Boar Cal

[Heym SR20]

More important than cartridge / calibre is the choice of bullet. You need a bullet that will punch through into the vitals, cause a lot of damage and then leave a good sized exit wound. And with pigs you have the added complication of huge variations in size. As Bell showed with a 275 Rigby, a long for calibre steel jacketted solid will quite happily penetrate the brain of an elephant and kill them stone dead. And velocity is the enemy of penetration, as too much velocity causes too much expansion too quickly - but clearly depending on type of bullet.

If I was going to shoot a boar with a 243, I would use a 100gn bullet - probably the Norma Oryx, and not an RWS softpoint (too soft), but new Peregrine monolithics look almost perfect. In terms of shot placement I would bide my time until it was slightly quartering away from me, and shoot in behind the shoulder in a line so that the bullet would exit in front of the off shoulder. This shot takes out the heart, lungs and will dump most of the energy within the animal, and you are getting to the vitals without first having to go through a shoulder. Boar skulls are very angled (think tank and and deflecting bullets off sloping sides) and tough - so unless you can be confident of putting one in through the ear, you might stun it, only for it to jump up with a big headache and thoroughly irritated.

 

[User00033]

I thought of this thread when chatting to a mate in Queensland on the WhatsApp last night. @John Gryphon’s post about Queensland being over run by pigs nudged me to get in touch after far too long… was pretty shocked to see it was already a year since we last spoke. The bit about time going faster as you get older? All true.

So long story short I asked him what he’d been up to on the farm, and yes they’ve got lots of problems with pigs. Fences have been copping a lot of damage, spring growth is quickly rooted and they’ve been in his arable and horticultural paddocks near the Homestead, despite them having spent a small fortune on supposed pig proof fencing. We chatted about the success of his dog team, and how they are expert bailers and can stop a good pig in record time.

How are you killing them? Knife? I asked.
Nah, normal way, with the .22, he said.
22? 22LR?
Yep, the old CZ.
Where do you shoot them?
In the head, dumbass.

And so the conversation continued with a little bit more detail around point of aim (1” below the ear hole), the ammo (Aussie Winchester Powerpoint that’s at least 10 years old), how good the dogs have become at selecting at the biggest pig in the mob to bail (usually a sow). His rifle choice for long-range sow shooting, when he can see them feeding in the distance, is .308 Win with Core-Lokt 150gr factory ammo.

To think that I got lambasted earlier in this thread for shooting them with a .223 Remington!

 

[finnbear270]

Dodgy, I'm guessing anyone "Lambasting" you is doing it from another continent.

 

[User00033]

I’m gonna have to pretend I know what you mean mate!

Interesting word, lambaste.

Assumed origin is the joining of two words, lam and baste, both of which mean to beat / thrash.

Nothing to do with ladling cooking juices or mint sauce.

 

[Foxyboy43]

I thought of this thread when chatting to a mate in Queensland on the WhatsApp last night. @John Gryphon’s post about Queensland being over run by pigs nudged me to get in touch after far too long… was pretty shocked to see it was already a year since we last spoke. The bit about time going faster as you get older? All true.

So long story short I asked him what he’d been up to on the farm, and yes they’ve got lots of problems with pigs. Fences have been copping a lot of damage, spring growth is quickly rooted and they’ve been in his arable and horticultural paddocks near the Homestead, despite them having spent a small fortune on supposed pig proof fencing. We chatted about the success of his dog team, and how they are expert bailers and can stop a good pig in record time.

How are you killing them? Knife? I asked.
Nah, normal way, with the .22, he said.
22? 22LR?
Yep, the old CZ.
Where do you shoot them?
In the head, dumbass.

And so the conversation continued with a little bit more detail around point of aim (1” below the ear hole), the ammo (Aussie Winchester Powerpoint that’s at least 10 years old), how good the dogs have become at selecting at the biggest pig in the mob to bail (usually a sow). His rifle choice for long-range sow shooting, when he can see them feeding in the distance, is .308 Win with Core-Lokt 150gr factory ammo.

To think that I got lambasted earlier in this thread for shooting them with a .223 Remington!

Hmm. Old boy I knew in Scotland very many years ago used .22 Eley HVs to effect on Reds of all sizes and sexes. As they came in through the only hole in the hedge in his turnip field at twilight he head shot them from 10 yards away. Not sure whether minimum calibre/energy requirement existed then but it certainly worked for him.

