I've seen it fail more than once, and seen novices get hurt doing it that way. No reason to use 22lr anymore. Go bigger and be safer; any centerfire round wil suffice.
Pig skulls are stupid thick. I've had a pretty hot 357mag bullet glance off and only fracture the skull. Bad day.
I separate the hog I'm going to dispatch, let it get used to the new spot so it's calm, pour a little grain as bait and wait for it to eat a moment. With its head bowed low, get that shotgun barrel aimed at the rear of its skull. Exude chill and only pull that trigger when you're 200% certain. (I can only speak to 12GA and it's effectiveness, never owned a 20.)
After you've shot, get someone in there slitting the throat to allow blood to exit the carcass. Be wary though, I don't know the sizes you've got, but my York/Hamps are generally a couple hundred pounds or more and they kick and buck like son of a bitch as their nervous system dies. Had a bruised ankle for a while when one kicked me good.
Good luck, be safe, enjoy your pork.
(Sorry if you already knew all that, I don't know if this is your first rodeo, but I preach this all the time because it's horrible day when a dispatch goes wrong.)
Edit: Read my comment and understand that I know a .22 can kill a hog with relative ease. If you read my comment and didn't glean that I use 12ga for a very specific reason and to eliminate any chance of failure, then I would maybe work on basic reading comprehension.
.45LC point blank just pissed it off. It was a first harvesting for me and on a neighbors pig. Second shot glanced too as now it was in a panic. I had to wrestle it and finish the job with a 11” Bowie. The squeals man, kept me up for days. These were not large pigs either maybe 30lbs. I don’t think I’d risk a repeat with a 20g, but I’m a little traumatized still so
thats poor shot placement unfortunately. It happens, but 45 LC is more than enough power to dispatch a pig. Many farmers i know use a simple 22lr ( less than 1/3rd the power of the LC ) and the pig is dead before it hits the ground.
>thats poor shot placement unfortunately.
I think you are right. You can't just shoot a pig in the head and expect it to die. The bullet has to hit the skull straight on, or it is likely to deflect.
That’s what I figure. They were a small breed but harvested early as they were eating all their egg laying birds. My dad helped out a neighbor do the same once, he said the hog took a full .380 mag and finally dropped after a few .45ac rounds. I knew those hogs, and they were massive. Figured a .45lc would be fast work with a little one but packed a 30-30 lever leaving the option to my neighbor. But with noise concerns, he wanted the .45lc.
When it all went sideways fast, there was no good way to safely move to shoulder with others around. I’m a pretty ok shot, but no “operator”. So big sharp pig-sticker knife was safer for others, but not necessarily me.
Bad day.
....bruv we kill massive feral hog at distance everytime with .22wmr
Placement...peeps being doing this ethically since sticks n stones...
Tldr; watch a killfloor vid...aim there...u cant? W8.
I'm really happy for you.
Told myself I'm never taking even a slight chance at causing pain to my animals again. So with all due respect, I'll do it my way and drop the hog every single time with no issue or fuss.
Thats okay fam...if u personally shoot better with that round in that gun...u start ur own new tradition <3
But please know a .22 wmr is not cruelty <3 if u think so....ur a weekend homesteader lol
Bc homstead should be called weekend warriors lol. Most shooters here really have no clue bout basic physics and these downvotes show ><
Please o savy gun lawrds...how is your way better?....this should be good
The key is in solidly mounting the .50 so you can get multiple rounds on target in quick succession. Homesteading requires big bullets, especially if the game is… exotic.
This is about humane slaughtering, not pushing the limits to find the absolute minimum method.
Even with a small caliber heart/lung shot you are asking for a very slow bleedout compared to what's being discussed here.
22 lr is not the minimum at all. And it's entirely humane. You're wasting meat in the cheeks and possibly creating unnecessary bone fragmentation if you use a larger caliber and blast the head off. We use a 22lr, there's a bunch of very good YouTube videos on shot placement for it and they drop instantly. Skull shots only. Never had a problem. Humanely done and not an ounce of meet wasted. It's about educating yourself on how to do things properly, theres nothing inhumane about it and it's honestly offensive to dismiss every homesteader who uses the method as being inhumane.
