Wild dogs and caliber

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Daniel

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Around these parts, we have a problem with wild dogs, they tend to kill livestock and domestic animals often; I live on a large property, and they come through now and again, whether singularly or in a pack, and I thought I may as well set up to take some down if I can (the parks and wildlife people just bait the hell out of the state forest, but the dogs move onto properties too, and we're up against the state forest). I can hunt them at will legally and whenever, just to get that out of the way.

At the moment, my only firearm is a 12 gauge side by side, and whilst I know buckshot and rifled slugs would work wonders at close range, I've only ever gotten close enough to a dog in the past where I could humanely take the shot (under 30 meters). The rest is around 70 meters plus in woodland, with 200 being about the maximum.

Now, I was planning on buying a .22 Hornet rifle for target shooting/small game hunting, as it's a nice quiet round I've heard, but I'm kinda having doubts that a shot in the kill zone with a 45 grain JSP at 2700 fps or so will do the job quickly, barring a CNS hit (I'm a fan of just behind the shoulder or shoulder shots on game). The dogs are usually the size of your mid range domestic type, so that's about 20 to 30 kilos (about 50 to 70 pounds).

Has anyone pegged an animal this size with a Hornet?

I'm thinking I may just upgrade to .30-30 or .243, which will take away my desire for something quieter than the 12 gauge, but I don't want to shoot an animal in the right spot and have it run off and die slower than it should.

The weapon I was going to purchase was your basic NEF single shot in .22 Hornet, but I see they have one in .30-30 too (both have open sights that I like). I like single shots over repeaters too....

I have no doubts that I can put the bullet on the shoulder or just behind it at 100 meters, but the doubt with the caliber is there....
 
Shot and killed one once with a NAA mini revolver and a .22LR at about 20 yards. Killed instantly, hit right about the eyes on the cranium. I'd shoot .22mag on one without reservation. The LR might be a bit lacking for a shoulder shot at any range. I've taken 'em with the LR and to 50 yards it'll put even a decent sized stray down, but the mag will do it at 100 yards and if the mag will do it, the hornet surely will.

Be careful with your laws. Texas law has been screwed up. Now, unless you see it after your chickens or something, legally, you can be charged with animal cruelty, even a feral wild dog/stray. Either SSS or catch it in the act is my advice and don't go around braggin' about it, just do it. I never had livestock, but they ravage wildlife. I don't like having strays around, not a good thing, dog or cat and I love my dog and my cats, but strays need to go.

We had quite a few of 'em when I bought my place in 88 and between me and neighbors, they've been thinned out. I think they've bred out, too, with coyotes 'cause I've killed coyotes down there that sure looked like they had a lot of dog genetics, jet black, long hair, but coyote build.

Oh, never mind the legal comments. I notice you're not in the US. Your laws are probably a little less affected by PETA.and the humane society of the US. LOL!




........"The dingo ate yo baby"..........:D
 
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If I had one, I wouldn't hesitate to use a 22 Hornet on a dog; it has been used on significantly larger animals with success.

There are other cartridges that are relatively quiet that come to mind though such as the 222, 223 and 22-250. I've used both the 222 and 22-250 on deer so without a doubt they would take a dog with no problem.
 
Thanks dude with the anecdotes.

Yeah, wild/feral dogs are greatly hated around these parts (the police even ask firearm owners to take them down if they see them on their land, as the police just don't have the resources to come out and put them down--they use .223 Mini-14s when they do. It's too late anyway by the time they come out). It's legal to hunt all feral animals in my state as long as you have permission from the property owner (in this case, it's my mother).

The block next to us had all of their llamas killed not long ago (they didn't even eat them, they just killed them and left them there).

Some are dingoes (which originated from Asia), but most tend to be dumped domestic dogs.

I worry for my little dog when we go out, as they have even come up and taken domestic dogs from near the houses.

I'll get the Hornet. Thinking about it, a 45 grain JSP at 2700 fps isn't at all that anemic when shots are around 70 to 100 meters (I'd never think of using a JHP).
 
I'll get the Hornet. Thinking about it, a 45 grain JSP at 2700 fps isn't at all that anemic when shots are around 70 to 100 meters (I'd never think of using a JHP)
Click to expand...

Exactly right. The little hornet is under-rated by the unknowing. It hasn't been popular in America for a while. The .222 and bigger .22 centerfires have stolen its thunder, but on a dog sized animal, the only advantage to a larger .22 centerfire is more range. Hundred yards or less, not a problem even with the 40 grain 1900 fps .22 mag. The Hornet has quite a bit more pop.

I know a guy with a .218 Bee. He said his grandpa used to outlaw whitetail with it back in the depression. Did what you had to do back then, I guess.
 
We have a lot of feral dogs in this part of OK and I have killed more than my share of them. Just shoot the dog with whatever you have available. shoot until the wild dog quits wiggling.
 
If you search on coyote hunting you will find a great deal of information that should also apply to Feral dog in Austrialia. Check and see if it is legal to hunt them over bait and to use electronic or mouth callers. The sound of a rabbit in distress drives them nuts here in the U.S.

-Jim
 
Get the Hornet. I think it would be perfect. According to the Mantunas Optimum Game Weight (OGW) formula the .22 Hornet is good for animals up to 70 lbs, based on a 45 gr bullet at 2700 fps. There's lot of ways to crunch the numbers, but IMO OGW is one of the best.

I've killed a few feral dogs with a .22 LR. It works, but I always felt it was a little lacking. .30-30 and .243 would be overkill. .22 Hornet is like Goldilocks... just right.
 
I got a friend whos dad uses the hornet on deer. Hasn't lost one yet.