 

[Overlay]

I use a heavy .308 soft point, grassed a few now and have had no problem with them dropping so far, I use this for humane reasons and knockdown capability

many many years ago I was with a keeper who shot two wild boar with a 222 the sow with a side on head shot dropped to the shot, the boar was a different story, first shot stopped him alright, then he came running up the field as if he wasn’t hit, 2 more shots later he was on the ground all the shots were on target, it wasn’t a good situation having a wounded boar, it came right in the end, but isn’t recommended

Things to remember. 1. use a .308 with a heavy round to get a humane dispatch and 2 wear plimsolls so you can outrun your mate

you really owe it to the boar to use enough gun, a lesson learnt, thankfully not the hard way

 

[finnbear270]

.300 Winchester Mag, 168 Grain GMX.

 

[IBD]

I shot a boar in Hungary in april. .270 and it went down. When I walked over to it and let the dog go it was alive still. My bullet had gone into the neck but not instantly killed it sadly. The guide shot it in the skull with his .38 but had to shoot it twice side on to dispatch it .
The next one I shot was with a 338 behind the shoulder and it went straight down.
I think a .243 is ok for small pigs but anything bigger IMO forget it

 

[scrumbag]

I thought of this thread when chatting to a mate in Queensland on the WhatsApp last night. @John Gryphon’s post about Queensland being over run by pigs nudged me to get in touch after far too long… was pretty shocked to see it was already a year since we last spoke. The bit about time going faster as you get older? All true.

So long story short I asked him what he’d been up to on the farm, and yes they’ve got lots of problems with pigs. Fences have been copping a lot of damage, spring growth is quickly rooted and they’ve been in his arable and horticultural paddocks near the Homestead, despite them having spent a small fortune on supposed pig proof fencing. We chatted about the success of his dog team, and how they are expert bailers and can stop a good pig in record time.

How are you killing them? Knife? I asked.
Nah, normal way, with the .22, he said.
22? 22LR?
Yep, the old CZ.
Where do you shoot them?
In the head, dumbass.

And so the conversation continued with a little bit more detail around point of aim (1” below the ear hole), the ammo (Aussie Winchester Powerpoint that’s at least 10 years old), how good the dogs have become at selecting at the biggest pig in the mob to bail (usually a sow). His rifle choice for long-range sow shooting, when he can see them feeding in the distance, is .308 Win with Core-Lokt 150gr factory ammo.

To think that I got lambasted earlier in this thread for shooting them with a .223 Remington!

I think you have to remember that for a lot of UK and European shooters the pigs aren't bayed, they are moving, often for a small time / space window for a shot and it might be the only shot you get at that pig. So, this means you have a fair bit of chance of error in shot placement so something a bit bigger in terms of chambering can help.

From a high seat with good shot placement on a relaxed and unaware boar you probably could get away with a smaller chambering - but I'm not sure if I didn't drop the pig and it made cover I'd fancy following up with a lighter chambering and I'm not sure I would be bothered to carry 2 guns to the high seat.

Scrummy

 

[Jagare]

I've killed domestic pigs with a .22 and don't doubt it would work well for ferals with a couple of dogs hanging off them. I'm sure an experienced shot could kill boar over a feeder with a C/f .22. But all of that is irrelevant in Europe as we have a legal minimum calibre we must use. Whilst. 270 is just a recommendation in the UK all other European countries have there minimum calibre s for boar. Why does this stupid argument keep appearing?

 

[Triggermortis]

Because people keep ranting about it, ignore it if you think you know better, they’ll get bored ( boared) with it soon enough and move onto if magnum calibres are just another phalic symbol

 

[Namman]

Because people keep ranting about it, ignore it if you think you know better, they’ll get bored ( boared) with it soon enough and move onto if magnum calibres are just another phalic symbol

Exactly what Jagare is saying.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Err, not sure what the chambering was but clearly either it or his aim was “off”. This is why a tree stand seems like a really, really good idea!

 

[Foxyboy43]

Singing the way she does I feel for the two poor boars. Glad she and the kid are ok though. Could have been very nasty!

Shakira: Singer attacked by a pair of wild boars Shakira: Singer attacked by a pair of wild boars

 

[finnbear270]

WELL, Now I'm down to two teeth, I could probably have stopped that wee piglet with a death stare.

 

[Foxyboy43]

WELL, Now I'm down to two teeth, I could probably have stopped that wee piglet with a death stare.

Excellent - good man! You couldn’t pop over and sort out the Mrs? Entirely at your own risk of course!

