is a .17 HMR a good hog rifle?

[bayoupirate]

Again here you will hear many opinions.

IMO I would not go hog hunting with anything less than I take to hunt the thin-skinned White-tailed deer.

Many have been taken with AR's in .223 and 243s. The Velocity of the bullet and using a well constructed "hunting" bullet will prove successful.
That's the smallest I'd consider ethical.

Handguns are popular for hogs too. Same criteria for me. Not enough for deer = not enough for hog. Min would be a hot .357, and most handgun hunters go for the .44Mag.

If you'll be hunting from the ground. A short easy to handle rifle/carbine may be your best bet. The old 30-30WIN in the closet may be your best friend. I have a Marlin 1895 in 45-70 that is probably bordering on overkill, but if you've ever had a wounded hog turn toward you and charge. You'd probably agree that there's no such thing as overkill.

 

[SOLAteeda]

Growing up, I was always told just to always try and put the bullet either in the ear or behind the ear. I imagine that with a piglet it wouldn't much matter, but would a .223 pierce the hide and "armor" of a full grown hog? Seing as the only semi-autos I have are in .223, that is what I'm leaning towards taking if I actually manage to get a hog hunt set up soon.

Of course, I could always bring out my dad's .300 ultra mag and see what kind of carnage it makes

 

[onlyjourneyman]

I shot one last year and he only ran about 30 feet. Of course that was a "botched" shoulder shot with a .600 gr. .458 socom....There was a good blood trail---everywhere!!!

 

[onlyjourneyman]

OH---By the way doeslammer---Welcome from Walker, LA.....

 

[oleheat]

Growing up, I was always told just to always try and put the bullet either in the ear or behind the ear. I imagine that with a piglet it wouldn't much matter, but would a .223 pierce the hide and "armor" of a full grown hog? Seing as the only semi-autos I have are in .223, that is what I'm leaning towards taking if I actually manage to get a hog hunt set up soon.

Of course, I could always bring out my dad's .300 ultra mag and see what kind of carnage it makes

Yep. A .223 should work just fine- especially when it comes to head shots. If, when you say "armor", you're talking about the bony plate surrounding the rib cage, you may have a problem. If you want a body shot, I would shoot one a little further forward- much like a deer. If you can find soft-point ammo for your .223, I would use those before a FMJ round. After all- the Geneva Convention does not apply to hogs!! Seriously, they'll probably make your blood trail a little shorter......It sounds like you're ready to me...

 

[SOLAteeda]

What I was referring to as "armor" is the gristle plate. Anywhere from 1/4"-2.5" of high density fat.

A good head shot would avoid it though

 

[doeslammer4]

I started this thread to get opinions on if the rifle was sufficient or not, mainly because i usually hunt Red River WMA during 'the open rabbit season' when it is legal to take hogs. I know a .22 magnum will easily kill a hog, and a .17 HMR (which i invested in and love) flies around 400 FPS faster than the .22 mag. I wanted to know if anyone killed a hog with the .17 while squirrel hunting...because I would love to do so. Wild hogs are a great supplement to the hunting season!

 

[K9Officer1]

I started this thread to get opinions on if the rifle was sufficient or not, mainly because i usually hunt Red River WMA during 'the open rabbit season' when it is legal to take hogs. I know a .22 magnum will easily kill a hog, and a .17 HMR (which i invested in and love) flies around 400 FPS faster than the .22 mag. I wanted to know if anyone killed a hog with the .17 while squirrel hunting...because I would love to do so. Wild hogs are a great supplement to the hunting season!

I have kille hogs with my marlin .17hmr on Sherburne twice. I ear shot both of them though. BTW Curtis, we need to hangout soon. I havent seen you since tht time at Logan's a while back,

 

[doeslammer4]

i'm all for it man-- i think we need to have a bon fire soon...

 

[rpbayly]

hog??

i thought you said a hog. that was just a penned up piglet. a sharp stick would kill him.

 

[bayoutrigger]

I started this thread to get opinions on if the rifle was sufficient or not, mainly because i usually hunt Red River WMA during 'the open rabbit season' when it is legal to take hogs. I know a .22 magnum will easily kill a hog, and a .17 HMR (which i invested in and love) flies around 400 FPS faster than the .22 mag. I wanted to know if anyone killed a hog with the .17 while squirrel hunting...because I would love to do so. Wild hogs are a great supplement to the hunting season!

The 17HMR doesn't tear up the squirrel?

 

[doeslammer4]

The 17HMR doesn't tear up the squirrel?

if you shoot them in the head, you won't have to worry about a thing

 

[doeslammer4]

i thought you said a hog. that was just a penned up piglet. a sharp stick would kill him.

well that was a 75 pound piglet. i'd love to see you kill that sow with a stick!

 

[Ben Segrest]

Oddly enough, one of my best friends called me last night. He shot 4 hogs last night on his company's lease in texas. Said they were about 120#. All 4 were shot with a .17hmr. Head shots on all of them and they were all DRT.

 

[doeslammer4]

Oddly enough, one of my best friends called me last night. He shot 4 hogs last night on his company's lease in texas. Said they were about 120#. All 4 were shot with a .17hmr. Head shots on all of them and they were all DRT.

how far away were the shots?

 

[Ben Segrest]

how far away were the shots?

I think he said ~50 yards

 

[mnop308]

With pigs, you never know. I hit one with a 308 and Barnes X and had to follow up. At about 10 feet, I made a clean chest shot, then it charged. 2 shots with 44 cal, 240 at 1200FPS right between the eyes did not drop him but did turn him until one right in the left eye made him fall over. Sometimes they are better bullet stops than a big old dirt berm, and sometimes they just drop over dead. I have taken them with my 45 ACP when they were right on top of me, and have seen them take hit after hit from my 308 and keep going.

Bring enough gun. I stopped carrying my 9mm when I go out to feed during deer season. Good luck to ya.