.223 for hogs?

epj

epj

US Veteran
Silver Supporter
Joined
Dec 17, 2005
Messages
4,520
Reaction score
2,436
Location
Birmingham, Alabama
Thinking about going hog hunting here in Alabama. We have some areas overrun by the critters and I think it would be a blast. One problem. I haven't hunted in many years and my arsenal no longwer includes any real hunting rifles. my only center fire rifle is a Mini-14 in .223. I know that probably isn't the optimum caliber, but most of these porkers are in the <150 lb. range. Shooting ranges are frequently well under 100 yards according to coworkers who have been on hog hunts. MAny moons back I shot a rather large deer( 250lb+) with a 22-250 and it ran about 50 yds and piled up deader than the proverbial doornail. Have considered using a 627 with some heavy bullets and a red dot. Should be good to 50 yd. or so. Also have a 10mm Smith auto that has the punch, but not sure about accuracy past 25 yds. Option 3 is to go buy a used Marlin 336 or similar, but then the little outing starts to get expensive. If the .223 with some heavy bullets would be up to the task, that would simplify things greatly. What think ye with more experience in this area?
 
Register to hide this ad
A .223 is fine. Just use a good penetrating bullet and shoot them in the head. They are tough animals and even with good shot placement behind the shoulder they will run off into the thickest cover they can find before dying. Make it easy on yourself and shoot them in the head.
 
Very doable.

Make sure you have a 10 or 5 round magazine due to 11 round or less limit per F&G rules for deer guns (for BW WMA, not sure the rest of the state).

Check out the hog hunting forum on AR15.com, there's lots of guys who use .223s.

I'll be going out this Friday (probably alone) and Saturday (couple people from work).

The Black Warrior WMA special feral swine hunt started March 1 and ends March 14 so the whole area, plus the Bankhead NF outside the WMA is open season.

Good luck.
 
Last edited:
If what you have is a .223, that should be fine at that distance.
I've personally taken 2 deer with mine, and didn't have to track either of them. Both were taken inside 50 yards and lung shots.
I used 55gr soft points, and they worked great.
 
This all sounds encouraging. Yes, a head/neck shot would be the optimum shot. Any recommendations as to bullet weight and construction? I reload .223, but have no components on hand other than 55 gr FMJ. I need to either buy some bullets specifically for hunting or just buy some factory loads.
 
I saw a picture of a dead wild hog. The critter had an nasty gouge that started near a nostril and extended up between both eyes. Bullet did not penetrate bone but did remove the hide before glancing off the skull. Photographer said he shot a 629 with factory loads. Second, third shots were in chest cavity.

Just a little information.
 
Shoot the porker in-between the ear and the corner of his eye, that's where the brain is located. Go to the Texas Boar Hunter web-site and look for the wild hog anatomy pictures. Good luck hunting!
 
FTG-05 said:
Very doable.

Make sure you have a 10 or 5 round magazine due to 11 round or less limit per F&G rules for deer guns (for BW WMA, not sure the rest of the state).

I don't know what the F&G laws are in Alabama, but here in Texas, feral hogs are not considered game animals, thus there are no laws governing the hunting/shooting of same.

Best of luck, sounds like fun,

Dave
Click to expand...
 
Years ago I shot a small one here in Ca. with a 17 Rem. One very precise head shot from a good solid rest. Not a recommended caliber. My buddy was ready with a backup.
 
I have always had good luck with Barnes bullets. The 55 or 62 grain triple-x should give you everything you can get out of a .223. In the long run any tough old bullet that holds together and penetrates should work well. Good luck and have fun.
 
.223 on wild hogs

I have personal experience with several large Hill Country porkers in TX. The .223 with Nosler 55 gr partitions is just not enough gun to anchor a large (200+) boar humanely. I have seen and experienced them running off from a full house .357 mag at damn near point blank range shot in the boiler room and also from a .308 Nosler in the boiler room. They are tough animals. I now shoot them with a .44 mag carbine with stout 240 gr. JHP rounds. They generally stay shot. Got to get some loaded up for the trip to TX opening weekend of Turkey season!
 
On one of those outdoor tv programs a guy shot and killed a hog with a Gamo air rifle. It worked but not recommended. A farmer I knew used a .222 for deer. If your shot placement is correct it does the job. Too many variables for me. Use enough gun. Borrow one if need be. Hell I lent out my Marlin .35 Remington and it did a job on wild pigs. It kills all out a proportion to it's size.

Oh yea you should not use fast expanding bullets in a .44. Hardcast, or Hornandy 265 grain rifle bullets is what I used. I have some 300 grn and Garrett cartridges I need to try out. :-)


Garrett Cartridges Inc. 44 mag .45-70 .44 ammo ammunition bullets african hunting cartridges
 
Double-O-Dave said:
FTG-05 said:
Very doable.

