Author Topic: Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?  (Read 1305 times)

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Offline galster69

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Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?
« on: November 09, 2010, 03:39:16 PM »
I know, I know!  There are many people out there that don't think the 223 is a sufficient round for boar hunting.  I'm not asking for your opinions on this and I'm not asking what round would be better suited for boar hunting other than the 223.  What I AM asking for is info on a good boar hunting round in 223.  I have a 1:7 inch twist barrel so I can shoot the heavier bullets but want to be able to load them in a magazine.  I see Sierra makes a 69 gn HPBT that you can load to 2.260 OAL.  Is this a decent bullet for game?  I will be taking head shots...plural.  I have the following powders: Varget, RL15, TAC, WIN 748, IMR 4831 among others.  Can anyone suggest an accurate load for boar hunting?  Thanks in advance for all constructive responses.

Offline gstewart44

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Re: Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?
« Reply #1 on: November 10, 2010, 11:49:27 AM »
I have used Winchester 64 grain power points in my 223 for hogs.    I have taken all head shots(7) save one.   The head shots were DRT on hogs weighing up to 175 lbs.   A smaller pig, that weighed 70 lbs, I took a quartering toward me shot at the heart.   The heart exploded and he ran dead for about 20 ft before piling up.   

I love this bullet in the .223.   
I'm just tryin' to keep everything in balance, Woodrow. You do more work than you got to, so it's my obligation to do less. (Gus McCrae)

Offline galster69

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Re: Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?
« Reply #2 on: November 10, 2010, 03:54:10 PM »
Thank you much for the info.  What powder and charge do you prefer with this bullet?

Offline gstewart44

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Re: Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?
« Reply #3 on: November 11, 2010, 04:32:25 PM »
I looked up my old load data.   I shoot this in a Mini 14 ( 1:10 twist) and it is very accurate in this rifle.   
Winchester 64 gr PP     standard small rifle primer
26 gr of IMR 4320 - it is almost a compressed load and is pretty hot  but I have not had any blown primers or other signs of pressure.   The Speer load manual says that 26 gr of 4320 is max load for a 70 gr bullet so I am comfortable with my load. 
I'm just tryin' to keep everything in balance, Woodrow. You do more work than you got to, so it's my obligation to do less. (Gus McCrae)

Offline chutesnreloads

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Re: Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?
« Reply #4 on: November 11, 2010, 05:26:31 PM »
The 64 winchester is good advice.Also there is Nosler 60 grain partition,and sierra makes three different .224 gamekings(NOT matchkings...the 69 gr. hpbt is matchking)all three would do hogs.Of powders you listed varget and 748 would be my first choices.

Offline retrosub

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Re: Accurate 223 load for boar hunting?
« Reply #5 on: November 12, 2010, 04:04:17 AM »
I would use a Barnes TSX, with your twist I think there's a 70 grain Barnes you could use. There's a great post over in the Africa forum about the effectiveness of Barnes bullets, not a single animal lost in a year. My 12 year old son wants to take a boar this year, and he'll be using a Barnes 62 gr over 23 grains of 4064. This is an MOA round out of our kel-tec SU16CA, and I'm confident it'll do the job with a good shot.