Thread: 223 on deer

I shot a couple of fellow recently with 73gr ELD. One at a touch under 300m, and at 100m. Both of them were high shoulder shots. In both cases the bullets performed identically - blew through the scapula, leaving about a 30mm hole, completely disintegrated and spalled bone and bullet fragments through the top of the lungs. There was nothing on the off side. Both deer died right where they were. The 300m shot was particularly satisfying as it just flopped over lazily.

MV 2681fps from a 16" barrel (Utas straight pull)

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

So we agree.use enough gun.bigger and more expandy is better but if and only if you can consistently poke pill in right place and follow up if you get a runner....you can use less than ideal round. Personally I don't often use the .224s out long on deer. The wee fallow at 225 yards the other day was pushing it for me...that said it died quicker due to better shot placement than the one at hundy yards a few days later.

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Bigger and faster is always better, 300 wsm pushing 200 grs the way to go. BUT I'm looking forward to using the mighty 222 Sako vixen again.

I shoot things at 80 metres, its a lot simpler. If I shot at a deer 420 metres away with a 70 grain semi round nose, I doubt it would even go that far.

Not many are comfortable holding over 1 mil/3.3 MOA of windage on a live animal. What do you do of the ret is 2nd focal plane and it's no more than a scientific wild arse guess?

Don't shoot.

Originally Posted by caberslash

What do you do of the ret is 2nd focal plane

Sell it?

Get closer...

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Get closer...

The 2000th post in the thread...

Right enough talking.off to reloading room. Fifty adi milserp cases have been full length resized,primer pockets decrimped,flasholes uniformed.overall length checked,no trimming needed,federal primers slipped up the ginger hole.25 grns of AR2206h carefully weighed out on balance beam scales.now I better go and seat some 55grn projectiles on top.winchester PSP same as our man in CHCH has for sale for half of them and some pulled norinco fmj for the other half.Im 100% confident either will cleanly kill under 200yards if I point them in right direction.

Nightforce NX8 with Mil-CF2 reticle FFP makes windage holds surprisingly easy.

Originally Posted by MP270

Nightforce NX8 with Mil-CF2 reticle FFP makes windage holds surprisingly easy.

Its the calling the wind that stuffs me up.

Agree! especially if theres nothing to reference on the flight path of the bullet.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Its the calling the wind that stuffs me up.

Suppose it beats howling at the moon?

The end of a very long day, trudging noisily up hill to camp. The dog stops and fully locks up. After standing still for what felt like an eternity (probably 3 minutes) I spotted a hind ghosting through the tight like a tiger might, oblivious to us. Had to wait for her to drift past the thick to the open at 10 paces. Sako gamehead 55g took out both shoulders. 223 - my favourite calibre (typed in hushed tone so my 7mm08 doesn't hear in the gun cabinet).

Originally Posted by gimp

My .223 load outperforms a .308 with a 155gr ELDM in the wind. Many people would be comfortable to recommend the .308 load out to this range. I can make more consistent hits with the .223 in reality.

A decent wind at full value moves a 150 gn .308 pill 30-40 cm at 300 meters and a 55 gn .223 further.

With and with out wind post 300 m are different discussions even with a .308 for the knowing.


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An unexpected encounter but the little 223 did the trick again.