique and make sure to get a head shot from short range.

I am sure that I could feed my family on smaller more appropriate game for 22lr.

 

[Snyderman]

I don't think it is morally acceptable to shoot an animal with a particular gun and if "it" doesn't do the job, let the animal suffer while I attempt to finish it off with a larger/more powerful/more suitable weapon.

That is the kind of behavior that gives us all a bad name in non-hunting circles.

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[BeginingOfTheEnd]

I think we should wait for the guy that started the thread to respond. We don't know if he honestly thinks he can shoot boar with a .22, clean, or if he thinks it would be fun to shoot an animal and watch it suffer. Which is That's kindda the feel I'm getting here. Maybe he wanted an honest opinion as to whether anyone has experience with this. Maybe he just doesn't know. To much judgement is being sought before we know what his intensions are. I honestly don't care. It isn't going to be the end of hunting rights and it isn't having any effect on the hippies stopping my wolf hunt this year. My survival weapon of choice IS the .22lr and I would shoot bambi 50 times, literally, and happily watch it suffer to be on top in the end. However I wouldn't just do it for fun because the chances of a long hike are enormous. Point being, what is his purpose for wanting to use a .22???