exit hole survey

[bladerunner]

ok guys,which loads (caliber,bullet,velocity...or all that you know) have exited a hog. lets say hogs 60 lbs and heavier (otherwise someone will report a 22 short will go completly through a 5 lb piglet,lol).

also what was hit (shoulder,leg bone,ribs,neck,etc.)

thanks

[Mikey]

My hog rifles are 444 Marlin chambered Winchester 94AEs.  My loads vary from 300 gn hardcast gas checked to 335 hardcast gas checked - bullets and load data by Beartooth Bullets. 

The hogs I shoot range from about 325 - near 400 lbs and I shoot to hit just behind the head so as not to lose any meat.  I have never recovered a bullet.  One large hog I harvested with the 335 gn bullet took the slug behind the left ear, on a angle, and it exited the right shoulder.  The Butcher said I lost about a 5 lb roast.  All other hogs I have harvested have been taken with those hardcast bullets in the same manner and none of the slugs have ever been recovered.  Most shots were within 100m. 

[STUMPJMPR]

My 30-30 leaves about a 1"-1.5" hole.   Meat damage not too bad.  My 12ga slug gun leaves about a 1" hole but the meat damage is severe if shot in the shoulder. 

[SHOOTALL]

No exit but it may add some light . Hog was estimated at 250 by outfiter . I feel it was in the 190-200 lb range . Shot was 25 yards . Hog hit in neck - stopping at spine . Gun a 300 Win. Mag . Bullet 180 gr Federal , this was the exposed lead tip Federal loaded before all the speical bullets hit the market . Hog stopped and did not move forward after shot . He did not fall over for some time . Foam came from his mouth but no blood . He fell over and front legs started moving in odd moves then he expired . This was called a Russian boar . As GB points out if it did not come from Russia it ain't Russian . But it did have a shape similar to ones i have seen in pictures of a RB . Maybe it had some in its back ground , don't really know . It was black and built different than the barn yard ones.
My point in posting is it depends on the boar and what your bullet runs into . Until that shot I would have thought a 300 win mag would have sent a bullet thru a hog that size from stem to stern with little problem .

[drdougrx]

Here's run down on a few of mine.

1998 - 260lb - 270win BT - raking shot behing ribs left side, exit under rt jaw, 80yrds
2006 - 230ish lb hog - 45/70, 350gr Speer sp - shoulder shot - pass thru (looking for the video, if I find it i'll post it)- 40yrds
2007 - 400lbs -same load - 120yrds - 3 shots - all shoulder shots - all pass thrus
2008- 400lbs - 44mag - 240grxtp - 3 shots - 1st shot down flat - probably a spine shot - 2nd shot - finisher - 3rd shot - finisher#2 - penetration? - couldn't find any bullets, exits or visible blood due to the thickness of the gristle plate.  Because it was just about dark when I shot it, it went directly to the butcher and I didn't get to do an autopsey.  I did look at it from the inside at the taxid and there were three 1"long slits in on the inside of the gristle plate on either side.

This year, I'll be using my vintage 7x57 with 175gr hornady RN so we'll see.

[Dee]

Hog weight about 375 lbs, range about 30', 4570, 405 grain hard cast. Shot was forehead above and between both eyes, exit left ham. Exit hole about 1 inch.
Hog weight about 375 lbs, range about 25', 223, 52 grain match hollow point ot neck. No exit.
The rest vaious exits, 357 mag, 158 grain jacketed soft points (rifle), and 3030 150 grains, jacketed round noses, exit wounds about 1 inch.

