Thread: 223 on deer

Most of people go for the shoulder/ grease shots with 223 at 300 or so meters. Now you all put to shame with 800 m head shots on roos. I need to dust off the 223 and start practicing.

Really,800mtr with 223 on big roos.Id thort the 223 wouldv run out of puff by then for kill shots.?

Originally Posted by gimp

Yes but I'm not sure why it would be different

I don't think you use a Tikka @gimp ?

I think it may be a Tikka thing, 77gr TMK's great groups, 73gr ELDM's also group fine but the 80gr ELDM's not good

Originally Posted by Tahr

SST? Hornady?

I don't believe there ever was a 69gr .224" SST.

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

I don't think you use a Tikka @gimp ?

I think it may be a Tikka thing, 77gr TMK's great groups, 73gr ELDM's also group fine but the 80gr ELDM's not good

Oh I don't mean brand specific, rather I don't see why a button rifled 1:8 would be any different for stability than a cut rifled 1:8

That's an interesting question... Modern type ammo has certainly made a lot of difference to the performance of this round.

An old culler I knew for a while used a .223 for quite a bit - his viewpoint was "anywhere in the eye son, anywhere in the eye". Dunno how many animals he accounted for with the caliber but I think it would be safe to measure it in barrels rather than rounds or animals. He did make an addition to that statement once in my hearing though, "now that's anywhere in the two eyes at the front knowing your type - I'm not talking about the Inglewood eyeball son...".

Originally Posted by 7mm Rem Mag

I don't think you use a Tikka @gimp ?

I think it may be a Tikka thing, 77gr TMK's great groups, 73gr ELDM's also group fine but the 80gr ELDM's not good

80gr ELD-M run great in my 1-8” Tikka. Nothing fancy, but still produces 1” ten shot groups at 100.

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

80gr ELD-M run great in my 1-8” Tikka. Nothing fancy, but still produces 1” ten shot groups at 100.

Whats your load?

24gr 2206h. Loaded 0.020” off at an overall length of 2.515”.

I had the throat on mine pushed forward by 0.080”

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

24gr 2206h. Loaded 0.020” off at an overall length of 2.515”.

I had the throat on mine pushed forward by 0.080”

Ok cool, if I give it another go at least I have an idea where to start.

Cheers mate

it was suggested above that removing 80% of the plastic tip made a difference all be it at expence of not being so aerodynamic....
now if my memory is correct (sometimes its not) the nosler ballistic tip was one of if not the first projectile to get better B.C. by adding tip..and before that..pretty much all the precision ammunition would have been hollow point??? the theory being the small pocket of air in HP was more uniform than mashed lead tip???? if that is ideed the case,maybe melt out that plastic tip completely and have a 78???grain hollow point that is now slightly shorter ???? maybe better??? maybe not...but if you have a box of them and struggle to get them to group all it will cost you is a little time and half dozen round to prove it one way or the other...

Yeah it's worth a thought MD, I checked some old targets and I have tried Hunter_Nick's load already except the distance from the lands but it grouped terrible. I do have plenty of projectiles that do work so I may not bother with them at all.

Thanks for the suggestion mate

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

it was suggested above that removing 80% of the plastic tip made a difference all be it at expence of not being so aerodynamic....
now if my memory is correct (sometimes its not) the nosler ballistic tip was one of if not the first projectile to get better B.C. by adding tip..and before that..pretty much all the precision ammunition would have been hollow point??? the theory being the small pocket of air in HP was more uniform than mashed lead tip???? if that is ideed the case,maybe melt out that plastic tip completely and have a 78???grain hollow point that is now slightly shorter ???? maybe better??? maybe not...but if you have a box of them and struggle to get them to group all it will cost you is a little time and half dozen round to prove it one way or the other...

Some say lipstick on a pig...what happens at the end is more important.2C.

If it shoots the 77TMK well I wouldn't bother trying to modify the 80 ELDM by removing the tip or whatever

Had my T3 barrel long throated just so I can run AR2208 and it shoots 73gr, 75gr, 80gr eld-m and Hornady 75gr hpbt easy sub MOA sometimes .25 MOA if I’ve got my act together. Tried 3 rounds of Sierra 77gr but needed more for a decent load development, very expensive projectiles compared to the Hornady pills. I do like 80 grainers better deer killing wise and BC at distance.