Thread: 223 on deer

I thought the first post for 2025 was someone posting using the new heavy... 100gr pill in 223 becuase the old heavies 80gr etc are so passe. LOL.

Back on track.
Happy new years day for me (not so much for him)
223 doin its job. 9 twist , 60gr tmk.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Yep well, Like you I grew up shooting goats and pigs with a .22 at Marokopa. Which farm were you shooting on? From there I Progressed in overlapping rough order through 303, 6.5x55, 270,222, 308,280AI,6.5 Grendel,223, 6.5/284 and back to 270. With some minor dabbles with other calibres as well.
Hunted with/ Took hundreds of people hunting, Guided for a bit. So those are my frame's of reference.

So I read what you wrote, and Call BS myself on your story of a guy only neck shooting with 708. Because if you are that uncomfortable with a calibre you wouldn't use it. Plus its an irrational position too hold.

what level of BS have you been sold Nick?

I ask because I feel that that's an unreasonable accusation to lay on most of the people commenting in this thread.

Just to clarify, I’m not laying accusations on anyone. I was just trying to articulate that we all come from different backgrounds to this thread, and these ‘foundational influences’ have a huge part to play in how we look at the discussion. Another example: a very good friend and mentor of mine was asking me about the specs and performance of my 22 creedmoor recently. After he had formed a picture of what it was his words to me were - ‘that’s a bit of a silly exercise?!? My 6x45 will kill just as well with about 20gr less powder’. Essentially saying that in his eyes it was more cartridge than required to get the job done. Or perhaps not worth the extra effort and expense over a .223 case.

My first time tahr hunting the ‘expert’ of the party was visibly concerned that I was ‘only’ using a 260. He came along with me for ‘backup’ with his 7mmRM. I happily killed a 13” bull with a single shot, and watched him use 10 rounds to kill one animal. So there’s some BS out there, and I feel for some of the young guys as it’s a minefield to navigate.

For the record, if I was to start again with a clean slate and have one centrefire in my possession it would be a Blaser K95 in 6XC.
And the guy with 7mm08 is 100% true, he’s a mate that I race with.

Started with a ultralight mountain rifle in 7mm08 in the gun safe, one rifle to rule them all. But as it turns out, it got lonely, so a 223 sits beside it. Use both. Love both. Both kill.

Originally Posted by Hunter_Nick

Just to clarify, I’m not laying accusations on anyone. I was just trying to articulate that we all come from different backgrounds to this thread, and these ‘foundational influences’ have a huge part to play in how we look at the discussion. Another example: a very good friend and mentor of mine was asking me about the specs and performance of my 22 creedmoor recently. After he had formed a picture of what it was his words to me were - ‘that’s a bit of a silly exercise?!? My 6x45 will kill just as well with about 20gr less powder’. Essentially saying that in his eyes it was more cartridge than required to get the job done. Or perhaps not worth the extra effort and expense over a .223 case.

My first time tahr hunting the ‘expert’ of the party was visibly concerned that I was ‘only’ using a 260. He came along with me for ‘backup’ with his 7mmRM. I happily killed a 13” bull with a single shot, and watched him use 10 rounds to kill one animal. So there’s some BS out there, and I feel for some of the young guys as it’s a minefield to navigate.

For the record, if I was to start again with a clean slate and have one centrefire in my possession it would be a Blaser K95 in 6XC.
And the guy with 7mm08 is 100% true, he’s a mate that I race with.

Well Nick that's a far far better and fairer wording than what I read last night.

In that regard, do you have any anecdotal experiences of guys with bigger guns who are not, for want of a better word, aresholes? because that's not in my view, a good way to judge the merits of any cartridge.

For example, not once have I used an individual who uses a 22 calibre firearm and how they used it poorly to example why the calibre shouldn't be used.

Originally Posted by whanahuia

Well Nick that's a far far better and fairer wording than what I read last night.

In that regard, do you have any anecdotal experiences of guys with bigger guns who are not, for want of a better word, aresholes? because that's not in my view, a good way to judge the merits of any cartridge.

For example, not once have I used an individual who uses a 22 calibre firearm and how they used it poorly to example why the calibre shouldn't be used.

I have, Tahr are no respecters of any ×63/magnum etc where the bullet doesn't do its job cause it's not constructed/sent with the right terminal ballistics in mind or shots are poorly placed, or just bad luck. I can think of at least 3 episodes I've watched first hand, and there are several pitiful episodes on you-tube that Ive seen. Anybody who has guided a bit will have followed up on these.

The point being none of these fuck-ups are purely the result of the "energy" placed on the game I.e. are not calibre or cartridge dependant

Sons first deer 1/12 tikka 223 shooting Belmont 55gr at 175yards very happy little man


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Excellent shooting young fella. You must have an awesome Dad.

Originally Posted by RUMPY

Excellent shooting young fella. You must have an awesome Dad.

Very proud dad thanks


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Originally Posted by buzzmann

Sons first deer 1/12 tikka 223 shooting Belmont 55gr at 175yards very happy little man


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Pretty cool buzz!

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

Pretty cool buzz!

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He was very excited


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Originally Posted by Snoppernator

Started with a ultralight mountain rifle in 7mm08 in the gun safe, one rifle to rule them all. But as it turns out, it got lonely, so a 223 sits beside it. Use both. Love both. Both kill.

Almost the same as me. Started with a 270. Then a 22 magnum which is pretty useless without private land to shoot on.
Nowadays the 270 is joined in the safe with a 22lr and a 223 which is a great calibre on wallabies. Still haven't taken a deer with it yet because @Micky Duck is always hitting them first.

Originally Posted by buzzmann

He was very excited


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I can imagine. He will have a great story to tell his mates when back at school. Great little gun for him to use.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I can imagine. He will have a great story to tell his mates when back at school. Great little gun for him to use.

Because no recoil. He is confident with it and will be keen to use it again. Podium. A winning team. No fancy projectile. Heresy. LOL.

Originally Posted by TeRei

Because no recoil. He is confident with it and will be keen to use it again. Podium. A winning team. No fancy projectile. Heresy. LOL.

By the time he is your age he will be far more enlightened than you. You old troglodyte.