[rickt300]

For me this could get to be a long list, using my 7x57 I have gotten exit holes using the 150 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tip, the 160 gr. Speer Hotcor, the 140 gr. Nosler Partition and the 160 gr. Sierra BTSP. The Ballistic Tip gave the largest exit holes of around 1/1/2 inches. The rest average around an inch. From my 308 the 165 gr. Remington PSPCL, 150 gr. Speer Hotcor, 150 gr. Nosler Solid bases all gave exits of around 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches in diameter. From my 270 using 130 gr. Nosler Solid bases, Hornady and Speer 150 gr. bullets and 150 gr. Nosler Partition golds I got exit holes just like the ones from the 7x57 with the exception of the Partition Golds, these were very small, close to 3/8ths of an inch. In my 30-06 I generally use 180 gr. bullets though I have shot a few hogs with the 165 gr. Rem. PSPCL, I have used the Speer 180 gr. Mag Tips, standard pointed Hotcors, and Sierra Gamekings. Exits generally are from 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. My 35 Whelen which is relativly new to me so I have only used two different bullets in it on hogs, the 250 gr. Speer Hotcor, 1 1/2 inch exit and the 200 gr. Hornady Spire point which bave a similar exit wound. The smaller bores like the 6MM Remington I occasionally use give small or non existant exit hole but still dead hogs. Wow I have killed a lot of hogs looking back on it. The existance of an exit hole does not determine if you will get a good blood trail, it's position is more important like if it is a low chest hit. I like to hit them 2-4 inches above the "elbow", in the neck in front of the shoulder or near the ear. I also shoot them in the spine when all I can see of them is their back. Anchoring them for the first shot is very important where I hunt due to the thick thorny brush they like to head for. Often a chest hit pig will run 50 to 100 yards before dropping.

[Land_Owner]

So many hogs 100 to 200 pounds...:

Win 270; 150 gr.; ranges to 200 yds:
Nosler Ballistic tip...leaves a large 4" dia. exit hole through the neck and head, DRT.
Speer Spire Point...leaves a 2" diameter exit hole      "         "    "       "        "         "
Speer Grand Slam...leaves a 1/2" exit hole that typically closes leaving no blood trail, and you have to chase the wounded pigs down.  Will cleanly go END to END out to 220 yards, if you want that shot...
Nosler Partition...RECOMMENDED, leaves 3/8" hole, DRT.

Marlin 30-30; 150 gr. or 170 gr.; ranges to 150 yds.:
Speer FN - leaves a 2" to 3" dia. hole through most parts, DRT.

45 LC; Ruger Super Blackhawk; 255 gr. cast FWC lead:
25 yards, through both ribs and spine, DRT, exit hole of 3" dia. incl. bone.

[drdougrx]

Sooo Blade....the point of this thread is what exactly???  I mean and I don't mean to offend but...pretty much any stoutly construced bullet sould be expected to exit I would think.  Was there some information you were looking for???

[bladerunner]

yeah,Doug....the point,or more like the info I was looking for is why I typically don't find any blood and why on the only two I have found there was no exit hole...one had two 25-06 entrance holes and the other had a 45-70 entrance hole....but no exit. Bone was hit on all these shots,I suppose,but dang they are tough to find with no blood trail. I was just seeing if I was the only one not getting an exit and/or a blood trail. I really thought the 45-70 would exit regardless of what it hit on a 80-90 lb pig,but it hit the shoulder and went through to the heart and split it in half...but never came out the other side. I may start hunting them with a .700 nitro,lol

[bladerunner]

btw,it was a remington 405 gr 45-70 factory load
and a hornady 117 gr sst 25-06....all under 50 yards

almost forgot a 44 mag 240 gr pmc solid point did the same thing....along with a 50 cal muzzle loader....they are TOUGH!!!!

[STUMPJMPR]

Bladerunner,

A hogs vitals are more directly behind his shoulder.  Their necks are real wide so their is a chance of hitting nothing but meat aiming their.  I have a theory on blood trails with rifles.  I don't know if it holds any truth or not. I noticed it after killing a deer with a bow.  A bullet imparts a lot of shock on its target.  When the animal is hit its organs temporarily stop working due to the hydro shock.   If his hart isn't pumping he can't bleed heavily.  Another reason for lack of blood trail is that the bullet hit high and the cavity had to fill up before the blood started pouring out.

