I have been thinking about hunting hogs with my .223 guns. I don't want a big discussion about "enough" gun for the game. I understand the limits of a .223. Here is my question. I have looked for .224 bullets that hold together and penetrate better than your average "varmint" round. I looked at Barnes TSX and they looked like just the ticket, until I saw the price . They are easily 4 times the price of a quality varmint bullet. Are ya kiddin me? Has anybody body shot a little heavier game with their .224 caliber gun? I am a Hornady guy all the way and have shot some heavier game with the 68 gr. HPBT it made them dead ok but I would just feel more comfortable with a bullet designed to penetrate better. Input is appreciated.

Nosler makes a 60gr., 22-cal Partition:
http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=3&bullet=3

That would be my choice. I have a box of 50 that I bought for my .223 WSSM, but I haven't used them yet. There is no recommended twist rate on the box, but the bullet is shorter than the 60gr. Ballistic Tip Varmint which has a 7"-10" twist recommendation on the box. The Hornady 60gr. V-Max is even longer than the Ballistic Tip Varmint and that box has a 7"-12" twist recommendation on the box. Go figure. Doesn't matter to me; my WSSM has a 1:10" twist. If your .223 Rem doesn't have a fast twist you can call Nosler and ask for their recommendation for the Partition.

Here's Nosler's loading data:
http://www.nosler.com/index.php?p=15&b=22cal&s=152


There was also a Trophy Bonded Bear Claw, made by Speer I think, that weighed 55gr. That bullet has a solid shank and a lead nose and should work in any .223 Rem. I don't know if it's still in production, but that would be my next choice after the Nosler Partition.


Whatever you do, bring along a shotgun loaded with buckshot. A .223 Rem loaded with big-game bullets should kill a hog, but I wouldn't want to have to follow up a wounded hog with one. If you get charged, you need something with a lot more thump.

The shot gun sounds like good advice. I'll look into your suggestions. Thanks

You'd be better off with a .308. We used to hunt hogs with shotguns and buckshot in S. Carolina back in the day. They can be one tough critter. JMHO

I've shot 75gr bullets out of a fast twist 22-250. Those might be the ticket for you, though it may be a single shot affair due to the length. These were HPBT target bullets, so they didn't expand much, just punched deep holes.

Grafs sometimes gets the blems (I got a 1000 for I think it was $86 a few years back).

I'm somewhat in the same boat, as I only have my .223 for use during deer season. I could use smoothbore slugs but I just don't like the flinching and the poor accuracy that comes with that. I was in the local gunshop yesterday and wondered if the Federal .223's in a Sierra Matchking 68 or 69 grain BTHP. If you guys know the load I'm talking about, please correct me. I can't remember all the details...Anyways, I was wondering if that would be an alright choice. No, I'm not gonna be some redneck out in the woods blasing away at Nortern MN deer from 200-300 yards, but rather I'm gonna limit myself on 100 yards or closer. Realizing that this particular bullet is a match grade bullet and it will not expand like a bullet designed for hunting, will it still perform at my intended ranges??? Sorry to hijack this post...but I was just thinking similar thoughts today. I'm stuck with factory ammunition as I do not handload.

Choose your shots carefully so the animal leaves a GOOD blood trail. For me that means a heart/lung shot with a pass thru. Two holes bleed out better than one for tracking.


Just my thoughts on using the 223 on deer. No bad intentions on my part.

For big game with a .224 bullet I would have to say hands down Barnes X-bullet is the ticket. I shot a deer once with a .223 and in a field with a 50 gr. X-bullet and the range was around 200 yards it was real windy and the bullet ended up hitting in the second to last rib, and even with what I call a poor hit the deer took two steps and fell down for good. The bullet made a small hard to find entry hole and a dime size exit hole in the rib cage and stopped just under the skin. I still have the bullet if anyone needs a picture but it looks just like all the ads show them.

77I7 would stick with the Nosler Partition as well. My room mate loads the 69 sierra bthp for his 1: 7 twist AR and uses them for Jacks, and PDogs I recall one Jack shot at about 200 yrds where the bullet didnt even exit. But upon skinning the jack ( just for home curiosity ) we found the bullet to be in a bunch of pieces and next the the hide on the far side of the rabbit. I have a box of Hornady 60gr SP, but when shot into wet news paper you cant tell the difference between them and the 55gr V-max, they are all just mangeld copper and lead.

I believe speer makes a 70gr SP, but then again finding them could be difficult.

I loaded some of the .22 TSX's for deer a few years back in .223. Never got a chance to take a deer with them but will try again this year. We tested them in phone books and they perform exactly as advertised. My only concern with hunting with them was whether they had enough velocity out of my 16" AR carbine. I'd have to keep my shots under 100yrds. I'll probably switch to the 24" varminter this year. I think these bullets in 22-250 would be awesome on deer. I frown on people using anything but these bullets for .22 cal on deer. I've cut 2 .22 call slugs out of deer i've harvested that had only blown up on the surface and one was a neck shot.