123 grain 7.62x54R for big pigs?

1939mosin · September 9, 2011, 06:41 PM

Anybody have experience with lighter weight/higher velocity loads for pig hunting? The CA DFG pig hunting pdf book says you need 1200 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards to reliably take down a pig. I am loading Hornady 123 grain SP with a BC of 0.252 and an SD of 0.183. I am loading this with 50.0 grains H335 for a muzzle velocity of 2997 fps. I realize the SD might be low for good penetration, which is why I am posting this, but when I plug this data into the Hornady ballistics calculator it tells me this bullet will have 1902 ft-lbs at 100 yards and 1454 ft-lbs at 200 yards. So I guess the high velocity makes up for the low SD?

Is 1454 ft-lbs enough to penetrate the shoulder of a big pig even with this light (for the caliber) bullet? So I can take a big pig out to 200 yards? Should I only go for head shots? Neck shots?

I realize there is a big difference between an 80 lb piglet and a 250 lb beast, would like to know if this bullet would have enough penetration for a big pig, although I might want to take a smaller one because I do plan on eating it...

So do I need a heavier bullet? I get very good accuracy with these .310" 123gr bullets, less so with 220 grain .308" but I am sure those would penetrate better...

GeauxTide · September 9, 2011, 08:24 PM

If the 123s are for the AK, they are designed for 2300fps. At 3000, the bullet will come apart. For pigs, get a 150-165gr Hornady Spire Point, Sierra Game King, Speer Hot Core, or Rem CoreLokt.

bamaranger · September 10, 2011, 02:46 AM

I'm not sure why you want to load 123 gr slugs in the x54r ctg to hunt tough game like hogs. Sierra, Speer and Hornady make great 150 gr .311 dia SP's, the Hornady is the sexy poly tipped SST boat tail. There are heavier slugs also.

I would keep the 123 for plinking and varmints and get a bigger game bullet for hogs. HOgs are notorious for soaking up punishment and absorbing lead.

natman · September 10, 2011, 03:49 AM

123 is pretty light for 30 caliber and using a light bullet 700 fps faster than its designed speed is asking for trouble. There is a decent selection of 150-180 grain bullets that are designed for the job.

1939mosin · September 10, 2011, 06:25 AM

I was favoring the lighter bullet just because my gun seems to favor the lighter bullet, consistently get better groups with the lighter bullet. But the hornady website does list the speed for this bullet and you are right that it was not designed for 3000 fps. I will stick to 150 grain or more if I do shoot a pig... All this "theoretical" info available on external ballistics, not as much on terminal ballistics, but nothing beats experience, so thanks for the advice.

natman · September 10, 2011, 08:16 AM

I'd take a 2" group with a bullet that will expand and hold together over a 1" group with a bullet that blows up any day.

BIG P · September 11, 2011, 12:29 AM

have used 145gr. from a 308 saiga with good results no real big ones 200lbs about the biggest but it did bust the shoulder.

hi point nut · September 24, 2011, 08:05 PM

i an going boar hunting and i was going to use and the seller and bellot 180 grain soft point its got aprox 2315 foot lb of energy at 100 yard will this work?:

natman · September 25, 2011, 03:22 AM

Yes.

Art Eatman · September 25, 2011, 07:25 AM

Worrying about foot-pounds is all well and good, I guess, but it's just part of the story. Penetration with controlled expansion is more important, as long as the muzzle energy is somewhere near or a bit above the legal requirement.

SFAIK, in thirty-caliber, bullets of around 120 grains are designed and intended more for varmints and/or thin-skinned game. Hogs are thick skinned and heavy-bone critters.

TX Hunter · September 25, 2011, 10:29 AM

It suprises me that the 7.62x54R would shoot acurately with a short light bullet like that. Im glad it does though.
The normal 196 Grain Silver Bear, or Brown Bear soft points work very well on hogs, and are very inexpensive. Good luck with your Pork Gathering.

