22cal Airgun for Wildboar Hunting!?

[SenseiSmash]

I would be looking into:
Texan .308 and up.
AEA Zeus .457-.72 cal
But really if you are shooting on the ground I would want a big bore semiauto for quick follow-ups like the Western 457 Rattler.

 

[DeanB]

You absolutely must not have such a dangerous idea. Just last month, I also bought a Stoeger .22. A few days ago, I used it to shoot 11 rabbits. If I couldn’t get a headshot, the rabbit wouldn’t die from a single shot — some of them took 3 shots to go down. You can imagine how dangerous it would be to shoot a wild boar. Not only can it not penetrate the skull, it also can’t pierce the chest. You’d only end up enraging it, and it could charge and kill you. This gun only has 32 FPE. If your .22 can push a 34-grain slug to 1000 FPS and get a headshot, then maybe it could take down a small wild boar.View attachment 555872

If your having to shoot rabbits 3 times to kill them then your just not hitting them where you should, rabbits are one of the easiest animals on the planet to kill.

 

[Leo C]

If your having to shoot rabbits 3 times to kill them then your just not hitting them where you should, rabbits are one of the easiest animals on the planet to kill.

Yes, because .22 pellets are too easily affected by wind. And without a solid rest, if you don’t hit the head or chest, the rabbit can still run away. I had a few rabbits that took three shots — I broke their legs, hit their abdomen, and they still managed to move.
I use a .30 with the power turned up fairly high. If I hit any part of the rabbit’s body, it can’t escape. The .30 is much more forgiving, especially with a semi-auto. But with a .22, you have to hit a vital spot.

 

[DeanB]

You should only hunt/shoot in conditions where you can hit the vitals and if its so windy that at rabbit killing distances its blowing the pellet out of the vitals then maybe only shoot rabbits on calmer days. At 50 yards it takes a pretty(very) stiff breeze to blow a pellet out of a rabbits vitals. My suggestion would be to practice with your .22 in the conditions you think you will be hunting in so you know what our pellets going to do in the wind at varying distances then you wouldn't have to worry about breaking legs or shooting them in the guts. A .30 and semi auto is not needed to hunt bunnies I say this from 55 years of killing them with BB and pellet guns in .177 and .22.

 

[Leo C]

You should only hunt/shoot in conditions where you can hit the vitals and if its so windy that at rabbit killing distances its blowing the pellet out of the vitals then maybe only shoot rabbits on calmer days. At 50 yards it takes a pretty(very) stiff breeze to blow a pellet out of a rabbits vitals. My suggestion would be to practice with your .22 in the conditions you think you will be hunting in so you know what our pellets going to do in the wind at varying distances then you wouldn't have to worry about breaking legs or shooting them in the guts. A .30 and semi auto is not needed to hunt bunnies I say this from 55 years of killing them with BB and pellet guns in .177 and .22.

I found this while processing a rabbit—there was a pellet lodged in the meat of one of its hind legs, but the leg wasn’t broken. I’ve never used this type of pellet before, so this rabbit must’ve been an old veteran. This time, I gave it a forced retirement.
That’s also why I prefer using larger calibers when hunting. If it had been hit in the hind leg with a .30, there’s no way it could’ve gotten away.
I own five airguns—.22, .25, and .30 calibers. For hunting in the wild, my favorite is the fully automatic Sidewinder .30. Around the yard or near the house, I use the .22 Stoeger because I worry about stray shots damaging property or hurting someone. It’s also quieter, so it doesn’t disturb anyone nearby.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I found this while processing a rabbit—there was a pellet lodged in the meat of one of its hind legs, but the leg wasn’t broken. I’ve never used this type of pellet before, so this rabbit must’ve been an old veteran. This time, I gave it a forced retirement.
That’s also why I prefer using larger calibers when hunting. If it had been hit in the hind leg with a .30, there’s no way it could’ve gotten away.
I own five airguns—.22, .25, and .30 calibers. For hunting in the wild, my favorite is the fully automatic Sidewinder .30. Around the yard or near the house, I use the .22 Stoeger because I worry about stray shots damaging property or hurting someone. It’s also quieter, so it doesn’t disturb anyone nearby.

@Leo C This thread is about hunting wild hogs. Why are you still talking about rabbits that you find difficult to kill with a .22 pellet?

 

[JaceSpace1369]

Can you do it with a .22 pcp? Yes, recommended? No. If you so choose to use a twenty two, i would recommend something that has a lot of ass behind it. Vulcan 3 .22, Huben K1, guns as such.

 

[Leo C]

@Leo C This thread is about hunting wild hogs. Why are you still talking about rabbits that you find difficult to kill with a .22 pellet?

Alright, let’s get back to wild boar hunting. Using a .22 air rifle? Don’t even think about it — it’s truly dangerous.

