Even with a 16" barrel a 223 with the proper bullets will cleanly take any deer, and all but the largest hogs. The key is using good bullets and having the discipline to limit your range. For Georgia size deer hunters routinely take them out to 200 yards. For larger deer in many places or really large hogs that range should be cut in half. I wouldn't use it on the really monster hogs running in the 500 lb range or larger.
223/556 bullet selection for hogs/deer...with a twist.
- Thread starter checkmyswag
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Even with a 16" barrel a 223 with the proper bullets will cleanly take any deer, and all but the largest hogs. The key is using good bullets and having the discipline to limit your range. For Georgia size deer hunters routinely take them out to 200 yards. For larger deer in many places or really large hogs that range should be cut in half. I wouldn't use it on the really monster hogs running in the 500 lb range or larger.
AABEN
Member
Your stated you have yet to recover one. That is not any good!! Looks like you wound then then leave them. Why not get a larger cal that will do the job!! 243 or better! That way you will have some meat to eat!!
MtnCreek
Member
I think he's talking about 'recovered' the bullet; ie pass through shots.
Texan Scott
Member
deer? meh... small deer can be taken with just about anything better than sticks and rocks... (including sticks and rocks if you're chuck norris or the nuge- they divide texas between them, you know. nuge gets the hill country and points south and west. chuck gets dallas and the north/ northeast.) anyone who considers the .223 a 'glorified .22' should be reminded that teenagers can kill deer with .22s (i've heard... but surely noone would do that).
Hogs? mmmmm.... get the heaviest .223 softpoint you can. don't worry about velocity or range- they have velocity to spare, and there's rarely a good reason to shoot from 200 yds ... even in open field, you can get closer than that. head/ neck shots are doable, because their heads aren't on a swivel the way deers' are... my diesel mechanic hunts hogs on his family's hay farm with a target-type .223 that way by preference.
Hogs? mmmmm.... get the heaviest .223 softpoint you can. don't worry about velocity or range- they have velocity to spare, and there's rarely a good reason to shoot from 200 yds ... even in open field, you can get closer than that. head/ neck shots are doable, because their heads aren't on a swivel the way deers' are... my diesel mechanic hunts hogs on his family's hay farm with a target-type .223 that way by preference.
kingcheese
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Get on YouTube and look for 17HMR hog hunting, i shoot 17 HMR and 223, and I'm here to say i would not hesitate to use either on a hog, that being said i don't hunt hogs but have been around to see what they can do
meanmrmustard
Member
As do I. Some might even consider my 20" barreled Mini Mk X too short. Take away four more inches, you're losing accuracy, speed, power. This cuts down effective penetration, range, and your ability to hit where you aim. My old Sport was good, but held no candle in comparison to the Mini.
ECVMatt
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A while back, when hogs first started showing up on a ranch where I hunt we shot them with .243's, 6mm Remington, and .25-06's. Then they became too numerous and we switched to the .223. We went to a gun show and bought a bag of 55 grn FMJ with the intention of shooting them in the head. This works quite well, but we also started shooting them in chest, through the ribs. The bullets worked as advertised and would go in about 3 to 5 inches, then tumble and break apart. I was amazed the first time we shot a pig like this. It was pretty much lights out. Most of the pigs we were shooting were in 150 to 250 lbs class. If I were hunting deer or pigs I would go with afore mentioned 65 GK, if I were culling pigs I would go with some good ole 55 FMJ.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
Most states prohibit the use of FMJ for hunting game. In Texas and numerous other states, hogs are not considered game. In Texas, they are considered exotic (non-natural) animals and may be taken by any legal means with no limitations on typical weaponry such as firearms so long as the firearms are legal.
In regard to the OP.223/5.56 is fine for hogs. You will get the folks that quote some African big game hunter who used to say, "bring enough gun." Your AR15 is enough gun as is the caliber, but your choice of locations to use the gun/caliber effectively are smaller than with bigger and more powerful calibers. Heck, you can use a Crossman pellet gun from Walmart if you can get to within 6" of the head and put a shot into the brain. It is enough gun for that type of shooting. So choose wisely.
