Wounded animal

[thumper1]

17 hmr worked for me I had to put dispatch a dog not to long ago 1 shot from about 50 meters away and I used a TNT rnd hope I never have to do that again.

 

[mlehtovaara]

22 behind the ear, at an angle as if it was going to exit the opposite eye.

Likely won't even exit any larger animals, and won't be too much of a mess.

 

[whitetailwoodsarcher]

well we used to have around 350 head of cattle and when ever one would get sick or we were gona eat it all we used was a 22lr. but then we needed to put down an old bull or horse we used an old 303. becasue a 22lr would just bounce off there skull. but if your just taking about a smaller animal then 22lr woill do just fine. better yet 22 mag/.

 

[Waterfowler]

40 cal from about a foot away to the back of a dog's head does it pretty quickly. Not pretty though.

Seen a 22 in the head on cat and human and neither worked as was expected.

Personally, I would rather have over kill than under kill.

 

[samb]

30-30 on a deer close up with create a substantial wound, little bro put down a deer hit by a car with the 30-30 said the head shot made a mess.

 

[shawn]

Use what you have, there is no need to buy a special gun or caliber for this. Unless you are looking for a reason to sell the better half on a new gun.

Shawn

 

[horseman2]

The old SPCA lady in Campbelll River schooled us on the proper way to dispatch a dog. There is a bump on the back of a dog's head. With the muzzle at the base of this bump, aim towards the nose.

Was at a slaughter house one day and they had killed a nine year old steer that was pushing 3000 pounds. He pumped 8 or 9 .22's before one finally broke through. It looked like a one inch group exactly where 4831 described.

 

[mooncoon]

perhaps worth keeping in mind that the front of an animal's brain is associated with sight and smell rather than with keeping its body working. It is the back and base of the brain which is most quickly lethal. I knew a couple of fellows who tried to kill a bear in a live trap by shooting more or less straight down in the front of the skull.

cheers mooncoon

 

[tigrr]

I did cats and dogs on the farm with a 12 gauge as well. Quick and humane. 1ought to 3ought buck and its never been an issue.
Sorry about your dog.

 

[flutie]

Thanks ALL very very much, I think after reading all, OVERKILL is best IMHO as quite a few pointed out, SHOTGUN is fine at close range.

I had wanted to make sure there was not a better more humane method for emergency, I have come to the conclusion from here that it was OK

Thanks

If I ever find myself in custody and they offer me 2 choices 22 or shotgun to head, I think I shall choose shotgun...

 

[rhino519]

.22 and a little knowledge of anatomy, right behind the ear all is you need

With a shotgun a 00 or 000 at the base of the neck, less messy

Sorry about your dog

 

[mkrainc]

I did witness as a child, a cow being shot by a man with 22 rifle, cow just stood there, he ended up bashing with axe until it finally fell.

If you're dropping a cow with a .22, the angle of the shot is important. I butchered one where I had to use two shots to kill it.

The first shot was at an angle where the bullet wound up in it's sinus cavity. The second shot was angled so it went into the brain.

When I inspected the skull afterwards, both shots were right beside each other in the forehead.

I think the fellow you witnessed bashing the cow with the axe, wasn't using his head. A .22 will drop most anything if your shot is made right.

 

[swrmacmullin]

On my cattle farm we use .308

Too many times has the .22 come out and animals have gotten back up, only to go back down later. for small animals .22 is more than enough, but i would question the use of a 22 on anything big sized./

 

[caustic]

I grew up on a small farm, and we always used a 22 to dispatch animals, whether they were sick, or if we were butchering.
I can never remember having to use more than one shot.

However, I had a professional butcher tell me he kept a 30-30 handy after having one bad experience with a huge Hereford bull and a 22. [Failed to penetrate, apparently]I would bet a 22 Magnum would have penetrated just fine.

Regards, Eagleye.

this happend to my uncle now he only uses his 30-30

 

[Hawking]

243 bar none. Puts them down every time with out the drama of lesser rounds. Yes noisy, loud, but effective.

We have euthanized plenty of critters of various sizes. The 22 will do most times but the 243 does it with authority every time with one shell and makes no where near the mess of a shotgun.