Will be using a Hatsan Invader either a .22 cal. at 1000fps, or a 25 cal. at 900fps. Head shots only, under 25 yards. What would be my best bet?
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.22 or .25 for hogs?
- Thread starter rathunter
- Start date
I would go the heaviest 25 you can find. For more penetration.
Are you shooting slugs or pellets? 33 grain jsb pellets work well.
Are you shooting slugs or pellets? 33 grain jsb pellets work well.
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Aloha rathunter,
At the speeds and distance your shooting at both .22 or .25 will put them down. I would look at accuracy over fps.
Aloha,
Keone
At the speeds and distance your shooting at both .22 or .25 will put them down. I would look at accuracy over fps.
Aloha,
Keone
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Jsb pellets are known to be great with accuracy. At least my guns love them. You may need to try a sampler pack to see what your gun likes. Lots of good pellet brands out there, just have test them.
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A .22LR 40g sub is used in butcher houses all over. I've seen big pigs dropped with one in the ear every time.
It's about the placement but their skulls are extremely thick. Ear, eye. If a angled hit it will skim off or ride under the pork rind.
It's about the placement but their skulls are extremely thick. Ear, eye. If a angled hit it will skim off or ride under the pork rind.
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I would test penetration of 3/4 plywood or MDF. My 25 Avenger will shoot 25.4 grain through either. 33.95s go through too. You could try the 22s too, you may find one that will go through. H&N and Crosman pellets are supposed to be a little harder but my Avenger likes JSB pellets and will shoot them through. I would definitely use a domed pellet. If it expands it will not penetrate as well. JSB monster 22 pellets are 25.4 grains. I would try them or a H&N Barracuda.
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Whichever gun is most accurate is what I would use. I would want that .22 shooting 25.39 JSB Monsters at 950 fps at least, and I'd want the .25 doing a little more honestly. Remember, the .22 shooting a 25 grain pellet at 950 fps will actually penetrate better than a .25 shooting a 25 grain pellet at the same speed. The smaller diameter with the same weight has the advantage for poking a hole in a noggin! It will also depend on the size of the hog. I wouldn't try a monster pig at those power levels, but 100 pounder would be a sure thing, as long as you can make the shot. Accuracy is paramount when going after a pig with a small bore. I prefer to wait for a broad side head shot dead center between the eye and the ear. That is the shortest path to the fuse box 
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I agree 99.9%
It's not an ethics thing with me, but from many years of hunting experience using just about everything (slingshot, airgun, bow, shotgun, and rifle) I have a fair idea about what it takes to dispatch an animal. With a PERFECT shot, yes, you might drop a pig with an airgun (in these calibers), but your chances are slim.
What has happened is that many airgunner's first foray into "firearms" is an airgun, so that they have no way to actually quantify the lethality of them. Or, they just simply vastly overestimate the capabilities.
As stated above, I don't care if you shoot pigs with a pellet gun. Just be aware of the massive limitations when using airguns in these small calibers. If you think that a .22 pellet gun is even in the same universe as the lowly .22 rimfire, you are in for a rude surprise.
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I certainly agree with the sentiment of what you're saying. Hunting hogs with a small bore air gun should not be taken lightly. I'm also annoyed by the videos of the guys shooting pigs with a break barrel. It actually is a bit of an ethics thing for me. I love to hunt, but I get no joy in wounding an animal, especially when somebody should have known better. If you can't make an ethical kill, you don't need to be hunting. Generally speaking, I don't disagree for your average person that just thinks they can go pop a hog with their air gun like they saw on youtube. It takes effort to do it right. If you just hurt a hog, and the hog gets you, then you probably got what you deserve, lol!
However, hunting pigs with a small bore is by no means a low percentage chance of success. If you put in the time on targets to KNOW you can make the shot, and take the time to research what needs to happen to be successful, the odds are pretty good you'll get yourself a pig. I wouldn't by any stretch call your chances slim, as long as you have a small bore with some proper power(50+fpe in .22, 55+ fpe in .25 and close range), and know your and your guns limits. Don't try and kill a monster hog with 50 fpe, that's too sketchy even for me. I've killed 5 hogs(with an air gun), and only one of those hogs was with a .30. The rest were with .22, and even a .177. I've never shot at a pig with an air gun that didn't drop in his tracks. Admittedly, I'm very anal about prep, practice, and tuning. I don't take a shot, unless I have the shot I want. My largest hog was with a .177 shooting 18 grain slugs at 1060 fps(a little over 200lbs). Yes, I know a 45 fpe .177 isn't normal, but I would take no less power than that in a .177 for a pig. I also never put myself in a position where I'm taking a long shot. Normally I try to keep it at 30 yards, unless I have my gun tuned very hot and know it still has the energy needed when it gets to the target.
