What .223 for hogs? - Page 2

Old Stony · March 26, 2017, 03:04 PM

I could list a bunch of calibers I've shot hogs with, from muzzleloaders to old Winchester calibers and on and on. This one was with a plain old 55 gr. fmj out of an AR-15. Placement seems to be a major key with these smaller calibers, but putting the shot into this shoulder area seems to take them right down. A guy can site all the scientific evidence he wants, but good shot placement and experience seems to work for some of us. The majority of mine are shot with a 6.5 lately, but I would not think twice about hauling out a 223 again...without any fancy bullets in it.

Old Stony · March 26, 2017, 06:02 PM

My buddy shot this pair here in Texas with a couple .223 FMJ's.

lefteye · March 26, 2017, 10:46 PM

A .223 can be fine for hogs with the right bullets. Winchester advertising says the bullet at issue in this thread is recommended for "thin skin" game. Does anyone consider wild hogs to be "thin skin" game?

Old Stony · March 27, 2017, 05:46 AM

I don't know if I'd consider them to be thin skinned really, but the skin is maybe a little tougher than deer and such. More of an obstacle is probably the muscle around the shoulders and upper areas....these guys are pretty serious about getting out and working for a living and get pretty buffed. Given the small diameter of the 223 and speed of it, penetration is not really an issue.

Model12Win · March 27, 2017, 10:31 AM

I personally prefer a 7.62 NATO or 7.62 Russian for hogs, but if I HAD to use a .223/5.56 I'd use a bonded heavy weight bullet.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · March 30, 2017, 04:53 AM

Other than a FMJ anything bullet weight 223 is capable of downing hog with a single well placed shot in my estimation.

Ibmikey · April 6, 2017, 01:07 AM

Sure shot, I am having trouble with your wording, are you saying FMJ .223 is not going to take down a hog? If so check out post #27 and see two of the many who have fallen to a fmj at Stony's place. Other than my 300 Blackout rifles that is the only .223, bullet I use on hogs.

rickyrick · April 7, 2017, 10:57 AM

I experimented with fmj on hogs, my use of .223 was to limit bullet exits, the fmj actually exited in many cases and was surprisingly damaging. Sometimes the wound was rather small. I always got close, no reason not to be close, at least where I hunted.

CombatDiver · April 11, 2017, 12:24 PM

300 AAC BLK is the caliber of choice for me but like many have already said, anyone size stone will work if thrown straight and hard enough.

Dranrab · April 11, 2017, 07:45 PM

Fusion is readily available, reasonably priced bonded ammo that expands well, holds together and penetrates deeply. It's really hard to beat.

March 26, 2017, 10:46 PM	#28
lefteye Senior Member Join Date: January 30, 2006 Posts: 1,433	A .223 can be fine for hogs with the right bullets. Winchester advertising says the bullet at issue in this thread is recommended for "thin skin" game. Does anyone consider wild hogs to be "thin skin" game? __________________ Vietnam Veteran ('69-'70) NRA Life Member RMEF Life Member

March 26, 2017, 03:04 PM	#26
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I could list a bunch of calibers I've shot hogs with, from muzzleloaders to old Winchester calibers and on and on. This one was with a plain old 55 gr. fmj out of an AR-15. Placement seems to be a major key with these smaller calibers, but putting the shot into this shoulder area seems to take them right down. A guy can site all the scientific evidence he wants, but good shot placement and experience seems to work for some of us. The majority of mine are shot with a 6.5 lately, but I would not think twice about hauling out a 223 again...without any fancy bullets in it.

March 26, 2017, 06:02 PM	#27
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	My buddy shot this pair here in Texas with a couple .223 FMJ's.

March 27, 2017, 05:46 AM	#29
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I don't know if I'd consider them to be thin skinned really, but the skin is maybe a little tougher than deer and such. More of an obstacle is probably the muscle around the shoulders and upper areas....these guys are pretty serious about getting out and working for a living and get pretty buffed. Given the small diameter of the 223 and speed of it, penetration is not really an issue.

March 27, 2017, 10:31 AM	#30
Model12Win Junior member Join Date: October 20, 2012 Posts: 5,854	I personally prefer a 7.62 NATO or 7.62 Russian for hogs, but if I HAD to use a .223/5.56 I'd use a bonded heavy weight bullet.

March 30, 2017, 04:53 AM	#31
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	Other than a FMJ anything bullet weight 223 is capable of downing hog with a single well placed shot in my estimation.

April 6, 2017, 01:07 AM	#32
Ibmikey Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2013 Location: Now relocated to Texas Posts: 2,943	Sure shot, I am having trouble with your wording, are you saying FMJ .223 is not going to take down a hog? If so check out post #27 and see two of the many who have fallen to a fmj at Stony's place. Other than my 300 Blackout rifles that is the only .223, bullet I use on hogs.

April 7, 2017, 10:57 AM	#33
rickyrick Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2010 Posts: 8,236	I experimented with fmj on hogs, my use of .223 was to limit bullet exits, the fmj actually exited in many cases and was surprisingly damaging. Sometimes the wound was rather small. I always got close, no reason not to be close, at least where I hunted.

April 11, 2017, 12:24 PM	#34
CombatDiver Junior Member Join Date: April 11, 2017 Posts: 13	300 AAC BLK is the caliber of choice for me but like many have already said, anyone size stone will work if thrown straight and hard enough.

April 11, 2017, 07:45 PM	#35
Dranrab Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2016 Location: NOLA Posts: 203	Fusion is readily available, reasonably priced bonded ammo that expands well, holds together and penetrates deeply. It's really hard to beat.