I know a lot of you swear by your AR-15s, etc. for hog hunting. I just wonder how many of you also use them for deer hunting. An animal that, at least in Texas, is typically 1/2 the size of a mature hog. Personally, I wouldn't think of it, but then again, We are not having much luck with finding hogs dead right where they were shot while using the .223's either. I don't know, maybe we are just sorry shots.
What say you??

This:

Maybe, but I've never had any problem dropping either species with a .270 or .308. And, you didn't answer my question.

I am almost 100% certainly positive that if you shoot a deer in the heart with a .223 it will die. Are there better options? Yeah. Will it work? Yeah.

If you want to find your hogs right where you shoot them, try aiming for heavy bone (front shoulders or hips). If their legs don't work, they can't run away...

what ammo are you using?

223 will work for deer if the shot is well placed. In fact, shot placement is critical for hogs as well.

The question is, if it is good for hog hunting, then would it follow that it is very good for deer (an animal not nearly so heavily built) as well?

I believe my previous post answered your question.

If a 50 cal will work for hogs, will it work for deer as well?

Could care less if a shot hog is found or not.

The correct ammo will kill deer just fine when using a .223

Not my first choice..but with properly placed shots, it'll kill 'em just as dead. I agree Keith...shot hogs can run or lay.

Hog vs Deer very different scenario

Why would you ever shoot a hog anywhere but in the ear?

(Understanding there are those that intentionally gut shoot them so they will run far enough to get off your property before they die) Which I have a low opinion of btw.

For a deer usually you are neck or body shooting - a heavier grained 60+ shell in .223 is fine out to 150 yards - shot placement being key - you can get a soft point for minimal meat damage - but if you are like me and dont really care about the offside front shoulder that much just get a Hornady TAP round (75 grain) and blow the chest out the other side.

Would be careful trying body shots on a hog with .223 - you may not get enough penetration if you hit a big boar in the shoulder.

BTW: this coming from a guy that has never shot a deer with a .223 and probably never will - I use only .243 and larger on deer

I would perhaps let one of the kids use the AR for a very close shot though as they shoot it MUCH better than the bigger guns

I'm a .308 guy myself, but my dad uses his Sig 556 for deer and hog hunting and loves it. He has no trouble hunting either with his AK 7.62x39, Sig 556 (223) and his FNAR (.308).

I have used a .223 for the last few yrs to kill WT doe and some cull bucks. I shoot for high point of the shoulder shot or lower neck at the body using 55 grain Remington Express PSP. I have lost one doe out of over 200 with a shoulder shot and it was not the rifles fault but mine I had bought a box of 55 grain MC by mistake with 4 other boxes of PSP at Wally World and did not check the new box when I load a round in the rifle. Never found any blood or the doe for that matter nor saw any buzzards. I would shoot hogs in the lower neck in front of the shoulders all day long with it.

A .223 loaded with the correct projectile will kill any Texas white tail as long as the shooter has a modicum of skill. Use quality projectiles like SGK's, TSX or Nosler Partitions and you will be fine.

I've killed more than my share of Hogs using these projectiles as well, some up to and beyond 200lbs. My favorite so far for hogs has been the TSX followed by the 60gr Partition. Put them in the X between the eye and ear and you have a hog that drops where it was standing.

Limit your shots to 150yds and in.


Chupa

Yes.

Last year I took my AR out for deer and it was quite the conversation within camp. While I felt quite comfortable with using it, my blind is in fairly deep woods with the longest shot being 80-90m. With that information and me feeling pretty good about my marksmanship with it, I didn't worry about it. I never got a shot a deer as all week(we have a 9 day gun season here in Wisconsin, and that includes Thanksgiving) I only saw 5 does and let all of them walk.

Just to make things a bit more "friendly" at deer camp this year(my last Wisconsin deer season) I am taking my new Remington 700 .308 this year.

But with the right load and shot placement, the .223/5.56 is the most versatile firearm out there. With a change of magazines I've shot a turkey in the morning, hunted squirrels all afternoon and gone out for coyotes at night, 3 different types of game, 3 different rounds all in the same day.

Shoot them with a well built soft point and you'll be fine.

Ive seen people gone hunting and bring back hogs....with a .22 cal riffle belive that....just have to shoot it well amigo...

We drop them in their tracks all the time with a .223, it's just that in my experience most people don't have a practical trigger time, just at the range on sand bags, and that's a no go in my opinion.

Alll kills below are with a .223

The .223 is all fine and dandy until a less than great shot opportunity comes around, that must be taken.



I shot this 300+lbs hog with a 22-250 4 times(all good hits), he was headed into a creek angeling away from me so the magical headshot never presented its self.

I hunt hogs because of land destruction, so any shot is a good shot, I was useing a 22-250 because my .270win was in the shop.

and the 22-250 packs 276 more ft lbs of energy at the 100yd range where I shot this hog, while some people swear they have brought down everything from squirel to moose with their trusty M4....I think there are flat out better options.

nice pigs amigo!!!

deewayne2003, I love the 22-250, have an old Rem 788. What bullet did you use on the 300 pounder?

55gr Hornady interlock

You have a gem there, hold onto it.


As far as the questions goes, yes it can be used to kill deer effectively. As with any caliber, shot placement and proper ammunition are vital. I have take both deer and hog with .223. I have, sadly, lost 2 deer shooting a shotgun with buckshot and 2 very large hogs with a .270 and a 7mm mag. Those hogs where huge, I really don't know why 2 shots with the .270 didn't take the big boar down, but the one I shot with the 7mm was shot with a balistic tip. That was a very poor choice for a large hog.

I said all of that to say this, shot placement can hedge your odds with inferior ammo. Shot placement is key. If you do it correctly, shot quality ammo into an animal in the right place and you shouldn't have to look far for it.