i have done it several times with well placed shots with a 22lr open sights, 22mag has a heavier bullet, 17hmr has a flatter shooting, it can be done with either one you want, you take into account gun and accessories and price and availability of ammo

Why so small for hogs? Seems like a bigger caliber would be a better choice. Most of the members of my club use their .223 assalt rifles (got to use them for something besides zombies). I use my .44 or my 45/70. Seems like you'd have to shoot a big pig a bunch of times with a .22 to keep it from running off. I could be wrong though.

I hunt a WMA. I can hog hunt with a 'rimfire' from the beginning to the end of squirrel season from my climber.

It's not a real discussion point, the 22 magnum is the only way to go. I was hunting with some guys off the Pearl two years ago and a 100 lb hog came out on them and he rested on his leg and shot the hog with the 17 in the ear area and it didn't even flinch, merely turned around and trotted off. Sure they're fast and make a lot of noise and blow small things like crows, rabbits and squirrels up but have no knockdown or penetration power. I've killed quite a few hogs with the 22 magnum with broadside head shots and even chest cavity shots on some running and they fold like a sack of potatoes. Fabulous for rabbits and squirrels, no distance limitations and they go nowhere and it doesn't tear them up at all. I use the hollowpoint CCI's and my Marlin shoots groups you can easily cover with a quarter at a hundred.

I wouldn't go smaller than a .223.... and if you do go with that, get you a good core lock projectile and not cheap plinking ammo. You want something with pretty good penetration. Sure, with a well placed shot, you could kill one with a .17 or a .22, but how often in hunting situations do you get that perfect shot.. It’s more likely that you’ll be shooting at a moving target or a group of moving targets. They are extremely smart!!

I don't know if I would sit in a tree during squirrel season on a WMA , but if you do and you need a rimfire, my vote is for the .22mag with hollowpoints. I have shot many hogs, and every one of them was a marginal shot. I have never been able to shoot at one while it was standing still enough to take aim and make a head shot. That .22 mag will do the best for what you want to accomplish.

.204 ruger, google 204 for hog hunting.

hey kenny and barry, the guy said he is hunting on a wma, on a wma during the closed 'rifle season' during the open 'squirrel' season, center fire cartridges are not legal so they are not an option, he didn't ask what is the smallest or preffered gun to hunt hogs with, i sure he has a 'big gun' that he hunts hogs with when legal, he asked opinions on the .17hmr and the .22wmr, if you can't chime in on either of them don't chime in

Sorry Sir, I will try and do better next time with reading everthing... Also, I think you should do better with your manners. We are all just trying to be helpful and your tone in your writing isn't positive.

???

...that was funny and I read somewhere that...'our brain commands our body to 'Run forward !!!Bend !!! Scoop up the ball !!! Peg it to the infield !!!' Then our body says, 'Who,me ???'...cheers

Hey tuff, if it truly was sarcasm that you were after- cool!  But, if it wasn't- may you fall from a tree stand and break your trigger finger. Jeesum so rude, must be from New York. If your not do the Louisianians a favor!!!  Move!!!!!!!!  I was simply trying to persuade a move to a more effective cartridge. That's what the post question was about genius. Oh, for your information and because  obviously your not bright enough to figure it out- let me explain this for you. Posts on the reports page do not have to be opened in order to be commented on.  So, as far as WMA goes that was not specified in the original post. With that being said- Kenny and I are totally in check with our answers. Unlike you, I don't read through the comments trying to pick out all of the technicalities and imperfections of ones response. Get a life dude! Furthermore, I will waste no more time with this! Regardless of any comments or criticism that you may have my point has been made and is downright the obvious truth!  Karma is a $&@?! And you have brought the stupidity out of yourself!!!!!!
Have a good day everyone. Till next post......(sorry Admiral)   Cheers!

your response shows your level of character, you need not respond anymore, you have showed everyone how stupid you are, i do not read to criticize, i read to make sure i do not give a duplicate answer and also to read opinions to see what others with the experience have to say, and GENIUS the original question had nothing to do with 'what caliber would you recommend for hog hunting, i was one line 'i am going to buy a rimfire which should i get .17hmr or .22mag' there for your comments were not in line, and the new york comment hahahaha that is funny, i am from louisiana, move hahahaha, you preaching karma it the same area where you say i hope you fall and break a finger hahahaha you are a world class gentleman, and again i wasn't being sarcastic or mean it just came off that way because you have soft skin and a hard head, and like you this is my final rant on this subject, have a great day yourself

Let's get back to the subject... I've been doing some researching on this subject and most everyone agrees that you shouldn't try and take a wild hog with a rimfire cartridge. You have a very small chance of retrieving the animal, unless you have a very close shot and place it perfect. If you are buying a gun specifically for hog hunting, you might consider a larger bore rifle. Now since I got scolded earlier for trying to suggest another cartridge, if you ever make another post and ask that question, I'll be glad to give you my 2 cents. I am really just trying to help and I hate to get into these negative posts.

http://hunting.about.com/od/deerbiggame/a/wheretoshoothog.htm

I use a 22 mag.usually hollow points but im going to switch to solid this year hear they have better penetration.have killed hogs with it in the past.over 100 pounds.make a head shot if you can.had 4 walk off last season all head shots too.

hornady ballistic rounds....

22mag 30grain bullet 2200 fps

17hmr 17grain bullet 2550 fps

These are pretty much the badest rounds out there. You tell me which one looks better on paper.