Javelina hunting in West Texas... what bullet? ***UPDATE***

Robinhood21

Robinhood21

Member
My father, family friend and myself are going to West Texas Javelina hunting in February. We are bringing our bows and rifles. I want to shoot one with my bow and one with my AR in .223. I'm trying to decide what bullets to reload for the trip that would also work for the occasional late season doe.

I had 3 bullets in mind.

Barnes 62 grain TTSX

Nosler 60 grain Partition

Sierra 55 grain GameKing

What's your guy's opinion?
 
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I've shot deer ,pigs, coyotes & bobcats with 62gr TSX via 223 AI. Very happy with the preformance . Would think the TTSX version would be as good or better.

My #2 pick not on your list is 60 gr Vmax.
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeI've shot deer ,pigs, coyotes & bobcats with 62gr TSX via 223 AI. Very happy with the preformance . Would think the TTSX version would be as good or better.

My #2 pick not on your list is 60 gr Vmax.

^^^ This. Solids work great in light bullet scenarios or actually in any scenario.
 
Anything you use for coyotes will work on Javelina. They aren't hard to kill. I have shot lots of them with 55 grain game kings.

drscott
 
I Bow Hunt Javelina in Arizona every January around Wilcox and Safford.

I personally feel just about any bullet will kill a Javelina from a .17 Remington on up.

They don't have the body armor of a Feral Hog. Hit them in the vitals and they are down.

Biggest one I have shot was near 60lbs. I could see a large caliber doing a serious number on them.

Best of luck!
 
Originally Posted By: drscottAnything you use for coyotes will work on Javelina. They aren't hard to kill. I have shot lots of them with 55 grain game kings.

drscott

+1 except I haven't shot many lately except for the gate guard at a ranch I hunt. Always use 55 gr. NBT's, but I do head shoot them. Killed a lot of feral hogs w/same bullet/POA.

Everyone should shoot one javelin, though......that might well be enough, however, as every one I ever shot was covered in fleas.

Regards,
hm
 
Originally Posted By: WhoCaresSend a PM to Yellowhammer, he kills a lot of pigs with his 223.

They're not pigs...
 
Originally Posted By: CZ527Originally Posted By: WhoCaresSend a PM to Yellowhammer, he kills a lot of pigs with his 223.

They're not pigs...

Never said they were, only that Yellowhammer shoots animals of similar size with his 223. Maybe you should learn how to read!
 
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Be careful when removing the musk gland (up a ways from tail on their back). It contains a skunk smelling musk that will taint the meat.

Some are better than others. A old S. Tx. recipe is to place javelin steaks on a cedar shingle, place in oven @ 350 and cook until done. Remove from oven, throw away steaks and eat the shingle.
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They make great tamales and, as with other game, the young ones are best table fare.

Regards,
hm
 
I used shame and bake. Meat was descent and the kids and wife never complained. Then again, wouldn't of mattered if they did.
 
Originally Posted By: WhoCaresOriginally Posted By: CZ527Originally Posted By: WhoCaresSend a PM to Yellowhammer, he kills a lot of pigs with his 223.

They're not pigs...

Never said they were, only that Yellowhammer shoots animals of similar size with his 223. Maybe you should learn how to read!

Read your post again,. You didn't say anything about animals of similar size. You said PIGS. What you said and what you meant were 2 different things.
 
We hunt them with bow, rifle, and pistol here in AZ. Any bullet out of your AR from 50 gr VMax to, well anything above that. Here we can hunt them with .22 mags. Never did though, because I think a quick kill is best. As for eating. Taste like ham. At least the backstraps do. Taste like a pork roast from the grocery store. Soak in a zip lock bag with some gator aid or cranberry drink. I never ate the hams but a friend serves them to friends at dinner and doesn't tell them it's Javalina until it's over. Says they never know the difference. Others are right though, the Javalina is not a hog, it is a separate spiecies unto itself. Although, if you place a Jav skull next to a Russian bore skull. The only difference is the size.
 
Having never shot one, how do they take a bullet ? I know they are small,does the larger chamberings/bullets tear them up or do they mostly just pass through ?
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeHaving never shot one, how do they take a bullet ? I know they are small,does the larger chamberings/bullets tear them up or do they mostly just pass through ?

Like all animals, depends on what bullet hits. If bone, exit usually pretty messy. Head shots shine!

Regards,
hm
 
In my few years skinning at a local taxidermy shop, I never got to mess with any. I know hits and bone make a diff like hm said. Are they thick or thin skinned ?

They sure are a neat looking little critter. I'g like to shoot one or 3 someday.
 
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