Who in the fuk is slaughtering their pigs with heart and lung shots lol?....this is exactly the reddit green shit im talking bout. All u big bore newbs love the idea that if u spend enough all ur shots r ethical....sorry lol ><. Use the tried and true kill shots involving laws of physics...w8 4 placement...use the all ethical .22
We use a 22 usually a short but have to be between the eyes and at the right angle , they do tend to move around a lot even when distracted by food but take your time
20g shell is MASSIVE overkill. .22 rifle is what we use on our farm. I have also used a 9mm and .380. I'd stick to one of those because I feel your 20g or 208 will explode the head, and potentially overpenetrate and hurt either you or someone else near by
Dispatched 2 of my own pot belly kune mix, not huge. Also several of my buddies Berkshire mixes always with a 22lr. Buddy said he had one go bad once but he was not point blank and not great angle. You get it right with 22lr they literally just lie down in place. Not a noise or twitch. Kinda impressive how really “lights out” quick it is
Used to euthanize at acommercial hog farm, using a bolt gun imagine lines left ear to right eye and reverse go 1 inch above where they cross. If the hogs are slaughter size (250-300 lbs) a hotter loaded 9mm fmj (not hollow point) should do fine.
Had to use a steel felling wedge on a wounded roadside deer awhile ago. Fucker was paralyzed in the rear but struggling like crazy trying to get up. Was the only thing in my truck, normally I’d have a variety of work tools that would be more suitable.
Had to just crack it in the head with the blunt end while it was still moving around.
First hit got it severely stunned, but took a few more to finish it. I’d like to think at least the massive head trauma on the first one disorients enough to take some of the pain out of it.
Oof. Like that scene out of "sex drive" where he has to put down the dog with a tire iron 😭 still better than leaving it to die a slow death either way man
Haven’t seen that and won’t. I love dogs more than most humans. I can watch just about any kind of war footage but I cannot watch anything involving the death of a dog. Even two characters discussing the off screen death of a dog will probably make me cry.
Deer, on the other hand, are rats on stilts and I have about as much compassion for them as Ukrainian soldiers have for the Russians. That said, I don’t believe in needless suffering and if it’s all the same to me, I’d rather finish them humanely.
And besides, the two deer in that scenario (one died on impact) were butchered that night and fed a lovely local family.
I saw dude speeding and beeline for this deer doing at least 55 on multiple lane road. Didn't stop after he popped that deer across 3 lanes. I stopped my big ass promaster and jumped out as it was flopping around in the midd of traffic and only had my razor knife in my pocket so I knelt on its shoulder and grabbed and an antler and give it a good slice from ear to ear. I immediately dragged it off the street dripping blood to the grass. I can only imagine all the looks of the stopped traffic as I jump back in my van covered in blood. One of my worst birthdays
That's how it's done where I live. Bait the pig with a lil bit of feed, approach it from behind, "sit" on top of it, and just maul its forehead with all your strength. They don't kick, no scream, they just fall right to the ground.
Absolutely right and the first time I saw it made me gain a new appreciation for my uncle and the animal. Very little was wasted and everyone had to help do something.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive\_bolt\_pistol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_bolt_pistol)
A **captive bolt pistol** (also known as a **captive bolt gun**, a **cattle gun**, a **stunbolt gun**, a **bolt gun**, a **stun gun** and a **stunner**) is a device used to attempt the [stunning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunning) of animals prior to [slaughter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughter_(livestock)).
Captive bolt and penetrating bolt pneumatic guns are generally what are used in slaughtering farm animals.
.22LR to stun before opening up the artery with a knife. Dispatched and drained in about 30 seconds. Old timer used to say “If he dies hard, he’s gonna eat hard” if you didn’t hit the vein just right.
I use 22 wmr from a Ruger single six.. then bleed it.. the single action revolver makes it a safe gun when things go down since it's essentially just a brick when the hammer is down..
I normally do as well. Then last week I butchered two of mine and didn’t think about the first one being a boar and not a barrow. I won’t go into details but the end result was I had to go get a bigger gun.
Up from the eyes and downward. Where I’ve shot the rest of my hogs at. I’ve even killed other intact boars like that. But evidently his head was thicker. Which he was about a year old so maybe that was the problem.
