Have a friend that shot a 240 lb. hog with a .223 wssm, winchester factory load, at 287 yards hit it about 4" behind the ear and it was DRT. Of course with hogs its where you hit 'em and one dead hog is not a lot of experience with the wssm. I center punched one with a 30/06 here in the Texas brush country and it ended with a 150 yd. tracking job in the thick south Tx. brush, which is no fun. I learned to keep the shots from the front shoulder forward. All being said and my 2 cents worth is, I would go to a larger cal. for hogs and deer. I think that the .223 wssm is a great varmint round.