Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Attachment 254654 Attachment 254653

Has anyone tried these rounds on game before?

I'm not sure they'll stabilize in my Vixen with its slow twist, but as I'm a non reloader, factory ammunition is currently my only option.

Yep. 62s are where the good stuff starts with Barnes. Better have a 9” twist because they are long.

Originally Posted by 260madman

Yep. 62s are where the good stuff starts with Barnes. Better have a 9” twist because they are long.

Ha ha yeah no, not even close to a 9" twist.
I kind of got lazy with my shooting as I used to use 130gr hollow points in my .308 and any misplaced shots still did enough damage and left enough of a blood trail to ensure very few animals ever got away.

Since Ive switched to .223, Ive had a Whitetail doe, a Red stag and a Sika spiker get away, which has left me with a 3 from 6 success rate, which is no where near good enough. All with 55gr Hornadys.
I'm not sure if they were hits or misses, as no blood was found and no animal, even after a lot of searching.
I like the idea of heavier weight projectiles for now.
Some time at the range will determine what I use as a hunting round moving forward.
1 inch groups at 50m will be good enough for what I want to do.
Long term a rebarrel could be on the cards.

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Ha ha yeah no, not even close to a 9" twist.
I kind of got lazy with my shooting as I used to use 130gr hollow points in my .308 and any misplaced shots still did enough damage and left enough of a blood trail to ensure very few animals ever got away.

Since Ive switched to .223, Ive had a Whitetail doe, a Red stag and a Sika spiker get away, which has left me with a 3 from 6 success rate, which is no where near good enough. All with 55gr Hornadys.
I'm not sure if they were hits or misses, as no blood was found and no animal, even after a lot of searching.
I like the idea of heavier weight projectiles for now.
Some time at the range will determine what I use as a hunting round moving forward.
1 inch groups at 50m will be good enough for what I want to do.
Long term a rebarrel could be on the cards.

If you hand load you’d be amazed by the 52 grn Targex in a slow twist.

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Ha ha yeah no, not even close to a 9" twist.
I kind of got lazy with my shooting as I used to use 130gr hollow points in my .308 and any misplaced shots still did enough damage and left enough of a blood trail to ensure very few animals ever got away.

Since Ive switched to .223, Ive had a Whitetail doe, a Red stag and a Sika spiker get away, which has left me with a 3 from 6 success rate, which is no where near good enough. All with 55gr Hornadys.
I'm not sure if they were hits or misses, as no blood was found and no animal, even after a lot of searching.
I like the idea of heavier weight projectiles for now.
Some time at the range will determine what I use as a hunting round moving forward.
1 inch groups at 50m will be good enough for what I want to do.
Long term a rebarrel could be on the cards.

Load 55gr Hornady sp [no cannelure] with 25gr BM2 in Tikka 8T. No wounded animals. My mate loves the recipe. We out on thursday nite. Point, bang, gut.

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Looking forward to trying these fella's

Sent from my CPH2531 using Tapatalk

I think they are the business on deer

Originally Posted by Nathan F

I think they are the business on deer

Although the 77tmk do shoot alot better so do the 80 targex.
I may have 3 boxes to sell soon

Sent from my CPH2531 using Tapatalk

Those numbers on box are surprisingly good. I have used the 50 grn ttsx with great results. But I keep range under 150yards.they kill well

They need a 9T or faster.

62-grain TSX BT / TAC-X BT Sectional Density .177 Ballistic Coefficient .287 C.O.A.L 2.250”
Powder
PowerPro Varmint
A-2460 CFE 223 AR-Comp A-2015 BL-C(2) TAC H4895 *Varget RL 15
Charge (grains)
Velocity (fps)
Charge (grains)
Velocity (fps)

23.5
2860
26.2C
3154
22.4
2818
24.9
3119
24.2
2838
26.9C
3163
21.2
2802
23.5
3082
20.0
2795
22.0
3018
23.5
2825
25.5
3046
22.5
2787
24.5
3055
22.5
2876
24.5
3034
23.5
2807
25.5C
3021
23.5
2876
25.5C
3066
Suggested Bullet Use
62-grain TTSX BT Sectional Density .177 Ballistic Coefficient .294 C.O.A.L 2.250”
Suggested Bullet Use
69-grain Match Burner Sectional Density .196 Ballistic Coefficient .339 C.O.A.L 2.250”
Suggested Bullet Use
Recommended Twist: 1:9” or faster

Slow twist you MIGHT get a 40-45grn mono to stabilise but most are too long so need faster twist.

Would an unstable bullet still be stable enough to 50 odd meters? or would they be horribly wonky from the muzzle?
I'm not shooting too distance, only bush hunting ranges so i don't need super accuracy.
I wonder how effective or uneffective a unstable projectile would be at close range.

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Would an unstable bullet still be stable enough to 50 odd meters? or would they be horribly wonky from the muzzle?
I'm not shooting too distance, only bush hunting ranges so i don't need super accuracy.
I wonder how effective or uneffective a unstable projectile would be at close range.

I wouldn't do it....you know that sooner or later you will get only chance of day at hundyish and will wound or miss. I've been down this track and it's bloody frustrating and just not worth the hassle. At the sub 150 ranges the 50-55grn or even up to 64grn Winchester factory stuff work fine.

223ai up and running. 16" 1:7 twist chucking out the 88 eld's at 2600, or 62gr coppers at 3000.



HT-70LRF bang on out to 800m. Mostly wallabies but deer are gonna be in trouble too!

Originally Posted by Pommy

223ai up and running. 16" 1:7 twist chucking out the 88 eld's at 2600, or 62gr coppers at 3000.

HT-70LRF bang on out to 800m. Mostly wallabies but deer are gonna be in trouble too!

YES on so many levels.

Originally Posted by Pommy

223ai up and running. 16" 1:7 twist chucking out the 88 eld's at 2600, or 62gr coppers at 3000.

HT-70LRF bang on out to 800m. Mostly wallabies but deer are gonna be in trouble too!

Not to mention the pigs, hares, feral cats, hedgehogs, Canada geese or unlucky bunny wabbits!