223 for hogs

due to a neck/spinal injury in 2016, I have not been shooting any of my 6.5 and up caliber rifles.
I have a Rock River AR15 in 223 Wilde that I would like to take on a hog hunt this winter.
Can hogs be taken with a 223, and if so, what would be a good bullet choice?
Also, recommendation on affordable thermal or night vision optics would be appreciated.

Your 223 will work if it is accurate, you keep shots short, and you shoot them in the head or neck. You hit them else where and you've just made buzzard bait. They will run to the thickest cover and you will never find them. Use whatever ammo your rifle shoots best. I do not think there is any such thing as affordable night vision. It gets good at about $4500 (Pulsar) and is outstanding at $9000( IR Reap or Hunter). You can always rent (Ultimate Night Vision).

I hunt hogs frequently. I take something like 3 or 4 hog hunting trips each year and have for the past 5 or 6 years. I always take head shots unless I'm shooting long range (more than 300 meters), and even with head shots, I'd be very reluctant to use a .223. They are very, very tough animals (I'll spare you the stories about hogs that got back up and ran off even with a .308 hollow point to the head) and I think the risk of needlessly leaving a seriously wounded animal in the bush is too great.

I agree they are probably one of the toughest beasts on the planet. 308 to the brain at 100 or less and they got up and ran off. It is amazing! I am sure a glancing blow could happen but most times their DRT.

trueblue said:

due to a neck/spinal injury in 2016, I have not been shooting any of my 6.5 and up caliber rifles.
I have a Rock River AR15 in 223 Wilde that I would like to take on a hog hunt this winter.
Can hogs be taken with a 223, and if so, what would be a good bullet choice?
Also, recommendation on affordable thermal or night vision optics would be appreciated.

Click to expand...

The only ammo that I would use as long as it was accurate is the M-855
Armor piercing because it will punch a hole through them. But don't expect to drop them every time unless you make a perfect brain shot.

If you have to take shoulder shots for some reason, the 5.56/223 is two light in my opinion. Where I live, we have a hog problem and we shoot every one we see. if we are turkey hunting we carry Buck shot, if we are using varmint rifles we shoot in the head if possible and in the chest behind the armor and don't worry about tracking (They will die).

My go to rifle that never fails to drop them is a 7 STW. If you have a 6.5 that you like install a "Good"muzzle brake and recoil will/Should be
between 3 and 4 ft/lbs Almost exactly the same as an un braked AR 15
in 223. (3.4 ft/lbs in a 8 pound AR rifle)

Just My opinion

J E CUSTOM

IMO, find yourself a good 30 Cal rifle and install a premier grade muzzle brake. Your shots will be more honorable and your success more rewarding.

trueblue, J E is a muzzle brake EXPERT. If you have time get with him (PM) to figure out what rifles you have and what brake would be needed. Great option. It opens up a lot of hunting options for you.

Plenty of hogs have been killed with a .223. If that is what you are comfortable using, then take it. I like using the Barnes bullets for the .223 when I use it.

I'm not sure "affordable" and "thermal/night vision" go together. I've got a few of the Armasight thermals that were in the $2,500-$3,500 range that perform very well. I purchased both of them on Amazon. Read up on the various products to determine the features you will need. All I need is a a little bit of magnification and the "white hot" feature and I'm good to go.

I have neck issues that have at times limited what I could shoot. I don't know much about hogs, but I'd take what I could use and enjoy myself. I would accept the limitations and stay within them. Take advantage of helpful technologies such as brakes and suppressors. Depending on the twist select a good bullet such as the Hammer etc.
Check local laws etc.

trueblue said:

due to a neck/spinal injury in 2016, I have not been shooting any of my 6.5 and up caliber rifles.
I have a Rock River AR15 in 223 Wilde that I would like to take on a hog hunt this winter.
Can hogs be taken with a 223, and if so, what would be a good bullet choice?
Also, recommendation on affordable thermal or night vision optics would be appreciated.

Click to expand...

With head/neck shots and the right bullet at reasonable range it's no problem.

If you don't keep those two considerations tops in your mind you'll watch a lot of them run off to die.

HARPERC said:

I have neck issues that have at times limited what I could shoot. I don't know much about hogs, but I'd take what I could use and enjoy myself. I would accept the limitations and stay within them. Take advantage of helpful technologies such as brakes and suppressors. Depending on the twist select a good bullet such as the Hammer etc.
Check local laws etc.

Click to expand...

You really need a good Mini-14 or AR platform rifle in something like 6.8spc, or 6.5x47L .

That would be a really nice choice for hogs and that platform really takes the recoil out.

Actually I'm more fortunate than the OP, I've gradually improved enough to shoot most stuff.

I also have mild recoiling options, a braked 6mm, 260, and 44 carbine, should I ever visit hog country.

HARPERC said:

Actually I'm more fortunate than the OP, I've gradually improved enough to shoot most stuff.

I also have mild recoiling options, a braked 6mm, 260, and 44 carbine, should I ever visit hog country.

Click to expand...

Yep I caught my error after posting but figured he'd likely read it anyhow.

I've been rocking them with the .260.

I've actually killed up to 300lbs Sows with a little .204 Ruger with 32gr Rem premium accutips.

In the head or neck even something that small will do the job on the head and spine with the right bullet.

I posted pictures of two big sows I nailed in a wheatfield here with a write up years ago. Dropped them within 10 yards of on another at almost 300yds. I was flabbergasted!

Had shot a lot of little pigs/piglets with it in the past but they were tearing up the wheat field and that's the biggest thing I had in the truck that day other than a 5" bbl .41mag pistol and I didn't feel like trying to stalk up to pistol range.

One other option for the poster.

If you can only shoot 223s then why not install a brake on it and enjoy almost no recoil.

We have ran lots of test on brakes for the 223 AR and the best design
we found reduced recoil from 3.8 ft/lbs to 1.1 ft/lbs on an average AR 15
I know it sounds crazy, but the ladies and youths love the AR with a brake for total control in rapid fire situations.

I hate to hear that someone is unable to deal with recoil and cant enjoy the sport.

J E CUSTOM