Hunting & Fishing Hog Huntin Question

D

DBF

Private
Minuteman
Jan 8, 2010
24
0
73
United States
#1
I've got a cousin who has a spot of land about an hour out of Austin and would like me to come down and take some coyotes and pigs off the property. I've got a few options irt the rifles I'd use, but specific questions about one of them. Note: I'm not a collector, I try to pick up specific type rifles for specific uses.
A Marine gunny friend of mine is putting the finishing touches on a Armalite M4 (trigger, bolt, stock and grip mods) with a ACOG on top. 223, specific (for me) for varmints. A Rem 700 VTR in 308, turns out this jewel is a tackdriver extrodinaire, 300 yd, 3/4" grouping (Whitetail). And I'm getting a M40A5 built with a NFX scope and Horus reticle to reach out and touch someone. (This is the closest I'm coming to collecting.)
Now, when it comes to hill country shooting I'd really like to use the M4, but have heard lots of stories about how it's ineffective with hogs. Wouldn't upping the bullet weight compensate, say 68gr.? Or do I need a new upper?
Recommendations?
 
#2
Re: Hog Huntin Question

I use my AR for hog hunting all the time, but i shoot 77grain SMK's in handloaded rounds. A heavier bullet is preferred but the max weight is determined by your barrel twist. what is your twist rate?

also if the first round don't stop them, pull the trigger again
wink.gif
 
#7
Re: Hog Huntin Question

Safe bet would be the .308.
We're going to use our .223's for a hog hunt next month, but I've been forewarned it's all about shot placement on the big 'uns. We'll have a .30 with us if we run into a big boar...and we'll be using 60 gr Nosler partitions in the .223's.

Big hogs can be mean and nasty, = dangerous.
 
#8
Re: Hog Huntin Question

The puppy does pretty close to 1/4" at 100. A little over that at 200 and an inch or less at 300. This is with a couple of Marines working it, your mileage may vary, mine sure does...
frown.gif
 
#11
Re: Hog Huntin Question

I'm sure you're very proficient with that 223, but I'd always err on the side of a bigger bore for hogs. The thing is...they are always on the move. Even when they're standing still, they're rooting around in a herky jerky kinda way. A 223 in the ear would be the ticket, but safer bet is a 308 in the boiler room.
 
#12
Re: Hog Huntin Question

I think you're right, that's why I'm thinking about a 308 upper, much to the ire of my Marine Corps buddy. Anybody any recommendations? (Twist is important, I'd like 175's or higher?) Still keep me 223 though, the yotes in the oparea will make nice throw rugs, untiil the wife figures out where they came from...
grin.gif

Almost forgot, I'll be in your oparea next week, San Antonio for a couple of days of Mexican food, Margarita's and visiting my old haunting grounds when growing up.
 
#13
Re: Hog Huntin Question

Here's yet another question about the 223. Reading an account about snipers in Iraq, often times they use their M4 when the ranges are tight, the urban environment. When they use the standard 55gr. FMJ, it doesn't work well. One of the boys got his hands on some 66gr. and got a bad guy. The surgeon at the aid station where these kids work out of did an autopsy on the bad guy and asked the shooter if he'd hit him with the M40? So, if 66gr. or heavier provides wound channels equivalent to the 308, especially at the closer ranges, wouldn't the lil ole 223 work out well? Note, I'm not a 'shooter' in Marine parlance, but I can hit the ground 4 outta 5 times consistently. (Barns are harder...)
 
#14
Re: Hog Huntin Question

I've tried the 223 out a close ranges in 55 grain fmj. I shot one thru the shoulder and it went all of 20 to 25 yrds. The pig weighed in around 125 lbs. I gave it to a friend that thought I shot it with a 308 or some thing along those lines. He didn't believe me till he looked in my truck and saw my little R-15 laying there. He said he would have never believed it if he had not seen it. I now have an ar upper in 25 wssm if I decide to keep it that should take care of any doubts now. I would not recommend the 223 to everyone for hog hunting unless you can place shots pretty good on moving targets and as stated above, head shots on bigger hogs.
 
#15
Re: Hog Huntin Question

shot placement is essential regardless of what you are shooting.
Behind the ear on a hog will USUALLY drop it is its tracks or it might go a few yards. Any place else is a crap shoot. if you use the 223 the use a 77 grain. Hogs do not stand still long.

Personally I would use the 308. I am absolutely against taking a shot that I do not feel confident will kill the animal regardless of what kind of animal it is, so I error on the best round with the best BC. Me personally when I go hog hunting I use a 6.5 Grendel. Works well for me.
 
#16
Re: Hog Huntin Question

behind the ear like Hogrider said is MUCH preferred to a shoulder shot... I run a 6.8 with Barnes 95g TTSX for hunting hogs most of the times

a 223 with a shot behind the ear will do the job but as they are so damned quick moving, it's real easy for that perfect behind the ear shot to end up in the shoulder

whatever you do, don't shoot behind the shoulder like a deer, the heart on a hog is between the shoulders, down low.
 
#18
Re: Hog Huntin Question

Okay, I'm confident with my abilities with the 223, but something a bit stronger makes sense. What do you all recommend? My current setup is an Armalite M-15A4CB 223 quad rail. Getting an upper in 6.8, would it make sense to keep in the Armalite 'group' or recommendations for others? What would this entail also? I.e., would the 6.8 mag's fit my lower without problems, what other gotcha's are there...?
 
#21
Re: Hog Huntin Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TJO</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Okay, I'm confident with my abilities with the 223, but something a bit stronger makes sense. What do you all recommend? My current setup is an Armalite M-15A4CB 223 quad rail. Getting an upper in 6.8, would it make sense to keep in the Armalite 'group' or recommendations for others? What would this entail also? I.e., would the 6.8 mag's fit my lower without problems, what other gotcha's are there...? </div></div>

yep, new upper and mag is all you need
I hunt with a Wilson Combat 6.8
 
#22
Re: Hog Huntin Question

Kill em by the 1000's with whatever the cheapest 223 ammo we can find doing aerial erradication.

In a hunting situation just about anything in the ear will drop any size hog. Use whatever you are confident with, though the AR platform offers quicker follow ups when there more than a few.
 
#24
Re: Hog Huntin Question

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 50calcruiser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">These guys are all leading you astray. The best thing you can do is contact me before you go down and let me handle your hog problems. I have the proper equipment. </div></div>

Thanks, I think
wink.gif
. What's the saying, 1/2 the journey's getting there, something like that. FWIW, the first time I ever picked up a M16 I qualed expert on the darn thang, like how they fit and I'm comfortable with them, right outta the box. The multiple shot aspect is something a lot of people don't obviously take into account, knock em down, and another in the head before you get out of the blind, just to be sure, if that's available. Now to get my act together and get down there asap.
Thanks!
 
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