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aa777888 - I'd pick a Barrett 0.5 inch as my choice - a bit big for helicopter use maybe but if you hit it you will kill it unlike the 5.56mm AR - I understand the need to eradicate the hogs but there is no need to be cruel about it, wounding them to leave them dying in pain."
I don't think anyone knows more about aerial culling than the Kiwi's. If I'm not mistaken, 7.62 or 00 buckshot are the choice. 5.56 has its place depending on the species. The AR platform is popular due to being light, reliable, and configurable.
A professional aerial shooter should be able to headshoot the animal.
Pigs are a huge problem in Australia as well. 24 million plus feral population...
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/20...mbers/11216010
https://www.abc.net.au/news/rural/20...-cull/10604376
Link to Aus government SOP's for further reading...
https://pestsmart.org.au/toolkit-res...of-feral-pigs/
I don't agree with the recommendation that the R44/B206 are the preferred aircraft. The MD500 was long ago proved to be the ultimate aerial shooting platform.