Opinions on 22-250/223 with Tsx for hogs

[daddy63]

Hi there,

In looking for a light recoiling rifle for my daughter for future hog hunts, I'm wondering what everyone's opinion would be on a 22-250 or 223 with a Barnes Tsx or partition for hog hunts. I know about size of hog and shot placement but I don't shoot these rounds and I'm not familiar if there's adequate power. Thanks in advance.

 

[hatchet1]

a bit light in my opinion, but hey you asked, now let er ripp boys....

 

[Franklin3]

read Bluegunners post "Texas Hogs" he's worked up a load for the 22-250 and has pictures of his results posteds.

 

[daddy63]

Franklin3,

Thanks for the help. I didn't see that post so thanks a lot that helps.

Hatchet1,

I'm expecting some flack for asking about varmint rounds for hog hunting but since I asked...

 

[Arrowslinger]

You shouldn't be getting an flack.....it's your daughter and i'm assuming she can't shoot a 300 win mag, so asking about 223/22-250 sounds very reasonable to me.

I would assume a 60 grain Partition in the 22-250 would kill one dead and have personally killed one w/ a 45grn ballistic tip outta my 22-250. Just make sure she can shoot & have a great hunt.....then take lots'o'pics.

 

[Taos]

I have seen several taken years ago with a .220 swift, all went down right now with good hits. Make sure she shoots it well and get out there and get some porkchops!!!

 

[daddy63]

Thanks for the input guys... Maybe a better way to ask this question would be, what caliber you choose for your young daughters to use on their hog hunt? Right now, my son shoots a 7mm-08 and he is fine with that but I know it would be too much for his sister. i'm leaning towards a 243 or 308 with reduced loads. someone mentioned the 357 round in a rifle which sounds good but maybe pretty limited. thanks in advance.

 

[Bluegunner]

daddy63,

I can't speak to the 223 but I can tell you that the 22-250 with the 53gr Barnes Triple Shock worked great for me. One thing that the 22-250 has that the 223 doesn't is a larger case which holds more powder thus giving the same weight of bullet a lot more killing power.
I wouldn't recommend the 22-250 with most factory loads as most factory loads for the 22-250 are designed for coyote, bobcat and varmint hunting. These bullets are designed to explode on contact and they would lack penetration power needed on a hog. Also be careful about going to a heavier bullet than 55gr. in the 22-250 as most 22-250 don't have the barrel twists necessary to stabilize the heavier bullets.
Of the calibers that you mentions for your daughter I think the 243 would be your best choice, but a caliber that I would recommend that you look closely at would be the 25-06. It's a gun your daughter could shoot and it has more than enough power to put any hog to sleep.

 

[HeavyHorns]

Daddy63,
Go with the 22-250 loaded with a 60 gr Partition. IMHO, I think range practice with your daughter and that combination will prove to be deadly.

Great job getting her out there!

 

[Speckmisser]

.243 and .260 are both light-recoiling rounds with much better big game performance than the 22-250 or .223. The .243wssm may suit your needs too, but I wouldn't count on the ready availability of ammo.

I'm not gonna go on a rant here about using enough gun. I've beat that drum for so long that even I'm getting sick of hearing it. I understand the reason for your question, and can certainly relate that you want to get your daughter hunting. Nothing wrong with that.

Do a quick search on here and you'll find a ton of threads very similar to the one you've just started. All of them run the same way. Lots of calibers can and do kill hogs, but you do yourself (or your daughter) and the animals a favor by stepping up as much as the hunter can reasonably handle.

Plan for the best, but prepare for the worst. You want a caliber that will let her make the best of a bad hit, not grenade on a shoulder, hip bone or skull or embed in a hog's gut.

There's no law in CA or TX about minimum caliber for hogs, but sometimes I think there should be.

 

[greyghost10]

I have not used that bullet yet, and I am a strong believer of proper bullet placement but I think the 22-250 is a little light for a good sized pig. There are just so many more calibers that are better suited for that job which offer very moderate recoil. 243, 257 ROBERTS, 260 REM. I am sure the 22-250 would work but at the risk of callinging down the thunder, hunters owe a quick kill to their game and should match the caliber to the intended game animal.

 

[daddy63]

I agree with most of what has been said. The 22-250 wouldn't be my first choice at all either, but since a 28 gauge shotgun makes her want to stop shooting after 3-4 shots i'm concerned with her threshold for sure. I most likely will go with a 243 as minimum and use the PAST pad while we're in the field. Thanks to all who shot out an opinion.

 

[Duknutz]

63,
I'm not promoting using a .224 cal. bullet to take hogs with,but I have a 220 Swift that I have taken a 225 lb boar with and I also used it on plains game in Africa.The little 53 grain Barnes Triple Shock was a killer,the bullets were never recovered.Every kill was a pass-through,from 100 yds to 225 yds.So,that would be a good bullet choice.My buddy also took a Black wildebeast with his 22-250 a 209 yds with one shot using a 60 grain Nosler Partition,which I recovered the bullet from.Went through ribs,vitals and ribs and was sitting under the skin on opposite side.Critter dropped in his tracks and never got up.
Like everyone else has said shot placement is key and get that girl out and in the field and have some fun.....

 

[Speckmisser]

Daddy63, you might also look into a good muzzlebrake. I know it makes the gun a lot louder, but it really can take away the recoil.

You can get one aftermarket for around $200, installed... or you can pick up something like a Browning or Savage that already has it installed.