Hog hunting with an air rifle?

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/55316/1079652

Are you kidding me? Is this a trick, or did this really happen? I might have to upgrade my air rifle.

If I can empty 6 rounds from an issue 1911 into the chest of an oncoming hog and it not drop, I am sure not going looking for one with an air rifle. The 7th into the head did the trick and told me to aim a little higher to start next time.

With .177 it is a surprise for sure, but he is claiming about the same velocity as a .22 long rifle and mentions a heavy alloy pellet.

Here in Canada any pellet gun that can shoot faster than 500 feet per second is counted as a firearm, and people have been killed with lower velocity pellet guns.
The last one in the news was the death of a 13 year old boy in British Columbia last fall.

I don't think anyone with a sane mind would try hog hunting with ANY air gun chambered in .177. That said, there are some very powerful precharged air guns out there. Around 1780 an Austrian gunmaker Girandoni developed a powerful .51 caliber repeating air breachloader (smoothbore) that held enough air for about 20 shots. At least the first 10 shots or so were ballistically comparable to .45ACP and more than powerful enough to kill a man at 100 yards. There were several specialist units issued with that gun who could provide accurate fire at a rate unheard of in the age of single shot muzzleloaders. Lewis and Clarke probably used the very same model on their expedition.

Today there are a number of manufacturers offering similar high power air guns. They're really popular in Asia and some other countries where access to firearms is very restricted but air guns can be owned legally (sometimes regardless of power!). Shinsung is probably the leading brand, they make a PCP rifle in .50 cal that packs a punch. It also makes about as much noise as a real firearm. People have used them to harvest all kinds of game and they could definitely take a deer at 100 yards even with less than perfect shot placement.

IMHO, that demo is in poor taste. The guy acts juvenile, and it almost appears as though he's taken an animal's life just for the sake of selling some pellets.

And, I've seen my bro shoot a hog in the head at close range with a .45 Combat Commander with little or no effect. So, YMMV.

I agree. He seems to get too much joy from killing. Hunting out of necessity is one thing. But if the day ever comes when you stop feeling sympathy for the animal, it's time to pause and do some soul searching.

Nonetheless, I am impressed with the results. I still wouldn't try it as long as I have my shotgun. But knowing that it's possible for an air rifle to kill a hog makes me more confident in its ability to kill other animals that are not as tough as a hog.

I think the air rifle worked in the video clip because it fired a bullet travelling at a pretty good speed and that bullet hit the hog in a sensitive location. I couldn't be sure, but it looks like the hog was hit in the head.

If you are hunting, I think in almost all cases, you are aiming for a sensitive location. Otherwise, you run the risk of the prey running off and either getting away entirely or suffering. Hitting the point you are aiming for takes skill.

From what I've read, almost every species of critter in North America has been killed using a .22LR, including moose and grizzly. I wouldn't want to set out with a .22 to hunt any such animal, but it could work.

As far as taking joy from succeeding in hunting, that doesn't shock me in the least. I'd expect it in many cases. Most people I know who hunt do not need to do so to feed themselves. However, if one just kills and does not seek to make use of the animal after it is dead, then something is wrong, imo.

Even the great hunter Roy Spim knew this...

Voice: Now more than ever, they must rely on the skills they have learnt from a lifetime's hunting. (tense music, as they worm their way forward) Hank gauges the wind. (shot of Hank doing complicated wind gauging biz.) Roy examines the mosquito's spoor. (shot of Roy examining the ground intently) Then ... (Roy fires a bazooka. Hank fires off a machine gun; a series of almighty explosions in the small patch of field; the gunfire stops and the smoke begins to clear) It's a success. The mosquito now is dead. (Hank and Roy approach the scorched and blackened patch in the field) But Roy must make sure. (Roy points machine gun at head of mosquito and fires off another few rounds)
Roy: There's nothing more dangerous than a wounded mosquito.

Well, maybe yes and maybe no...

nailgun suicide attempt

Not always. I know people have been shot in the head and lived.

Although, head shots are probably more lethal than shots hitting elsewhere on a body.

That has happened in Colorado also. Son #1 has a friend (thru travel hockey) who's father was the surgeon who removed the nails.

