hunters_life

der Teufel, You are correct and incorrect at the same time. You are correct in the fact that the earlier 5.56 round was inadequately stabilized and a higher twist rate was added to stabilize the .55 grain bullet. What you are incorrect about is the yaw. It is no myth and has been proven many times. It is caused by the rearward weighting of the ball ammo. Upon entry the bullet tends to upset and yaw. Newer bullet designs have a more equally balanced makeup and do not yaw upon entry as I stated in my earlier post.

d80hunter

Good description of the 5.56.

Hunters counting on yaw seems odd when it's always mentioned for one caliber. I trust our militaries long experience with the 5.56 but I can't help to wonder how new bullet design compared to old designs change terminal ballistics. Another thing that comes to mind about yaw is an expanding bullet vs a FMJ.

In regards to yaw, terminal ballistics are hard to factor. It would be safer to choose a caliber and bullet's ability to kill based on other data. Factors such as bullet weight, weight retention, expansion, velocity, diameter, and muzzle energy.

Double Naught Spy

Actually, given that the external auditory meatus (ear canal) is located at the posterier aspect of the skull and that the pinna (external ear) are extend even further back, making a shot "behind the ear" that most definitely can be entirely through nothing but skin and neck muscle, connecting with nothing vital, no spine or other bone structures, no vital organs, and no major blood vessels. That is what can happen with a typical broadside shot or shot where the hog is quartered toward the shooter.



I have seen it happen on multiple occasions and even killed another hunter's hog that had a mostly healed "behind the ear" shot. It can and does happen. This is the hog. The entry side of the wound had healed completely. The exit side (shown) was mostly healed but still oozing a clear liquid. If you look close, you can see where the shot also clipped the ear.



Intentionally aiming for a spot on the hog with no vital structures is just plain stupid. Behind the ear won't even slow down it locomotion. Either shoot it in the brain case area of the head, center of the neck (to hopefully connect with spine), boiler room (heart and/or lung), or liver area.

Now, you can make a head shot on a quartering away hog by placing the bullet behind the ear and that is another matter entirely.

Talstar1234

I've probably harvested over 50 hogs with Hornady .223 75gr BTHP Match. Most were lungs/heart shot from 100-250 pounds usually 100 yard or so. One ran 50 yards, but he was 250 plus and was charging one of my dogs when I hit him so he was a little ��.

TN Lone Wolf

I think I'd prefer something bigger.

Knife Guy

Head shots. Middle of head, directly beneath the ear.

HansETX

Hornady .223 Full Boar, love this load

HansETX

SkyhunterOutfitters

Shot placement is king. That can be said of any round. But .223 really relies on you being accurate and hitting head or spine shots.

SkyhunterOutfitters

Also, we use 7.62x39 AKs with thermals and suppressors and have had big hogs take multiple shots to the vitals area and run off. Adrenaline is a hell of a thing in a wounded animal.