Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk AL HOGS hog hunting with .223?

anybody ever hog hunt with a .223?

A time or two. I like something a little larger myself. A 223 will kill one for sure, but I hate tracking hogs this time of the year. They always go into the thickest stuff on the property.

Two of us use .223 quite often. They are very effective, especially on hogs less than 200 lbs. If you need several rounds fired with little recoil a .223 is your gun. Shot placement is a key factor if you want to recover them, but if all you are after is punching holes in them that doesn't matter. The only time I prefer a larger caliber is on large boars. I've killed several between 225-275 lbs with a .223, but most were spine, neck, or head shots. I would go with a .30 caliber round if I was trophy hunting. I use a 7.62x39 occasionally and I must admit, there isn't a lot of difference between the internal damage of it and a .223.

.270 WSM..... DROPS EM EVERY TIME

If you can put it right down the earhole, most anything will kill'em.

X2

Sure, 5.56 works fine. However, the projectiles typically loaded for Deer hunting will leave you scratching your head.

Thin skinned animals like a Deer need a round suited for the same. Hogs need a round suited more for penetration.

You can shoot a Hog with a 300wm, but if you Dick up the shot, it is going to run off just the same.

A 60gr Nosler Partition works great.. I wouldnt use a balistic tip or a Hollow point bullet. I also have some 70gr Speer SPs loaded but havent got a chance with them yet.

EXACTLY! A well placed bullet will bring them down no matter the caliber. The problem is most shots are not well placed! LOL

I can't speak to the effeciveness of .223 on swine but I have harvested my share of Hajji with M855 ball and a few Afgan Ibex. It's certainly up to the task. By the way,,, we ate the goats!

Semper Fi

Gunner

McCombie has kind of become the de facto hog man. Here are his thoughts on the .223 and hogs.

http://www.huntingclub.com/magazine/arti...on#.UdTbjeu6Xis

He said, "So, yes, I think the .223 Rem. is a very good choice for hog hunting�provided you use the right ammunition and can put your bullet into a hog�s vitals."

There is no doubt a well placed 223 will kill a hog. But, hogs shot with a 223 don't leave much if any of a blood trail making them difficult to find. Even more so in the summer when everything is grown up real bad.

I think back to all the 243 and deer hunting threads on this site. Many don't think a 243 is big enough for deer, but I do. Yet, some think a 223 is good enough for a much larger tougher thicker skin animal like a hog. And my personal opinion is it isn't big enough. To each his own.

Shot several, a couple of weeks ago, with my AR. Used the new razorback ammo and dropped a 200lbr boar at 175 yards. He never twitched. Few minutes later shot 4-5 more. Found only 2 of those. NONE left a blood trail but its pretty obvious when you hit one with the .223. 100% squeal ratio, every hog we hit that weekend squealed when it was hit.

I asked Brian about it and he said the ammo and placement is obviously critical, but also practice. A lot of it, to become confident enough in the gun, ammo and yourself. Nothing different than with a larger gun (or bow) for deer, elk, etc.

I like the .223, too, but for big hogs would rather have a .270 or larger.

About 800 or so times in the last few years from 15-400 pounds. No survivors. But I'm sure it's not enough gun for the task

Hoggin,

You just say where and when and I will buy you a great steak dinner. Anyone that can go 800 for 800 in hunting situations and recover every single pig is THE MAN!

Must have been shooting them in a trap.