Any .223 Rounds hit hard enough to take out hog hunting?

[MCgunner]

A 150 lbs pig is one thing, not much in the way of gristle plate, yet. A 350 lb boar, if you wanna shoot it (not me, LOL, I shoot to eat), is a horse of a different color. A .22 centerfire will kill a small hog fine. The big bruisers that guys call "trophies" are quite a bit harder to penetrate.

.30-30 with a 170 grain bullet or a Nosler 160 is enough. It don't take a cannon, just that those little varmint bullets ain't the ticket. I've seen a 7mm 150 grain game king from a 7 mag fail to exit a big hog. A 160 partition or some heavy or controlled expansion bullet is best, even in a belted magnum. It's about the bullet. You have to have enough bullet on the big'ns.

 

[tsanford405]

Well I plan on taking my 7 mag for certain. I have some pretty hot 160 grain nosler partitions that should put just about anything down. I was basically trying to decide a good brush gun for the day time. My considerations would be the following: 7 mag with a 3x9 scope on it, open site saiga-12 with slugs, ar-15 with eotech, or a ruger redhawk 44 mag! One of these HAS to be able to do the job lol. The only hog hunt I have done in Texas involved a blind and the pitch black, and then dogs and knifes. This time around the night hunting will be the same, but during the day there will be "stalking." I am not certain how will this will work, but I guess we will find out. For the $$$, it better work alright!

 

[Rnelson]

My personal favorite for hogs is 00Buck. Only problem is getting that close to use it. When you do its always a fun experience..

 

[qajaq59]

If the choice is only between those 2 rifles I think I'd go with the 7mm. The other would be ok if you were sitting down, had a rest, and the hog would stand still for a while. But you just know that isn't going to happen very often. And following a wounded hog into the heavy palmetto isn't my idea of fun. "Bang/Flop" is the only way to go with hogs.

 

[MCgunner]

Well I plan on taking my 7 mag for certain. I have some pretty hot 160 grain nosler partitions that should put just about anything down. I was basically trying to decide a good brush gun for the day time. My considerations would be the following: 7 mag with a 3x9 scope on it, open site saiga-12 with slugs, ar-15 with eotech, or a ruger redhawk 44 mag! One of these HAS to be able to do the job lol. The only hog hunt I have done in Texas involved a blind and the pitch black, and then dogs and knifes. This time around the night hunting will be the same, but during the day there will be "stalking." I am not certain how will this will work, but I guess we will find out. For the $$$, it better work alright!

At close range, that Saiga with slugs (if it's accurate out to 50 yards, will be all you need. I'd hunt with the 7 regardless. However, the Saiga might be better for kickin' 'em out of cover where that's SOP. I've hunted where you just walk along checking the cover for 'em bedded up in there. The shot will be on the run when it comes if you don't shoot 'em before they move. You might even put a buck shot load up front in that thing. Might be ideal for such conditions. I've often thought the Saiga might have applications in hunting, this is one such instance. I mean, nothing I couldn't do with any of my shotguns, but if you like Saigas......

 

[rr2241tx]

55 gr UMC FMJ cheap yellow box .223 have probably killed more hogs than anything other than .22WRM in Texas. You do have to aim. You need to be reasonably close. 7mm RM will ruin more meat than you get to eat and most probably blow stomach contents everywhere unless it's a head shot. That and 7mmRM are $2+ each and .223 are a quarter each. You decide.

 

[dtalley]

+1 what rr2241tx said. I have killed 175 pounds and less hogs with one shot from an .223 AR using 55gr. FMJ. I have seen one run off after one shot behind the head and one behind the shoulder with a .204 though.

 

[hacksaw]

Why not get a new upper for the AR?? Chamber it in 6.8 spc or go crazy and get it in .50 Beowulf! I promise you, this little piggy will drop with the .50!