Want to build a AR15 , using Proof Reseach carbon fiber barrel, for night time hog hunting. My caliber choices are 223 Wilde, 22 Nosler, 224 Valkyrie, or 6CM. They make larger calibers but want to keep the recoil to a minimum and stay on target. Rapid fire is not uncommon so large calibers would not be my first choice. THANKS for your opinions
Ar15 build - hog rifle caliber choice
- Thread starter kuduman
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Kansaswoodguy
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223 Wilde would be my choice using 55gmx bullets
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Deleted member 48126
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I wouldn't use any .22 on a hog. Have you looked at the 6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC. Bigger bullets while staying in an AR15 platform.
How come you're limited to those above calibers? Is that only what proof or your smith chambers?
How come you're limited to those above calibers? Is that only what proof or your smith chambers?
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In the AR-15 platform, you can't do 6mm Creedmoor. That would be an AR-10/SR-25 size cartridge. That being the case, please consider the 6.5 Grendel or the 6.8 SPC II chamberings. If you don't reload, I'd lean toward the Grendel.
If you MUST do a .22 caliber, the .22 Valkyrie would be my pick as there are heavy for caliber (high SD) bullets factory loaded for it and it is already 'twisted' for those bullets. But hogs are tenacious animals. The bigger calibers would be better (6.5, 6.8, 7.62X39, or .300 Blackout).
If you MUST do a .22 caliber, the .22 Valkyrie would be my pick as there are heavy for caliber (high SD) bullets factory loaded for it and it is already 'twisted' for those bullets. But hogs are tenacious animals. The bigger calibers would be better (6.5, 6.8, 7.62X39, or .300 Blackout).
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Deleted member 48126
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Cant believe I forgot about the .300BO. That's a great hunting cartridge.
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Okay, here is what Proof Research shows they make for the AR-15:
You are asking for advice. My advice is "Hogs are just as difficult/easy to kill as deer. If you wouldn't use it on a deer, don't use it on a hog."
With that being said, and with the choices Proof offers, your options are:
6.5 Grendel
6.8 SPC
.300 BLK
Any of those are good!
If you go by over-the-counter ammo availability and variety:
1) .300 BLK (Blackout)
2) 6.5 Grendel
3) 6.8 SPC
If you go by 'flattest shooting/most range':
1) 6.5 Grendel
2) 6.8 SPC
3) .300 BLK
If you go by "energy delivered at 100 yards":
1) 6.5 Grendel/6.8 SPC = virtual tie
3) .300 Blackout (about 400 fpe LESS than the other two @ 100 yards)
If you go by LEAST to MOST recoil:
1) .300 Blackout (softest kick)
2) 6.8 SPC
3) 6.5 Grendel (most kick)
...but if we are honest here, you'd be hard pressed to "feel" a difference between the three of these out of an AR-15 as none of them are 'hard-kicking' in any sense of the word.
Here is a good article for you to read, if you haven't already made up your mind to go with one of the .22 caliber rounds:
https://www.chuckhawks.com/ar-15_deer_cartridges.html
and/or
https://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_6-5_6-8_300_350.html
You are asking for advice. My advice is "Hogs are just as difficult/easy to kill as deer. If you wouldn't use it on a deer, don't use it on a hog."
With that being said, and with the choices Proof offers, your options are:
6.5 Grendel
6.8 SPC
.300 BLK
Any of those are good!
If you go by over-the-counter ammo availability and variety:
1) .300 BLK (Blackout)
2) 6.5 Grendel
3) 6.8 SPC
If you go by 'flattest shooting/most range':
1) 6.5 Grendel
2) 6.8 SPC
3) .300 BLK
If you go by "energy delivered at 100 yards":
1) 6.5 Grendel/6.8 SPC = virtual tie
3) .300 Blackout (about 400 fpe LESS than the other two @ 100 yards)
If you go by LEAST to MOST recoil:
1) .300 Blackout (softest kick)
2) 6.8 SPC
3) 6.5 Grendel (most kick)
...but if we are honest here, you'd be hard pressed to "feel" a difference between the three of these out of an AR-15 as none of them are 'hard-kicking' in any sense of the word.
