Question for tha AR shooters here...

[Phil]

I`m wanting to do a Texas helicopter hog hunt....

What caliber and weight bullet would you guy`s suggest.....

I`m thinking about a heavy bullet in a .223 or 6x45....i`m open for opinions / suggestions...

Phil.

 

[Bamban]

AR-10 with any 308 ammo suitable for gas guns.

 

[40X Guy]

I have watched some vids of the helo hog hunts and it looks like a lot of fun. I would not be afraid of using an AR with 55 to 65 grain bullets that expand. Maybe Sierra 65 grain GK's if you are going to reload your own ammo for the hunt. They would anchor the hogs pretty well. Maybe you can email some of those guides who do this and ask them as far as calibers and bullets. Best of luck!

Frank

 

[navyrad8r]

phil... if not ar10, go 300 blackout would be my recommendation!
cheers,
Doc

 

[Phil]

Drat,

I was hoping the 6x45 would be getting some love, I have LOTS of once fired 223 brass, and it would feed flawlessly from a beta mag.....

Is the 6x45 lacking knock down power using the 65-88gr. bullets????

Phil.

 

[5spd]

Id run the 6x45 and perhaps the 85 gr SGKHP bullet, that drops easy antelope like a rock out here.
I would also run the 80g speer hot core bullet in the 6x45.

 

[Outrider27]

My limited experience hunting hogs back in east Tennessee when I was a kid was that hogs run tough and die hard. Given the marksmanship challenges of hunting from a moving platform and a target that may or may not also be moving, while a .223 with a fast twist barrel and heavy bullets (62-80 grains) will probably anchor a hog fine with a good hit, my choice would be an AR10 in .308 Win and gas gun loads with bullets in the 168-180 grain range.

While, from a pure foot pound standpoint, the .223 looks (and is, with good bullet placement) quite adequate, we had best luck in a similiar foot pound range (we were hunting in relatively heavy cover and 40 yards was a long shot, 10 to 25 yards the norm) with lever action rifles chambered in .44 mag using 240 grain bullets. That probably isn't the best rifle/cartridge choice for a helicopter hog hunt in Texas.

Or a compromise - an AR15 in 50 Beowolf..... ;D

 

[CPorter]

I've used the .308 and the .223 on hogs. We had a couple hogs run on us using the .223 that made into the woods despite the video showing hits near the spine. We've collected about 31 in the last 3 years (on the ground) and only 2 or 3 have gotten away after being hit. These were all shot using cheap soft nosed spire points. If I was going to use a premium bullet I would use partitions, 60gr in .223 and 85 or 95gr in a 6mm. They make a 100gr 6mm partition but I haven't used it. Have AR clone in .243 win that I plan on testing later this month and some of the others are using a .243 WSSM.

.233 - easier to stay on target during recoil, light and easier to manuver in the helo - bullets a bit low on power to go through the shield
.308 - plenty of penetration power - harder to stay on target during recoil especially using a shuttered iris on night vision/thermal scopes, a bit heavier.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

I think you need to get the firearm and see what twist. My current AR likes 65 Sierra's or 69 SMK's [1-7 twist] My last upper [1-9 twist] Loved 50 VMax's and TAC

 

[PhulesAu]

Just remember the rotor wash ;D

 

[gunsandgunsmithing]

If wildcats are an option, the a 30 Major(6.5 Grendel necked up to 30) would be the cat's ass.

 

[hogpatrol]

I'm waiting for the mini-gun hog hunts to start. I'm all in for one of them. Of course I'll probably have to mortgage the house to pay for the ammo. ;D

 

[Ackman]

In a moving helicopter shooting at running targets, there'll be no shot placement. You'll just be glad to hit them. I'd choose the 6mm and whatever bullet will do the most damage.

 

[Phil]

I'm waiting for the mini-gun hog hunts to start. I'm all in for one of them. Of course I'll probably have to mortgage the house to pay for the ammo. ;D

Count me in........ 8)

 

[TheOtherZilla]

In a moving helicopter shooting at running targets, there'll be no shot placement. You'll just be glad to hit them. I'd choose the 6mm and whatever bullet will do the most damage.

Actually when I was in Nam it didn't take long to become proficient at moving targets or stationary out of a moving chopper. AR, M60, or M79..

 

[Ackman]

In a moving helicopter shooting at running targets, there'll be no shot placement. You'll just be glad to hit them. I'd choose the 6mm and whatever bullet will do the most damage.

Actually when I was in Nam it didn't take long to become proficient at moving targets or stationary out of a moving chopper. AR, M60, or M79..

Not quite the same thing, this isn't full auto. I've watched those pig hunting videos and it's not much hitting for the amount of shooting. This will be probably his first time ever doing it from a helicopter.....at targets way smaller than a human, running on adrenaline at 30 or 40mph(?) through broken terrain, brush and trees. Shoot to hit and don't even worry about bullet placement.

 

[kevinbritvec]

.223 will need the toughest bullet available, I'm thinking something from Barnes. I've seen impressive gelatin tests using Sierra's 65 grain soft point boat tail bullet. It mushrooms like a full bore .30, buy it's still only .224" in diameter. They are very hard to find in this market. Hornady has a GMX line of solid bullets, get the heaviest they have provided you own a 1/7 or 1/8 twist barrel. 1/9 twist will limit you to 62 to 65 grain hunting bullets.

Head and neck shots will increase your chances.

 

[searcher]

I'm guessing the goal is to just kill as many pigs as possible - so caliber is not much of a concern UNLESS one wants to be humane about it. Then I'd go with one of the larger calibers mentioned already. Pigs are tough when poor shot placement is used and a perfect shot from a helo is more luck than quickly acquired skill. Go big.