Can You Kill a Hog With a 22? (2026)
Can you kill a hog with a 22? Many hunters ask if a small rimfire can stop a tough, adult feral hog.
This article gives a clear, honest reality check. It explains when a .22 might work, when it won’t, and why.
You’ll get plain facts about ammo types (including subsonic vs. supersonic), field-test results, and real-world examples. I also cover legal and humane rules so you avoid woundings and trouble.
Read on for evidence, practical tips, and training advice. By the end you’ll know if a .22 is ever a responsible choice for hogs and what safer alternatives to use.
Reality check
If you asked can you kill a hog with a 22, the short truthful answer is yes in some very specific cases. This does not mean it is a reliable or recommended primary choice for adult feral hogs.
The reason is simple physics. Typical .22LR rimfire rounds have low muzzle energy and limited penetration compared with the mass and bone structure of adult hogs.
To give a sense of scale, factory .22LR loads usually produce roughly 80–160 ft·lb of energy. A .22 WMR lands higher, often in the 200–350 ft·lb range, while common centerfires like .223/5.56 are in the 1,200–1,700 ft·lb class.
There are also legal and ethical issues to consider. Many states have minimum caliber rules or game restrictions, and using an underpowered round raises the risk of wounding rather than quickly dispatching an animal.
So set your expectations up front. Understand the limits, know your local laws, and never take risky shots just because a rimfire might succeed in a rare case.
Can a .22 help you kill more hogs?
Short answer to can you kill a hog with a 22? It is possible, but only in narrow, controlled situations. You should treat any success story as the exception, not the rule.
It can work on very small piglets, or if you can place a precise cranial or upper-spine shot at extremely close range. Those shots require calm nerves, fast follow-ups, and near-perfect placement.
A .22LR is most likely to help when multiple follow-up shots are absolutely guaranteed and safe. Even then the chance of merely wounding the animal is high unless you hit the brain or spine.
On the other hand, adult hogs have thick skin, heavy muscle, and dense bone. Shots that do not reach deep vital organs will often lead to prolonged suffering and lost animals.
Not all .22s are equal. A .22 WMR or a .22 Hornet (centerfire) has noticeably more energy and penetration than a standard .22LR. Those rimfire-magnum or small centerfire options extend the window where a rim-size cartridge can be effective.
For most hunters I recommend a proven centerfire choice instead, like .223/5.56, .243, .308 or shotgun slugs when legal. These give you a much higher probability of a clean, humane kill on adult hogs.
Check laws and ethics before you choose a caliber. If you want more context about rimfire versus hogs, see this detailed write-up for a longer discussion and examples.
In short, a .22 can sometimes help you kill more hogs in very specific situations, but it is rarely the responsible or reliable primary tool for adult feral hogs.
Subsonic .22LR rounds have a slower velocity
Understanding subsonic versus supersonic .22LR loads matters for terminal performance. Subsonic rounds travel below the speed of sound and have noticeably less energy than their supersonic cousins.
Typical subsonic .22LR loads often sit in the 800–1,050 fps window and commonly produce well under 100 ft·lb of energy. Supersonic/.high-velocity .22LR loads can push 1,100–1,600 fps and reach up into the 120–160 ft·lb range.
Lower velocity means less expansion and often less penetration. For a thick, heavily muscled animal like a hog, that matters a lot because vitals sit deep and behind bone and heavy tissue.
High-velocity .22LR bullets can fragment or deform, which sometimes reduces deep penetration as much as slow bullets do. That trade-off makes reliable one-shot kills unlikely on adult hogs at anything but the shortest ranges.
Hunters discuss these tradeoffs in many places, including a long-running forum thread where users compare loads and real hunts. Use those discussions as anecdote, not proof.
If you plan to test rimfire for tight-range pest control, choose the highest-energy legal load you can find and understand its penetration limits well before you take any live animal shots.
Field Test
Good field testing combines controlled gelatin or carcass tests with verified hunt reports. Ballistic gelatin and forensic work give consistent numbers, while verified hunts show how things behave in the real world.
Controlled tests often show that .22LR penetrates poorly compared with small centerfires. Gel blocks and carcass tests repeatedly demonstrate marginal penetration for deep thoracic or abdominal shots on heavy animals.