[Dee]

yeah,Doug....the point,or more like the info I was looking for is why I typically don't find any blood and why on the only two I have found there was no exit hole...one had two 25-06 entrance holes and the other had a 45-70 entrance hole....but no exit. Bone was hit on all these shots,I suppose,but dang they are tough to find with no blood trail. I was just seeing if I was the only one not getting an exit and/or a blood trail. I really thought the 45-70 would exit regardless of what it hit on a 80-90 lb pig,but it hit the shoulder and went through to the heart and split it in half...but never came out the other side. I may start hunting them with a .700 nitro,lol

Blade unless a hog is real poor, most times the FAT closes up, or partly closes up the hole in the hide, and slows the blood loss. That's just the way hogs are. They store outter fat a little heavier than most critters. I've most times seen more blood come out of a hogs mouth, than the place where he was hit, provided he was lung hit. He has a much thicker skin than a deer, and that also accounts for the lack of obvious blood loss. The skin is elastic and closes up some also. Forget blood trails like you get with deer, it ain't gonna happen.

[chutesnreloads]

What DEE just said.The fat closes up the hole no matter how big.IF you don't want to track 'em make a spine or head shot.That almost allways will drop 'em right there.

[drdougrx]

OK Blade, now I understand.....  If the gristle plate is really thick or the hog is really fat, you very well may not see an exit.  This was the case of my last hog in December 2008 and the 44mag.  Couldn't find a hole anywhere.  The gristle plate was a full 2" right on through to almost the middle of the back.  After it was skinned, the taxidermist stood the hide on its brisket and the thing held up solid and looked like it was standing on two feet.  Then he cussed me for shoot'n another D**MN monster that would yet again dull his flesher.

[HL]

45-70 using a 300gr. Rem JHP, through both shoulders, exit hole 1-1/2", dead right there with blood 2-3 feet from backside of hog.

[Land_Owner]

Very few animals are going to survive a high powered rifle neck shot regardless of standard or premium bullet but, as pointed out, it is possible to wound one there and lose it.  I must be favored with a steady rest because I have not shot one in the neck with Nosler Partitions that didn't pass through and the hog die right there (knock on my noggin').

Several shot in the shoulder with, IMO lesser bullets, ran away not to be found.  Still, there are guns that shoot, shooters that shoot, and both standard and premium bullets.  I do not advocate "premium" over "standard" bullets.  I do advocate what works for me and what I can afford...to this I add, a steady rest, well practiced target shooting, and KNOWING where that bullet is going when the trigger is pulled...which is synonymous with confidence.

[JeffG]

I have shot a 275 lb pig with a 300WSM, 165 gr boatail, without an exit; ribs to shoulder.  Last year i shot a 200 lb with a .223 60 gr TAP and it went right through, neck shot through the spine just behind the skull.  It all depends.

[MildBill]

Question: Isn't the idea for the bullet to expend all it's energy within the body with good shot placement? I've only shot at and taken 2 hogs. #1- 120# @ 125 yd using a Browning A Bolt .270 loaded with Federal 130 g soft point, shot placement just behind the base of it's ear, severing the spine; #2- 269# @ 30 yd using Thompson White Mtn Carbine, 90 grains Pyrodex, 240 g Hornady 44 cal XTP, 50 cal sabot, shot placement directly under it's lower jaw head on. Both never moved and no exit holes. The guide who dressed the the 120# commented "that you know you have a good neck shot when we are skinning the hog from the tail end hanging when we get to the neck area as we pull the hide down the head comes off with the hide". When the 269# was field dressed the guide commented " the bullet blew up inside the chest cavity making mush of the heart and lungs".

[drdougrx]

Answer:  It depends!!  FOR ME...I want a bullet to expand and then exit....much like a partition.  On soft skinned animals, I shoot heavy for caliber bullets...in the .270 I shoot 150gr Noslet BTs and generally always get an exit.  I don't worry a whole lot about meat damage...sorry that's me.  I like 2 holes and a blood trail.  I also don't head shoot anything as I generally mount what I shoot....that's just me though.

[MildBill]

DrDougrx- I'm in total agreement regarding head shots and mounts. My comments were focused on HOGS understanding the heavy thick side armor. Regarding soft skinned animal (deer) Federal .270 130 g soft point, with shots ranging from 50-200 yd, I have had front shoulder far side meat damage with a near side heart shot on several occasions. Blood trail and tracking wasn't necessary as they drop within sight distance. I still didn't like the loss of meat due to damage. I guess it comes down to the type of game, the expectations for meat or mount and being confident in your shooting abilities and confidence. I see your a regular poster and I enjoy reading them. Stay safe and healthy!

