Had an interesting start to the weekend Friday evening. Shoot 3 boars with 2 different rifles in about 10 minutes. Drug the Rem 700 300BLK with AAC Cyclone to the blind and brought my Tikka 223 with Gemtech Coyote along just in case. After the recent heavy rains the creek to the south had quite a bit of flow and I didn't anticipate the hogs crossing it, but they did.

Had a big sounder come in around 7, and I started to pick out the boars. Dropped a nice two tone boar at around 140yards with the Barnes 110gr load, instant death. The rest of the sounder disbanded but ran towards me. I put the heavy Remington down and grabbed the much lighter Tikka to see if I just sneak up on some of the others. I hand not left the blind when a reddish brown boar walked out 15 yards from me, hit him in the face with a 75gr Match BTHP and he didn't like it too much. As soon as I shot I noticed a hog to my right take off running about 50yards away. I hit him at an diagonal angle in the vitals with the 223 but it didn't drop. I would image the Barnes would have been much better but had no time to switch guns. Never found that last hog, but didn't try to hard.





Went back to the same area Saturday night and the hogs had gotten a little more skittish and came in much later. They came in a bit more cautious until the found some soybeans I left for them. Once they started chowing down they ignored me. Dropped the only hog I could confirm as a boar at 54 yards with the 223 and 75gr load. Hit it right in the face and bang flopped it.

Any reason for targeting the boars?

Seems like I have seen more boars than sows lately, I will shot the sows when I feel like processing meat.

Nice shooting man!!

The nerd in me may be showing, but that last photo made me think, "resistance is futile."

Kinda what I figured, good shootin

Nice shooting.

55 gr Fussion or any soft point bullet is a better hunting load with the 223. Any of the target loads just do not expand, they are great for killing paper just not hogs. I have shoot a lot of hogs with the 223 and started with the heavier loads and had the same results you did.

Great hunt and great story...

LOL, your first triple and you look like you ate a bug! Cheer up, you will get 4 next time!

Good job!

LMAO!! I was thinking the same..

70gr barnes work quite well. I will 2nd the notion of avoiding target bullets for hunting. Glance a bone and shear the jacket right off the lead and viola, underpenetration.

The 75 BTHP that I was using are the ones loaded by PRVI, I observed fragmentation at the close ranges that I used them. I would use another projectile but these things are cheap and accurate. I will just pass on non cranial shots with the 223. The 300BLK with the Barnes 110 has the penetration needed for that shot.

I have had the best performance with the Speer 64gr Soft Point on game. Its stays in one piece and penetrates nicely.

64gr Speer Gel test

PS. I was smiling inside...

That 64 grain bullet does a good job. I've dropped several with chest cavity and shoulder shots with them.

Nice going !!

I'm not a big fan of the .223 for hogs, but I acknowledge that a lot of folks use 'em successfully, including a good friend for whom I reload. For him I use either the 64 grain Winchester Power Points or Sierra 65 Grain SBT bullets.

I wouldn't say I am a big fan either, I think the 300BLK is a superior hog round. With the right load and proper shot placement it will work. Problem is the amount of people I see at the range that can't put 5 shots into 5 inches ay 100 yards with their whiz bang 223 AR. I think that gives the caliber somewhat of a bad rap, its just so popular that it is used as a hunting caliber by many folks that don't possess the skill to use it.

I have killed a fair amount with the 22WMR at close range, but shot placement become very critical....

Or it could be that this is the problem...

I

I think we have a winner!

I love my .223 for pigs. Killed many deer as well but that's a different argument for a different day

I use Remington 55gr PSP and can put 5 shots inside a quarter at 100 yards. Relatively quiet, packs plenty of punch, and a head or neck shot has never required more than one shot.

What is the twist rate in your .223? I Was looking to try the fusion 62gr but didn't think my 1/12 twist would stabilize that heavy a bullet. Sounds like yours does just fine with even heavier

Mine is 1-8"

You do need to get a doctor to look at that left eye; it looks almost green in the picture!

Seriously, good shooting and keep on keepin' on!