My buddy finally let me hunt his land for just about anything. Been scouting this past week and saw some nice bucks, big pigs, and lots of dove.

I just walked in from tonight's 50% successful night. I walked up on these pigs, I picked the white one with spots, aimed behind its ear, and dropped it. I thought for sure that pig wasn't going anywhere. However, after 10 seconds, it stood up and ran with his head dragging. I spent 2 hours looking for this sucker and no luck. Used my Savage 93R17 .17 HMR with Hornady 17GR Poly-tips.

Classic case of not enough gun/bullet. Sorry you lost him, but on a positive note-he'll probably die so you did good.

I agree with toolman... not enough gun.

.17 HMR OK for things like squirrels, opossums, raccoons, foxes or similar sized animals. For a pig that size you need a bit more punch I would think.

As others have said, mate u need a bigger bang stick.
hopefully its dead and not suffering 2 much

Take that 17 and put a $5.00 bill in the barrel and throw it off the deep ind of a pond. That way when someone finds it they can say it was woth $5.00. They are the most worthless gun a man can own.

WOW, PS...that's a little harsh. The .17 is good for small game like tree rats and rabbits. Much flatter and faster than the .22mag and pretty accurate. I agree that they are NOT ideal for hogs, unless it's small piglets. I use more gun than most on hogs but some of ours get pretty big, and I don't want my headstone to read..."Et by Hogs".

The .17s have their place, but not in my safe. For small game, I can reload .204 Ruger as cheap as I can shoot .17HMR.

I've never had a pig get back up, but I use 150gr 308 bonded HPs.

Lol it's kinda harsh alright. When I was guiding deer and pig hunters in west tx they would show up with them and I spent more time looking for wounded game than I did guiding. I have seen coyote shot with them and the only way you knew he was hit was he run off ringing his tail. I got to where I told roger to tell them to leave those at home. A lot of bad experience with them and I don't have room for one in my house either.

The only reason I used the .17 HMR is because I'm hunting within city limits. I mean there's residential neighborhoods 250yds away. Can your conscience allow you to fire a .308, .223, .300 WinMag, etc., at night? or would you be happy to know a .17 HMR is not gonna bounce into some poor little girls bedroom.

I'm gonna give it a week for them to comfortable again. Then I'm gonna climb into my stand and try my 7.65 Mauser Argentine. That'll pack a punch. And I'll do it at an angle where the bullet will burry itself in the ground.

Honestly, how many people can say they have an exclusive hunting spot within city limits of 115,000 population. In a metroplex. HA! Down my .17 all you want. I drive 7 minutes to my 1000 acres.

And how many laws are you breaking by shooting within city limits? And if you don't think a 17 won't ricochet into a little girls bed room you need your head examined. Looks like someone needs to do more research before you pick up another firearm

Sic' em Boys

You're hunting in the city limits? And you really don't believe a .17 will ricochet?

Texas Law:
10 Acres within city limits you can bird hunt.
50 Acres within city limits you can riffle hunt.
Says the Game Warden I called and asked prior too.

Yes a .17 HMR will ricochet but not clear across 1000 acres and especially with Poly-tips. Wow, someones drinking that Hatorade today. This is exactly why I got away from posting sh*t. Bunch of debaters.

Look at my signature, does it look like I don't know about firearms? Check yourself. Sick this 8==>

Do the right thing, use a caliber for a clean humane kill... be an ethical hunter.

If these pigs are that close to a residence and you have 1,000 acres, consider putting a feeder or something to bait them to a different area away from the houses. Sounds like you have plenty of space.

Sounds like someone's alittle pissy. I asked a simple question you said .17 won't ricochet through a bedroom, I asked if you believed that. Stop your

This is getting better by the minute

If a game warden told you that be sure to get a statement signed before a nitery cause when a city cop puts you in jail he probly not gonna sign it then. You better call the city and ask them. Cause most game wardens don't no about city laws. We found that out few years ago. Game warden said yes and the city attorney said not no but he'll no!!! That possum cop don't no sh?&$t. His very words!!'

Since you have access to 1000 acres invest in a hog trap and catch em and then use your .17 at point blank range. That way they won't run away. Not far anyway. haha

Regardless of laws, proximity issues to where and what one LEO or another doesn't know, it was not a responsible decision to hunt hogs with that caliber and bullet. You don't have to like our opinion but I think most reasonable hunters will agree with that statement.

Wow. One simple post, so much anger. Chill guys. How about you help encourage and educate? FWIW, I call total BS on Mr. Predator saying the .17 is worthless. I'd call it priceless. Cheap to shoot, minimal damage, on fur-bearers, INCLUDING coyotes, I love it. Having said that, I've killed more coyotes with .22 LR than any other rifle I own.

Pig hunting in Texas, I actually questioned the viability of my AR (.223)...I tend to lean toward my .300 for a sure thing.

All of that said, if the OP is concerned about safety and stopping power, it sounds like a situation I'd probably use a shotgun. Slugs or buckshot would likely be much more effective than the .17, and would still keep stuff dialed down into a safe radius.

Pinkin trust me your opinion is your own. My opinion on the 17 is not from me owning one. It comes from the hours is blood trailing a pig or a cat that was shot by a paying client. I still have cactus in me from crawling around behind what was done by the 17. And he talks about shooting a hog and it running off. Just like thousands of animals every year shot with them. First off about the anger issue I ain't mad its just stuff like this that really gets all of us in trouble. None of our city's allow any type of shooting. I wouldn't shoot inside a city with any firearm. Accidents happens to good people everyday. Shooting a 17 inside the city limits is an accident waiting to happen. When someone gets hurt or the wounded hog makes it to the road and a car hits it snd injures or kills someone who is responsible? Remember a few years ago where the woman was shot at the race track by a .50bmg? The gun was fired 4 miles away. Now a 17 or a 50bmg doesn't matter once someone was shot. They tried to outlawed the 50 next thing you no they gonna get your other guns. More ammo for the anties!!! And as far as a coyote and a 17. Go sell that to someone ealse. I been doing this 13yrs with 10 paying landowners. They don't wanna hear he is wounded, they want to see him shot thru the heat and know he ain't gonna be back. That the did fence between a pro that gets paid and a weekend warrior that shoots 3-4 a year.

You got to be kidding me!

God Bless that Cactus! And like they say in Georgia, "bless your heart".