Not every caliber that goes bang is up to the job when it comes to hogs or predators. Feral hogs can be shockingly tough, and predators don’t always drop where you want them to. While shot placement always matters, some cartridges just don’t bring enough punch to the table—or they create more problems than they solve. Here are ten calibers that often disappoint when you’re trying to put down wild hogs or predators.
.22 Long Rifle
Plinking? Sure. Dispatching pests? Fine. But hogs or coyotes? Not so much.
Even with good shot placement, the .22 LR just doesn’t have the energy to reliably anchor larger animals. It’s known for wounding, not stopping.
.17 HMR
It’s a zippy little round that’s fun for small game, but it lacks deep penetration.
Coyotes hit just right might drop, but hogs are another story. This one’s better left for prairie dogs and paper targets.
.25 ACP
Carried more often than it’s fired—and for good reason. It’s underpowered even in personal defense, let alone hunting.
A .25 ACP might get lucky, but it’s not a round you want to rely on for a clean, ethical kill on anything bigger than a raccoon.
.32 ACP
While better than a .25, it still falls short when it comes to reliable penetration and stopping power.
If you’re targeting predators or hogs, you need something that’ll break bone and reach vitals. The .32 just can’t keep up.
.410 Shotgun with Birdshot
Plenty of folks grab a .410 thinking it’ll get the job done, but birdshot spreads fast and lacks depth.
On a hog, that spread barely gets past the skin. You might just tick them off instead of taking them down.
9mm FMJ
The 9mm can work—with the right ammo. But FMJ rounds just zip through and keep going, often without doing much internal damage.
It’s not that the caliber itself is too weak, but the bullet choice matters. Full metal jacket is a poor pick for anything but paper or steel.
.380 ACP
Some call it “9mm short” for a reason. It’s lower pressure, slower, and usually lighter in bullet weight.
On smaller predators it might work, but on hogs? It’s unreliable and leaves too much to chance.
.30 Carbine
It looks the part, but performance-wise, it often acts more like a pistol round than a rifle cartridge.
Penetration isn’t consistent, especially on tougher hogs. It’s a fun gun to shoot but not the best hog stopper.
.22 WMR
A step above .22 LR, but still not enough for hog-sized game or larger predators.
You might get away with it on a fox or bobcat with a perfect shot—but even then, you’re riding the edge of what’s ethical.
7.62x25mm Tokarev
It’s fast and flat-shooting, but it’s not designed for taking game. The bullets are usually too light and too narrow.
Great for punching holes in targets, but not for clean kills on animals that can fight back or run off wounded.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
