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Hunting & Fishing What all have you killed with a 223?

R

rookie7

Outdoorsman
Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 26, 2009
984
250
Georgia
#1
Bullet? Distance? Reaction?

Me: Whitetail doe - 40 yards - Barnes 55gr TSX - dropped right in her tracks - high shoulder shot

Factory Winchester model 70 lightweight - 22" barrel - no mods

That's it for me except for a few squirrels and birds.

Thanks in advance for playing.
 
#2
It makes me belly laugh when people say you need a .308 or even a .300wm to kill pigs. All of these succumbed to the .223.

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#4
@Travclem looks like you are in Texas. I’m going to ask a stupid question because I’ve never hunted there but do those pigs have the shields over the shoulder and rib cage?

Our wild hogs have them here in the southeast. They can get really thick and tough, but a sharp broadhead will cut clean thru them.
 
#6
rookie7 said:
@Travclem looks like you are in Texas. I’m going to ask a stupid question because I’ve never hunted there but do those pigs have the shields over the shoulder and rib cage?

Our wild hogs have them here in the southeast. They can get really thick and tough, but a sharp broadhead will cut clean thru them.
Click to expand...

All pigs have fighting pads, but I've never had a bullet not go through them. Most of the stories you read about pigs' shoulders stopping bullets are likely due to bad shots (guts) and internet folklore propagated by people who have not killed many/any.

My go to pig loads are either a 55gr Hornady sp or a 75gr Hornady hp. Both work great, even in a 10.5" barrel which according to the internet, shouldn't work..
 
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#7
Popped a squirrel at 590 a few weeks ago at the local range. 75gr eldm @ 2900.

Usually pop a few each time I’m there if it’s not a match day. I had one run right under my target on a prone stage on Sunday and had to try so hard not to shoot him since I was on the clock for points haha
 
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#10
Travclem said:
All pigs have fighting pads, but I've never had a bullet not go through them. Most of the stories you read about pigs' shoulders stopping bullets are likely due to bad shots (guts) and internet folklore propagated by people who have not killed many/any.

My go to pig loads are either a 55gr Hornady sp or a 75gr Hornady hp. Both work great, even in a 10.5" barrel which according to the internet, shouldn't work..
Click to expand...
If it is on the Internet it must be true.lol

Good shooting.
 
#16
Ok I have killed deer with a .223 I was using handloads Speer 70 grain Spitzer bullets. I have seen some nice 60 grain loads made by Hornady that would suit you well for this as well as some either 68 or 69 grain bullets but you need to look at your local LGS's to see the offerings I am not talking Hollow point bullets but spitzer bullets with a lead tip so they will penetrate and expand!!! A .223 Remington will kill deer nicely if like I said use the right load!!!
 
#25
Piles of pigs, Fox, and my last two deer. Everything was within 100 yards. I center punch pig’s shoulders with 62 grain fusion (not msr) coming out of a supressed 16 inch LaRue. Absolutely destroys both shoulders. Most don’t take a step. Deer...same gun, same bullet, both shot just behind the shoulder...one didn’t take a step, the other stumbled about 10 yards.
 
#26
Culpepper,
I have shot deer at 657, 692 and 704 meters according to my Swaro LRF.
The 77 SMK's do well at that range. I only shoot at game beyond 500 M in calm conditions. Coyotes not so much. I see, I shoot if safe.
 
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#27
The .223/5.56 is NOT an ideal cartridge for hogs, especially large hogs. With that said, sure, you can kill hogs with them. Shot placement is key, as it is with any cartridge.

The problem is that with the smaller calibers you'll have much smaller projectiles trying to make it through a hogs tough body structures to the vital organs. And, that can be problematic. Premium bullets will help. But, even with premium bullets the .223 class cartridges are marginal for hogs unless shot placement is good.

Like has been said earlier, with the AR platform you can get an upper in 6.8, and it will be a better cartridge for hogs.
 
#31
2A,
I respectfully disagree. A well constructed 5.56 bullet of good weight will kill very well. I have had no more issues with 5.56 killing than I have 7.62. One in every 150-200 critters just goes further than expected.
 
#32
2Akeepers said:
The .223/5.56 is NOT an ideal cartridge for hogs, especially large hogs. With that said, sure, you can kill hogs with them. Shot placement is key, as it is with any cartridge.

The problem is that with the smaller calibers you'll have much smaller projectiles trying to make it through a hogs tough body structures to the vital organs. And, that can be problematic. Premium bullets will help. But, even with premium bullets the .223 class cartridges are marginal for hogs unless shot placement is good.

Like has been said earlier, with the AR platform you can get an upper in 6.8, and it will be a better cartridge for hogs.
Click to expand...
See above.
 
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#38
Alan Brown built Mk 12 mod 1. KAC lower, Geissele National match trigger. KAC 4 position stock. Direct thread AWC TITANIUM suppressor.
18” Douglass contract barrel.
Mk 262 mod 1 ammo and or Ramshot TAC, 77 SMK. 2735-2800 FPS. NF 2.5-10x32 in ARMS rings.
.1m/mil-r reticule. I changed out the Crane gas block for SLR ADJ unit. Also utilized JP captured buffer system.
This rifle went through 4 barrels and I recently parted it out.
I’m now transitioning to a lighter set up with KAC LOWER, lighter KAC rail and one is still Douglas barrel and other is PROOF CF 18” 7 twist. It’s tje only barrel I have found that is faster than Douglas. 30 FPS.
Going to test at 600 M tomorrow. Big change after 13 years with same rifle.


This
 
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#40
Accuracy falls off between 5100 and 5400 rds. It shows up as vertical stringing beyond 350 meters as well as on chronograph.

Does not show up at 100 meters that I can see. This is not in agreement with what I see others post but Alan Brown said it is exactly what testing at Crane has shown.

My barrels come off when rifle will not hold vertical MOA at 600 M. (For my purpose <7” at 600M) in calm conditions. Two consecutive five shot groups.
 
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#42
@rth1800
Thanks for the info.

I'm using a similar rig 16" rock barrel, opsinc 12th model, Gisselle NM, NF 2.5-10x32. Great set up. Been using 55-60 gr vmaxs with great success out to 550 on fox etc but maybe I should switch to 77s.
image.jpg
image.jpg
 
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#44
77’s will require more precise ranging, which takes time and more lost opportunities.
My set up was painted similar to yours.
I did use a 16” barrel but the 18” is notibly quiter, faster and kills better in my expirence.
Nice rig!
 
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#46
Rifle: 10.3" DD MK18 upper
Round: M855- I'm not culling pigs with 77SMKs
Distance: 68-25 yards, more on that here shortly

Reaction: So a buddy and I were hunting together and only one pig came out, we figured we'd hit him with a simo shot. Hunting partner is shooting a 16" Larue with fusion. Pig goes stationary and we count down, my trigger caught me by surprise and I let a round got on 2.5 Pig gets hit and begins running to the right. I keep a lead on him and keep pouring it on. He actually ran towards the blind as I was lighting him up. Final round went through his ear canal. First shot at 68 yards was high shoulder and i believe it would have been fatal in the next county.

Might start slinging fusion at them as the 855s do the trick on the little guys, but this dude was less than impressed. I keep that SBR in the ranger because it's handy, but might mess around with 300blk when I start running around with the pvs14.


IMG_E1908.png
 
#47
A lot of pigs here as of late, m855 and hornady black 62 grain. As of this week, I have only failed to recover one out of ~25 in the last 4 months, and it was a vengeful double tap to the guts after I saw it carrying a fawn carcass around. I could care less about finding it.
An 8 point fell to my precision ar using 64 grain powerpoints, drft.
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