OK, so you wanna Hunt Big Wild Boar with an Airgun ?

[Nomadic Pirate]

Close quater hunting the Wild Boar with an airgun gotta be one of the most exiting hunts out there, even more when the Small bores are used.

But to pull it off we really need to get the anatomy right to be able to make the perfect shot.
How many times you heard " I shot that big Boar with my 30/30 or .223 right between the eyes and it just run away ".....I would never consider hunting them with a lowly airgun.


Ok then, lets have a look at the boar skull

Looking at you



and the broadside




so here we have the famous between the eyes shot




now you can clearly see from the side pictures that that shot is hitting at such a slant that even the high power centerfire round would have a hard time in been effective.


Here is the shot I like to take:

Wait for the boar to put the head down, and most times I try to set up on a slope or rock to have some elevation just in case



now you can see that shot hitting square with high chance of great penetration




Now, let's open that skull to see where we really wanna go and the best path there






now we have a good look at where the brain really is


and with this picture we can make a really educated decision where to put that side shot at





I never tryed it, but if the Boar is looking right at you and your gun has enought Juice the rigth in the nostrils shot is gonna be by far the best shot

[BenjiHunter]

Great post, Manny!!

[airpuffhunter]

so the side shot should go to the eye?

[cwlongshot]

I can tell you with 100% certainty a 452 dia, 300g Jacketed Slug traveling at 1250fps and a .700 dia Lead slug traveling at 1500fps will penetrate the skull. 



Somehow the sound and the picture came out of sink on this one...


I think about it with my Talon....

CW

[Nomadic Pirate]

so the side shot should go to the eye?

Nope, on a straight line behind the eye, you have a good 2" to play with

[Nomadic Pirate]

I can tell you with 100% certainty a 452 dia, 300g Jacketed Slug traveling at 1250fps and a .700 dia Lead slug traveling at 1500fps will penetrate the skull. 



Somehow the sound and the picture came out of sink on this one...


I think about it with my Talon....

CW

Yeah but I'm talking more about hunting them with .25 cal airguns or maybe .357 airguns,...you're going after them with cannons, LOL

[Mod90]

Manny I gotta admit you really do a great service to AG hunters. Nice visual aid. But I'd kinda disagree about the nostril shot. You're right that it's the path of least resistance due to the long hollow sinus cavity and the brain is directly behind it. But if the shot gets even slightly deflected by that dense snout flesh or the boar moves his snout even 1/8" in any direction it stands a greater chance to be a wounding shot.
As you mentioned, between the eye & ear there's a lot more wiggle room and not as much tissue and bone to go through.
Again, thanks for the share.

[cwlongshot]

True enough brother, true enough... I would consider it with my Talon Magnum 25!!

CW

[Nomadic Pirate]

Manny I gotta admit you really do a great service to AG hunters. Nice visual aid. But I'd kinda disagree about the nostril shot. You're right that it's the path of least resistance due to the long hollow sinus cavity and the brain is directly behind it. But if the shot gets even slightly deflected by that dense snout flesh or the boar moves his snout even 1/8" in any direction it stands a greater chance to be a wounding shot.
As you mentioned, between the eye & ear there's a lot more wiggle room and not as much tissue and bone to go through.
Again, thanks for the share.

Ho yeah absolutely, that is just a last resort shot, and I wouldn't attempt it with anything less than .308 and 100 FPE,...the good part of the nostril shot is that if it's farely on point even a slight missalignment the walls would ridirect the bullet up the path, of course I'm talking barely off line here,

Never had the chance to try it, but maybe one day I will

[Sfttailrdr46]

  Gotta admit I give anyone who takes a wild boar with an air rifle has huge stones last time I went I rushed my shot with a Ruger red hawk .44 magnum and had to follow him around for 1/2 hour to get a clean kill shot and he treed me twice before I could make my shot. That was not fun way too much adrenaline for me

[Fur-n-dirt]

Good stuff Manny...

[BenjiHunter]

What is the cavity above the brain cavity?

[Nomadic Pirate]

What is the cavity above the brain cavity?

Sinuses

[BenjiHunter]

Thank you!

[Bryan Heimann]

Thanks, Manny!

[Tater]

Great insightful post Manny.

[amb5500c]

Nicely done Manny.
Richard

[Gertrude]

great stuff Manny !

[Qwikrnu]

Great post. Thanks for sharing!

[Mr. Sumatra22]

Wow that was an excellent post and very informative. Thanks a lot Manny.