Kiwi Airgunners Forum : Best caliber for goats?

Kiwi Airgunners Forum : Best caliber for goats? www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/ This is an XML content feed of; Kiwi Airgunners Forum : Small bore powder burners : Best caliber for goats? Copyright (c) 2006-2012 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:04:27 +0000 Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:04:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 10.14 360 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=1125 Kiwi Airgunners Forum www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_images/logo.jpg www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/ Best caliber for goats? : Ammunition nz sells the brass,... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=14016#14016 Author: kruzaroad
Subject: 1125
Posted: 20 Apr 2026 at 10:04am

Ammunition nz sells the brass, but are currently out of stock.
Hows life bb.
What you end up keeping in air rifles? Or you been swallowed buy powder burners 😞
]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 10:04:04 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=14016#14016 Best caliber for goats? : .223 would be the best allrounder... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=14015#14015 Author: Billbobnz
Subject: 1125
Posted: 20 Apr 2026 at 8:49am

.223 would be the best allrounder for small to medium. Accurate especially with 1in8 twist rate and range out to 300m easily.

22-250 i think i may have mentioned earlier is another fantastic choice

New kid on the block .22 creedmoor but really only custom gun build and brass avaliable in NZ untill they start importing them. Deadly Accurate out to 500+m EXTREMELY flat shooting]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:49:32 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=14015#14015 Best caliber for goats? : I've used everything from... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=14014#14014 Author: Ashman
Subject: 1125
Posted: 20 Apr 2026 at 8:32am

I've used everything from .22 to .270 and 7mm08. I personally wouldn't use 17hmr with varmint grenades but with PSP they have more penetration.

At the distances you quoted, .223 would be my pick. .22 Hornet isn't permissible on DOC blocks so it rules itself out.

.204with the right projectile would work and they are a screamer, but with limited throat and barrel life 1t 4000fps.

.223 is cheap and cheaper still if you reload though you'd be hard pressed to reload any cheaper than the less expensive commercial rounds available.

]]> Mon, 20 Apr 2026 08:32:08 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=14014#14014 Best caliber for goats? : Iâ€™ve also recently got a .300BlackOut,... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=13853#13853 Author: RangerPete
Subject: 1125
Posted: 14 Mar 2026 at 10:09pm

I’ve also recently got a .300BlackOut, which I got specifically for goats with subsonic .300cal bullets…
Took a few goats with it on my last goat and turkey weekend, but that’s another story for another day.]]> Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:09:20 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=13853#13853 Best caliber for goats? : Some further updates on my .17HMR... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=13851#13851 Author: RangerPete
Subject: 1125
Posted: 14 Mar 2026 at 10:03pm

Some further updates on my .17HMR experiances.

Having used my T1x a few times now for goats and turkeys and rabbits, here is what Ive learnt.
There are many ammo manufacturers, but essentially I have only found two types of .17HMR ammo.

The .17gr ballistic tip frangible bullet, that is designed to break up on impact, turn into shrapnel and do a lot of damage but gives very little penetration. I found a few pieces under the far side skin of a rabbit shot at 35yards.

And the 20gr “hollow point” which is designed to mushroom and expand its frontal surface from 4.5mm to…? 6mm? But should retain its construction and weight and penetrates a lot further than the 17gr frangible bullet.

I believe there is also a FMJ available, but I haven’t personally seen any, and I can’t think of an application for a FMJ in .17HMR 🤔

I have now used the 20gr on goats and turkeys, and the 17gr on rabbits and turkeys.

The .17gr is devistating on rabbits and I’d use it out 150 comfortably, with a bit more practice I’d probably take rabbits out to 200 with the 17gr frangable bullet. It would be equally as effective on hares, possums and feral cats, and I’d be comfortable using it out to 130ish for those species.
Turkeys are really big birds, and their wings and flight feathers are like little shields covering their sides. I have used the 17gr’s on turkeys but find you need to be really selective with shot placement and avoid the wings and drumsticks. Those little frangible bullets break up on impact and don’t seem to get the penetration required to reliably get to a turkeys vitals from any angle. Bear in mind a turkey can be up to 50cm wide from wing to wing, and the breast fillets are very thick!
I won’t be using the 17grainers for turkeys again. When shooting at 80, 100, 120 yards, and trying to take out the whole flock of walking or running birds, I want a round that gives better performance (penetration) than the 17grainer, and that round is the 20gr hollow point. It gives reliable penetration (usually exiting) on turkeys, from any angle and I’ve taken turkeys out to 130y with the 20grainers. But usually the closer you can get, the better.

The 20gr gives enough penetration to take neck shots on goats out to 140ish, which I have done.
And I’m comfortable with head shots on goats out to about 80, but always the closer the better.
Turkeys I’d be comfortable using the 20grainer out to a max of 150.

So for me it’s:
17gr ballistic tip - rabbits out to 200 (with a bit more use and confidence), hares, possums and ferals out to 130.
20gr hollow point- turkeys out to 150, goat head shots out to 80 and base of the neck out to 140.

