Sensibility of using 17HMR for hogs.

[257 wby]

That pee shooter is way too light for anything more that a ground squirrel. Pigs are tough. My brother in law shot one at about 50-70 yds with a 300 win. mag using 180 grain Core-lokts factory ammo. He hit him right in the pocket behind the shoulder. The boar stumbled and started to trot off. I hit him with my 257 and Scott hit him again with the 300. When we were skinning the brute out, the first 300 shot was imbedded between the meat and the shield. Perfect mushroom, but it did not pass through the shield on the far side. That is some tough armor.

257

 

[Lurediver]

Here's the photo I found of the kid! They're located in the Down Under!

 

[Troutman]

This is just wrong. This kid is getting the wrong message here. I think his father needs to undersatnd what is ETHICAL hunting about.

STUIPD, STUPID, STUPID

 

[Arrowslinger]

"pigs will not chase you down and are not bloodthirsty."

RandyM, we realize that pigs are not "bloodthirsty" and will not chase you down...but odds are you've come upon a wounded hog, they're not friendly! The running shoe comment was made because if you're a fraction of an inch off w/ a 17, you better be able to run that dude down and put him out of his misery.

"you guys crack me up."

Thanks, glad we can entertain

I shot a boar twice w/ my 7mm...no pass thru, no blood trail...they're tough animals, here's the message; respect the critters and use a weapon capable of killing them quickly.

 

[Lurediver]

AS, remember that hog that treed me?

 

[Arrowslinger]

Like it was yesterday....i still hear the screaming in my sleep and wake up in a cold sweat....from laughter. You wuss!

 

[EMSFlyer]

Thanks for finding the pic Lurediver--that's the one.

The kill did take place in Australia, so that's why I put in the "DFG regs aside" part, since apparently there are no restrictions on taking hogs with small calibers Down Under. However, there are guys from the South that got on me saying they've taken hogs routinely with .17s, and one even said he took one with a .22 and see nothing wrong with it!!!

I guess in the South, hogs are considered varmints, but I still wouldn't shoot them with a .17. But that's just me--and apparently some of you. I just don't see any sense in it. I guess they do it a little different down in Dixie.

Anyway, the thread is on Rimfire Central--which kind of surprised me since most of the guys on there are responsible shooters--but now I have my doubts. Here's the link for those interested in reading the responses--the original poster took down the pick that Lurediver found:

http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=105322

Oh, and the guys that hijacked the thread discussing the similarities between a kill with a gun and a bow. . .well, read it and enjoy.

 

[257 wby]

Those guys down under are a little goofy anyway.

That pig in the pic is way too big for a 17.

257

 

[Timjackson]

You guys can laugh at us down in "Dixie" all you want to (Rancho included

).. We have killed hogs with a .22 caliber many times. Only because it is the only gun we had at the time. Remember, we usually do not hunt them for fun, we hunt them to get rid of them. If we are out plowing or sewing the fields and we see them then we shoot them with whatever is available.. Is it the best weapon, probably not, but it can (and has) been done....

 

[Chadster]

IMHO, a .17 is way too small! I think most of us agree on that here. However, some of you say that you think that anything under a .270 is too small as well. Although I am a total newbie and yet have to bag my first hog, I respectfully disagree with the statements that basically say you should not use anything less than a .270. This may need to be another thread, but my research after much reading, and speaking with plenty of experienced hunters there are alternatives. For example... I myself am what you politically correct types would call a "recoil-sensative" shooter (o.k. let the jokes begin...). I think that a 7mm-08 or 25-06 with a high wieght retention bullet like a barnes triple shock or failsafe would make up for the traditional "long action" type calibers. I use a 7mm-08 loaded with tripleshocks or Interbonds with an M.V. of 2750 to 2800 range. Now tell me that isn't enough. Do the math... look at the tables and consider the difference in recoil. I think us non-tough guy types who have to use a huge caliber could be just as successful with something less than a .270!

 

[Caninelaw]

I thought they outlawed gun in Australia? Anyway, a wounded pig might not come after you, on purpose, but, being they don't see too good they may run in your direction anyway and then they're pissed when they get there.

 

[mstan99999]

I agree with Mr. Jackson. I have seen hogs taken with mini-14s and sks's because that's what was in the truck at the time. I took one with a.30 carbine just a short while back. I don't recomend any of these to go hog hunting with, but I was plinking with the carbine when the oinker showed up. I pumped 5 shots in him before he knew he was hit and he dropped three steps later.
I use a 44 mag to hunt pigs and I don't think I would even take a shot if all I had was a rimfire, but you don't have to have a .270 or bigger to take one down!!

 

[Rancho Loco]

You can surely kill a pig with a .22 - farmers do it everyday.

It's just that something larger gives you more options.

 

[Timjackson]

 

[Speckmisser]

Sorry to you guys who feel the need to defend the use of pea-shooters for hog killing... but for sport hunters there's no excuse for that kind of thing.

Use enough gun to kill consistently, cleanly and humanely. If you're shooting barnyard hogs in the ear, or if you're shooting them as vermin, then fine... use whatever. You're not hunting.

But sport hunters need to be held to a higher standard of ethics.

 

[Lurediver]

Nicely put Speck!

 

[larrysogla]

Speck,
You're always on target. You hit the nail on the head this time, again.
God Bless.

 

[pappy]

Guys look at that pic of the boy and the pig....does that magazine in that rifle look like a .17hmr.....It doesnt to me.......maybe, next, he will try lawn darts....what a great idea.....pappy

 

[Family Tradition]

The Mag looks just like the one in my Savage .17

Ok, nobody has come out and said it but the farmer comment touched on it.

20 bucks says they held the Hog down and the kid shot it point blank.

Thats about the only way I see it going down.

It happens all the time a guide jumps on a hog and has the shooter cap it in the head or knife it ect...

I still think its a bad idea and not something to be teaching young hunters, even if it was in Australia.

 

[Timjackson]

Originally posted by Speckmisser@Sep 16 2005, 03:53 PM
Sorry to you guys who feel the need to defend the use of pea-shooters for hog killing... but for sport hunters there's no excuse for that kind of thing.

Use enough gun to kill consistently, cleanly and humanely. If you're shooting barnyard hogs in the ear, or if you're shooting them as vermin, then fine... use whatever. You're not hunting.

But sport hunters need to be held to a higher standard of ethics.

Speck.. I am not defending the kid killing the hog, but I do feel inclined to reply when statements like this are made:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div>

I guess they do it a little different down in Dixie.[/b]

I was just pointing it out that it can and has been done.. As far as the barnyard reference, I was not referring to any such thing. I was talking about fixing fences and checking on the cattle when you run across a group of hogs.. No one is holding it down or tying it up.... Could really care less if you guys believe me or not, but anytime anyone posts anything on here that is done differently than the way you guys do it out west, everybody screams and yells about it... Still not saying that I condone shooting them with a .17, but you guys should lighten up and get off the kids back. Not your kid to raise and not even in the same country as us. As far as moral and ethics go, I wont go into that, but for all we know the pig went down on the spot... I have seen them run and bleed out with MUCH larger calibers and never be found. Its not the weapon, it all about the placement....

I thought you guys have seen the pics of what these hogs can and have done to agricultural areas. That is why we try to eradicate every one of them we come across.. It is not about the meat or the hunt in most cases... Unfortunately, sometimes it is not done with the proper caliber, a good rest, a good guide and perfect weather conditions.. If you guys cannot understand this concept than so be it... The barnyard story is laughable though....