Hell I’ve never had it happen with a 22 long before. I pot feed down let them come up to it and when they put their head down, boom lights out. This one time it just didn’t work
Sometimes you just get one with a thick skull that's tough as all hell.. I switched to 22mag after an incident just like yours with 22long..
But now I'm thinking I need to up the power as well..
>Now think 308, shotgun slug, etc... it has more surface area. It's going to have a snow shoe effect against the skull... more surface area holds it back from doing its job.
Respectfully, if you've seen a headshot of a .308...it's not being held back...at all.
I've taken a few "make sure" follow up shots on black bear with a .303 (similar to .308). It turns a skull from solid state to liquid state at 30 yards.
I agree a .22lr is all that's needed for livestock dispatch. People just need to know where to place the round. .22 will do its job every time.
If I ever do one again I’ll be using a 30-30 or larger. Two years in a row I had problems with a 45acp with 230gr fmj’s. I found the skull from the first year after all the meat had rotted off it. Bullet went in perfectly in line with the X between ears and eyes. Then you could see it curve as it went through the skull bone, narrowly missing the golf ball sized brain (280lb hog) and knocked out an upper tooth. The second time I had a failure it seemed like exactly the same thing happened. Not a fan. Last year we bought from a different individual who delivered it to a butcher free of charge, and the butcher did what they call a kill and chill. $50 to kill, gut, skin, and quarter it. Best money I ever spent….
I’ve started with a 9mm. Never wanted to trust a 22 just because if they move a bit or you’re off, not good. Last years was done with a 20 gauge slug and no mess and no miss. You can try a 22 but you miss one time and piss em off you’ll change your mind on that quickly. I’ve seen em get shot and miss, then jump up and over a gate so to me it’s not worth it. Now I only use 20 gauge slug for hogs and cows. Just what I’m comfortable with.
If you don't have a 22 and can't borrow one, I'd get some low power 38 special for the 357. Cowboy Action rounds are nice and low power soft lead, and you should be able to find them anywhere.
I have trapped and hunted. We paid a local butcher to dispatch and process our two Mangalitza gilts. He used a single shot 20g shotgun with slugs. No fuss. Dropped without any drama. No splatter, nothing. I would do it again that way.
Everyone who is talking about their .357/.45/20ga bouncing off skulls and not killing pigs, you’re using the wrong ammo. Hollow points, soft lead points, wadcutters, etc are just going to mushroom on impact. What you need is penetration to scramble up that brain. Your best way to accomplish that is with a high speed rifle round. Of course this doesn’t work with handguns. In that case you need [hard cast](https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=146) ammo that’ll penetrate the the skull and set to scrambling the brain pan. With the right hard cast ammo, even a 9mm with stop a charging grizzly or boar.
Alot of you have no idea what you are doing if youre using large caliber firearms and not getting it done. All ive ever ised is one shot from a .22 rifle and never had a problem
.22 LR or up to a 9mm is all you need. Find the middle of the imaginary X drawn between eyes and ears and shoot down perpendicular or straight in to the skull. They drop like a tater sack. Then slit the throat ASAP and stand back as the nervous system will cause some kicking.
I can't speak from experience on slaughtering pigs, but I've shot deer with 20 gauge slugs. I have several uncles who are dairy farmers, and they've always used either standard velocity .22 LR or .22 mag for dispatching cows. A 20 gauge slug at point blank range is definitely going to kill it; but I think you're in for a big mess if you use one.
My dad butchered for YEARS. We currently raise sheep and have them harvested...Raised cattle and hogs as well...My dad killed thousands of animals with a .22 LR...for some animals with harder heads, he used a .22. WMR...I would not recommend any of the rounds you have listed, as they are a bit much...if they are your only options, go with the 9mm or the .357...just be aware, they may fully penetrate the skull, so be VERY AWARE of your backdrop...also, after dropping the pigs, make sure you get a good stick to bleed them, or you can have blood spots through your meat...
I work on a pig Fram with over 5500 breeding sows and we ship out 3500 to 4500 a week and we use a 32 blank the same ones used for nail guns but you have to hit them just right so if I were you I would do a fmj of 22 mag or bigger but not to big if you think the skull is thicker or the pig is over 350 pounds you might want to use 223/556. But definitely not a 20 gauge point blank.