September 9, 2011, 06:41 PM	#1
1939mosin Junior Member Join Date: September 9, 2011 Posts: 2	123 grain 7.62x54R for big pigs? Anybody have experience with lighter weight/higher velocity loads for pig hunting? The CA DFG pig hunting pdf book says you need 1200 foot pounds of energy at 100 yards to reliably take down a pig. I am loading Hornady 123 grain SP with a BC of 0.252 and an SD of 0.183. I am loading this with 50.0 grains H335 for a muzzle velocity of 2997 fps. I realize the SD might be low for good penetration, which is why I am posting this, but when I plug this data into the Hornady ballistics calculator it tells me this bullet will have 1902 ft-lbs at 100 yards and 1454 ft-lbs at 200 yards. So I guess the high velocity makes up for the low SD? Is 1454 ft-lbs enough to penetrate the shoulder of a big pig even with this light (for the caliber) bullet? So I can take a big pig out to 200 yards? Should I only go for head shots? Neck shots? I realize there is a big difference between an 80 lb piglet and a 250 lb beast, would like to know if this bullet would have enough penetration for a big pig, although I might want to take a smaller one because I do plan on eating it... So do I need a heavier bullet? I get very good accuracy with these .310" 123gr bullets, less so with 220 grain .308" but I am sure those would penetrate better...

September 10, 2011, 02:46 AM	#3
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	x54r I'm not sure why you want to load 123 gr slugs in the x54r ctg to hunt tough game like hogs. Sierra, Speer and Hornady make great 150 gr .311 dia SP's, the Hornady is the sexy poly tipped SST boat tail. There are heavier slugs also. I would keep the 123 for plinking and varmints and get a bigger game bullet for hogs. HOgs are notorious for soaking up punishment and absorbing lead.

September 25, 2011, 10:29 AM	#11
TX Hunter Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2010 Location: East Texas USA Posts: 1,805	1939 Mosin It suprises me that the 7.62x54R would shoot acurately with a short light bullet like that. Im glad it does though. The normal 196 Grain Silver Bear, or Brown Bear soft points work very well on hogs, and are very inexpensive. Good luck with your Pork Gathering.

September 9, 2011, 08:24 PM	#2
GeauxTide Senior Member Join Date: April 20, 2009 Location: Helena, AL Posts: 4,424	If the 123s are for the AK, they are designed for 2300fps. At 3000, the bullet will come apart. For pigs, get a 150-165gr Hornady Spire Point, Sierra Game King, Speer Hot Core, or Rem CoreLokt.

September 10, 2011, 03:49 AM	#4
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,607	123 is pretty light for 30 caliber and using a light bullet 700 fps faster than its designed speed is asking for trouble. There is a decent selection of 150-180 grain bullets that are designed for the job.

September 10, 2011, 06:25 AM	#5
1939mosin Junior Member Join Date: September 9, 2011 Posts: 2	I was favoring the lighter bullet just because my gun seems to favor the lighter bullet, consistently get better groups with the lighter bullet. But the hornady website does list the speed for this bullet and you are right that it was not designed for 3000 fps. I will stick to 150 grain or more if I do shoot a pig... All this "theoretical" info available on external ballistics, not as much on terminal ballistics, but nothing beats experience, so thanks for the advice.

September 10, 2011, 08:16 AM	#6
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,607	I'd take a 2" group with a bullet that will expand and hold together over a 1" group with a bullet that blows up any day.

September 11, 2011, 12:29 AM	#7
BIG P Senior Member Join Date: July 8, 2010 Location: North Georgia Posts: 1,679	have used 145gr. from a 308 saiga with good results no real big ones 200lbs about the biggest but it did bust the shoulder.

September 24, 2011, 08:05 PM	#8
hi point nut Junior Member Join Date: September 24, 2011 Posts: 9	i an going boar hunting and i was going to use and the seller and bellot 180 grain soft point its got aprox 2315 foot lb of energy at 100 yard will this work?:

September 25, 2011, 03:22 AM	#9
natman Senior Member Join Date: June 24, 2008 Posts: 2,607	Yes.

September 25, 2011, 07:25 AM	#10
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Worrying about foot-pounds is all well and good, I guess, but it's just part of the story. Penetration with controlled expansion is more important, as long as the muzzle energy is somewhere near or a bit above the legal requirement. SFAIK, in thirty-caliber, bullets of around 120 grains are designed and intended more for varmints and/or thin-skinned game. Hogs are thick skinned and heavy-bone critters.