CF Handgun Calibers For Javelina

[Pecci]

Which one, and with which bullet will penetrate the least?   I'd like the bullet to expend all it's energy in the animal.  I don't re-load, so these will have to be off the shelf. 

Thanks, guys!

[Lloyd Smale]

.22250 encore with a 45 grain bullet

[Camel 23]

.22250 encore with a 45 grain bullet

A 22 Hornet would probably penetrate even less.  Make sure and use hollow points. 

[Pecci]

I plan on a hornet, as far as a rifle goes.  I was thinking about a good excuse for buying another gun, though.  So, as far as typical handgun cartridges go, which would be less likely to pass thru?

Thanks!

[Graybeard]

I'd say a .32 Magnum or a .38 Special with 110 JHP if you're looking at revolvers. But I'd not personally wanna take either altho I suspect they would work. If I were going to go and didn't want an exit I'd go with a .357 Mag and 110 grain JHP but then I'd not EVER not want an exit so it's hard for me to think in such terms. Why the heck you don't want an exit?

[Lloyd Smale]

i was just joking!!! If i was to be serious I would ask why the hell your conserned with a bullet that fragments. Energy doesnt kill bleading kills. Grab yourself a good sixgun at least a .357 or a good semi auto at least a .40 load it with either a cast bullet or a well constructed soft point and have some fun chasing them around. Shoot one with a high velocity rifle with a fast expanding bullet and theres going to be nothing left to eat and id hate to think you were going to leave them to rot. I ate chilli made with javalina meat once and it was pretty dammed good.

.22250 encore with a 45 grain bullet

[Pecci]

Well I want a full mount, so I don't want to cause too much damage.  The other reason,realizing that anything good enough to kill it, will have a chance of exiting. --- I was basically brought up and taught that you want all of the projectiles energy to use itself up in the breadbasket.

[Gdbyrd]

As easy as they are to hunt I'd use a .22 and go for a head shot(right behind the ear).  Just about everywhere I've hunted I could get within 10 yards of them, easily..get yourself a pop up blind, set it about 5-10 yards from your feeder, and wait..or you can get decked out in a little camo and just sit in a lawn chair.

Lloyd, I've never eaten them.  When I shoot them I usually take them back to camp, quarter them and give it away..some people love it.

Just about any real rifle I can think of will make some nice holes.  They aren't built quite as well as pigs. 

[Graybeard]

Well I want a full mount, so I don't want to cause too much damage.  The other reason,realizing that anything good enough to kill it, will have a chance of exiting. --- I was basically brought up and taught that you want all of the projectiles energy to use itself up in the breadbasket.

Dunno how to break this to ya gently so I'm just gonna come out and say it. YOU WERE BROUGHT UP WRONG. Use a cast bullet and let it exit so you'll have a good blood trail if needed and the taxidermist will have no problems giving you a full body mount. They are quite good at closing up the small holes made on entrance and a cast on exit will make no larger hole than on entrance.

[Redhawk1]

Well I want a full mount, so I don't want to cause too much damage.  The other reason,realizing that anything good enough to kill it, will have a chance of exiting. --- I was basically brought up and taught that you want all of the projectiles energy to use itself up in the breadbasket.

Dunno how to break this to ya gently so I'm just gonna come out and say it. YOU WERE BROUGHT UP WRONG. Use a cast bullet and let it exit so you'll have a good blood trail if needed and the taxidermist will have no problems giving you a full body mount. They are quite good at closing up the small holes made on entrance and a cast on exit will make no larger hole than on entrance.

Can't argue with that. 

[Gdbyrd]

Dunno how to break this to ya gently so I'm just gonna come out and say it. YOU WERE BROUGHT UP WRONG.

Lol, could you be a little more blunt?

[JOE MACK]

We hunt Arizona's HAM season every year for javelina. We also hunt the little buggers in Texas as targets of oppurtunity while hunting exotics. I've used everything from a .22 magnum to a .475Linebaugh. The cast bullets probably did the least damage as they made a bullet-sized hole on both sides. All were turned into breakfast sausage which was pretty tasty with scrambled eggs and home fries.
 

[corbanzo]

Really, you want the bullet to carry the energy.  If you use a bigger slower bullet, it is going to carry its energy through, and not expand so much, causing less damage.  Fast and lighter you are going to do more damage because of the energy expansion.  Something in a big slow(relatively) .357 seems to be just the ticket for javelinas, and would keep you entry and exit diameteres to a minimum. 

[Pecci]

Hey, thanks for all the help guys.  I'll probably end up with a Blackhawk or a GP-100.  Maybe match it up with one of the heavier .357 rounds.  I basically want another excuse for another gun.

[IMshooter]

I've seen the  .45 auto (cast 200 grain bullet) used on two javelinas and the bullets passed all the way through without any noticable expansion.  The taxidermist did not have any problem sewing up the holes.  On the same hunt a couple of javelinas fell to .357 magnums using 158 grain jacketed hollowpoints.  Again, the bullets passed all the way through with little if any noticable expansion.  And again, the taxidermist had no problem covering up the hide damage, which was minimal.

The javelina really is not that big nor tough.  I think any well placed bullet will do the job.  My recommendation is to use a gun you like and feel comfortable with.  Say, anything from a .22 mag to .45 Colt should do just fine.

We used the backstraps for fajitas and shisk-e-bobs.  The rest was ground and made into summer sausage.  Yum!

[ccoker]

I have shot a few with my 1911 and Federal 230g+P  HSTs within about 30 yards with no problems..