Mods: If this post is outside the scope of CBA interest, please delete. This post relates to shooting pigs with cast bullets.
Since buying an entry level clip-on NV device a couple of years ago I have accumulated videos of shots on pigs. The NV is used mainly for night shooting. The device I use has been good for set piece operations such as watching a carcase or other feed source that the hogs will be coming to. Mostly the pigs are unaware that they are being lined up, so the shots can be quite deliberate, and waiting for a clear shot and a good angle is OK.
With NV, the video goes useless for a few seconds when the shot goes off. There is a big white flash and when it clears there either is or is not a dead pig on the ground.
In either case the last frame before the white flash confirms and preserves a record of the aim.
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I learned about shot placement by watching these videos. My aiming point has moved further forward as a result. Pigs have a deceptive shape and it is almost a given that intended “shoulder” shots tend to end up in the ribs. Even then, what I used to think of as a shoulder shot may produce a runner, especially if it’s a big boar. My current thinking is that the broadside shot needs to be on the forward edge of the shoulder, preferably breaking the shoulder joint, and the oblique facing shot needs to be forward of and just inside the shoulder joint. I try to avoid the square on frontal body shot.
The Finn Aagard recommendation for quadrupeds was for a mid-body aim dead between the front legs from whatever angle. I tend now to go a little forward again of that on pigs.
Herewith are some images of shots that put the hogs straight down. They were shot with 175 gn HP cast .30-30 bullets, 16 BHN, muzzle velocity 2200 fps. Range was 40 – 70 meters. My experience has been that my hard HP cast bullets do every bit as well as or better than jacketed bullets on pigs of all sizes.
First image, device had moved on the scope, but content too good to waste. Pig went down with no arguments.
Second image was at dusk, a big sow with a couple of half-grown offspring. Down and out. Got the smaller ones later as well.
Third image, large boar, angled shot, went straight down but raised a lot of dust kicking.
Fourth image, a semi-oblique shot, small boar, straight down.
The last word on shot placement should perhaps go to a bow hunter. This fellow has put up some impressive videos of pigs and buffalo shot with a compound bow. The best of it is his analysis of shot placement for each kill.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCae1cb3tqEoIDP-U8pzmiOA
You are only as good as your library.