Unlike other countries, in the US firearms skills are not the exclusive domain of the military or law enforcement. In the US there are a great many civilians with more individual weapons training and experience than armed "professionals". Millions of law-abiding civilians in the US walk around all day, ever day with their handguns on their person, fully loaded, ready for use, with near zero problems. A tremendous amount of civilian ammo goes down range, far more than the military uses, every year, again with near zero problems.

Quite simply it is the best tool for the job. Such weapons represent an optimum mix of size, weight, ballistics, rate of fire and ergonomics. That is why militaries use them to kill their enemies, and why they are also the best choice for killing hogs in an efficient manner, and a whole host of other defensive and offensive applications. BTW, anyone who tells you that they are "fun to shoot" or "easy to shoot", and a bunch of other fluffy stuff like that is just dancing around the point, which is that they are among the most efficient weapons devised by man, and therefore quite often the best tool for the job.

Finally, crab, you have no idea if any of those hunters have not already, or aren't currently, serving their country. To say things about that is just trolling for trouble, a habit of yours when people express ideas you don't agree with.

The big difference is that the military and law enforcement are subject to competency checks and compliance with rules of engagement - how may of your millions of civilians have to comply with that?

Equally, spraying a bunch of rounds down range at the weekend is no indicator of competence or safety - much like practicing instrument flying in VMC and expecting yourself to be ready for IIMC.

Even a PPLH holder is expected to show some level of competence before being let loose solo !

Maybe those hunters have served, maybe not - you don't know either but apparently you are correct and not me.

I'm quite capable of making my own assessment of a weapon thanks - the AR 15 is 'easy to shoot' as it happens but not as devastating as an AK47:ok:

Out of interest, are these guys going for single shot kills?

This must be where Ted Nugent retired to,...

crab--these are all good discussion topics. I'm happy to discuss further if you want to move to jetblast, but I don't want to continue to diverge this topic. Just let me know...

So it doesn't take much of a look on youtube to see that - far from the noble farmer protecting his crops -shooting the hogs from helicopters has turned into a business opportunity.

What used to be an expensive outlay for the farmers is now a lucrative ($2,400 dollars pp for 2 hours!) business - they clearly have no incentive to reduce the number of hogs or they wouldn't be able to sell the trips to the tourists (both domestic and foreign) who want to come and shoot things without fear of repercussions.

So I think we are back to DBs assessment of these people.

It also seems that there are firms out there doing far more scientific hog culling using traps and enclosures - yes they still shoot them in the end but they avoid dispersing the hogs the way that dog and helicopter hunting does which both create more damage not less.

These are not innocent fluffy little creatures


https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....1402e37ca.jpeg


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....c2ae0c9c05.jpg

no but they were introduced by settlers for food and nowadays are ignored in favour MaccyD and KFC.

Eat the fricking things instead of fast food, the overpopulation will be over in weeks.

That last photo, is he hunting or marrying it?
Sorry, it is Texas, best to check against local customs :E

Squeal like a pig..............

Hogs
 

I always thought Hogs were Harleys,
Love the NZ video great flying, love the scenery:ok:

aa777888 - I think this topic has already diverged - the pilot didn't do the first part of his job properly and had to really pull it out of the bag to survive the second part.

You love guns and I don't - not much left to debate really - out of interest have you ever lived outside of USA?

I've never lived outside of the US. I have travelled a bit. FWIW I've had many visits to the UK and AUS on business over the last few years. I was in the UK, staying at the London Marriott County Hall no less, when that idiot attacked those people at Westminster in 2017. It took a gun to stop that one, although personally I think the Horse Guards got ripped, it would have been so much better if they had charged down there with sabres drawn!

Yes they are and yes I have used them but not from a helicopter.

Currently I have an increased feral pig problem as a result of National Parks aerial shooting in the last week. National parks are allowed to shoot feral animals such as cats, foxes, pigs, deer from a helicopter but not horses because they can't kill them "humanely"!

Well (don't tell him this, but) I don't love my Beretta,...we're just freinds with benefits.

However, something definitely needs to be done to stop these rogue rifles from shooting ignition keys into the off positions in helicopters! Until then, remember kids,...if a rifle enters your cockpit, double check your mags before liftoff,...especially if he's wearing a silencer!.

aa777888 - so envisage the likely bloodbath if the residents of London had been carrying weapons and started shooting at everyone who looked like a terrorist - yes, guns were used to stop him - but by trained and very well regulated people.

Imagine worse - that the terrorist had been able to freely access guns at his local store with only a cursory safety check - starts to make you understand the severity of mass shootings in the US doesn't it?

Yes, bad people do bad things - but only with the weapons they have available to them.

Ted Cruz's answer to mass shootings has been to allow more guns in churches and campuses - please explain the logic?

Yes, I know this is off topic but gun control related to helicopters appears to have been a major factor in this accident and related to the reason for the flight in the first place.

aa77788 - also please note that I wasn't the first to make any comments on this thread personal.

Again, crab, if you wish to discuss firearms and personal defense, I'd be happy to meet you over in jetblast. Not going to pursue it in this topic. Just let me know...

aa777888 - you can always pm me - I have very thick skin, well a shell really, hence the username, but I usually find common ground with most people.

Holy ****e.
Take a mini-gun the next time!

No minigun or helicopter needed. Invite a pack of wolves on the premises. They eat boars and find them delectable.