[jmayton]

pretty much like everyone else said, it depends.  An exit wound is not a direct representation of bullet performance and killing power.  More of the pigs I have shot have died without exit wounds.  I've had a few run where the bullet did exit.  The hide of a pig is pretty tough even if there is little fat and gristle, so the bullet already has more to penetrate than it would say on a deer. 

To give you an idea of what good resistance will do to a bullet, a friend and I were out at his ranch shooting.  We had 532 yards available to us and he shot a 20oz bottle filled with water with a .308 Federal Gold Medal Match HP.  When we went to check the bottle, it had one hole in it some pieces of lead, and what appeared to be the entire jacket of the bullet, but no exit hole.  The bullet completely came apart in the few inches of water it travelled through.  So don't think that just because it doesn't exit it's not doing it's job.

[Default]

45 long colt / Uberti Lever action ( brass reciever) 19" barrel , 150lb boar /225gr winchester silver tip /30 yard shot no exit / 15 yard dart and piled up . 

Same weapon with Speer Gold Dot 250 gr ( flying ash trays ) 3 hogs / 1st 100 lb. boar 1"+ exit /20-25 yrds / ran 40+ yrds   
                                                     2nd 125 lb. boar  no exit after alot of bone contact , both shoulder blades and low on the spine contact / 45-50 yrds / DRT
                                                     3rd  Guessing well over 200 lb. / 35-40 yrds/ Solid boiler room shot knocked him flat for about 3 seconds then he was up and off with only one hole, Blood was picked up about 50to 60 yards from shot at, and a misrable 2.5 to 3 hours tracking through all kinds of hog nastiness to have the blood trail expire and no animal to show for it.  Might have been better served to have neck shot that big silver backed sucker.
 
 223 /22" bull barreled H&R handi rifle / 75gr hornady TAP/ 257 lb. boar/ 45-55yrds / Vitals shot ,no exit / One and done ( couldnt believe it myself , And was one hell of a tusker too )

 270 WSM / Savage M10 laft hand 24" barrel Iron sights/ 130gr balistic tipped boat tail Win. Supreme/ 125 lb. Boar / 30-35 yrds full run / 2" exit with a 3' blood spray , Hog moved diagonally back from the direction he was headed about 7 to 8" and was dead when found.

 The boys that have chimed in have a good knowledge of these critters and you should pay attention to their in field experiences ... Though no one that i saw mentioned that the 25-06 bullet at close range might not be holding up well against these tough pigs. Example : two deer seasons ago i had a close ( guessing 60 +/- yard) shot on a heavy Arkansas doe with my 300 win mag ruger shooting a 180 gr remington core-lokt and connected with both shoulder blades and found nothing but fragments of the " deadliest mushroom in the woods" .. Between the bone and out right velocity the bullet didnt hold up well enough to get but a 1/2 " past the second shoulder blade.

      Hope this helps and good luck,


    Default

[yukondog]

Only 5, first was with 22 LR while tree rat hunting 32 gr. right behind right timpel stoped under skin on left side, second was about 40# with 270 shooting win 130gr. power point gut shot at about 200 yrd. no blood didnt find it till next day about 300 yrds. from where I shot it, pass through.Next day another 40# head shot same load from about 20' not much of head left. Next one was shooting tree rats again came up on a 3 legged hog about 150# shot it with #4 shot had to run up on it finnished off with head shot from about 5' wont do that again and last was 300# with 444 marlin useing speer 270gr. gold dot soft point from about 30 40 yrds. behind sholder he only went about 30' ran in circules then DRT pass through.Had my 45 loaded with win 230 black tallons and wanted to see how well they would do so I thought what the h*** I'v got the perfict test subject right in front of me, so I shot it right on the right sholder at about 15', penitration was impresive bullet went through right sholder right side of ribcage, lungs, left ribcage.and stoped in left sholder,retained 225 gr of weight, not realy my fist choise of backup but it was all I had at the time.