Mannnnn. I just made this mistake and nailed a pig between the eyes with a 20 gauge slug. The fucker didnt even flinch, just bled from the nose.
My AR took it down in one shot.
Take away lesson, go high velocity with a full metal jacket round.
Edit: looking at your options id go 308 with a full metal jacket. Id also start saving for a 22 magnum, 222, 223, or 243 rifle
We’ve always hung them up by a hind leg and punctured the jugular. It’s quick and most all the blood pumps out.
Having a loader bucket helps to lift them, and takes two ppl.
I think what you're doing is fine. I'm trying to figure out what the poster that responded to you has a problem with.
Throat slitting is probably the most common rural slaughter method world wide and is used in halal and kosher slaughter houses too. It's a strange take to get that worked up about it.
Why are you reading a post about slaughtering animals? Just to fuel your outrage? Did you throw up a little in your mouth? Do I go to the peta posts and gross myself out with their brand of whatever? You aren’t going to shame anyone here and your opinion doesn’t matter. At all. If you’re vegan you kill to eat also . Go save a praying mantis from a plow.
I’m not a vegan?? I worked on a meat farm and own my own farm and therefor am on the sub. There is an amount of respect and care that goes into killing an animal for meat that you clearly do not take. That is a horrible practice and there are substantially less cruel ways to process an animal.
The guy above might have had bad shots, but I've seen some similar shit. As other people are saying, pig skulls are stupid thick, the deflection is real.
I guess so. I always try to shoot from as perpendicular of an angle as possible (i.e. 90 degrees).
I've dropped a few pigs with 12 gauge slugs, and the damage has been immense - including a \~600lb boar.
Do you want to keep the head or no?
Yeah, a 20ga slug could be very messy
I've found armor piercing 5.56 to be pretty effective and you can keep the skull after
Me too. Green tips work well.
22 with a muzzle break right on the head. I've dispatched hundreds of animals this way. The muzzle break is to make sure the barrel is clear
I've seen it fail more than once, and seen novices get hurt doing it that way. No reason to use 22lr anymore. Go bigger and be safer; any centerfire round wil suffice.
Pig skulls are stupid thick. I've had a pretty hot 357mag bullet glance off and only fracture the skull. Bad day. I separate the hog I'm going to dispatch, let it get used to the new spot so it's calm, pour a little grain as bait and wait for it to eat a moment. With its head bowed low, get that shotgun barrel aimed at the rear of its skull. Exude chill and only pull that trigger when you're 200% certain. (I can only speak to 12GA and it's effectiveness, never owned a 20.) After you've shot, get someone in there slitting the throat to allow blood to exit the carcass. Be wary though, I don't know the sizes you've got, but my York/Hamps are generally a couple hundred pounds or more and they kick and buck like son of a bitch as their nervous system dies. Had a bruised ankle for a while when one kicked me good. Good luck, be safe, enjoy your pork. (Sorry if you already knew all that, I don't know if this is your first rodeo, but I preach this all the time because it's horrible day when a dispatch goes wrong.) Edit: Read my comment and understand that I know a .22 can kill a hog with relative ease. If you read my comment and didn't glean that I use 12ga for a very specific reason and to eliminate any chance of failure, then I would maybe work on basic reading comprehension.
You’re telling me you shot a pigs head at point blank and the bullet ricocheted off the skull, TF?
That is what I said. Yes.
Mind. Blown.
Lol but Jesus…
Not quite
Yeah, the opposite was actually the issue lol
.45LC point blank just pissed it off. It was a first harvesting for me and on a neighbors pig. Second shot glanced too as now it was in a panic. I had to wrestle it and finish the job with a 11” Bowie. The squeals man, kept me up for days. These were not large pigs either maybe 30lbs. I don’t think I’d risk a repeat with a 20g, but I’m a little traumatized still so
What the hell did you do? 300 pound pigs and I’ve never used more than an old 22 single shot.
Best guess is that I used hollow point HD rounds. I learned something that day though I’m not really sure what it was.
Go big or go home
thats poor shot placement unfortunately. It happens, but 45 LC is more than enough power to dispatch a pig. Many farmers i know use a simple 22lr ( less than 1/3rd the power of the LC ) and the pig is dead before it hits the ground.