A buddy of mine gave me a hard time about a hog that got away and did the whole "bring enough gun" chant. A few months later he put a 12 ga slug into the leg of ... ... ... ... the feeder just above the animal he was intending to shoot. As I ribbed him, he apparently did not bring enough gun to drop his quarry with a miss. There was a nice big dent and partial hole in the feeder leg, but even the feeder didn't go down.
So with a smaller caliber, you are going to have to choose your shots wisely. I like to make CNS shots. I have taken several with M855 green tips through the head. There, it is important to not just hit the head, but to do damage to the CNS.
I have seen vids on Youtube of AR15s in .223/5.56 being used at greater distances and not just for CNS shots. No doubt most folks don't post the vids of the animals that got away. Some are at what I would consider to be considerable distances. My preference is for less than 100 yards and really I don't feel completely comfortable with the shots until inside of 50, but they work great.
Bigger calibers give you a bit more room for error. Me personally, I hate to chase down a hog that doesn't drop on the spot. They are often dead within 100-200 yards, but they never run closer to the truck. They run into briar, poison ivy, ravines, and just places where it is harder to find them and harder to get them out and tracking a wounded hog that isn't dead can be dicey.
Choose your point of impact wisely given the caliber, velocity, distance, and the orientation of the pig relative to you and if you get it all right, you should have good success. This is tougher when you don't know what the POI is for the distance, so familiarity with the ballistic trajectory of your round is important.
razorback2003
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223 should work just fine for deer or hogs. Both could be killed with a 22 mag or even a 22 LR. Be a good shot and you will get your hog or deer.
Ar180shooter
Member
I keep a few rounds of Federal Premium .223 topped with a 60gr Nosler Partition on hand for whitetail. It's accurate, and the bullet construction is well suited for taking larger game with a .223.
Ar180shooter
Member
Does this also apply for non-residents? I ask because I would love to come to Texas at some point and shoot a few hogs. Naturally I'd have to get a BATF Form 6NIA approved, but that isn't generally an issue.
checkmyswag
Member
69 gr BTHP just a target round?
Watch your lane.
Watch your lane.
Double Naught Spy
Sus Venator
I am not exactly sure of your question. You still need a hunting license (I think). You would for any public lands. You don't for the purpose of aiding a landowner in eradicating pests, but then you don't want to be caught butchering for consumption, taking hides, or taking tophies without a license.
My apologies as I am not up on all the non-resident legalities, but as I understand if, if you have a proper license and your gear is legal, then you are fine. I could be wrong, but I don't know that cannon or explosives are allowed for pests.
See ... http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/regulations/fish_hunt/licenses/hunt_licenses/
So no license is required by any person for depredating hogs. Shooting them for food, however, apparently moves them out of the depredating category and then you would need a license. I get a license simply because it covers my actions in the since that I don't have to claim and possibly justify shooting hogs for depredating purposes. The license let me do it for food, hide, or trophies.
I will stop there. I have probably gotten something wrong and don't want to mislead you too bad as I am not up on the laws that don't apply to my personal situation...but as I understand it, non-residents can shoot depredating hogs on private land at the owner's request/invitation. You just don't get to keep anything (I think).
Ar180shooter
Member
Something like a 69gr SMK BTHP is not designed to expand on impact. But your question is somewhat ambiguous, as some manufacturers may make 69gr BTHP's that are designed to expand on impact, while others, such as the one I mentioned, are not.
Kachok
Member
223 is very much on the light side for deer and hogs, I would use a 65gr Serria Game King or the heaviest TSX that my barrel would stabilize to ensure adequate penetration. There is a 64gr Fussion on the market now that I would consider as well, but have not heard any reports on it yet. The 55gr version they made was rated to 15" BG penatration I would assume the heavier bullet is a little more. SKIP the FMJs the performance is too inconsistent for a hunting bullet especially the 62gr which is about as reliable as an old Kia Rio, sometimes they yaw/fragment on contact other times they pass clean through and through even at the same impact speeds....major FAIL.