 

[Jagare]

Err, not sure what the chambering was but clearly either it or his aim was “off”. This is why a tree stand seems like a really, really good idea!

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If only he had used a .223 or .243 that would never of happened. A boar that close could have easily been been stopped with a .22

 

[Dhindes]

I think you have to remember that for a lot of UK and European shooters the pigs aren't bayed, they are moving, often for a small time / space window for a shot and it might be the only shot you get at that pig. So, this means you have a fair bit of chance of error in shot placement so something a bit bigger in terms of chambering can help.

From a high seat with good shot placement on a relaxed and unaware boar you probably could get away with a smaller chambering - but I'm not sure if I didn't drop the pig and it made cover I'd fancy following up with a lighter chambering and I'm not sure I would be bothered to carry 2 guns to the high seat.

Scrummy

absolutely. I have used a .243 for boar hunted from High seat where I have time and a good rest and can place the shot where I want it. For driven boar I use a 9.3x62 as I might be trying to hit them where I hit the one in my profile pic but I do not always make that shot- nice to have the extra when you are not perfect. Also I am not keen on tracking them into the thick stuff so would prefer the best chance possible to drop them.
Interesting I have never noticed any recoil difference between .243 and the 9.3 when actually taking a real shot. Guess that is combo of excitement and standing up and swinging.

 

[Puds]

I’ve only shot one boar, but that was with a .243, sticking a 75gr VMax below the earhole at 80yds. She went straight down & certainly didn’t move afterwards.

 

[User00033]

I think you have to remember that for a lot of UK and European shooters the pigs aren't bayed, they are moving, often for a small time / space window for a shot and it might be the only shot you get at that pig. So, this means you have a fair bit of chance of error in shot placement so something a bit bigger in terms of chambering can help.

If only he had used a .223 or .243 that would never of happened. A boar that close could have easily been been stopped with a .22

Sorry fellas, I admit I am yanking the collective chain for a bit of light entertainment, juvenile I know.

I loved this thread, because the OP's original question got totally lost in the ensuing calibre battle, lots of dick swinging and daft suggestions which tickled me at the time.

Can some one just tell me,why,243 in the head would not do,a boar,or is their skull extra thick,compared to say a fallow buck?

The answer is clear - a .243 Win will kill any sized pig (even those 400kg monsters apparently lurking in European woods), and no the skull is not extra thick. A pig is very vulnerable to a skull shot, you just need to be competent, and in my experience, the bigger the pig, the easier the shot. Bigger target!

I came across a new series yesterday from an Aussie pest controller - dog trapping focused but with plenty of pigs caught along the way with his excellent dogs. And guess what?! He's shooting them with a .22LR. Plenty of fuss free footage there to show how it's done. Small pigs but very effective. (Look up Clark McGhie's Wild Country on YT for some instruction on how to trap wild dogs.)

You've seen some of the pigs we catch with dogs here in NZ - I don't post that much on here as some of the audience don't really get it I think. Nasty brutes that rip our dogs open like tin cans, kill a couple of dogs every year, and yes you bet they could ruin your day if you did something stupid (as in the photos above).

That is why my bailed pig rifle is a Ruger 77/44 shooting 280gr soft cast lead boolits, subsonic for the sake of the dogs. And yes, you do sometimes need a bit of leeway because at least half the shots are taken in the dead of night in torch light - black night, black pig, Aimpoint red dot sight. It's exciting. I gave up using the knife a long time ago as I'm too old for that now, but the young fellas still like to get in there and grab a rear leg and stick it.

Here's a still from a recent video of a jaw shot with the .44 Rem Mag from about 10m. The bullet hit lower than it should have. Not that it mattered a jot, lights were out instantly. Then another still from the video of the tusks - very deadly pig this one. Crappy photos, but you get the picture. Big hole. BIG hole.



My original opinion stands though. Shooting feeding pigs - unaware pigs - be it over bait or rooting in a paddock, is no different to shooting any other ungulate game irrespective of size or threat. It can be the biggest, meanest boar (400kg!) you've ever seen, but it will fall to a well placed .224 calibre bullet every time. Is it advisable? That's up to the shooter to know. I shoot pigs with whatever rifle I have in my hands at the time, doesn't matter what it is, as long as I know I can place the bullet, the shot is on. The .223, .245, 6.5mm, .308, .44... doesn't matter.

For driven boar, bailed boar, cornered angry coming-to-get-ya boar, don't use a .22LR. I think we can all agree on that?