Make sure you have a 10 or 5 round magazine due to 11 round or less limit per F&G rules for deer guns (for BW WMA, not sure the rest of the state).

I don't know what the F&G laws are in Alabama, but here in Texas, feral hogs are not considered game animals, thus there are no laws governing the hunting/shooting of same.

Best of luck, sounds like fun,

Dave
Click to expand...

The OP is from Alabama and is planning to hunt in AL. WMA rules for feral swine dictate use of hunting firearms for that season for which hunting is allowed.

To whit:

Squirrel guns during squirrel season - yes, moronic I know, but it is what it is.

Deer guns and calibers (and round restrictions) during the deer season - which is only 5-7 days out of the year - yep, more moronic rules.

During the special feral swine hunt (March 1-14 only) in the WMA, you have to use deer gun rules, which are limited to 11 rounds max.

This is for the Black Warrior WMA, which is NW of the OP and almost directly west for me about an hour or so. Since I hunt with a 45-70 Guide Gun, I don't worry about round count, but encourage the OP (and others) to check the F&G site and hunting regs for both the WMA and other areas (i.e. National Forest and private land) to make sure they get stuck with a bad ticket when they don't need to.

If AL was real serious about ridding or even reducing themselves of hogs, they would either reduce or eliminate a lot of the stupid rules cited above.

In TX, irrelevant thought it may be to the OP, it's open season, year round, take'em any way you can, pretty much.


P. S. I like all the advice about "shooting them in the ear" and "between the eyes" and whatnot. Usually, what you see around here are the southbound end of a hog racing like heck northbound and not waiting around to find out who wants to make his acquaintance! :)
Click to expand...
 
Last edited:
I guide folks part time on hog hunts in SE TX and after about 2 years ago, I don't let anyone use a .223.
Can you kill one at close range with one good shot, using a good bullet? Yes.
Can you kill one consistently at ranges that aren't so close? I haven't seen anyone do it yet and, although they are 'just hogs', nothing deserves to be wounded only to run off and die an agonizing death.
There are plenty of larger calibers that give a better chance of a one-shot kill.
My opinion is only due to personal experience and I realize others will disagree, esp. since I had this on-line conversation about a year ago with a member who thought a .22 LR was sufficient and I caught grief from some other members about my views.
Ed
 
the 223 will do the job head shots are best, im going on a hog hunt friday here in alabama on one of the wma ill be toten my 45-70 guide gun but wouldnt be scared at all to take my mini 14 or one of my ar 15s good luck!
 
Mini 14 with 30 round mags-keep shootin' till he stops movin' :D
Shooting pigs is one of those pursuits where you just don't shoot them once and hope for the best and I'm not afraid to say it. I'd rather unload a magazine of .45's into one than try for a carefully placed shot from a .44 mag
 
SHOOT THEM IN THE HEAD! If there is anything in North America that will stand a well placed .223 in the head it has been extinct for millions of years. A well placed shot in the boiler room with any large caliber can cause the animal to run off (dead on the run) disappear into the deepest pucker brush and be lost. SHOOT THEM IN THE HEAD whether it be a .223 or a .416 Rigby.
 
Ear hole or base of the skull/spine is terminal. Head on shots should be avoided,broadside or quartering away are usually fine. Have a plan B with escape route,tree to climb etc., if you are hunting in close quarters-really! Hog hunting is one of the most fun things you can do armed and there are several was to turn your pig into top table fare.have some good safe fun. I have take hogs with 22 LR,.357,.44Mag,.30 carbine ,12GA and 30.06-good placement is the key.
 
epj said:
This all sounds encouraging. Yes, a head/neck shot would be the optimum shot. Any recommendations as to bullet weight and construction? I reload .223, but have no components on hand other than 55 gr FMJ. I need to either buy some bullets specifically for hunting or just buy some factory loads.
Click to expand...

I believe the Mini has a 1:9 twist so you can go with a heavier bullet up to 70'ish grs.
 
i hunt the boars with a 500 mag.my son uses a M29 44 mag.both do the job and yes...these are tough critters...i would use no less then a stout 41 mag.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
Barnyard Rifles
2
Replies
24
Views
2K
SteveA
SteveA
R
Some lessons in penetration today.....
Replies
7
Views
935
Hack
Hack
Penmon
Wild hog hunting advice
2
Replies
22
Views
4K
bearman49709
B
dnonac
South Texas Hog Hunt
Replies
17
Views
3K
fat tom
fat tom
L
Out of State hunters.
2
Replies
25
Views
3K
thndrchiken
thndrchiken

Latest posts

Back
Top