Here is a good article for you to read, if you haven't already made up your mind to go with one of the .22 caliber rounds:
https://www.chuckhawks.com/ar-15_deer_cartridges.html
and/or
https://www.chuckhawks.com/compared_6-5_6-8_300_350.html
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Elkeater
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Ok I'm gonna muddy the water here. I have personally watched a deer shot with a 5.56 AR-15 loaded with Barnes 70gr tsx. The shot was approx. 75 yards. The target was a average size Michigan whitetail doe so figure 125lbs or so on the hoof. The deer was quartered toward the shooter. The bullet entered at the point of the shoulder which broke the shoulder. It then traveled in a straight line through both lungs resulting in "red jelly" then exited around the 3rd rib from the back leaving a 1 inch exit and buried itself in the ground somewhere. The deer hit the ground pushed itself about 30 yards on its chest and died in seconds. I have shot deer with a .300 WM and 180gr bullets that acted less hit and ran further. Honestly that deer was one of the hardest hit deer I have ever seen.
Now that being said I do believe in using enough gun. But I think unless you start getting into the 200lb+ range anything from .223 up through the Grendel or blackout will do the job.
Now that being said I do believe in using enough gun. But I think unless you start getting into the 200lb+ range anything from .223 up through the Grendel or blackout will do the job.
Aoudad shooter1975
Well-Known Member
6.5 grendel no doubt...my favorite AR caliber--most bang per buck you can get...
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Deleted member 48126
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Just get them all and figure it out when you get up in the morning....
Left to right:
1. Custom .223 Rem (smith built not bolt together)
2. Radical Firearms .300BO
3. Sky gun international 9mm
4. PSA "no step on snek" 6.5 Grendel
5. Mak-90 7.62x39
6. Rock River Arms .300BO building a lower for it now
Left to right:
1. Custom .223 Rem (smith built not bolt together)
2. Radical Firearms .300BO
3. Sky gun international 9mm
4. PSA "no step on snek" 6.5 Grendel
5. Mak-90 7.62x39
6. Rock River Arms .300BO building a lower for it now
sea2summit
Well-Known Member
Wow, never realized .223 wasn't capable of putting down hogs. Do I need to turn in all these dead hogs that got shot with .223? I've only ever hunted them with .223 and .308 and I've killed hundreds. We haven't bought pork in years aside from bacon. I have a Grendel I keep meaning to take out, probably will this fall once some of the leaves are down and there's more room to swing the longer barrel.
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Deleted member 48126
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No one said it wasn't capable. There are better options though.
sea2summit
Well-Known Member
I guess it depends on what you're doing. I've shot some really large pigs with .223. Obviously I'm not going to shoot them at long range but in the 10-80m range where I typically work them I've never had one run. .223 is my go to for swamps because it's light and cheap ammo.
I'm not anti any of the other options, and I'm a fan of the Grendel as that round is really easy to get stupid good groups with and carries a lot of power. Sounds like .308 on steel at range too.
Only caliber I don't like from the list is 300 BO. I've lost a lot of fox and coons to .300 BO, I'm really disappointed in that caliber. I've tried a lot of different ammo and just don't seem to get the expansion I need to anchor them, would have thought the .30 hole would be enough but it's not traveling fast like the .223 so you don't get the temporary cavity with it I think is part of the problem.
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Deleted member 48126
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I would think the .300BO would have similar performance to a .30-30. I don't know. I've never shot an animal with mine. Oddly enough I've shot 3 deer and bobcat with my .223. Now that I have the others though I'm going to take them out. Maybe I need to figure out or reconsider a good load for the .300BO based on your experience.