There are documented, verified kills with rimfire, but most involve either very close cranial hits, juveniles, or higher-energy magnum rimfires. Treat those successes as exceptions that required near-perfect conditions.
There are also notable outliers that get a lot of attention online, such as a long-range drop captured in the media. The famous 254-yard example is an extreme case and should be viewed skeptically as an exception, not a standard.
Failed or ambiguous cases are common too, where .22LR shots failed to immediately incapacitate a hog and caused tracking or loss. Those stories are why many wildlife officers advise stronger calibers for safe harvests.
When you strip the field reports down to patterns, successful rimfire outcomes cluster at short range, with precise placement, and often with magnum rimfires or centerfire small-caliber rounds. Time-to-incapacitation varies wildly when vitals are not hit directly.
Use field tests to learn limits, not to justify risky choices. Even well-documented rimfire kills rarely change the practical rule: choose a caliber that reliably reaches vitals for the animal size you pursue.
The more you practice, the better the results should be
If you still wonder can you kill a hog with a 22, practice and planning are essential before you ever try. Drills at 25–50 yards, rapid follow-up work, and mindful shot placement reduce risk but do not erase the cartridge’s limitations.
Work on accuracy with the exact rifle and ammunition you plan to use. Learn to group tightly, make fast second shots, and recover from recoil under time pressure.
Choose equipment wisely: a low-power variable optic for quick target acquisition, a stable rest, and ammunition you have tested for consistency. If you use a suppressor, check local laws and factor the change in velocity into your ballistics.
Always carry a reliable backup for dispatching wounded animals, like a centerfire handgun or shotgun with slugs, and bring tools for safe tracking or humane dispatch. Have a clear plan before you take any shot.
Finally, practice on legal ranges, consult local wildlife officers and experienced hog hunters, and only use rimfire in situations where it is lawful and clearly humane. Your skill matters, but the cartridge choice matters more.
What People Ask Most
Can you kill a hog with a 22?
A 22 can sometimes stop a very small hog, but it is not reliable for larger animals and may cause prolonged suffering. Most hunters use stronger options to ensure a quick, humane result.
Is a 22 ethical to use on hogs?
Using a 22 on hogs is often considered unethical because it may not produce a quick, humane kill. Ethical hunting favors tools that minimize pain and follow local rules.
What mistakes do beginners make when trying to use a 22 on hogs?
Beginners often underestimate a hog’s size or rely on poor shot placement, leading to missed or non-lethal hits. Overconfidence in a 22 increases the chance of suffering and danger.
Can shot placement make a 22 more effective on hogs?
Good shot placement can improve effectiveness, but even well-placed shots with a 22 may not be enough for larger hogs. Relying on placement alone is risky and may still lead to a slow outcome.
What are safer alternatives to a 22 for hog control?
Safer alternatives include firearms and control methods designed for larger game that reliably stop a hog. Choosing the right tool helps ensure a quick, humane outcome and better safety.
Are there legal or safety concerns about using a 22 on hogs?
Yes — local laws and animal welfare rules may restrict or discourage using underpowered rounds on large animals, and safety around people is essential. Always check regulations and opt for humane methods.
How should beginners prepare if they encounter hogs while carrying a 22?
Beginners should avoid close encounters, keep a safe distance, and have a retreat plan rather than relying on a 22. Knowing local resources and legal control options is a safer approach.
Final Thoughts on a .22 for Hog Hunting
If you’re weighing a .22 against a 270, remember the upside: low recoil, cheap ammo, and useful precision at very close range. We started with a reality check — a .22 can kill a hog in some cases, but it’s usually not a reliable primary choice for adult feral hogs and may be restricted by law. This piece gave the ballistics, field tests, and tactics to judge it.
But there’s a real caution: typical .22 loads often lack the muzzle energy and penetration to ensure a quick, humane kill on large hogs, so superior shot placement and a confirmed follow-up are essential. It’s most useful for skilled shooters handling piglets, very close finishing shots, or legal pest work. The field tests and ballistics section showed when it worked and when it didn’t.
If you choose to use one, practice realistic drills, pick the right load, keep a reliable backup for wounded animals, and obey local laws and ethics. With steady practice and respect for wildlife, you’ll be better prepared to make humane, safer choices going forward.