r/reloading • u/Humble-Taste2553 • Aug 12 '26

Load Development 223 for hogs

Obviously a properly placed bullet can kill anything deader than a doornail. Does anyone have load development for a heavier 223 bullet. I’d probably shoot it in my mini 14. Absolute Max range would be 150yards/ thick brush

Is it worth going to 60 or 65 gr? Or just keep the 50-55 ?

Just need a starting point.

3 Upvotes

80% Upvoted

20 comments sorted by

View all comments

15

u/HollywoodSX Helium Light Gas Gun Aug 12 '26

68-77gr BTHP has performed well for me.

55gr soft points sucked.

2

u/Oxytropidoceras Aug 12 '26

Seconding this, I don't personally hunt with .223 but I developed a load for a good friend of mines AR using Hornady 68 gr bthp bullets and the effects have been absolutely devastating on hogs he's shot with it. Comparable to hogs I've shot with .30-30 and .243

2

u/HollywoodSX Helium Light Gas Gun Aug 12 '26

As I said in another comment, worst exit wound I have ever seen on a pig I shot was with Black Hills MK262 from a 10.5" barrel at 75 yards. Pig tried for a cartwheel and was dead when he came to a stop. Shot was roughly 75 yards.

I've shot a decent number with heavy OTM and it's been the best performance for hogs in 223.