Best Legal shotgun caliber for dispatching weaner and fat pigs

[F1 657283]

I have a 12 bore and a .410 , we have both wearers and finishing pigs what caliber is best and what load of cartridge. must be legal. Thanks

 

[davidroberts30]

DO NOT USE THE .410
There are plenty of sg or AAA loads for the 12 gauge

 

[Moors Lad]

DO NOT USE THE .410
There are plenty of sg or AAA loads for the 12 gauge

Please explain - especially the bit about .410

 

[bitwrx]

.22 rimfire blank, captive bolt gun.
Give these guys a call tomorrow. https://raytradeuk.co.uk/humane-slaughter/

12 bore going off in a piggery sounds a bit risky to me. At the least I'd be worried about a stray round taking out the wrong animal in an inhumane way. But then I'm not a gun person; what do I know?

ETA: If you're performing emergency kills of pigs, you should be familiar with this document: https://www.pigvetsoc.org.uk/files/document/192/Casualty Pig - April 2013-1.pdf
(It says .410 for smaller pigs, bigger gun for bigger animals. No info on charge or load. It also says you'll need someone to restrain the pig with a snatch wire. Fine with a bolt gun, but I'd be fudged if you'd find me standing anywhere near the business end of a shotgun holding onto a wire. Just get a bolt gun.)

 

[som farmer]

12 bore sounds a bit drastic, surely there is easier way ?

 

[HolzKopf]

I agree with @bitwrx, if you have that need, a captive bolt beats a 12 gauge on ease of use, safety and what's best for the animals. have you read the advice given here https://www.hsa.org.uk

HK

 

[sidjon]

Shotgun and use a frangible shell, so would be safe at close quarters.

 

[milkloss]

.410 should do the job provided it’s not an old pig with a skull like an armoured tank. I’d go for the 12 though myself.

 

[beardface]

410 on anything under boar size. 12 boar would make a fair mess of weaners. Captive bolt is ample for finishers. Heard a story once of a a boar that had 9 bolt holes in its head and just stood there as if nothing had happened!

 

[davidroberts30]

Please explain - especially the bit about .410

Not big enough on big pigs

 

[Moors Lad]

Not big enough on big pigs

Cheers.

 

[tomg]

410 is all we used for a lot of years on sows, never had a problem

 

[Treecreeper]

I use a single bore 12 gauge for most despatches, lead AAA for anything big cattle Inc, 4/5shot for smaller animals, be wary of other compounds in enclosed spaces.. Don't do it point blank allow 15-20cm to allow pressures in barrel to exit. If you can't get close up to 5m with AAA is ok as at this distance expansion of pattern is minimal and gives a bit of margin of error. Remember points of aim vary according to species.

 

[Hard Graft]

have used just about every conceivable fire arm from shot guns rifles and pistols and they all have their place but shotguns are a good job but so are pistols but the benefits of a shot gun is you don’t need to be spot on

 

[Onwards and Upwards]

Many years ago I worked for the knackerman. Without wanting to sound big headed. There isn’t a farm animal I haven’t dealt with. I’ve used all possible methods and a .410 would be my choice in most situations. It’s more to do with the load than the size.

 

[PaulNix]

Many years ago I worked for the knackerman. Without wanting to sound big headed. There isn’t a farm animal I haven’t dealt with. I’ve used all possible methods and a .410 would be my choice in most situations. It’s more to do with the load than the size.

Pretty much heard the exact same from our knacker man.