Thread: .223 for the Roar

Here's the choices with my new (to me) CZ527:
(Has a 20 inch barrel with 1:12 so this is what I came up with below

70 grain Speer at 2730 fps

55 grain Hornady at 3024 fps

45 grain TSX at 3454 fps

Which would you use on stags at 10 metres to 100 metres...

Will the 70s stabalize in a 1-12 twist ?
Are these Chrono'd speeds ?

Id use a 308!
No field experience personally with 223 on rutting stags. But from what I've heard the tsx would be the pick?

Originally Posted by kiwi-adam

Will the 70s stabalize in a 1-12 twist ?
Are these Chrono'd speeds ?

Yes, the Speer 70 grainers stablise (enough for a one inchish group) they are a semi-round nose design and so shorter than what you might think. I read somewhere they were designed for deer in the .223 and to stabilise in the 1:12 barrels of the day. (They will stablise in some .222's as well)

All are chronographed velocities (with a tested accurate chrony)

Originally Posted by Hunty1

Id use a 308!
No field experience personally with 223 on rutting stags. But from what I've heard the tsx would be the pick?

With the shortage and of powders and bullets, the .223 is the only thing I can afford to run.

I really rate the 50grn TTSX in the .223 so cant see the 45grn being much worse.... if you think of it as a .243/270 with slower cup n core load you wont go far wrong.

The 70gr will not stabilize in a 12 twist. Or very unlikely to. I certainly wouldn't be using them.

Try a 62gr pill instead

Out of the pills you have listed, a 55gr will work with proper placement.
I have used 55gr SP Hornady with good success.
But placement is critical. You need to be very familiar with your rifle and the way it shoots those pills.

Originally Posted by cambo

The 70gr will not stabilize in a 12 twist. Or very unlikely to. I certainly wouldn't be using them.

Try a 62gr pill instead

Out of the pills you have listed, a 55gr will work with proper placement.
I have used 55gr SP Hornady with good success.
But placement is critical. You need to be very familiar with your rifle and the way it shoots those pills.

Hi Cambo - the 70 grain Speer does stablise in a 1:12 twist - it was designed as one of the first deer specific-bullets made for the .223, and they all had 1:12 twists then. (I have found it will stablise in some 1:14 twists as well, depending on the rifle. A Sako Vixen did - a BSA Majestic did not.)

Sorry, I may not have been clear - the loads I listed here are not speculative - I have already confirmed that they shoot into an inch or less and at the chronographed velocities I have listed. The question is, which load do you think is best to shoot a big deer - in the right place- with at 12 metres.

Just use your 9.3 . ... .

It's giving me a headache whenever I press the button

Nothing wrong with a 223, just take your time and place your shot.
Dropped plenty of deer with a 223 in the late 80s and early 90s back in the day when 100m was a long range shot. 55gr and 50gr soft points was standard ammo then.

The Barnes 45 gr should do the job, so long as you take out the vitals they won't go far and penetration should be good.

I'd go with the 70gr if it was me.... however the 55gr Hornady is well proven to work also tho I would be reluctant to bust a big stag fair in the shoulder with one.

I am liable to want to shoot him in the shoulder...

Originally Posted by JohnDuxbury

I am liable to want to shoot him in the shoulder...

I recon you just answered your own question then.