Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game 223 performance on hogs?

I know there are quite a few posters on the board with experience in hog hunting, I've got none other than popping a couple fat hogs with a 22 to butcher. Got a hog hunt coming up in march, been told it will be mostly sitting in a blind over feeders. I've got several larger deer/elk rifles I can take, but was thinking about taking the AR for a change of pace. Using heavier "hunting" bullets, I figure head/neck shots would work fine, but wondering about heart/lung shots. 20" 1-9 twist barrel, shoots under an inch with the 63 gr Sierra SMP, better with the 55 Hornady sp, and I'm getting ready to try a few of the 64 gr. Nosler Bonded Base when the fog lifts in a bit. How much tougher is the 65 gr Gameking than the 63 SMP?

64g Winchester is a good bullet also! Shoot which ever is the most accurate in your rifle, they will all work.

I have killed several train cars full of hogs with most common calibers. Most with the .223. If you make a good shot they are DRT. Ear hole or shoulder break down are the best. Head shots are iffy because of deflection and behind shoulder is not advised because of the tiny hole and small blood trail.

Limit your shots for 200 yards and you will be fine. It will kill much further but ballistics may not be in your favor for recovery.

Shoot them just about anywhere from the armpit to the eyeball and it’s game over. I kill at least %90 of my pigs with a 223 and rarely even get a runner let alone one getting away. I have used bullets from 40 to 77 grains on them and noticed no huge difference in effectiveness among them. In fact 40gr Varmeggeddons kill like lightening bolts with chest shots of normal sized pigs.

Thanks guys, you see so much written about the shield on the shoulders it had me wondering about the penetrating ability of the 60+ bullets in the 223. I'd guess it will be doubtful we'll get the chance at many larger hogs so it sounds like about anything will work.
Just tried the 64 gr Bonded Base, runs right around 1" at 100 with Varget in this barrel. Not quite as good as the 63 SMP or 55 Hornady sp, but probably a tougher bullet.

That bonded bullet is tough and destructive. 1" groups are more than adequate for any hog hunting ranges with the 223. I load it for my grandson's 22-250 and it scrambles heart and lungs while passing all the way through.

We kill hogs here in SW GA by the bazillions. There are several “outfitters” here that take folks on nightly excursions using the latest the latest thermal equipment. Their choice of 223 bullets is overwhelmingly the Hornady 75 grain BTHP match bullet. It puts em down very convincingly.

1-9 twist enough for that one?

Yep. Easy.

My son used the 64 Winchester bullet in a hand load out of a mini 14. It made a mess of the lungs with a pass through shot. The range was 50-60 yards.

Just ordered some Hornady 75 bthp and Sierra 65 Gameking to try. We'll see how the rifle likes them. I can always use them for deer here, I haven't tried the 22s on deer yet even though it's been legal for a couple years.

I use the 62 Barnes. I don’t know if a 1in9 will work.

Dont need bullets that heavy for hogs. Like other posters Ive shot 90% of my hogs with a .223...55 to 63 grain bullets...and I prefer the brain shot over all others...hence it doesn't much matter which bullet I choose...

The TSX version shoots great from my M77 Compact with a 1-9. Not sure how the TTSX would do.

I killed these five with Barnes 55 grn TTSX

I have shot a bunch with the .223. With the smaller hogs, I didn’t see a big difference with ammo. With the big ones, I have noticed that the bonded and solid copper bullets seem to work a little better.

Shooting over feeders all it takes is a shot between the eye and ear hole and they are down.

Any 55 grain bullet will do it.

But if shots are taken in less than perfect conditions the heaviest and toughest bullet that your rifle shoots the best is what you want.

Have fun and prepare for fast shots on their buddies after the first one is down.

I'd guess they will work on hogs. Haven't shot any of those fancy long bullets in one. Back in the day they were good enough for pot bellied pigs, water buff, ape like creatures and an ele.

Only boars have the really thick shield. Ear hole em with a 55 grainer and you are golden..................Killed many many with a 223. It's all you'll need.

Have fun!!!! Kill a bunch. They eat good too!!!

So, I gots to wonder why anyone would ask the question in the first place. Really..........



If one is still undecided I suggest they ask themselves just one question.

Do you feel lucky?