I took a 223 to Georgia year before last, I read alot of online forums about 50% saying 223 was fine for hogs and 50% said no don't do it!! etc. etc. etc.
I consider myself a decent shot, and the people who said 223 was fine preached "shot placement"
I bought the more expensive 223 "Hog Hammers" made by remington, i think they are/were 62 grain bullets, barnes tsx's loaded in reminton brass/powder. I had previously used the same type bullets in my ar-10 308 before I decided it was too dang heavy to lug around. Love those Barne's bullets.
1st hog i missed because i was trying for the infamous "hog neck/head shot "that was preached with the 223 on the forums, after the miss i said screw that hit em in the lungs/heart like u have always done on pretty much any animal
Anyway 2nd hog i shoot took 2 shots before it went down, medium sow about 110 pounds, one shoulder shot and one lung shot in back of ribs
2nd Hog dropped in it's tracks, perfect high shoulder hit
3rd hog (which was big boar) ran off like i threw a rock at him, aimed at the shoulder, in a shooting house with perfect rest, the hog didn't even flinch, I KNOW i hit him good. No blood, lost hog
To summarize i shoulda killed 4 hogs that trip, only came home with 2, never again will i take 223 after anything other than coyotes, fox, or the like. I know i could probably kill a deer with it, but I also know in the back of my mind that deer could run off and not be found as well, which is enough for me not to use 223 on big game
Will 223 kill big game, YUP!! Will 223 cause you to lose some big game YUP!!! lol