Really serious about buying a 20" AR-15 in 5.56. The available rifle twist are 1/7 and 1/9. Would you consider a 5.56/ .223 adequate fire power to down a hog? What grain bullet would you use? This is gonna be used primarily as a coyote rifle, but would like to be able to drop a hog if one is presented.

Thank you.

It will drop a hog it comes down to shot placement a bad shot will have you looking for em

Get a 1/9 twist and use a 60gr Nosler Partition bullet. It works. I've done it. Take 'em below the ear. It will DRT.

Thanks TxKiller and Texas Proud. Did you get the chrome lining for the 1/9, or stick with the Chrome moly? Still trying to figure out if it's worth the extra $50. Thanks!

If coyotes are the main targets for this rifle then the 1/9 twist would be good.223/5.56 is my primary caliber for hunting in central Texas. use the 60 gr partition or the 64 gr win PP and you will be well situated for all hunting to 250 yrds. The chrome lining is mainly to aid in high volume rapid fire, if this is your plan then get the chrome lining. Chrome lined bores are slightly less accurate than unlined bores.

Thanks bcwhit!

droped a 140 lb sow where she stood . like they said though it is shot placement just like any other caliber

i prefer 1/7, and 77gr smk

A friend of mine dropped a 172 pound sow with a .223 round through the neck. The hog hit the ground immdeitely...

Ive got an RRA with a 24 in fluted bull, with a vx3. Will drop a pig right where he stands. Aim for the base of the ear and your good to go!! Best of luck to you.

These guy's have alot of good advice/tips. Being new to hog hunting i have been taking alots of notes.

The great thing about an ar and the reason i use one, if the first shot is not enough you can have another shot on target very fast. I would find what your gun likes to shoot, but would try around the 75 grain mark (for pigs). I just use cheap 55 grains for coyotes. To the op, you might want to look into the 6.8 spc, the bullets might cost a little more but you can use it on deer, pigs, and yotes with no worries. The 6.8 spc is what i would get if a didn't already have the 5.56/.223 (but i have started hunting pigs more than yotes now). like i said the great thing about an ar, just pull the trigger as many times as you need and any ar will do the trick

Thanks fellas. Yeah, I looked into the 6.8 spc, for the wider range of animals to take down. I think I'm going 5.56 for the cheaper ammunition, maybe add a 6.8 upper to the mix later on!

If you want more than .223 and don't want to spend a ton on ammunition, you could get an AR-10 in .243. The rifles cost more than the .223/5.56 though.. Otherwise, yes, a .223 to the ear area will shut one down.

havent seen anything in texas that u cant down with a .223 yet! i mean i kill most of my hogs with a 9mm handgun, so if that will take em down, i know a .223 will.

good advice

Head shots are allways the ticket..with any rifle

MY R15 has a 1/7 twist rate. I shoot a Black Hills 68 grain HP. Extremely accurate. For hogs, I take the shot behind the ears.

I am looking to get a Savage 12fv .223 cal with 1/9 twist rate and was wondering what grain would be best? I currently have a stockpile of Ultramax 55 gr SP so I am hoping it will work well for me.

my 14 yr old son like to shoot em in the ear with 7mag

You put it the ear, you don't need all that special stuff.

you really do not need anything special. 55fmj will work if you can hit the hog in are just below the ear.

I like the 55 gr. Black Hills Ammo in the blue box, .223 for hogs

try the winchester 45gr. thats what my Savage shoots the best

I watched a hunting show last week and a guy shot about a 50 lb boar in the forehead with one of those 177 caliber Gamil pellety guns. Killed it stone dead. Shot placement is the key.