Thread: 223 on deer

Tried out some new loads through the .223 yesterday. Tikka t3x with 20" barrel and DPT suppressor. 25gn of 2208 with the 73gn ELDM gives me an average or 2760 fps. 25grains is a full case, OALL is 59.2 mm which is 0.3mm off the lands. Using a 61mm waters mag.
tried 2206h for the first time. same OALL with the 73gn ELDM.
24gn- 2860 fps
24.5gn- 2910fps
25gn- 2950fps

There was a gradual increase in primer cratering but even at 25gn it looked acceptable.
I may drop back to the 24.5gn load just to be on the safe side.

All these loads shot to the same POI and were grouped well under the inch at 100 m
with all 9 shots 3x3 test loads.
So at this point even with a change in the chamber to give a longer throat for longer OALL I would be surprised if I could beat the 2206H

Out of interest I also tried some CFE223.
24.5gn- 2712fps
25gn- 2800fps
25.5- 2850fps

No pressure signs and no primer cratering even at the 25.5gn load. So I think this powder shows some promise. Even though the 25.5gn is up around book max I will be trying 26gn and 26.5gn next range day. CFE is a very fine grain powder so no issues with case capacity which I like.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Tried out some new loads through the .223 yesterday. Tikka t3x with 20" barrel and DPT suppressor. 25gn of 2208 with the 73gn ELDM gives me an average or 2760 fps. 25grains is a full case, OALL is 59.2 mm which is 0.3mm off the lands. Using a 61mm waters mag.
tried 2206h for the first time. same OALL with the 73gn ELDM.
24gn- 2860 fps
24.5gn- 2910fps
25gn- 2950fps

There was a gradual increase in primer cratering but even at 25gn it looked acceptable.
I may drop back to the 24.5gn load just to be on the safe side.

All these loads shot to the same POI and were grouped well under the inch at 100 m
with all 9 shots 3x3 test loads.
So at this point even with a change in the chamber to give a longer throat for longer OALL I would be surprised if I could beat the 2206H

Out of interest I also tried some CFE223.
24.5gn- 2712fps
25gn- 2800fps
25.5- 2850fps

No pressure signs and no primer cratering even at the 25.5gn load. So I think this powder shows some promise. Even though the 25.5gn is up around book max I will be trying 26gn and 26.5gn next range day. CFE is a very fine grain powder so no issues with case capacity which I like.

24.6 of 2206 is where I'm at with 77 TMK and 80grn targex.

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Originally Posted by zeropak

Tried out some new loads through the .223 yesterday. Tikka t3x with 20" barrel and DPT suppressor. 25gn of 2208 with the 73gn ELDM gives me an average or 2760 fps. 25grains is a full case, OALL is 59.2 mm which is 0.3mm off the lands. Using a 61mm waters mag.
tried 2206h for the first time. same OALL with the 73gn ELDM.
24gn- 2860 fps
24.5gn- 2910fps
25gn- 2950fps

There was a gradual increase in primer cratering but even at 25gn it looked acceptable.
I may drop back to the 24.5gn load just to be on the safe side.

All these loads shot to the same POI and were grouped well under the inch at 100 m
with all 9 shots 3x3 test loads.
So at this point even with a change in the chamber to give a longer throat for longer OALL I would be surprised if I could beat the 2206H

Out of interest I also tried some CFE223.
24.5gn- 2712fps
25gn- 2800fps
25.5- 2850fps

No pressure signs and no primer cratering even at the 25.5gn load. So I think this powder shows some promise. Even though the 25.5gn is up around book max I will be trying 26gn and 26.5gn next range day. CFE is a very fine grain powder so no issues with case capacity which I like.

Reasonably happy with current load of 24.6gr Varget, 73ELDM, OAL 60mm, @2652 fps out of Howa 16' barrel. Groups around 0.8 moa. Thought I'd try AR2206H after reading above post. Loaded 24, 24.3 and 24.6gr powder with oal of 60mm. 3x rounds of each. Howa 16' barrel.
Results were: 24gr, 2754 fps av. ES 57, SD 30.
24.3gr, 2779 fps av. ES 47, SD 23.
24.6gr. 2804 fps av. ES 11, SD 6
Some promise with this powder , only problem was pierced Ginex primers. Will try again with CCI. Or just stick with Varget load.

I'm using 24.8 2206H with the 73gn ELD-M. Not a hot load.

the heavy for calibre .224s have put the 223 into what was .243 territory that much is for certain...

