.22 Mag and Hog

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I recently won a draw hunt for small game hunting. My hunting partner and I are heading out that way in about a week and a half. After speaking with the biologist over the hunt, he mentioned that the specific units I would be in hold hogs and most folks generally have a chance at bringing one home. The only catch is, you can only shoot the hogs with whatever firearm is legal for the hunt you are on. In my case, that means shotguns with squirrel shot or rimfires. Another friend is going to let me borrow a .22 mag Savage just in-case I do see a hog.

I am looking for feedback on the following:
- Shot placement - Behind the ear? Behind the shoulder?
- Ammo selection

I am aware that .22 mag is not the ideal hog hunting round, but I did see a hog taken with a .17 hmr at the beginning of the 2024 deer season on a different draw hunt I was on, so I know it can be done. Hoping someone on here has some experience with the matter as I have never pursued hog and have never been directly involved in hunting one.

***In-case someone is wondering, both myself and my hunting partner will have pistols for personal defense, but they are not legal means of take for the hog***

 

[eddielasvegas]

Okay, I have zero expereince with this but I did sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

I have done enough research on this for Javelina for a hunt I had a couple years ago that I'll throw my 2 cents in, and you know what they say, advice is usually worth what you pay for it.

I have a CZ 512 (22 Mag) that out to 75 yards is a tack driver. Confidently put a bullet in a 3 inch square all day long so me thinks that'll do the job for hogs even if they are bigger.

Be sure and use FMJ or TMJ as you want max penetration for your behind the ear shot.

Lastly, there is a good video of a guy shooting hogs with a 22LR and he does a brain/head shot and it drops them in their tracks. I don't recall the distance, but me thinks it was 30-40 yards so a 22 Mag will do the job all day long at 75-ish yards.

Good luck,


Eddie

 

[NorCal 707]

I've killed 30 or 40 hogs with a 22 mag. None over 100 yds. I used to shoot winchester soft points and would shoot for the head. Forehead or back of the ear worked well. I did shoot some behind the shoulders too but stick with a soft point or the Federal Punch ammo. Those new fancy ballistic spire points don't penetrate despite having a really high velocity. 30 to 35 grainers just required too many follow up shots. Probably avg 3 or 4 to kill a larger 150 lb pig. Those federal punches and soft points will drop em with one shot.

 

[AlabamaMountainMan]

I've killed 30 or 40 hogs with a 22 mag. None over 100 yds. I used to shoot winchester soft points and would shoot for the head. Forehead or back of the ear worked well. I did shoot some behind the shoulders too but stick with a soft point or the Federal Punch ammo. Those new fancy ballistic spire points don't penetrate despite having a really high velocity. 30 to 35 grainers just required too many follow up shots. Probably avg 3 or 4 to kill a larger 150 lb pig. Those federal punches and soft points will drop em with one shot.

Gothca, I believe my buddy has a box of winchester soft point .22 mag. I may still swing by my LGS and see what else is in stock. Sounds like I need to stick to behind the ear and keep shots relatively short.

 

[TxxAgg]

Put it in the ear hole. No problem.

 

[NorCal 707]

My rifle is a scoped marlin that for a cheapo rifle is super accurate. I can shoot the primer out of a 12 guage hull at 50 yds. And if there's no wind it will shoot a 1 inch groups at 100 yds. With a 3 to 5 mph breeze 22s don't do very well. Swerve 2 to 3 inches easy.

 

[Te Hopo]

I'd have no hesitation shooting a hog within 100yds with a .22WMR, I'm a big fan of the 40+gr soft points for head shots

 

[weekender7]

Stick with ear hole shots. Body shots can cause death but you won't get much blood if any out of a boar hog with 22 mag. I have killed a few with 22mag. This one was 294#.

 

[glennjones]

22 mag kills hogs just fine keep your shots at about 100 or less shoot behind the shoulder and you'll be fine. Your other option would be to get some tss in 4s and not have to carry a second gun. What part of bama you from?

 

[Yung6ix]

The 22 mag will do. I have killed loads of pigs with a .22 lr. That’s all I ever use when I trap pigs unless it’s a really big boar. A friend of mine rigged his magnum up with a green light and would slip up close to a feeder and shoot pigs. He got several with it. Another friend always carried a lever action magnum when we went hog hunting. He also has stacked them up with it. Anything less than probably 250 lbs should be down with a good shot. Ears or forehead.

 

[kcm2]

Hogs can fidget and move around a lot. I've taken more than 50 with a bow so, yes, the 22 mag could work with great shot placement. But if he moves or you twitch, an angry boar hog is a very serious problem.

Best of luck.