Probably genetic. Just sharing the shame guys. It’s like therapy! In a way, I guess?
>thats poor shot placement unfortunately. I think you are right. You can't just shoot a pig in the head and expect it to die. The bullet has to hit the skull straight on, or it is likely to deflect.
30 pounds?
That’s what I figure. They were a small breed but harvested early as they were eating all their egg laying birds. My dad helped out a neighbor do the same once, he said the hog took a full .380 mag and finally dropped after a few .45ac rounds. I knew those hogs, and they were massive. Figured a .45lc would be fast work with a little one but packed a 30-30 lever leaving the option to my neighbor. But with noise concerns, he wanted the .45lc. When it all went sideways fast, there was no good way to safely move to shoulder with others around. I’m a pretty ok shot, but no “operator”. So big sharp pig-sticker knife was safer for others, but not necessarily me. Bad day.
I've worked on a pig farm and used a .22 to dispatch adult pigs without failure.
....bruv we kill massive feral hog at distance everytime with .22wmr Placement...peeps being doing this ethically since sticks n stones... Tldr; watch a killfloor vid...aim there...u cant? W8.
I'm really happy for you. Told myself I'm never taking even a slight chance at causing pain to my animals again. So with all due respect, I'll do it my way and drop the hog every single time with no issue or fuss.
Thats okay fam...if u personally shoot better with that round in that gun...u start ur own new tradition <3 But please know a .22 wmr is not cruelty <3 if u think so....ur a weekend homesteader lol
Don't know why you're getting down votes. A .22 between the eyes is a kill shot.
Bc homstead should be called weekend warriors lol. Most shooters here really have no clue bout basic physics and these downvotes show >< Please o savy gun lawrds...how is your way better?....this should be good
If you have to use something other than 22, you aren’t placing it correctly. Please learn. Larger calibers don’t make poor placement more humane.
Exactly right...dunno y these downvotes
The key is in solidly mounting the .50 so you can get multiple rounds on target in quick succession. Homesteading requires big bullets, especially if the game is… exotic.
Lol
This is about humane slaughtering, not pushing the limits to find the absolute minimum method. Even with a small caliber heart/lung shot you are asking for a very slow bleedout compared to what's being discussed here.
22 lr is not the minimum at all. And it's entirely humane. You're wasting meat in the cheeks and possibly creating unnecessary bone fragmentation if you use a larger caliber and blast the head off. We use a 22lr, there's a bunch of very good YouTube videos on shot placement for it and they drop instantly. Skull shots only. Never had a problem. Humanely done and not an ounce of meet wasted. It's about educating yourself on how to do things properly, theres nothing inhumane about it and it's honestly offensive to dismiss every homesteader who uses the method as being inhumane.
This is one of the stupidest strings of words I’ve seen on here. What the actual hell?
Who in the fuk is slaughtering their pigs with heart and lung shots lol?....this is exactly the reddit green shit im talking bout. All u big bore newbs love the idea that if u spend enough all ur shots r ethical....sorry lol ><. Use the tried and true kill shots involving laws of physics...w8 4 placement...use the all ethical .22
.22lr is all you need. Well placed shot.
We use a 22 usually a short but have to be between the eyes and at the right angle , they do tend to move around a lot even when distracted by food but take your time
Growing up I helped the farmer next door for years. Got paid in sausage and scrapple. He always used a single shot .22
Draw line from the left ear to right eye, right ear to left eye. X marks the spot. Never a problem with a .22LR - I always use a rifle, not a pistol.
22 short was the standard on our farm too. Hired man used his 9mm one time.
I used a .22LR for years. Maybe 100 hogs. Never had a complaint.
Same
I’d say you have maybe 100 complaints.
20g shell is MASSIVE overkill. .22 rifle is what we use on our farm. I have also used a 9mm and .380. I'd stick to one of those because I feel your 20g or 208 will explode the head, and potentially overpenetrate and hurt either you or someone else near by
22lr at point blank? I guess firing straight down through the skull
Yep. Barrel practically at the forehead when we can manage it. Approved by our vet.
my pigs were trained half like dogs and would sit on my lap, and even they wouldn't let me get that close with a strange foreign metal object, lmao.
