Just curious to know what round you use. I would think the 20gr would be preferable but would you go with the hollow point or a FMJ? I would think the ballistic tip would not have good penetration on a head shot. I don't really need to hear from the 22mag people etc. Just those with experiance using there 17s.

Is a .17 really enough?

Sounds like overkill to me!

Actually you can kill a pig with a pellet gun, and a 17 is just a souped up pellet gun.

a hollow point at the least and up close and personel would be prefered. There are alot of better choices though.

The 17's group better in the two rifles I have played with.

I recovered a complete (fully mushroomed) ballistic tip from a pumpkin I shot.

I have picked boogers that were bigger than the slug! LOL

If I was sitting there with a 17 and a hog was begging to be shot, I'd hit it (or at least try to) in the ear hole.

If I was purposely out looking for hogs, I have other hardware I'd be carrying.

I realize that 10,000,000 hogs are killed with the 17 every week, it just wouldn't be the first rifle I'd grab.

all my pastures are overrun with hogs, I use the 20 grain hunting tip, Hornady. if yall ever use one on a body shot, cut it open and check out the internal damage, it will surprise you. I got too many hogs to worry about using magnums, wsms etc. (dont believe what shootin/hunting experts tell you in hunting mags, they are selling a product) I got lots of various caliber nice rifles but too many hogs to waste expensive ammo on these vermin.

Shoot them all the time with a 17 HMR, head & neck shots they're down for the count. Can't tell you about a body shot with that caliber though, never tried it.

skinnerback...they are only hogs, try a body shot and see the internal damage for yourself. scary, for years poachers have done good with .22 mags or long rifles, the .17 is more efficient, aint preaching poachin, just saying it is so good.

I use the ballistic tips and shoot them from any direction to the brain. Haven't had any penetration problems with the skull yet.

LOL, I hear ya'. Might try it, I've seen what that fast little bullet does to necks & the back of the heads.....pretty amazing damage.

flint and I got these recently with paintball guns. they all died from hemorrhaging due to internal injuries. they were really easy to put down.

I have dropped some big boars with head and body shots with this load. who cares if they drop or die later. my personal preference for a sure kill are of course the .308, 7mm-08, .22-250 and 6.5 x 55, got no use for "fad" calibers like magnums, at 57 too old for the abuse.

Ive shot and killed with 22 mags I would think a 17 would work fine

paintball guns? what do you guys wear when you are playing war? I'll stick to "firearms"

They use Lead Paint.
Everybody knows how dangerous that stuff is!!!

I would really like some input on my question regarding the type of load used with the 17.

Greg, you are not going to find a normal answer on this forum. These guys would rather make fun of you than answer your question. Beats all I've ever seen.

Any 17 bullet will kill a pig with a shot to the head. They will all penetrate the skull.

x2. All I shoot in my .17 are the Hornady V-Max and have killed several good sized hogs out to and around 80 yards. All have also been head shots, haven't tried the body, but I shoot all hogs behind the ear or in between the eyes, no matter what the caliber.

Thanks for the information. I know I would use the 20gr but was not sure on the round.

I would say go with which ever your gun like best. Ive killed a bunch of pigs with the 17 hmr with the 17 gr v-max, the cci with the speer tnt, the remington bt bullet, all of them. My gun didnt shoot the 20 gr bullets as well.

20gr hps by hornaday are my poison..stay under 100 yrds and keep it in the ear hole...it can be done..but stray a half inch in either way and byby hog...i have seen big boar walk off from an ear shot..dosnt work every time..thats just pigs for you

Greg,
I don't know anything about the 17. All I can do is bump your post so someone else might notice it. And crouch is right...don't pay any attention to the wiseguys here...

...but you look like you've been here long enough to know the deal

I use 20 gr ballistic and hollow point and don't see much difference as long as you hit em in a soft spot

It's that special lead breaks red round....wouldn't recommend it for people though...their lawyers will have fun with ya.