Thread: 223 on deer

I like carcass pictures if you managed to get it out whole and hang.
Tho I have a pretty good idea what it will look like.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

I guess its a bit like me using the 22-250 with explosive varmit projectiles going fast to shoot hares at 75 yards...I could do it with the humble .22lr but its just so much more emphatic with big rifle.
I do understand the advantage of heavier projectiles (why I have 170grn rn for the .270) I also know I can kill deer deader than dead with 50grn load in the 223 IF I get in close and put it in right place.

Get in close and great placement is the operative words.
I have seen to many fuckups with bad shot placement guys that tell you they head shoot everything, they go very quiet when I ask how many deer have got away with a blown of jaw to then starve to death.
Horses for courses, I use the right chambering for the sized critters they are targeting.
A big stag shot with a 22-250 had nine shots in it by the time it expired.
Not impressed

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Fallow I got a few weeks ago, have ditched the 223, to fussy as a cartridge, have owned two Tikkas, 1:8and 1:12, both hopeless, a savage 1:12, best I owned for accuracy and a Kimber, yuck. Sold them all and just use a Sako 6.5 x 55. Clover leaf at 100 without trying, so this is now my go to.

Double up

Originally Posted by Maca49

Attachment 167676Attachment 167677
Fallow I got a few weeks ago, have ditched the 223, to fussy as a cartridge, have owned two Tikkas, 1:8and 1:12, both hopeless, a savage 1:12, best I owned for accuracy and a Kimber, yuck. Sold them all and just use a Sako 6.5 x 55. Clover leaf at 100 without trying, so this is now my go to.

Funnily enough my go to rifle is a tikka 6.5x55 to!
Punches way above its weight and scarily accurate.
On its 3rd barrel now

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Tonight, just on deer o’clock. I’d actually gone up the hill with the intention of longer range rabbits and hares, but these two were in the way. The .223 Remington will always have its place when it comes to precision deer shooting.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Tonight, just on deer o’clock. I’d actually gone up the hill with the intention of longer range rabbits and hares, but these two were in the way. The .223 Remington will always have its place when it comes to precision deer shooting.

Attachment 167684

I don’t want to hear of your success


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Originally Posted by Maca49

Attachment 167676Attachment 167677
Fallow I got a few weeks ago, have ditched the 223, to fussy as a cartridge, have owned two Tikkas, 1:8and 1:12, both hopeless, a savage 1:12, best I owned for accuracy and a Kimber, yuck. Sold them all and just use a Sako 6.5 x 55. Clover leaf at 100 without trying, so this is now my go to.

You must surely be the first person in the world to call 223rem a fussy cartridge.
It along with 308win would have to be the most simple and forgiving and cheap cartridges to shoot and load for.... everything shoots well!

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Originally Posted by Phil_H

It's hanging in a tree out back all skinned and gutted. Will try and get pictures before Sharon - aka Mac the Knife - gets to it and starts boning it out. Made a mess on the way through and nicked the heart but not an impressive wound channel or exit hole. Hence I look forward to the 69gr TMK's

Cheers
Phil

You just wont get an impressive wound channel with 223.
Its 50 to 80 grain at quick to moderate velocities.

It didn't go far tho did it.

A decent projectile like the one you used or a heavier and soft one will do the job every time if you do yours.

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Originally Posted by Maca49

Fallow I got a few weeks ago, have ditched the 223, to fussy as a cartridge, have owned two Tikkas, 1:8and 1:12, both hopeless, a savage 1:12, best I owned for accuracy and a Kimber, yuck. Sold them all and just use a Sako 6.5 x 55. Clover leaf at 100 without trying, so this is now my go to.

I’m with @vietnamcam on this one: a fussy tikka 223? Is there such a thing? But sounds like your 6.5 is doing the business, keep up the good work

Originally Posted by Flyblown

Tonight, just on deer o’clock. I’d actually gone up the hill with the intention of longer range rabbits and hares, but these two were in the way. The .223 Remington will always have its place when it comes to precision deer shooting.

Attachment 167684

Projectiles/details?

50gr Z-Max, 3400fps, 150m. Mum and progeny I’m guessing. I shot the hind first, the others (4 or 5) ran like a boatload of illegals at the shot, but the young one stayed rooted to the spot staring at the recently departed. So together in life and in death, and now together in the chiller.

Originally Posted by Phil_H

It's hanging in a tree out back all skinned and gutted. Will try and get pictures before Sharon - aka Mac the Knife - gets to it and starts boning it out. Made a mess on the way through and nicked the heart but not an impressive wound channel or exit hole. Hence I look forward to the 69gr TMK's

Cheers
Phil

Conversely I’ve had a factory PMC projectile from my 223,Mini14 ( remember them?) go through a large red hind, made a neat hole between ribs, through the lungs and out between ribs on the far side.
Hind went about 30 yards before tipping up.

Things to remember here Phil is that projectile construction and (impact)velocity are the major players in terminal performance.

Inline with the opening posts question if constrained by twist rate then yes varmint projectiles in the heaviest you can stabilize are an option to extend effective range but a bad option for close body shots.

I have lost count of how many times I have heard someone say and this is with any caliber " they pencil threw up close" "but work good out far"

This is the exact opposite of how bullets work and behave on soft targets.
Ask for more information there is none why?...because..they shot it in the guts in the thermal and it slunk off.

The higher the impact velocity the more violent the expansion, so if you took the same exact shot at 200y I would bet both my testicles it would have reacted simarly and the projectile would have exited.

I recovered another 80gr ELDM from a fallow doe the other day, shot at about 20m high shoulder, nice mushroom under the skin on the offside. A 2nd doe shot at a bit longer range,maybe 40m, the bullet entered the brisket and exited behind the shoulder, not recovered.