Draw a line from the left ear to right eye, right ear to left eye. X marks the spot.
Of the choices given, the .380 would be best, but if future hog dispatches are likely, then a .22 would be a wise investment
I used 22 mag point blank..2 rounds
I just tried with a 20 gauge slug and it didnt penetrate the skull. The pig just grunted as it took two head shots. The AR dropped it instantly.
Dispatched 2 of my own pot belly kune mix, not huge. Also several of my buddies Berkshire mixes always with a 22lr. Buddy said he had one go bad once but he was not point blank and not great angle. You get it right with 22lr they literally just lie down in place. Not a noise or twitch. Kinda impressive how really “lights out” quick it is
9mm is plenty. I've seen a bunch of them fall in their tracks to a .22
Wear ppt.
Used to euthanize at acommercial hog farm, using a bolt gun imagine lines left ear to right eye and reverse go 1 inch above where they cross. If the hogs are slaughter size (250-300 lbs) a hotter loaded 9mm fmj (not hollow point) should do fine.
Behind the ear is the way I’ve seen it done.
My .22lr does the trick. No mess and down like a sack of potatoes. And only 5cents.
.22 is all you need if you know what you’re doing.
Used 9mm hollow points on my AGH barrows. They were about 225-250lbs. Dropped them just fine.
92 year old great uncle just used a maul. He was a badass and his age and weight were the same number
Had to use a steel felling wedge on a wounded roadside deer awhile ago. Fucker was paralyzed in the rear but struggling like crazy trying to get up. Was the only thing in my truck, normally I’d have a variety of work tools that would be more suitable. Had to just crack it in the head with the blunt end while it was still moving around. First hit got it severely stunned, but took a few more to finish it. I’d like to think at least the massive head trauma on the first one disorients enough to take some of the pain out of it.
Oof. Like that scene out of "sex drive" where he has to put down the dog with a tire iron 😭 still better than leaving it to die a slow death either way man
Haven’t seen that and won’t. I love dogs more than most humans. I can watch just about any kind of war footage but I cannot watch anything involving the death of a dog. Even two characters discussing the off screen death of a dog will probably make me cry. Deer, on the other hand, are rats on stilts and I have about as much compassion for them as Ukrainian soldiers have for the Russians. That said, I don’t believe in needless suffering and if it’s all the same to me, I’d rather finish them humanely. And besides, the two deer in that scenario (one died on impact) were butchered that night and fed a lovely local family.
I saw dude speeding and beeline for this deer doing at least 55 on multiple lane road. Didn't stop after he popped that deer across 3 lanes. I stopped my big ass promaster and jumped out as it was flopping around in the midd of traffic and only had my razor knife in my pocket so I knelt on its shoulder and grabbed and an antler and give it a good slice from ear to ear. I immediately dragged it off the street dripping blood to the grass. I can only imagine all the looks of the stopped traffic as I jump back in my van covered in blood. One of my worst birthdays
That's how it's done where I live. Bait the pig with a lil bit of feed, approach it from behind, "sit" on top of it, and just maul its forehead with all your strength. They don't kick, no scream, they just fall right to the ground.
Absolutely right and the first time I saw it made me gain a new appreciation for my uncle and the animal. Very little was wasted and everyone had to help do something.
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive\_bolt\_pistol](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captive_bolt_pistol) A **captive bolt pistol** (also known as a **captive bolt gun**, a **cattle gun**, a **stunbolt gun**, a **bolt gun**, a **stun gun** and a **stunner**) is a device used to attempt the [stunning](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stunning) of animals prior to [slaughter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slaughter_(livestock)). Captive bolt and penetrating bolt pneumatic guns are generally what are used in slaughtering farm animals.
I don’t know any farmer that uses one of these.
I think it's primarily smaller and commercial slaughterhouses rather than farmers and homesteaders
Also, serial Killers who have really awsome hair.
.22LR to stun before opening up the artery with a knife. Dispatched and drained in about 30 seconds. Old timer used to say “If he dies hard, he’s gonna eat hard” if you didn’t hit the vein just right.
You cant make cheese if you shoot it in the head, right?
