Killing Bulls

[John Y Cannuck]

A local butcher used a Ruger 22lr and brain shots for many years. He knew exactly where to shoot, and the beast inevitably fell straight down after the shot.
Certainly you don't need anything larger than a 30-30, and I would caution that the 30-30 could do a complete penetration, making a secondary target a worry.

 

[350 Mag]

444 Marlin with 300gr handloads.

 

[bisonhd]

If it's for slaughter type killing a 22 LR should be fine. or perhaps one of those single shot 410's with a slug.

 

[joe m]

Our vet uses a 243 and head shots for this type of testing. It's overkill at close range. A .22 will work just fine.

 

[Salty]

While the annimal is head down feeding right in front of you, draw an imaginary line from the left ear to the right eye and from the right ear to the left eye. Hit reasonably close to where they intersect with a 22 long rifle and it will be an instant kill.

 

[BC Bigbore]

My father killed steers & hogs without a gun. His tool of choice was a heavy ball peen hammer. One swift smack to the forehead followed by lightning quick use of a razor sharp butcher knife and it was all over. I don't have his build so I've stuck to my M94 .30-30's over the past 30 years to put down cattle with no failures. Even tried a 12 ga slug to the forehead on a 1000lb longhorn steer once with spectacular results. It actually picked the steer up and threw him backwards into the bale stack Kinda freaked out the wife tho'...lol

 

[nexgen]

We always used a 22 LR on cattle for years with few problems, switched to a 22 mag and it gives a little more range and penetration, especially on bulls (heavier skulls) 410 slugs would be a good choice for a neck meets skull shot and little chance of a pass through.

 

[SandRoad]

We always used a 22 LR on cattle for years with few problems, switched to a 22 mag and it gives a little more range and penetration, especially on bulls (heavier skulls) 410 slugs would be a good choice for a neck meets skull shot and little chance of a pass through.

I used to do the honors on my grandfathers farm and a 22LR was always effective.

nexgen, I agree, a 22mag with a solid would do nicely with little chance of over penetration.

 

[Big JD-From the hills]

my vote for the practical solution would be for a plain 30-30, if one prefers to stay back a ways(wich I would) it has more range than just a bead sighted shotgun. The slightly impractical solution would be a lever in 45-70... but its not like you can run down to the local co-op and get ammo for it.