What calibre is best for wild boar?

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A 200lb boar has an extremely tough, thick skin and a powerful frame.

Thursday, 20 July 2006

I intend to go wild boar shooting soon. In your opinion, what calibre would you say is best for boar?

A:

First of all, before raising a rifle to a wild boar, you must ensure your firearms certificate specifies you are allowed to shoot these animals.

As far as rifle calibres are concerned, wild boar are powerful, strong and potentially dangerous animals that must be treated with respect.

A 200lb boar has an extremely tough, thick skin and powerful bones, and demands a calibre which will ensure a killing shot.

There have been reports of calibres as small as .22 centrefires being used against wild boar, but these, and even .243 Winchester calibre rifles, are inadequate and should never be contemplated.

The result will usually be a wounded animal which may die a lingering death or prove extremely dangerous.

The minimum calibre to be used against wild boar is the .270 Win, delivering a muzzle energy of 2,700ft/lb, but it is recommended that a calibre of no less than 7mm with a bullet of 160 grains-plus and muzzle energy of no less than 2,800ft/lb should be used.

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Comments

Willem Bonneux

Tue, 18th Mar 2008 17:40:50

Over here on the continent where there have been wild boar for centuries, the 7mm is also considered as a minimum. Many use cartridges up to .375H&H, although this could be considered as a tad too much. One gets by very well with a .30 caliber cartridge such as the .30-06 Springfield.

Tim Castle

Mon, 17th Sep 2007 10:07:36

I have recently taken over managing a wood where boar are present. I have told my regular stalking clients about this and they are all preparing to have variations for this event. I personally was able to have 12 bore solid shot on my certificate specifically for use against the boar. I intend to use it as a protection/culling tool should the client not be as successful as is hoped. Lets face it who would want 200lb of irate pig charging them without 8 loads of 1 and 1/2 ounces of solid to settle the issue close at hand?

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