The minimum power levels I listed above are just that, minimum. Ideally, I'd want at least 60 fpe in .22 and 70 fpe in .25. As per the OP using a Hatsan invader, I would probably want that gun tuned for more power than it is likely doing. It can work with the right shot and prep though. I currently have my .22 tuned to shoot 36 grain slugs at 82 fpe. I intend to use that .22 on my next hunt too. Again, this is all dependent on me getting the shot I want, and that I know I can make. I guess a good way of putting it is: you need to be able to hit a nickel sized target when hunting with a small bore, and also know that it is at an angle that won't just glance off the skull. PRACTICE, PREP, TUNING, and KNOWLEDGE are definitely required when trying to kill a pig with a small bore air gun. And for God's sake, don't try and shoot it between the eyes! If it is at an angle that would make it too the brain, the shot will probably glance off. If the head is down, you'd be shooting a little below the brain! Know your anatomy
More than once, I've seen multiple hogs, and didn't take a shot, because I couldn't get the shot I knew would work. It boils down to this. If you are going to put in the effort, then give it a go. If aren't, then don't bother and wait until you can get a big bore. That's just my humble opinion
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I certainly agree with the sentiment of what you're saying. Hunting hogs with a small bore air gun should not be taken lightly. I'm also annoyed by the videos of the guys shooting pigs with a break barrel. It actually is a bit of an ethics thing for me. I love to hunt, but I get no joy in wounding an animal, especially when somebody should have known better. If you can't make an ethical kill, you don't need to be hunting. Generally speaking, I don't disagree for your average person that just thinks they can go pop a hog with their air gun like they saw on youtube. It takes effort to do it right. If you just hurt a hog, and the hog gets you, then you probably got what you deserve, lol!
However, hunting pigs with a small bore is by no means a low percentage chance of success. If you put in the time on targets to KNOW you can make the shot, and take the time to research what needs to happen to be successful, the odds are pretty good you'll get yourself a pig. I wouldn't by any stretch call your chances slim, as long as you have a small bore with some proper power(50+fpe in .22, 55+ fpe in .25 and close range), and know your and your guns limits. Don't try and kill a monster hog with 50 fpe, that's too sketchy even for me. I've killed 5 hogs(with an air gun), and only one of those hogs was with a .30. The rest were with .22, and even a .177. I've never shot at a pig with an air gun that didn't drop in his tracks. Admittedly, I'm very anal about prep, practice, and tuning. I don't take a shot, unless I have the shot I want. My largest hog was with a .177 shooting 18 grain slugs at 1060 fps(a little over 200lbs). Yes, I know a 45 fpe .177 isn't normal, but I would take no less power than that in a .177 for a pig. I also never put myself in a position where I'm taking a long shot. Normally I try to keep it at 30 yards, unless I have my gun tuned very hot and know it still has the energy needed when it gets to the target.
The minimum power levels I listed above are just that, minimum. Ideally, I'd want at least 60 fpe in .22 and 70 fpe in .25. As per the OP using a Hatsan invader, I would probably want that gun tuned for more power than it is likely doing. It can work with the right shot and prep though. I currently have my .22 tuned to shoot 36 grain slugs at 82 fpe. I intend to use that .22 on my next hunt too. Again, this is all dependent on me getting the shot I want, and that I know I can make. I guess a good way of putting it is: you need to be able to hit a nickel sized target when hunting with a small bore, and also know that it is at an angle that won't just glance off the skull. PRACTICE, PREP, TUNING, and KNOWLEDGE are definitely required when trying to kill a pig with a small bore air gun. And for God's sake, don't try and shoot it between the eyes! If it is at an angle that would make it too the brain, the shot will probably glance off. If the head is down, you'd be shooting a little below the brain! Know your anatomy
It boils down to this. If you are going to put in the effort, then give it a go. If aren't, then don't bother and wait until you can get a big bore. That's just my humble opinion
Good post. You obviously have the experience, knowledge and the opportunity to do the deed. That is a huge exception and definitely not the norm. That is why that I stated that my agreement was 99.9%
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I gotcha man, I totally get where you're coming from! What you said isn't wrong for a lot of people.
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I would use .25 and a hard pellet, a Benjamin pellet is Harder than a JSB pellet, it has a little more antimony in it makes it harder for better penetration, Just ask Manny.....
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Let's just say don't air gun boar hunt with dogs, and you'll probably be just fine. They won't usually charge you, unless they are hurt or cornered(or being chased). Last time I went, I was surrounded on all sides by them, but couldn't get the shot I wanted. They were closer than 10 yards from me, and I could only see in front of me. It was dark, and my red light has a very tight beam. I could hear them right on top of me, but I couldn't see to shoot. I had my air gun in one hand with my XDM .40 in the other hand. That was getting too sketchy, even for me, so I decided to throw in the towel. I let out a loud whistle, and they scattered away from me in all directions. I promptly gathered my stuff together and noisily made my way out I do always have my .40 with me, just in case. That was the first time I thought I may have to use it. I always hunt from a stand or a chair, so they will haul tail whenever I get made... usually. But yeah, you do need to be smart about it, and don't do dumb things that will get you hurt. That includes making bad shots that you shouldn't have taken.
I do always have my .40 with me, just in case. That was the first time I thought I may have to use it. I always hunt from a stand or a chair, so they will haul tail whenever I get made... usually. But yeah, you do need to be smart about it, and don't do dumb things that will get you hurt. That includes making bad shots that you shouldn't have taken. Upvote 0
You ain't wrong about that! I know guys that use dogs, and they usually use ARs or shot guns with 000 buckshot.
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Most guys are going to shoot from a stand or a blind, you might not want to spot and stalk with a small Bore, but the aforementioned stuff would be fine.
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