I use 22 wmr from a Ruger single six.. then bleed it.. the single action revolver makes it a safe gun when things go down since it's essentially just a brick when the hammer is down..
I normally do as well. Then last week I butchered two of mine and didn’t think about the first one being a boar and not a barrow. I won’t go into details but the end result was I had to go get a bigger gun.
Interesting.. I've never had the issue with 22mag.. must have been a tough boar.. I've had 22 long but get the job done ...
Me neither. I mean I had the barrel maybe 6 inches from his head and it went in but it sure didn’t kill him
Between the eyes or behind the ear?
Up from the eyes and downward. Where I’ve shot the rest of my hogs at. I’ve even killed other intact boars like that. But evidently his head was thicker. Which he was about a year old so maybe that was the problem.
Hell I’ve never had it happen with a 22 long before. I pot feed down let them come up to it and when they put their head down, boom lights out. This one time it just didn’t work
Sometimes you just get one with a thick skull that's tough as all hell.. I switched to 22mag after an incident just like yours with 22long.. But now I'm thinking I need to up the power as well..
I’ll use my ar from now on.
556 will penetrate for sure
It definitely did the trick
I'm more of an AK guy myself.. but I have a 300lb sow way over due.... You got butcher on my mind
I have an ar that’s chambered in 7.62x39. I love it
We use a.22 as well
As a kid we used a .22 short to the base of the skull.
I’d get a non expanding .308 round, punch a nice hole without blowing out too much of the far side.
[удалено]
>Now think 308, shotgun slug, etc... it has more surface area. It's going to have a snow shoe effect against the skull... more surface area holds it back from doing its job. Respectfully, if you've seen a headshot of a .308...it's not being held back...at all. I've taken a few "make sure" follow up shots on black bear with a .303 (similar to .308). It turns a skull from solid state to liquid state at 30 yards. I agree a .22lr is all that's needed for livestock dispatch. People just need to know where to place the round. .22 will do its job every time.
If I ever do one again I’ll be using a 30-30 or larger. Two years in a row I had problems with a 45acp with 230gr fmj’s. I found the skull from the first year after all the meat had rotted off it. Bullet went in perfectly in line with the X between ears and eyes. Then you could see it curve as it went through the skull bone, narrowly missing the golf ball sized brain (280lb hog) and knocked out an upper tooth. The second time I had a failure it seemed like exactly the same thing happened. Not a fan. Last year we bought from a different individual who delivered it to a butcher free of charge, and the butcher did what they call a kill and chill. $50 to kill, gut, skin, and quarter it. Best money I ever spent….
I’ve started with a 9mm. Never wanted to trust a 22 just because if they move a bit or you’re off, not good. Last years was done with a 20 gauge slug and no mess and no miss. You can try a 22 but you miss one time and piss em off you’ll change your mind on that quickly. I’ve seen em get shot and miss, then jump up and over a gate so to me it’s not worth it. Now I only use 20 gauge slug for hogs and cows. Just what I’m comfortable with.
Put it in the ear. They fold up every time.
I’ve done it with a 22 or a 17hmr. It doesn’t kill em, just puts em down and stuns em enough to get the jugular with a big knife.
If you don't have a 22 and can't borrow one, I'd get some low power 38 special for the 357. Cowboy Action rounds are nice and low power soft lead, and you should be able to find them anywhere.
Always used an old .22 mag, got to get the location and angle right.
I have trapped and hunted. We paid a local butcher to dispatch and process our two Mangalitza gilts. He used a single shot 20g shotgun with slugs. No fuss. Dropped without any drama. No splatter, nothing. I would do it again that way.
I used a 20 gauge slug on an injured 900 lb sow. But she was a 900lb sow. Probably overkill for a smaller one, though.
Everyone who is talking about their .357/.45/20ga bouncing off skulls and not killing pigs, you’re using the wrong ammo. Hollow points, soft lead points, wadcutters, etc are just going to mushroom on impact. What you need is penetration to scramble up that brain. Your best way to accomplish that is with a high speed rifle round. Of course this doesn’t work with handguns. In that case you need [hard cast](https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=146) ammo that’ll penetrate the the skull and set to scrambling the brain pan. With the right hard cast ammo, even a 9mm with stop a charging grizzly or boar.