What’s interesting is that when zeroed at 115y, they both group in almost the same place through my rifle.
]]> Sat, 14 Mar 2026 22:03:54 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=13851#13851 Best caliber for goats? : Hi Mark,Next time i'm out... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12309#12309 Author: RangerPete
Subject: 1125
Posted: 04 May 2025 at 5:26pm

Hi Mark,

Next time i'm out that way which should be the month after our upcomming wallaby shoot, I'll try bring one or two back. Would'nt mind some my self, but I usually give them all to the land owner. Will just have to shoot more next time

]]> Sun, 04 May 2025 17:26:53 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12309#12309 Best caliber for goats? : Wild turkeys?Pete I'd love... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12307#12307 Author: JasonEdward
Subject: 1125
Posted: 03 May 2025 at 1:54pm

Wild turkeys?

Pete I'd love one of those for the table if you ever have spare. I really like the wild flavour but found slow cooking essential - the wild turkeys I have shot have been tough as old boots even with a slow roast at 160 celsius. Crock pot on low is the default for me and wild turkeys now.

My mother was a superb game bird chef but when we had the occasional tough mallard Mum used to ask us why we didn't ask the ducks their age before we shot them. ]]> Sat, 03 May 2025 13:54:30 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12307#12307 Best caliber for goats? : Good account of everything there... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12301#12301 Author: Pauly5
Subject: 1125
Posted: 30 Apr 2025 at 8:43am

Good account of everything there Pete.

I only own a little 22lr anf have never fired it, but If was to buy another powder burner it would be a 17hmr, they sound so handy.

]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2025 08:43:07 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12301#12301 Best caliber for goats? : Wow! Superb tally Pete! And a... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12300#12300 Author: Myson
Subject: 1125
Posted: 30 Apr 2025 at 7:13am

Wow! Superb tally Pete! And a superb arsenal of fine weapons!!! Smile

18 turkeys?! Christmas has arrived early!!!

Well done! Great pest control.... I bet that was fun!

]]> Wed, 30 Apr 2025 07:13:06 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12300#12300 Best caliber for goats? : Latest update on the goat culling... www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12299#12299 Author: RangerPete
Subject: 1125
Posted: 29 Apr 2025 at 4:10pm

Latest update on the goat culling saga...

Went south again last weekend to the same horse property.
This time I took Little Emma (.177 air rifle, 22FPE), my new unblooded Tikka .17HMR and a .308.

First time out using (culling with) a .17HMR, and I must say, it is a fun gun of note. I was very pleased with its performance. I've zeroed it at 115yards, and its pretty much point and shoot from 20yards out to 140ish, and not much drop out to 200yards.

I again didnt find any deer, so it was just the .17's that got some trigger time this weekend.
The pest control (culling) tally for the weekend was:
4 goats
18 turkeys
9 rabbits
6 hedgehogs
4 mice
2 hares
and a possum.

The .17HMR was responsible for the 4 goats and 18 turkeys, Little Emma took the rest.

So my impressions of the .17HMR after this weekend are as follows...
Having only just started using it, I still need to work out my limits and comfort zones using it, but I was shooting the 20gr CCI game point, which is not a frangible varmint bullet, it is supposed to be a hollow point which mushrooms, holds together, retains its weight and penetrates to the best of its little 20gr ability. (which is certainly impressive, I must say!)

The turkeys at 70 to 100 yards were no problem. A turkey is a big bird, but that tiny 20gr .177cal bullet made short work of them, from any angle, usually (with out a lot of investigating) exiting. I didnt have time to do the dissections I would have liked to do in order to gauge terminal ballistic performance, but it was impressive none the less.
One of the flocks of turkeys I came across was a flock of 8 birds on a small flat high up in the hills. The wind was in my favour and they were slightly up hill of me, so as I peered over the chest of the track I was on I could see them, but my body was hidden from them below the rise. An almost perfect situation. I was about 70 or 80 yards away and managed to cull the entire flock with some fairly quick shooting.

Its performance on the goats was even more impressive.
The first goat was a steep downhill shot at about 30yards. Back of the head and it dropped like a stone.
Bullet exited through the eye socket.

Second goat was also a steep down hill shot, maybe around 90 yards with a lot of tree branches in the way. I was looking down a fence line and had a small window clear of vegetation and all I could do was watch the mob of about 20plus goats walk through the little gap I had to shoot through as they were ducking under the fence into the native bush. Eventually one stopped in the window, I could see a chest shot and I took it just behind the front leg.

The third and 4th goats were on a huge open paddock, again from a mob of 25plus goats. (no shortage of goats there and the owners want them gone).
Not much cover to make an approach, so half the mob was aware of me as I took up a position and set up my shooting sticks. I chose to go for a neck shot at 106 yards on a full grown nanny who was not aware of me and still feeding. She dropped on the spot but did require a coup de grace. Necropsy revealed the bullet hit and broke the bottom edge of the lower neck vertebra.
4th goat was a young billy, I didnt have time to range it but it was around 130 or 140 yards. Quartering away shot, just behind the shoulder, was also a vertebra shot as it also dropped on the spot.

Every caliber has its merits and its limits, and with more use I'll figure out where I'm comfortable using this little tac driver. After this last weekend I'd be confident taking turkeys out further, happy to try 150yards. And I think 100yards would be a good limit for broad side chest shots on goats, and 50yards for head shots.
Thats my 2cents for now.
]]> Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:10:00 +0000 www.kiwiairgunners.co.nz/forum_posts.asp?TID=1125&PID=12299#12299