(Deleted by author)

Not very ethical it would seem to me. Then again, Jack London firmly believed that a 270 Winchester round was adequate for taking Polar ber at range. Go figure.

I believe Napoleon made a rule that any enemy combatant caught with a pneumatic rifle would be summarily executed. They must've been quite effective if he felt that passionately about it.

Having seen what a 45 cal ball will do to inside of 10 yards from a wrist rocket, I've no doubt that a pneumatic is capable of clean one shot kills consistently within prescribed range. I would not hunt a hog or any large game with a 22lr or anything with less energy, unless my life depended on it.

That said, people who hunt big boars with a couple dogs and a knife to me are just about as nuts.

I'm searching around a bit for air rifles in .22, not for hog hunting, but for smaller game. Came across this video review of a Gamo Whisper CSI with air ram upgrade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HiX-a-TLbeM

He seems pretty pumped up about it. Anyone have any experience with this particular model, or have any other model that you would recommend?

Miss by a bit, hit the jaw, and you have an animal that will
starve to death.

Air guns 20 cal and larger are legal for turkey in CA.

If I were to try shooting a pig with something like that,
I would pick the smallest one in the drift. Often there
are sucklings. Then get real close.

The gristle pads on the shoulders of the boars sometimes
stop 30-06 bullets.

"...that demo is in poor taste..."

It appears to be just about the same thing you see on any weekend hunting program on TV. Guy shoots gun, target (if hit) falls down dead. Shooter hoots, high fives buddies...

"...You shoot anything in the head it's gonna pretty much die..."

Maybe, maybe not. I know of a deputy sheriff trying to put an injured horse down. .357 mag bounced off of the skull, hit a highway cop, killed him. I have shot injured cattle, if you don't hit the proper part of the skull, you cause a major nose bleed and probably a monster headache, but you don't kill the cow. Lotsa tough skulls out there...

You've got that right! Years ago I drove a milk tanker for a living, driving to dairy farms to pick up their milk and run it to the dairy. At one farm, after hooking everything up and starting the pump, I figured I'd go sit in the cab and read a magazine while the pump did it's work. So I'm sitting there when the farmer's two sons pull up in a pickup towing an empty cattle trailer. They then lead a cow into the trailer, turn her around and start back out, stopping where they can close the door of the trailer on the cow's neck, and then jam a piece of 2x4 into the door to hold it in place. I'm sitting there with a puzzled look on my face trying to figure out what they're doing. Well, the one shows up with a .22 bolt action and shoots the cow in the forehead.

Nothing. No effect at all.

He chambers another round and shoots again. This time the cow goes down on her front knees. The other kid starts cutting her throat! At first I was shocked, and then I got angry! I got out and told them to have the decency to kill the poor creature before you start sawing on her, drew my .45 and put a round just above her eyes.
They weren't happy about it saying it would destroy too much meat, but I told them they have the obligation to kill the animal as quickly and painlessly as possible (and that they needed a bigger gun!).

Cattle are easy. You draw an imiginary line from right ear to left eye, and left ear to right eye. Shoot one inch above where the lines cross. You can do it with a .22. They should have known that. Miss that spot by much and here comes that bloody nose, etc...

Airguns are my main hobby. If you are interested in airguns you might want to check out www.yellowforum.com

Most airgunners will cringe at the mention of the STUNT Gamo pulled killing the pig with a 177 pellet. I guess anything can be killed with a 177 pellet and a lucky shot but it is not practical, repeatable, or ethical. There are big bore airguns made today that are very capable of killing large game but they are in a completely different league as most airguns. I am not into the big bores myself as they are contrary to why I like airguns. I like airguns because they are quieter and safer due to their limited range. Air rifles are ideal weapons for small game. If you read much on the airgun forum site you will realize that airgunners are much more interested in accuracy than power. Shot placement is everything when you are using such a small and lightweight projectile. Lower powered airguns are much easier to shoot accurately. I good mid range airgun to hunt with would be a RWS 34. Another option you might want to consider is the new Crosman Discovery PCP.

Thanks for the chance to share my passion here,

David Enoch

David,

Thanks for the info. I've been flipping back and forth between an airgun and a .22 rimfire for hunting small game, maybe your link will help me decide.

-Mark