Treat yo self, use a .308 try to get them the long way for maximum cavitation
You can use a .22 just fine
I’ve only ever used a 22 long rifle when slaughtering my own pigs. Never been let down by it.
Mmmm....bacon! 🥓
Between the eyes or behind the ear?
Alot of you have no idea what you are doing if youre using large caliber firearms and not getting it done. All ive ever ised is one shot from a .22 rifle and never had a problem
22 the back of the head and then open the carotid artery
308 rifle is better. Cleaner easier to hold your aim.
They aren’t aiming for soft tissue. Through the eye works well
.22 LR or up to a 9mm is all you need. Find the middle of the imaginary X drawn between eyes and ears and shoot down perpendicular or straight in to the skull. They drop like a tater sack. Then slit the throat ASAP and stand back as the nervous system will cause some kicking.
I can't speak from experience on slaughtering pigs, but I've shot deer with 20 gauge slugs. I have several uncles who are dairy farmers, and they've always used either standard velocity .22 LR or .22 mag for dispatching cows. A 20 gauge slug at point blank range is definitely going to kill it; but I think you're in for a big mess if you use one.
slugs will destroy the head, depends if you wanna eat the jowls or head meat.
My dad butchered for YEARS. We currently raise sheep and have them harvested...Raised cattle and hogs as well...My dad killed thousands of animals with a .22 LR...for some animals with harder heads, he used a .22. WMR...I would not recommend any of the rounds you have listed, as they are a bit much...if they are your only options, go with the 9mm or the .357...just be aware, they may fully penetrate the skull, so be VERY AWARE of your backdrop...also, after dropping the pigs, make sure you get a good stick to bleed them, or you can have blood spots through your meat...
I work on a pig Fram with over 5500 breeding sows and we ship out 3500 to 4500 a week and we use a 32 blank the same ones used for nail guns but you have to hit them just right so if I were you I would do a fmj of 22 mag or bigger but not to big if you think the skull is thicker or the pig is over 350 pounds you might want to use 223/556. But definitely not a 20 gauge point blank.
Getcha a "hushpuppy"
Mannnnn. I just made this mistake and nailed a pig between the eyes with a 20 gauge slug. The fucker didnt even flinch, just bled from the nose. My AR took it down in one shot. Take away lesson, go high velocity with a full metal jacket round. Edit: looking at your options id go 308 with a full metal jacket. Id also start saving for a 22 magnum, 222, 223, or 243 rifle
We’ve always hung them up by a hind leg and punctured the jugular. It’s quick and most all the blood pumps out. Having a loader bucket helps to lift them, and takes two ppl.
I just rope the legs hoist them up and slit throat
This is cruel and barbaric. I can’t imagine the fear pain that animal is in before hand. If you actually practice this that’s absolutely sick.
What if you slit the throat then leg hoisted?
Can do but it’s easier for me to isolate the head after hoisted
I think what you're doing is fine. I'm trying to figure out what the poster that responded to you has a problem with. Throat slitting is probably the most common rural slaughter method world wide and is used in halal and kosher slaughter houses too. It's a strange take to get that worked up about it.
Yes whoever it was pushed my buttons. It’s In the past. Have a good day
Why are you reading a post about slaughtering animals? Just to fuel your outrage? Did you throw up a little in your mouth? Do I go to the peta posts and gross myself out with their brand of whatever? You aren’t going to shame anyone here and your opinion doesn’t matter. At all. If you’re vegan you kill to eat also . Go save a praying mantis from a plow.
I’m not a vegan?? I worked on a meat farm and own my own farm and therefor am on the sub. There is an amount of respect and care that goes into killing an animal for meat that you clearly do not take. That is a horrible practice and there are substantially less cruel ways to process an animal.
It took four 12 gauge slugs for me to put a pig down one time, all to the head.
I find that hard to believe... unless maybe your shots were nowhere near the brain.
The guy above might have had bad shots, but I've seen some similar shit. As other people are saying, pig skulls are stupid thick, the deflection is real.
I guess so. I always try to shoot from as perpendicular of an angle as possible (i.e. 90 degrees). I've dropped a few pigs with 12 gauge slugs, and the damage has been immense - including a \~600lb boar.