foot pounds of energy

[people]

Sorry but I do not believe in wounding game to go off to die. Shoot to kill or find other means to fix the problem. We don't have hogs here (unfortunately) and I grew up on a large farm so I do know all about feeding and taking care of livestock. I have heard how bad the hogs destroy farm land but there has to be a smarter way!

These hogs are not game they are a pest or an invasive species.

 

[284winner]

I cannot comment from any experience from with these feral pigs. I read some about the damage they cause and the competition with deer for range. Haven't had any bad issues on my land. Seems we've gone from ground hogs to feral hogs in this forum. Sorry. It's an interesting subject tho. Like I said, I did have an experience with one on my game cam but he posed no damage issues for me. Hopefully he or they won't. If they do, luckily the law allows management of them. Unlike these wolves that were in fact planted here by our DNR but to eventually be managed. The feds have bitched up and allowed the haters to win this round.

 

[hunter243sgk]

These hogs are not game they are a pest or an invasive species.

I can only assumed by the replies I have got that I am wrong about the hogs. It would not be the first time I was and it wont be the last. Maybe it is because I have never had such a problem with them as I just cant stand to wound anything (game or anything else) So I will leave it to you who have to deal with them to do so with whatever means work for you. Good luck!!

 

[JRS]

Are those hogs in Florida recognized as wildlife. I realize they are not game animals.

 

[varmintshooter]

Are those hogs in Florida recognized as wildlife. I realize they are not game animals.

For those who may have missed it this thread is/ was about groundhogs. For those who don't know there is a difference.

 

[Bangs OH]

For those who may have missed it this thread is/ was about groundhogs. For those who don't know there is a difference.

Yeah, this thread could be the poster child for those subjects that have "gone off the rails".

 

[BULLET 05]

Back to ground hogs. The reason for my original question about Foot #'s of Energy was mainly a goal. Well I had a goal to shoot a G-hog at or above 200 yards with my 22 hornet using my own loads. I had read and had folks tell me several different opinions on this. So after all the advise I guess I just needed to figure it out on my own. So earlier this week I went to my local field and set up on a spot where I new a G-hog had been hanging out. It just so happened to be around 200 yards. Well it wasn't long before a nice sized G-hog come out for a late afternoon snack. I ranged it and 205 yards was the distance. I decided to take the shot. Well I got my answer. That G-hog never made a twitch. It was instant lights out! That 35gr V-max did a outstanding job. I accomplished that goal and got a 12 1/2lb G-hog to prove it.

 

[varmintshooter]

Back to ground hogs. The reason for my original question about Foot #'s of Energy was mainly a goal. Well I had a goal to shoot a G-hog at or above 200 yards with my 22 hornet using my own loads. I had read and had folks tell me several different opinions on this. So after all the advise I guess I just needed to figure it out on my own. So earlier this week I went to my local field and set up on a spot where I new a G-hog had been hanging out. It just so happened to be around 200 yards. Well it wasn't long before a nice sized G-hog come out for a late afternoon snack. I ranged it and 205 yards was the distance. I decided to take the shot. Well I got my answer. That G-hog never made a twitch. It was instant lights out! That 35gr V-max did a outstanding job. I accomplished that goal and got a 12 1/2lb G-hog prove it.

Good going. You should have no problem at 200 yds with a hornet, but the low bc will start to take its toll after that.

 

[BULLET 05]

I checked my numbers and it was around 200 foot#'s of energy at 200 yards. Some think that is way to low. Yes a bad shot it would more than likely not been a lights out shot. Conditions were great with very little wind.

 

[hunter243sgk]

For those who may have missed it this thread is/ was about groundhogs. For those who don't know there is a difference.

Ha ha, you have a very good point sir!

 

[JRS]

For those who may have missed it this thread is/ was about groundhogs. For those who don't know there is a difference.

The OP started this thread asking about foot pounds of energy. It doesn't require much energy to kill a groundhog. A .177 - 8 grain pellet at 1000 ft/sec has 17.77 ft/lbs of energy, and will leave a groundhog, breathless.

 

[Cold Bore]

For those who may have missed the title, the OP started this thread asking about foot pounds of energy.

And the very next sentence was "Is their a magic number you all try to stay above when hutting ground hogs?"

Pretty obvious that he was tying those two directly together.

 

[MrMajestic]

Shot an 8 lb.-er the other night at 200 yards with my .222 Remington and the 52 gr. Berger Varmint HP. I calculate 620 ft. lb. terminal energy. He had a two inch exit wound in the shoulder area, shot from the standing position off a BogPod so headshot was questionable, and was still alive! I assume his spine was broken as he didn't crawl away. It made me feel terrible and I quickly stomped his head to kill him. I guess where I'm going with this is it is not only terminal energy but shot placement that makes clean kills we all desire. JMHO

 

[XBBR Shooter]

Good going. You should have no problem at 200 yds with a hornet, but the low bc will start to take its toll after that.

The 35gr V-Max is kinda short, fat, and dumpy, with a low BC..

.... but the Nosler 35gr Varmageddon is a classic pointy bullet like the 40gr BK, and has more energy at 200 yds.

 

[BULLET 05]

The 35gr V-Max is kinda short, fat, and dumpy, with a low BC..

.... but the Nosler 35gr Varmageddon is a classic pointy bullet like the 40gr BK, and has more energy at 200 yds.

Thanks a bunch for the info. I did not know they offered a 35 gr b/t. I am using the V-max mainly because of accuracy. My gun a Savage 25t absolutely loves the 35 gr vmax. I can consistently shoot 5 shot groups and cover the hole with a dime.

 

[XBBR Shooter]

Thanks a bunch for the info. I did not know they offered a 35 gr b/t. I am using the V-max mainly because of accuracy. My gun a Savage 25t absolutely loves the 35 gr vmax. I can consistently shoot 5 shot groups and cover the hole with a dime.

It is not the BT - it is in their Varmageddon line - much more fragile than the BT (which have a reputation of going through small animals in one piece).

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/17...aliber-224-diameter-35-grain-tipped-flat-base

 

[lpreddick]

I checked my numbers and it was around 200 foot#'s of energy at 200 yards. Some think that is way to low. Yes a bad shot it would more than likely not been a lights out shot. Conditions were great with very little wind.

Shot placement is probably more important than ft-lbs to instantly kill a ghog. I believe your shot was a neck/spine impact which killed by neurological means. I have blown all chest contents out and have these crawl for several yards before bleeding out. A friend who loves his hornet shot a standing ghog at 100 yes and the pig did not respond. He assumed he missed. He chambered another 35 vmax, then the animal keeled over...dead. He took a few to bleed out. He admits too many were able to crawl into their holes. Over the long haul, marginal hits with more ft-lbs of energy are more likely to kill a ghog than same shot with less energy.