South Carolina Hogs
Carbon 15,
I've hunted hogs in SC for 30 years, and I would say that .223 would not be my first choice. Yup, I've killed a few with the odd Mini14 and AR, but they did not give very good performance....usally requiring multiple shots unless head shoots were made. From what it sounds like, the type of hunting you are doing, head shoots may not always be possible.
First, I would check again on the game laws. I believe it is illegal to HUNT[ie SHOOT] out of the boat with rifles, but I believe that it is legal to transport your rifles in the boat. Unless you are shooting from the boat, I would take whatever your favorite deer rifle is with you next time.
10mm works pretty well.....I've killed quite a few hogs with it. Its no .44 mag, but its alot easier to carry, and for me, alot easier to shoot. The 180 CORBONS do well, as do heavily loaded 200 grain XTP's[ go to
www.doubletapammo.com ] . I will say that in general, .357 mags have NOT done well. If you go that route, pick a HEAVY bullet.
I've had good luck with shotguns and buckshot at fairly close ranges......I'm sure that slug would work fine.
In general, you will place your shots better with the long guns. Deer rifles work well on hogs for that reason. If you hunt them with pistols, get close and place your shots well. I've killed close to 200 wild hogs, and the the only one to every get a tusk in me, including several killed with knives, when I snuck up on a couple of horny 'ol boars fighting over a sow, being kewl and hunting with a pistol. They were really charged up with adrenilen, and although I killed the first one with one .44 mag shot, when I walked over to the the dead one, the other[that had retreated into the thicket] decided he wanted more, and charged the dead pig. I started shooting him, and though I had 3 .44's[not good center hits though!] in him, he decide he wanted a little of me too! He got one good gash in my leg, and I got another .44 in his head as he passed by! 1 dead hog, 1 bloody leg, and 1 embarrased macho pistol hunter
Most "wild boars" are really 150 lbs young hogs. They are not very hard to kill, and certainly not "dangerous"[though they do eat well!]. Its a very rare thing, these days in the Southeast, to find a good, large old boar[over 300 lbs]. It simply takes to many years for them to get that big. When you do find one, they are not "super pigs " or invincible. But they do "take some killin' " to put down. Just make sure you are throwig a bullet with sufficent weight to offer good penetration[which the .223 doesn't], and place your shots well.
Have fun on the Congaree........I once sank a boat with dead pigs trying to get out of the swamp down on the Waccamaw near Georgetown