 

[MJMDP]

I shot a boar years ago right behind the shoulder with a 150 grain Corelok from a 30-30 at 20 yards. Complete pass through, he flopped in his tracks, laid there a few seconds and jumped up and ran full steam right at me. Another one between the eyes dropped him a few feet in front of me. That’s a hunt you don’t forget. Think hard about a .22 airgun.

Because of a similar story I now always hunt with my 12 gauge shotgun at ground level when hog hunting. And the last 2 rounds are buck shot.

When shooting from high up or inside my truck I use rifle. 30.06 in my case.

Would never use my .22 airgun for a hog. Only if its in a trap or something similar. Like many have said, its not the right tool. Hogs are incredibly resilient.

 

[357cal]

I have 2 pcp that could possibly take one down.308 Texan AEA challenger 357 both well over 320 fpe and even then, I would be using a specialized slug and well off the ground. I'm going home the same way I came.

 

[airgunner53]

I mountain bike regularly and on 1 ride I turned the corner and found some wild pigs tearing up the grass eating what they could find. Lucky for me they where like 80lb pigs and they bounced with a quickness. Armed with a bear spray and a k-bar I would not want to have to fight them off. I've gone on long hikes and on one occasion myself and my group found FRESH large pig signs and tracks. I'm sure this one was well into the hundreds and they wanted to find it and see it. I was able to talk some sense into them and we left. These things can be vicious and tough. We used to slaughter our own animals in Mexico and even when stuck real well they put up a fight while bleeding out. Never hunted one before but I assure a powder burner or big bore would be in order with all the other safety precautions.

 

[The Lords Hand]

Hi guys
I recently bought a Stoeger Bullshark and would like to know if someone has experience with shooting hogs with a 22.cal Airgun
And if it would be managable what Pellets/Slugs would you recommend?
(At 50 yds i shoot 1cm groups)

I think that's what the .50 cals are for.

 

[Contndr35BB]

Hi guys
I recently bought a Stoeger Bullshark and would like to know if someone has experience with shooting hogs with a 22.cal Airgun
And if it would be managable what Pellets/Slugs would you recommend?
(At 50 yds i shoot 1cm groups)

Think of it this way, a .25 caliber ,even with slugs from a HP airgun has less ftlb.s of energy than a .22 rimfire Short. Would you want to hunt Wild Boar w/ a .22 Short ?! On our farm we raised & butchered our own hogs, we did use Shorts in a head shot at 10-20ft. This was to keep the bullet just in or under the brain . A Long rifle ( both Standard velocity RN ) would penetrate into the shoulders, so not wanted. Just wondering if your Health & Life Insurance is paid up !

 

[airgunner53]

Granted, another forum member has hunted them with 22ftlb .22 but he was elevated, waited for the perfect shot, and had his airgun dialed in. Not saying you have neither of those, just pointing out what may be necessary.
Hunting forum here in AGN
Headshot thread
Page 2
Nomadic pirate 66
.22 headshot on a pig.

 

[3Crows]

When I was about 14 yo I paddled my pirogue up into a shallow area to try and get into an old cutoff. It was spring high water so this area was normally dry(ish). I parked the pirogue and went into the ankle deep water to try and scout a passage and I had my trusty Crosman 140 .22 pumper. About that time I heard some noise from the other side of some willows and so snuck around to see what it was. It was a group of feral hogs.

At this point I was on dry ground, my pirogue about 50 yards distant parked in some rushes and cattails in shallow water. Hmmm, I picked out a nice size one, put the sights on the head behind the ear and pulled the trigger. They all jumped at the pop but not seeing me hidden in the willows and brush went back to feeding. The one I shot just snorted, shook it's head and continued on doing what it was doing. I pumped up again as quietly as possible (not easy) and shot it a second time, all H and e and double L broke loose. Pigs were running all over, squealing, snorting and then all of them including the one I shot came to be heading in my direction. I took to running and somehow lost my rifle. My feet were walking on water and I got in the pirogue and pushed into deeper water of the bayou just in the nick of time to not be eaten by the frenzied hogs. Then realized, my rifle was left behind.

Forlorn I returned home whereupon my grandfather asked me about where my rifle might be and did I not have any squirrels to clean? Upon telling him the story, first his face flushed, then turned bright red and then with much arm waving and some curse words I was told that a southerner never drops his rifle and runs and we are going back for it NOW! He grabbed a 12 guage and off we went to retireve my Crosman. Well, the rifle was on a patch of reeds, mostly dry and aside from a stain in the bluing was no worse for the happening. No pigs to be seen. My grandfather did not speak to me for days, dropping your rifle and running, what are you some sort of yankee or something! It took a lot of squirrels to make up.

So, no, no, a .22 air rifle is not enough gun for a tough old hog. Or any hog for that matter. But you can try, best have an escape plan or a pirogue nearby. The damaged bluing can be seen here, kind of dull area with no sheen where it laid upon the wet reeds.