Thread: 223 on deer

Shot a few reds with 223 tikka, used federal rounds. Knocked them through neck/shoulder shots pretty easy. But shot placement is key, if you hit a deer in the shoulder blade it likely won’t be fatal, aim behind the shoulder blade if you want to drop it.

Originally Posted by ButcherBoy

Shot a few reds with 223 tikka, used federal rounds. Knocked them through neck/shoulder shots pretty easy. But shot placement is key, if you hit a deer in the shoulder blade it likely won’t be fatal, aim behind the shoulder blade if you want to drop it.

The impact sound is a lot more substantial thud with the heavyweights compared to the 55gr. Even hitting solid bones like the humerus and scapular sounds of a louder crack.

Quote from the forum 223 Orthopaedic Surgeon named Tikka. LOL.

Originally Posted by ButcherBoy

Shot a few reds with 223 tikka, used federal rounds. Knocked them through neck/shoulder shots pretty easy. But shot placement is key, if you hit a deer in the shoulder blade it likely won’t be fatal, aim behind the shoulder blade if you want to drop it.

Head/neck shot if it’s on and you’re a competent shot. Hilar shot otherwise. Agree, if you take high shoulder shot and hit the shoulder blade you possibly going to get a runner and lose animal unless shot is really high and you fluke a spine shot. If shooting for game chiller head/neck shots pay better money. If I’m culling/general hunting hilar shot is go to. Works for me and I’ve shot hundreds of deer thousands of goats in last few years.

How often has this happened? A .22 centrefire not pentrating a shoulder bone that is. This tread is full of success stories, a lot of which appear to be shoulder shots. To be fair, I would be surprised if even a standard 55gr bullet would not make it through the scapula.

According to the media in the States if you use an AR shooting a 223 there’s nothing left of a deer. It’s blown to pieces. You guys are telling me a bullet won’t penetrate a shoulder blade?

Originally Posted by 260madman

According to the media in the States if you use an AR shooting a 223 there’s nothing left of a deer. It’s blown to pieces. You guys are telling me a bullet won’t penetrate a shoulder blade?

According to the NZ media an AR is the root of all evil.

Originally Posted by Dama dama

How often has this happened? A .22 centrefire not pentrating a shoulder bone that is. This tread is full of success stories, a lot of which appear to be shoulder shots. To be fair, I would be surprised if even a standard 55gr bullet would not make it through the scapula.

A .224 projectile, or any other caliber, will penetrate onside scapular easy enough but not always the offside shoulder. If you don’t break both scapular and you hit the void between spine and major organs you end up with three legged animal, still more than capable of gapping it never to be seen again. If you hit onside scapular and a major organ or spine there’s a chance you’ll get animal. Over the past 47+ years I’ve witnessed a few animals lost with a too high shoulder shot from various caliber rifles and spent a lot of hours helping look for animals, mostly never found or seen again. Done it myself too. Hilar shot, you don’t have to break a leg but it can be a bonus. My 2c. Other’s opinions may vary, each to their own. PS I mostly use 55 grainers but also heavies from time to time.

Originally Posted by Dama dama

How often has this happened? A .22 centrefire not pentrating a shoulder bone that is. This tread is full of success stories, a lot of which appear to be shoulder shots. To be fair, I would be surprised if even a standard 55gr bullet would not make it through the scapula.

I've had one failure like this occur out of roughly 40 deer. 75gr eldm hit shoulder joint at 220m on a rutting stag and failed to penetrate vitals. Required follow ups and a track with the dog.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

I've had one failure like this occur out of roughly 40 deer. 75gr eldm hit shoulder joint at 220m on a rutting stag and failed to penetrate vitals. Required follow ups and a track with the dog.

If a big red stag with a heavy wet coat they can soak up pills like nothing else. Armour plating got nothing on mother nature at times.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

I've had one failure like this occur out of roughly 40 deer. 75gr eldm hit shoulder joint at 220m on a rutting stag and failed to penetrate vitals. Required follow ups and a track with the dog.

Funny you mention this, I had two less than impressive results with the 75grain eldm. Both deer were close (30m and 10m approx). Animals were recovered but the time taken to recover them (without a dog) was enough to make me switch to the 80grain eldm. I haven't had any such issues since switching to the slightly heavier bullet.

Originally Posted by Calikiwi

Funny you mention this, I had two less than impressive results with the 75grain eldm. Both deer were close (30m and 10m approx). Animals were recovered but the time taken to recover them (without a dog) was enough to make me switch to the 80grain eldm. I haven't had any such issues since switching to the slightly heavier bullet.

Yes I'm running 80gr eldm now too but funnily enough, the 73gr eldm have been outstanding aswell.

Funnily enough its big rutted up stags that have ALWAYS been said to be maybe step to far for the .224s. Maybe not so silly Afterall.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Yes I'm running 80gr eldm now too but funnily enough, the 73gr eldm have been outstanding as well.

That's cool to hear the 73 grain eldm are going well. Better than the 75's you recon? Any structural differences that you are aware of? I initially used the 75's as I could achieve a much higher muzzle velocity in my .223 than I could with the 80's. Perhaps the 75's were travelling too fast on those closer shots. The two deer mentioned above were sika so not big bodied deer (in case anyone was curious). I shoot the 80gr out of a 22-250 as well and despite it going faster than the 75's did in the 223 I've had no problems so far even at very close ranges. It seems odd that only 5 grains increase in bullet weight would make such a difference....

Originally Posted by Calikiwi

That's cool to hear the 73 grain eldm are going well. Better than the 75's you recon? Any structural differences that you are aware of? I initially used the 75's as I could achieve a much higher muzzle velocity in my .223 than I could with the 80's. Perhaps the 75's were travelling too fast on those closer shots. The two deer mentioned above were sika so not big bodied deer (in case anyone was curious). I shoot the 80gr out of a 22-250 as well and despite it going faster than the 75's did in the 223 I've had no problems so far even at very close ranges. It seems odd that only 5 grains increase in bullet weight would make such a difference....

Only real difference is the long ogive of the 75gr really, everything else to my knowledge is the same. One thing to take note of is the sample size for example 1 failure out of 40 odd is pretty good, just an anomaly really. The only reason I went to 73gr, then 80gr was projectile availability then higher BC and accuracy with the 80gr.

Also thought it's important to document less than optimal performance, as people become so enamored with a calibre and aren't willing to admit shortcomings etc.

77grn TMK at 219 yards.
The .223 is so powerful it gutted it and it landed in my pack.