Back when I lived in Canada we used the 22mag on feral dogs with great success. Always felt a little wierd shooting a dog.
 
Not familiar with the round, so I googled it. After seeing it, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on wild dogs, that should knock the snot out of them. And why not use JHP's? I'd think those would be even more deadly than JSP's, and more accurate to boot.
 
(Replies to general people.)

Ah, good point with the coyotes, and that's something I totally didn't think of; they appear to be the size of the dingoes, but just a little smaller than the wild dogs (running into a wild doberman kinda makes me look a little funny at the .22 Hornet though.... Luckily, there's rarely large dogs around here).

JSP would be better on shoulder hits, but I can see where a JHP would be more lethal on any other hit, like just behind into the heart. I don't like head shots, nor neck shots either.

.22 Hornet is considerably more powerful than a .22 Magnum, just FYI and all; it's closer to .222/.223 in performance than .22 Magnum (though it falls quite a bit short of .222/.223).

I leaning more towards the .30-30 Handi-Rifle at the moment (yeah, lever-actions are everywhere and are priced well over here, but I like single shots), just in case I run into a large dog. .22 Hornet and .30-30 are priced about the same with ammunition, and the only reason I was going to a Hornet is because it's quiet (I don't have to walk as far to shoot; I try to be a quiet neighbor), but eh, I'm sure people will hear the Hornet just the same a few kilometers away. I've found .223 and other larger 5.56mm/5.6mm rounds to be about as loud as a .30-30; I can also use it on smaller boar.
 
.30-30win is a lot of penetration and not much range on a medium-sized dog, and can likely result in a running, screaming dog. (trust me)
go with .22WMR for headshots or any .22 centerfire with light, fast fragmenting loads for body shots.

(and yes, they'll hear a .22 hornet just as easily as a .30WCF)
 
With a Handi rifle you can always get a second (3rd, 4th, 5th.....) barrel. Ever consider a Thomson-Center Contender? Similar concept (switch barrel, single shot), better execution. It's a carbine, pistol, or both. .30-30 will DRT any dog, but recoil, compared to the Hornet, can be a tad bothersome in a light weight firearm. I love lever actions, they are accurate enough, but nobody's ever accused them of being a great varmint rigs.
 
I have experience with just this thing.... (When I was a kid)

Dad hit them long range with the .243 and the brothers and I had SKS's
A pack of dogs had been killing the neighbors sheep and killing domestic dogs.

We made one hell of a firing squad. Dad picked them off at several hundred yards....we fired for effect. The neighbor was a WW2 vet and was LEATHAL up close with his shotgun.

I wouldnt go after anything angry (Wounded) with teeth with a .22. I love .22 and no I wouldnt want to be on the other end....just saying.
 
I was thinking that a standard .30-30 JSP on the shoulder would pretty much anchor something up to 100 pounds at a range of 100 meters. You have two broken shoulders, plus the internal organs in-between; I can see where a heart shot won't be as disruptive as fragmenting high velocity 5.56mm/5.6mm rounds (however, I don't think that a Hornet JHP will be as "explosive" compared to the higher velocity rounds). I don't take head shots, and I'm not a fan of rimfires; I'll take your advice into consideration with the high velocity .22 calibers for body shots. I wish NEF made an open-sighted .223; I see that Rossi does, so that's something to think of (they also have open sighted .243 too). Their matched sets look cool too, and I wouldn't mind a .410 barrel....

RE: NEF barrels,

I like the idea, but it'd take a zillion years to send the receiver to the US from here, and NEF only offer .22 Hornet, .30-30 Winchester, .45-70 Government and .500 S&W with open sights; I like the first two.
 
I've decided on the Rossi .223 Remington and 20 gauge matched set (I like the look of those nice yellow 20 gauge shells :)). Thanks for all of your replies.

The .223 will be my hunting arm, and I'll report back if I take a shot at a dog (after thorough range time so I hit dead on, of course).
 
To your first question ,,Is the 22 hornet enought?? Yes it is , if thats what you want for some target shooting it will do the job for both . I know at least one old timer that use's a 22 hornet for hogs, old man and gun but works well.
 
The Rossi will gitter dun. Yeah, you can get an H&R barrel for a H&R receiver, and they're cheap, but you have to send the receiver to H&R for fitting. That could be prohibitive from down under. A TC Contender will fit any barrel out of the box, no fitting. I have a Contender pistol and love it. They're pricey, though, especially compared to a Rossi combo and the Rossi is a good shooter.
 
Ive used 22LR to a 12gage I was raised around live stock and ive seen what dogs will do to them. I try to be as uhmane and be as ethical as possible but varmits are varmits and are to be delt with acordingley..
 
I would also uggest the .223, as ammo is cheap. It will also give you a little more reach ans knockdown over the hornet. The hornet is a good shoice, also.
 
My guess is that a .22 hornet would be great for 'em, but if you want bigger I recommend the .243. It's what I use for coyotes and it dumps them every time. Even a bad shot puts them down right now. I've shot around 12 coyotes with mine and it has smoked them all. There is no recoil and ammo is cheaper. If you reload you can load anywhere from 60gr to 100+gr. Great for deer as well. But since you don't care about pelts and you just want them dead in a hurry, I say .243 all the way. I absolutely love mine.
 
When I first started calling coyotes I had a little ruger .22 hornet that I liked cause it was light to carry, and fast handling. Seemed like I had a lot of 2 shot kills, so I went to a .223, and I liked that better. Then I figured out you could call them in the daylight just as well as at night and went to a 22-250, then I got really serious and started using a 25-06. Love them all, but the hornet is my last choice.
 
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