223 on deer

80 grn Targex went right through this big doe at about 250 yds. Low shoulder shot.
What is it about .223 hunters seeming to be always floundering around in the dark?
Attachment 272109

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Roarless20

150m headshot in the torch light just after dark. My daughter was disappointed that her shot hit 20mm left of dead center between the eyes :ORLY:
We'd targeted a buck that was croaking earlier, called him in to 30m but her glasses had fogged after slogging up the hill. This yearling was a consolation.

75gr eld-m @2920fps mv, shattered the skull but no exit. Squishy soft head.

Attachment 272105

@nzspearo she loves that pikau.

---

Thats very cool.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Roarless20

150m headshot in the torch light just after dark. My daughter was disappointed that her shot hit 20mm left of dead center between the eyes :ORLY:
We'd targeted a buck that was croaking earlier, called him in to 30m but her glasses had fogged after slogging up the hill. This yearling was a consolation.

75gr eld-m @2920fps mv, shattered the skull but no exit. Squishy soft head.

Attachment 272105

@nzspearo she loves that pikau.

---

Epic! Glad that she likes it and its getting used to good effect!

Couple of bush deer. 80 ELDM. Good effective kills on shoulder shots, hind ran 20m, spiker stumbled over on the spot. Exited hind with a good blood trail, bullet under the skin on the off side of spiker.

Attachment 272327

Attachment 272328

Has anyone had experience with the Browning Xbolt superlight loaded with the heavy 223 projectiles? And also how it performs with factory ammo with the 16” barrel?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by gimp

Couple of bush deer. 80 ELDM. Good effective kills on shoulder shots, hind ran 20m, spiker stumbled over on the spot. Exited hind with a good blood trail, bullet under the skin on the off side of spiker.

Attachment 272327

Attachment 272328

---

Thats cool. Those deer are light, eh. High population area?
It's interesting how because of the effectiveness of the heavy for caliber .223's Ive drifted away from head and neck shots. Used to be my go to shots but hardly think of doing it now.

The other night. 230 yd 80 grn Targex exit from an angled lung shot. Ran about 15 yards. Effective.
9th April. He had that musty rutty smell about him. Meat for charity. They casserole or mince it so it will be ok. Butcher puts the rutty carcasses in a seperate chiller away from domestic stuff this time of the year.

Attachment 272399

I thought I’d give the 73g ELDM a try in the 223.

All shoulder shots 100-220m and they didn’t make it far.

Attachment 272403

Attachment 272404

Attachment 272406

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Tahr

Thats cool. Those deer are light, eh. High population area?
It's interesting how because of the effectiveness of the heavy for caliber .223's Ive drifted away from head and neck shots. Used to be my go to shots but hardly think of doing it now.

---

They're not big for reds yeah. Lots of deer around if a crap bush hunter like me can stumble onto a few. I don’t think twice about just whacking it in the shoulder.

I actually lost a stag with the .223 on Thursday. He came in to a roar in the bush, and I took a headshot because i wanted to save the caul fat, hit a bit far forward and low, got a 2nd shot in that must have hit an antler or something - got target focused on the head rather than putting a good shoulder shot in. Blood tracked for a couple of hours but didn't find him in the end and the blood ran out. Didn't feel too happy about that one. Hard to imagine it going differently with any other cartridge.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by GlenM

Has anyone had experience with the Browning Xbolt superlight loaded with the heavy 223 projectiles? And also how it performs with factory ammo with the 16” barrel?

---

Used to load 55gr TSX for my mates XBolt but he has switched to 65gr GMK. Gave those to him to try. Best so far is 365m one shot dead. 1 foot above spine.