If you’re hunting for meat, the last thing you want is a round that wounds instead of finishing the job. Some calibers might seem fine at the range but fall short in the field—either because they lack punch, don’t penetrate deep enough, or make tracking a nightmare. Here are 15 calibers that have a reputation for wounding more than killing clean. These aren’t necessarily useless, but they’re known to make a mess of things when paired with the wrong game or poor shot placement.
.22 Long Rifle on Deer
Plenty of folks have tried to take deer with a .22LR, but that doesn’t make it a good idea. It’s underpowered for anything that size. Unless you hit the brain or spine, odds are you’re just injuring the animal.
Even with high-velocity rounds, the .22LR doesn’t give you enough penetration. You’ll spend more time tracking wounded deer than actually bringing one home. It’s fine for squirrels and rabbits—but not for anything bigger. Leave this one for small game and target practice.
.17 HMR on Coyotes
The .17 HMR is fast and flat-shooting, but when it comes to coyotes, it’s risky. It might drop one clean at 50 yards, but push it out farther or hit bone, and things go south fast.
The light bullet tends to fragment or fail to penetrate deeply, especially if the shot isn’t perfect. Coyotes can run a long way on a bad hit, and the .17 HMR leaves little room for error. It’s better suited for varmints like prairie dogs, not mid-sized predators.
.223 Remington on Hogs
The .223 Remington is everywhere, but it’s not ideal for hogs unless you’re using high-end ammo and making perfect shots. Wild pigs are tough and fast, and this round doesn’t always punch through the gristle plate.
Plenty of hogs have been wounded and lost because someone thought .223 would do the trick. If you’re going after pigs, bring something with more weight and deeper penetration. Otherwise, you’ll spend more time chasing than hauling meat.
.204 Ruger on Anything Bigger Than a Fox
The .204 Ruger is a tack driver for varmints, but it doesn’t belong anywhere near bigger game. The bullets are tiny, often around 32 to 40 grains, and they fragment on impact.
That might look impressive on a prairie dog, but if you try it on a coyote or anything larger, you’re gambling. You’ll likely get poor penetration and a wounded animal that won’t go down easy. Keep it in the varmint category and don’t stretch its limits.
.30 Carbine on Deer
Originally made for military use, the .30 Carbine has never been known for great terminal ballistics. It moves slower than most rifle rounds and doesn’t expand reliably on game.
On deer-sized animals, it tends to poke holes rather than drop them. You can make it work with precise shooting, but that’s not something you want to count on in real hunting scenarios. Better to leave this one on the range or for nostalgic plinking.
9mm on Hogs
9mm is a solid handgun round for self-defense, but it struggles when used on wild hogs. Even out of a carbine, it lacks the energy to reliably bring down a fast-moving, thick-skinned animal.
It’s easy to carry and fun to shoot, but that doesn’t make it a good choice for hunting. If your shot is off by even a few inches, the hog will be long gone—or worse, charging. Save 9mm for the range and personal protection.
.25 ACP on Anything
The .25 ACP is barely more than a rimfire in terms of power. It was never designed for hunting and has no business in the field. Even rabbits might shrug off a poor hit from this caliber.
It’s slow, it doesn’t expand much, and it won’t penetrate reliably. If your goal is ethical kills and recovered game, leave this one in the junk drawer. There are better pocket pistol calibers out there that actually do the job.
.22 WMR on Coyotes
The .22 Magnum has more punch than the .22LR, but it still comes up short on coyotes. It’ll kill with a perfect shot, sure—but that margin is too thin when real-life hunting factors in.
Too many coyotes end up wounded and lost when hit in the shoulder or gut with this round. If you insist on using it, keep the range short and wait for ideal broadside shots. Otherwise, step up to a real predator cartridge.
.357 Magnum on Deer (from Handguns)
From a carbine, the .357 Magnum can work on deer. But out of a handgun, the velocity drops enough that it often fails to expand properly—especially past 50 yards.
You’re risking shallow wounds and long, frustrating blood trails. Handgun hunting has its place, but the .357 Magnum doesn’t consistently deliver the energy needed for clean deer kills unless you’re right on top of them. It’s better kept for close-up hogs or defense.
.32 ACP on Small Game
It might seem like a decent choice for small critters, but the .32 ACP lacks consistent terminal performance. It zips through without much expansion, especially with full metal jacket rounds.
Instead of dropping the animal on the spot, you’re more likely to end up with wounded rabbits or raccoons that run off. It’s not powerful enough to guarantee clean kills, and it’s not accurate enough to rely on for small targets. There are better options.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
