223/556 bullet selection for hogs/deer...with a twist.

[checkmyswag]

First, I know, understand and agree that there are better calibers for the task.

But, if you had to hunt deer or hogs with a 223/556, what would your bullet choice be?

Green tip 62 grain?

I see the heavier bullets, such as 77 grain BTHP but I also see ammo for hunting even with deer or hogs on the box that are of lighter weight.

I'd most likely get a larger caliber gun to hunt with but if I was limited to 223/556 I would like to know the best bullet to use.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Most states prohibit the use of full metal jacket ammo for hunting. However, hogs in many areas aren't classified as game animals and can be hunted with any type ammo.

Second consideration is the twist rate of the barrel you're using. An older rifle with 1/12" or 1/14" twist won't typically stabilize bullets heavier than 60gr.

I've found that most any soft pointed ammo of 55gr. or heavier will do fine. I've taken a lot of deer with the 55gr Hornady PtSpt. However I much prefer the 60gr. PtSpt. I've also used with great satisfaction the 63gr Sierra Semi-Pointed Soft Point as well as the 65gr GameKing. The latter is the best .22cal bullet I've used for deer. I've yet to recover one from the dozen or so deer I've shot with it.

That stated, I seldom intentionally go for deer with the .22cals. I've got more, and better rifles for deer. For pigs, I definitely use something larger. I hunted them on a state management area that required we use "small game weapons" to hunt them outside of deer seasons. I found the .22wmr totally lacking. However, muzzle-loaders were legal, and performed very, very well.

 

[10-96]

+1 65gr Gameking.

 

[Eb1]

55 grain soft point from a 20" AR 15. i.e. Black Hills
Possibly a 69 grain SMK

 

[Dr.Rob]

Heaviest soft point I could find.

 

[Eb1]

Guys, a 55 grain Soft Point at 3250 fps into the neck or ear hole is a dead hog. I have never had a 55 grain soft point fail to clear one shoulder, break it, and destroy all vitals behind it.
But why aim for the shoulder? You eat that. Why aim for the neck? You eat that, too.

Shoot for the ear hole!!!!

 

[meanmrmustard]

Barnes TSX, 55 gr hollow point. All copper construction, gives the bullet controlled expansion and drives deep. Put several through and through on deer near 200 yards. Any hog inside that range is going to have its armor fail

 

[jmr40]

Another vote for Barnes, or any other solid copper bullet. Those bullets won't break up no matter how fast they hit and will likely give you complete penetration and good expansion.

After that almost any good 60+ gr softpoint would be my 2nd choice

 

[Davek1977]

I'm quite fond the the Federal Fusion 64 gr bonded soft point myself

 

[rjrivero]

I've used 60gr Nosler partitions on hogs. I was really surprised at how hard they hit. Heard good things about Barnes copper bullets as well, but I haven't tried them personally.

 

[pikid89]

Ive said it once (or maybe a bunch o times)
Hogs are not terminators, 223 and 22wmr are the 2 most popular anti hog rounds amongst the farmers and cattlemen here in florida. Yes they are poor performers when you expect them to drive througj a boars shield then break bones but that is not the right shot on boar hogs. Aint a single hog i ever seen kilt whose skull could stop a 22 mag bullet ( not to mention 223)

 

[MtnCreek]

Speer 70gr semi-pointed soft point. Just make sure you can put it right where you're aiming.

 

[Tex4426]

Sierra gamekings or for a more expensive route barnes

 

[Water-Man]

It's on the expensive side but Speer Gold Dot #24448 64gr. GDSP works well.

W-M

 

[CDW4ME]

My .223 ammo options for deer this fall:
-Federal Fusion 62 gr.
-Barnes 55 gr. TSX
-Nosler Partition 60 gr. handload

 

[Davek1977]

I've heard the Speer GD and Fed. Fusion rounds are the same bullet. I don't know this to be fact, but I recall reading it somewhere

 

[Matthew Courtney]

Speer Gold Dot and Federal Fusion are quite similar.

My choices would be:
1. Barnes ttsx
2. Gold Dot
3. Fusion
4. Partition
5. Game King

And I would pick whichever of the above was the most accurate in my rifle.

 

[Patocazador]

Nosler 60 gr. Partition if your barrel has a twist of 1 in 12" or 1 in 10". My .22-250 with a 1 in 14" doesn't do that well with the longer bullets.

 

[C-grunt]

70 grn TSX

 

[jim243]

You really didn't say what type of hunting rifle you were getting. I would not use an AR for deer or hogs but a lot of people do. And there is a lot of good suggestions given as to what bullet to use.

I use a 75 grain Hornady A-Max for my bolt action 223 that has a 1:9 twist and they work very well, it is not really a hunting bullet but is extreemly accurate.

For hunting I use my 243, 35 remington, 270 and 30-06. The 223 is used for Yotes and target shooting primarily.

Jim

 

[fallout mike]

For you guys that know, how would a 75gr hollow point round work on deer?

 

[checkmyswag]

You really didn't say what type of hunting rifle you were getting.

1/7 twist 16" M4 Carbine

I would not use an AR for deer or hogs but a lot of people do.

Why not?

It's not ideal, but I'm not in a situation to have multiple rifles dedicated to different purposes. Have considered a different upper, but wanted to see if the modern bullets plus good shot placement made the 223 "good enough".

 

[MtnCreek]

Why not?

The .223 is as light as you should go, then reducing the barrel length by 4 to 6 inches less than the typical bolt gun and Very short sight radius (assuming you’re using irons) makes things even more marginal. A 16 or 18 inch AR10 in a larger cal would be much better, but nowhere near as cheap to shoot. Another option may be an AR15 in 7.62x39. If you want to use a 16” carbine in .223, you need to be honest with yourself when picking shots.
Good luck.

 

[a-sheepdog]

I like Barnes TSX, Federal 64 grain bonded and Nosler partitions. I see no problem with ethical shots with a 223 when deer hunting and have shot more than a few hogs with it as well, often times just 55 grain Fiocchi soft points.

 

[checkmyswag]

MtnCreek

I agree with your comments.

Just seeing what my options are.

Plan to buy a 308 AR10 (type) or M1A but if I get invited to a hunt between now and then...with a good optic, limited range, good shot placement and a proper bullet, wanted to know if it was a viable hunting option that I'd feel comfortable with within it's limitations.