330 meter shot with a 62gr hornady softpoint shot in a left to right galeforce wind, aimed center shoulder but hit base of neck mincing up bone and meat.

Perhaps not gale

Originally Posted by gimp

Attachment 249749

Attachment 249750


Perhaps not gale

Thanks for the chart, all I know is the tusocks were blowing sideways and it was hard to stand up in so in my book it was blowing a gale but as for the exact technical terms I'm no expert sorry.

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Thanks for the chart, all I know is the tusocks were blowing sideways and it was hard to stand up in so in my book it was blowing a gale but as for the exact technical terms I'm no expert sorry.

I wouldn't worry about it

6.3MIL or 173cm of wind drift at 330m would be difficult to judge!

I got a chance over the last weekend to give the 223 a proper workout on some fallow. Using the Hornady 73gn ELDM at ranges from 170m out to 300m. The performance of these little pills was stunning, shot a total of 8 deer 3 stags a Hind, 2 Yearlings and 2 spikers. Shoulder shots were breaking both shoulders, shots behind the shoulder were causing massive internal damage and still dropping them almost on the spot, a few steps and down they went. The tissue damage was more extreme than my 6.5cm using 130gn Sierra TGK's. I know that this will be nothing new to those who already use the 223 with great success but this is my first serious outing with it and I was a little skeptical of using those tiny pills. I am now a convert, the 6.5cm might be getting left behind on future trips.
PS this was a culling operation on the back of a farm with large deer number which needed to be reduced, all the animals were recovered and no meat was wasted, it was all processed and passed out to friends and family.

Originally Posted by zeropak

I got a chance over the last weekend to give the 223 a proper workout on some fallow. Using the Hornady 73gn ELDM at ranges from 170m out to 300m. The performance of these little pills was stunning, shot a total of 8 deer 3 stags a Hind, 2 Yearlings and 2 spikers. Shoulder shots were breaking both shoulders, shots behind the shoulder were causing massive internal damage and still dropping them almost on the spot, a few steps and down they went. The tissue damage was more extreme than my 6.5cm using 130gn Sierra TGK's. I know that this will be nothing new to those who already use the 223 with great success but this is my first serious outing with it and I was a little skeptical of using those tiny pills. I am now a convert, the 6.5cm might be getting left behind on future trips.
PS this was a culling operation on the back of a farm with large deer number which needed to be reduced, all the animals were recovered and no meat was wasted, it was all processed and passed out to friends and family.

@zeropak what speed are you running them at? Have just started loading them and getting good accuracy at 2680fps out of my 16". I have taken them to 2750, but accuracy goes to shit and pressure is obvious. I wanted to try the TMK's for deer but these are alot cheaper.

Originally Posted by gimp

Attachment 249749

Attachment 249750


Perhaps not gale

Holy crap fella that chart would scare most wee pill users away fi sure. No doubt that chart would only apply to shooting at a stationary target would it not? . If the target was on the move however in a reasonable cross wind at range you'd be inclined to learn the hard way eh.
How much lead to allow etc at different ranges in different weather conditions using say a 50 gn pill..can take a huge amount of learning over a long time. Regardless of that said I guess there are many that can drop animals on the move no worries..using a triple two or 223 eh.
I'll keep taking mine fi walks regardless of where a four legged critter may appear, rain'snow or strong wind lol.

Let's go with pretty windy then....
@7mm Rem Mag those 62gr hornady are a very attractive price for a cheap-arse like me. What have your terminal results been like?

Originally Posted by Dama dama

Let's go with pretty windy then....
@7mm Rem Mag those 62gr hornady are a very attractive price for a cheap-arse like me. What have your terminal results been like?

Hi mate, I have had great results with the 62gr hornady, not only is it deadly acurate .4 of an inch @ 100 meters but the terminal damage on deer has been quite remarkable (can do huge damage).

I have tried all the fancy pills and they too work great but I don't find them any better than the 62gr hornady and those bags of 500 projectiles are great value.

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

Hi mate, I have had great results with the 62gr hornady, not only is it deadly acurate .4 of an inch @ 100 meters but the terminal damage on deer has been quite remarkable (can do huge damage).

I have tried all the fancy pills and they too work great but I don't find them any better than the 62gr hornady and those bags of 500 projectiles are great value.

Gunworks are out of them and say that Hornady aren't making any more of the 62 grn.