.204 Ruger and Hogs?

[chief fels]

I would like opinions on this. Will a .204,.45 gr. hollow point put thru the ears or just behind the ears of a 150-200# hog take it down? Most of the shots will be 50-75 yds in the Arkansas woods.

Thanks
Phil

 

[MrMajestic]

.22 LR will do it with patience and shot placement! Probably not the answer you were looking for. I guess you need to decide the difference between need and desire. If I needed to eat or protect me or mine I would, if that's all I had, use it. It's not reccommended due to bullet construction or what I consider a humane practice.

 

[chief fels]

I want a humane kill and thought it would penetrate to the brain from behind the ear. I've seen domestic hogs shot in that area with a .22 rifle but up close and then stuck to bleed out.
I might just use a 12ga slug.

 

[MrMajestic]

Much better choice IMHO. People at the slaughter house know just here to put it and the underrated .22LR has limited expansion. I read a test that included a dressed Turkey wrapped in denim placed at 200 yards and target velocity ammo managed complete penetration. My .17 Ackley Hornet doesn't exit a woodchuck at distance! It's all about bullet contruction and velocity. I don't own a .20 caliber but understand they are a explosive when it comes to terminal ballistics. Clearly a varmint/predator cartridge.

 

[Yagingaboy]

I don't really think you would have a problem if you shot them at the base of the skull. I watched a guy in Ronan MT kill 6 buffalo from 40 yards with a .223 rem, 1 shot each. They droped straight down every time. It looked like someone posed them with their legs tucked up under them just like in the magazines. Problem is, if you startle a boar and he comes after you, you probably won't have the shock power to knock him on his keister. Go with the 12 guage. Can't go wrong there.

 

[Catfish]

If you have time for exact placement of the shot it would do the job. That said, how many time do you have the time to place the shot that well, and if the first shot is not wxact you have no stopping power.

 

[Webster]

Why fool around with a small cartridge that's border line. Get something bigger. 243, 308, 270 Win or whatever. If a hog charges you and you have 2-3 seconds to get a shot off you want to stop it with a poorly aimed shot. Years ago I read an article that a game control shooter in Africa used a 12 gauge with slugs. He never had a problem dropping lions.

 

[pwdrbrn]

PM sent for info.. Thanks, Tom.

 

[Webster]

I would consider a 204 a ground hog caliber not suitable for a 300 pound hog. They are not going to poise motionless for you to place a shot with an inch or two of some ideal location.

 

[maxscm]

I have killed hogs with a .204.
The .204 with 40grain Bergers will put them down,,Brain shots Only.
If you shoot them in the body they'll run from Ga to Texas before they drop.
A larger caliber/heavier bullet would be better.

Pic Below,, a 150#er , with a 40gr Berger,,, Brain shot @ 165yds.

 

[cowman153]

I have killed 300 lb. hog with a 22 pistol but it took several volleys to do it luckily it didn't try to charge. I have used a 22 rifle to clean out the hog trap. It worked well for that but again no chance of escape or charge. A .30 .30 worked well they went down quickly. Used a 7MM magnum once at 200 yds hog dropped at once. I used a 22-250 ackley imp some and got good results also (complete penetration from side with a 52 gr hornady target bullet at 250 yds). I have probaly killed up towards 40 all told. We had a real problem with the destructive SOBS but finaly got rid of them thru persistance.

 

[wboggs]

The .204 will do it with a perfectly place shot but there is no room for error. Many are killed by night hunters shooting semi auto .223s but that is not hunting, just killing.
I don't know if Barnes makes a .204 but I would use it if they did. The .224 Barnes work well with perfectly placed shots.