Using a shotgun for humane dispatch of a horse

[Harry136]

.22LR at close range should do the job reasonably well. It's Mossad's round of choice for assassination as its just bounces around the skull without over penetration, and I believe that is with sub-sonics as well.

[Benthejockey]

.22LR at close range should do the job reasonably well. It's Mossad's round of choice for assassination as its just bounces around the skull without over penetration, and I believe that is with sub-sonics as well.

Seen it as well at the kennels when the 'big' gun broke. It did the job but not a lot of people would be happy to take that chance. Chop a skull in half and look at the brain and you'll see a 22 is perfectly up to the job but you remove a lot of margin for error. A bit like knocking fencing nails in with a 10oz hammer. It works but you get a better swing with a 20oz if you see what I mean.

[HuskyRich]

Imagine a magnum load agains a watermelon and that's the outcome of that scenario, Trigger would be very dead but you've also redecorated half the county with horse brains. Any standard shotgun load will do, a horses skull isn't all that thick. I once shot the side of an old shed we were about to burn, the timber was a similar thickness to skull thickness (ok it was a different density but it gives you an idea) from about 10yds away. It punched a hole the size of your fist through the wood and carried on going I think that was 28g 6's.

Always just assumed horses had super hard skulls for some reason.

Also can't say I've experimented with shooting stuff at close range with birdshot. If there's even been anything worth destroying (the odd telly or printer etc) I've always used SG.

 

Fair point on the redecoration thing.

 

 

If you have never put an animal down a horse isn't the one to be starting on (the only thing worse for me is dogs pigs aren't easy ether). As has been said at up a shot gun with any size shot will do the job up to about 3 to 4 feet away, try it on a bit of wood. If the distance is greater that 4 foot its time for a rifle with an experienced man behind it. .

If you really do feel that it is something you may be called upon to do have a look at info available on the net, you could also see if your local knacker man will run you through it for the price of a couple of pints.

 

It's purely just theoretical, hopefully I will never have to.

But it doesnt hurt to know these things, especially as I have already been asked once.

 

 

[hedge]

HuskyRich - that's exactly why I asked the question. Just in case - it is hopefully just theoretical....

 

Not something I would want to do but you never know. I'd hate to see an animal (and owner) suffering, have the tools for the job but not be able to do anything.

 

Consenus seems to be that the lead shot leaving a shotgun at less than 3 or 4 feet is effectively a solid slug so shot size and weight are effectively irrelevant. I also thought a horses skull might be thicker but it appears not. I'll trust the experience of others.

 

I hope to God I never have to even comtemplate such a thing but I'd rather be prepared than not.

 

Thanks to everyone for their imput again.

[Harry136]

I was a Military Policeman in Germany, I've had to put a couple of deer out of their misery after being involved with an RTC. A 9mm from a Browning HP pistol did the job nicely.

[Paul223]

There's some rubbish being wrote here now, guys I can tell you from experience that sg shot at 3 yards will not defiantly work, so all I can say is if you can't get to within 3 or 4 inch so the shot acts as a solid then don't bother.

Easiest way to drop horses or cattle that are free and shall we say energetic is to place a bullet (not rimfire) behind the ear with the perceived bullet path to go forward to the brain, then once down a properly placed shot front on with the shotgun (less risk than free bullet up close).