Need 223 Hog Hunting Facts

[coop]

What is the actual effective range for killing hogs with a 223 and what bullet placement is necessary for an effective kill?

Really just wondering if the 223 is just a short range hog killer. I know there is a lot of knowledge about this here and I'm asking for facts.

Thanks,

JC

[Cajun Blake]

shot placement is everything

head shot (ear) if you know your rifle, have a good rest, and trust your skill set

chose the proper bullet design for a double lung, heart shot .... may involve tracking

[coop]

Thanks for the response.
If the person and the rifle are capable of ear holing a hog at about 150 yards the 223 still has enough energy to kill a hog?

Thanks,

[Hunter58]

Thanks for the response.
If the person and the rifle are capable of ear holing a hog at about 150 yards the 223 still has enough energy to kill a hog?

Thanks,

Yeah it will. Lights out

[PondPopper]

I shoot a 64gr bullet and have killed them out to 200.

[Zen Archery]

And use these. Yes it's worth the expense.

[coop]

I shoot a 64gr bullet and have killed them out to 200.

Were you head shooting or shooting for lungs? One reason I am considering the 223 is cheaper ammo. Is the ammo required for killing at 200 yards still reasonably cheap?

Thanks,

[Kills-myth]

I've got 2 with my ar using 55g so far. One between the eyes and one through the lungs.

[Texas43]

I use 55gr with my ar, it's all about shot placement when using a light bullet

[super_dave]

If you're "ear holing" a pig, it's gonna be a long way before you run out of lethality with any caliber.

Heck, people ear hole pigs with pellet guns and kill em

[treestand]

A heart lung area shot can penetrate and pass through if it doesn't run into a large bone at any reasonable distance. The problem is the greatly reduced energy as you get out 200 yards or more. The wound channel becomes more and more like a hole punched through paper or, if shooting a bullet that expands easily, it won't pass through. Still a dead pig but recovery gets difficult.

[Boomerang]

Thanks for the response.
If the person and the rifle are capable of ear holing a hog at about 150 yards the 223 still has enough energy to kill a hog?

Thanks,

A .22LR will be effective with an ear shot at that range. The .223 can drop a hog, it depends on shot placement. If they are flea infested nasty things, a gut shot transports the fleas no more than 200 yards before they are out of your area.

[Boomerang]

Were you head shooting or shooting for lungs? One reason I am considering the 223 is cheaper ammo. Is the ammo required for killing at 200 yards still reasonably cheap?

Thanks,

Cheap ammo and double tap them, that is what an AR is designed to do, or even triple tap. They drop at 200 yards with a double tap and about any ammo with 50 grains or more.

[coop]

Thank you all for your experiences and advise. You have pretty much confirmed my assumptions and now I will need to determine my next move.

Although most of our firefights in Nam were 30 to 50 meters I am very aware of the damage an M16 with FMJs will do to a human at 200 to 300 meters. But I also know that a hog is much harder to bring down than a man.

I have stayed away from the AR platforms due to my distaste for the early M16. But after 45 years I have been re-considering.

Thanks again to all,

JC

[dbwilson]

I've dropped them at 200 yards with 55g shooting them behind the shoulder. When it got up to it I saw where it exited on the backside, and this was on a 200 lb pig. I've now shot a dozen or so with a .223 and never had one make it over 30 yards.