Shooting pigs with a 223

[Jethro]

What bullet are you guys using?

I should preface that by saying I am stuck with a 12 twist, so the heavies are out of the question for me.

I had planned on shooting the Sierra #1365, 55 grain SBT. It is a great bullet, holds up good, a real killer on coyotes and deer. And it shoots fair in my Encore, about 3/4 MOA. Honestly that is probably accurate enough for what I need.

But I threw together about a dozen loads with some 55 NBT's I needed to burn up, and they shot really nice. I know with the solid base the NBT is a tougher bullet than the VMAX, but don't know if it is tough enough for pigs or not.

I don't want a premium bullet like Barnes because mostly this is just going to be a night time coyote/varmint rifle with a NV scope on it. But I would like a bullet that would do decent on pigs too if I had a shot at them.

Any suggestions on some well constructed bullets in the lighter weight range?

[DirtyDave]

NBTs should do the trick with a Neck/Head shot
I've killed pigs with v-max too

[justintyme8303]

What bullet are you guys using?

I should preface that by saying I am stuck with a 12 twist, so the heavies are out of the question for me.

I had planned on shooting the Sierra #1365, 55 grain SBT. It is a great bullet, holds up good, a real killer on coyotes and deer. And it shoots fair in my Encore, about 3/4 MOA. Honestly that is probably accurate enough for what I need.

But I threw together about a dozen loads with some 55 NBT's I needed to burn up, and they shot really nice. I know with the solid base the NBT is a tougher bullet than the VMAX, but don't know if it is tough enough for pigs or not.

I don't want a premium bullet like Barnes because mostly this is just going to be a night time coyote/varmint rifle with a NV scope on it. But I would like a bullet that would do decent on pigs too if I had a shot at them.

Any suggestions on some well constructed bullets in the lighter weight range?

3/4 MOA you should be ear holing them all day.

[Jethro]

I know justintyme8303. I was happy with 3/4 MOA until I shot the 55 NBT and it was throwing those little groups. I am always tempted by bullets that shoot tight.

[Lone_Wolf]

Remington 55gr PSP holds together pretty good and I think there cheap. They're like a miniature Core lokt.

[chtx]

We honestly do pretty good with cheap FMJs and green tips. Had plenty of pigs DRT with shots square in the shoulder. This includes pretty big boars. We shoot a lot of pigs so it gets expensive quick with expensive bullets

[Witchgrass]

It's all about placement. For pigs, a little ole 17HMR will work-if you put it in the ear.

[RingSteel]

I've put down a pile of pigs with the 55 grain NBT. No complaints from me, even when shooting them thru the lungs.

[TxNurse]

Sierra 65gr GameKings are about the best tough .223 bullet.

[Jethro]

Sierra 65gr GameKings are about the best tough .223 bullet.

I agree on that bullet, but my 12 twist won't stabilize it. That is what I wish I could shoot.

[kkp005]

55gr FMJ.. our truck gun is a single shot bull barrel 223.. we've killed piles of hogs with it the last 20 years

[Pigkilln]

I have used the hornady sp 55 grain with good results. Probably 15 deer and a dozen hogs. Mostly head shots on the hogs. Several of the deer were high shoulder or lung shot and they did great.

[35remington]

Barnes TSX works good here. I wish the heavier-than-55gr versions weren't so hard to find. My 1:7 doesn't shoot them as accurately as I'd like.

[TxNurse]

I agree on that bullet, but my 12 twist won't stabilize it. That is what I wish I could shoot.

You might give them a try if you haven't yet. I have read where a lot of people have good luck with them in 1:12--it just depends on the gun. They are rated for 1:10 or faster on the Sierra site, so that is getting close to 12.

[SabreKiller]

Winchester Ranger 64 gr. PowerPoint. Boom, whop, thud.