22-250, 55 grain TBBC

[Rimfirekid1022]

Out of a 22-250, do you guys think that a 55 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw would get enough penetration and have enough ummmph to put hogs 200 pounds and smaller down with a clean lung, heart, behind the shoulder shot, or would you just stick with head shots given the caliber and bullet?  When I say down, I don't mean drop on the spot, but cleanly dispatch one within lets say 100 yards of running?  Although dropping them on the spot would be preferable.  Any help or experiences with this load would be appreciated.  Thanks!

[dave375hh]

I have a friend who worked as a guide on a Texas ranch. Part of his job was to kill off some of the excess hogs. He had me load 45gr Barnes X bullets in his .22 Hornet. He didn't want to make any more noise than he had to, so as to not spook the deer. He ended up shooting seven hogs with wts between 90-200 lbs. He took the seven hogs with eight rounds. He only recoverad three bullets the rest passed thru and exited. Those three looked like an advertizing photo other than one petal broke off one of them.

In answer to your question, given the construction of the TBBC it should work just fine as would the 53gr Barnes X.

[Rimfirekid1022]

Thanks Dave!  Were all of his shots on the hogs behind the shoulder shots?  Why did he have to shoot one twice?  I'm assuming this from you sayin he shot 7 hogs with 8 shots.  I also want to reaload some of the 53 grain TSX's, but I haven't gotten the chance to yet.  Thanks!

[dave375hh]

Yes, all his shots were behind the shoulder and broadside. Shot selection when using a Hornet is a must. The one he shot twice took a step just as the shot broke and the hit was too far back. The second shot was the recovered bullet with the broken off petal it broke the offside shoulder and stopped there. He's shot dozens of hogs but the ones taken with the .257STW or his 7.82 warbird didn't have much left of the chest and shoulders.