I just about always us my AR when hunting hogs and have shot 200+ with it in the past 10 years. I always use fmj when hunting as well. They will sometimes take more than one round to put them down permanently, but other than perhaps an AR-10 .308 platform I could not think of a better weapon to use. The ability to quickly and accurately engage multiple targets in quick succession simply has shown it to be my weapon of choice. I use an EOTech 557 sight with no magnification and it works out great, probably 90% of my kills have been taken at night. It has allowed me to tag 9 hogs within 20-25 seconds due to the low recoil which leads to very fast follow on shots, for my purposes it would be hard to beat.

Is that a Surefire M4 mounted on your rifle?

Yes, it is a M4 with a Lumens Factory bulb. It has since been replaced with a Fenix TK30 LED light. The TK30 has a bit more throw and substantially more spill. I have a new Olight M3X Javelot that throws like a spot light and I have thought about using it, but the beam is very, very focused hence the stupid far throw. It will light up objects 400+ yards out so that they are very well defined and recognizable. Several lights will claim to have x amount of throw, but if the amount of light is not usable at that distance then what difference does it make? I used that M4 for 9 years though and it still works the same as the day I bought it if a bit more beat up...

Contrary to a lots of persons belief the .223 is not the Holy Grail of hunting rifles.
But with the proper bullet and shot placement it will definitely despatch a hog at a reasonable range.

Speer Gold Dot Duty ammo, if you can get your hands on some.

See my new thread:

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/5916467/Mosin_Nagant_didn't_let_me_dow#Post5916467

So far using the cheap .55 gr fmj & hp have had great success... All Shots close range... Farthest shot was when hog jumped up in fairly open terrian, at about 40 yrds give or take, free handed.. Took heart lung shot, point was same as a deer, down from shoulder, by joint.. Hog took off running inta thick area... Watched travel, then eased twards were hog stood... Nothing, placed orange hat, & slowly walked twards area hog ran... Found couple drops of blood, marked with TP eased forward found one ladt drop.. Kept in line with hat & TP & were hog went in... Nothing, was using the 55gr fmj so am sure took out both lungs.. Rest of hogs have recovered... If didnt feel comfurtable with shot, didt take it... Think most Ecperts will agree, .223 is light cal for hogs & while not used the Vmax, at close range as in OP the hog ran of & died just like the in insident just discribbed... Then i'm not an expert...

I kill hogs in traps with a 22mag. Shot placement is critical. If they present a broadside, I always shoot right behind the ear and about a 1/3 of the way down the neck. It severs the spinal cord. Head on presentation gets a shot between the eyes. They don't move from where they are shot except for the death flops.

I also have 40S&W for backup if needed.