AABEN said:
You drew one heck of a conclusion from his statement. I'd never accuse someone of shooting game animals and letting them rot...unless I knew for a fact that it happened. The more logical conclusion most come to when discussing bullets not recovered is that the bullet did its jump, penetrated through the target, and is unrecoverable because its no longer in the animal. We're talking BULLET recovery, not ANIMAL recovery. Even a .223, with proper bullets, can pass entirely through a deer and exit the opposite side. Next time you accuse someone of wounding animals and letting them lay, be sure you actually understand the context of the conversation. Being accused of being a poacher isn't something most ethical hunters appreciate.
Patocazador
Member
Any HP will blow up if it hits bone and therefore not penetrate. If you use a hollow point, you'd better shoot him in the lungs WITHOUT hitting the shoulder blade. I wouldn't use any HP ever on a big hog.
Alright guys, I'm going to throw this into the mix. I have a CZ 527 varmint rifle in 223 with a 24" barrel, 1:9 twist. From what I have read any psp from 55gr to 70gr and possibly 75gr would work in this rifle for deer or hog With proper shot placement.
55 grain bullet will be your most accurate bullet with a 1:9 twist. I'd bet money on it. So I'd go with whatever is most accurate, and I wouldn't hesitate to bust a deer with a 55 grain Black Hills Soft Point. I have. Several times, and each time was within 100 yards. More like 40-60 yards, and dead is dead right. Can't get any deader.
Shoot and see what is most accurate in your rifle and use that, but the Soft Points do not come apart really. They just turn inside out.
I got the pics to prove it.
Try not to hit the should bone. Talk about a mess. If possible, aim for the neck when using a .223. It will save you a lot of meat if you do. I have done the double lung, double shoulder shots. I generally end up with 1/2 the back straps and the hams. Everything is is red jello.
Shoot and see what is most accurate in your rifle and use that, but the Soft Points do not come apart really. They just turn inside out.
I got the pics to prove it.Try not to hit the should bone. Talk about a mess. If possible, aim for the neck when using a .223. It will save you a lot of meat if you do. I have done the double lung, double shoulder shots. I generally end up with 1/2 the back straps and the hams. Everything is is red jello.
meanmrmustard
Member
55 gr Barnes vortex do not suffer this ailment you speak of.
T Bran
Member
I have had several thru and thru shots with 53 grain TSX bullets on big hogs from my .223. I keep swearing to shoot one legnthwise in an attempt to recover a bullet.
Since it does well on hogs I wouldnt hesitate to poke a hole in a deer with one.
The 45 grain TSX is fractionally more accurate in my 1-12 twist barrel but I havent shot any game with one yet so the jury is still out.
Place your shots as with anything and you will be fine using any premium game type bullet.
My new hunter girl is having great success with 60 grain Partitions in her 1-9 twist Savage. I'm quite proud of her but she is wearing us out at the cleaning rack lol.
Since it does well on hogs I wouldnt hesitate to poke a hole in a deer with one.
The 45 grain TSX is fractionally more accurate in my 1-12 twist barrel but I havent shot any game with one yet so the jury is still out.
Place your shots as with anything and you will be fine using any premium game type bullet.
My new hunter girl is having great success with 60 grain Partitions in her 1-9 twist Savage. I'm quite proud of her but she is wearing us out at the cleaning rack lol.
meanmrmustard
Member
Good on you, my boys first hunt is this year. Good luck to you.
Your barrels twist rate should also stabilize 64gr win power points quite well. It does in mine 1/10, and is accurate. Not as much as the Barnes 55gr. The deer are on the ground before they can complain about being shot with a .22 cal!
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