Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by Tahr

The 64 BSB are ok. On the hard side and a bit tricky to get to shoot. Ive still got 100 but they are out of production now.

@Flyblown used them too.

Yes I’ve still got quite a lot of loaded ammunition with that projectile.

It was very effective for close range deer sniping with my Tikka Super Varmint. I had them shooting well enough so neck shooting big red hinds at less than 100m was no problem. It literally obliterated axis / atlas neck vertebrae, turned them into chips and dust.

But it’s too hard for double lung shots. Performed similar to an old Barnes that doesn’t hit bone. Had a few runners with chest shots - they didn’t go particularly far and I didn’t lose any, but I wasn’t too keen on the relatively small exit hole and limited bleeding. Much better on high shoulder shots. Ideal for neck shots. I was in an experimental phase, and moved onto something else and never went back to them so I suppose that tells you what you need to know.

I did read somewhere that the bullet is still manufactured by Nosler but just not available to the domestic market, that its sold to Police for law enforcement duties. It’s designed to shoot through walls etc.

TeRei,

Those speer gold dot/fusion bullets are bonded bullets and have a good following in the states for deer and hog hunting. They're also cross-marketing to law enforcement.

@ Tahr and Flybown, yes I heard the same thing about the 64gr nosler bsb bullet in that it's little too tough and difficult to get good accuracy from. Here in the states we can get them as a reloading component as factory 2nd/blemish bullets. They use to be a good deal but now have gotten stupidly expensive.

62gr gold dots reportedly perform very well and consistently on larger animals

Bottom right 62 Gold Dots at 100. 3 shots. Tikka. 26 grns 2206

So. Been goat shooting over last two days. Thought I’d try a few more of these 73 ELDM’s out. Admittedly longest shots were 268 &273 metres, most were 150 or less. Of the 31 goats and 3 pigs shot, 10 animals with eldm’s, I couldn’t pick much difference in killing performance from Belmont 55’s with Speer projectiles. Found the same last week night-shooting deer in vineyards. 12 animals shot, loading 55 & 73 alternately in mag. Ranges 80 to 310 metres. Furtherest any deer walked after hit was 15m. Interested to stretch the ranges out further to compare but reckon the 73’s will come into their own.

Originally Posted by woods223

So. Been goat shooting over last two days. Thought I’d try a few more of these 73 ELDM’s out. Admittedly longest shots were 268 &273 metres, most were 150 or less. Of the 31 goats and 3 pigs shot, 10 animals with eldm’s, I couldn’t pick much difference in killing performance from Belmont 55’s with Speer projectiles. Found the same last week night-shooting deer in vineyards. 12 animals shot, loading 55 & 73 alternately in mag. Ranges 80 to 310 metres. Furtherest any deer walked after hit was 15m. Interested to stretch the ranges out further to compare but reckon the 73’s will come into their own.

Probably will at longer ranges. But the 55's do work pretty well. I used to use 55 Gamekings before I became enamoured with the heavies and they worked pretty well. With the heavies I never hesitate to shoulder shoot but with the 55's it was all neck or lung.

Originally Posted by leomort

TeRei,

Those speer gold dot/fusion bullets are bonded bullets and have a good following in the states for deer and hog hunting. They're also cross-marketing to law enforcement.

Shows how much I know . My son shot 2 deer with 65gr Sierra . 1 on run and 1 facing. Flattened both of them. Some "old" pills still do the damage. Best.

@ Tahr, nice groups with those 62gr gold dots!

A truck load.
150 to 275 yards.
4 with the .223 and 52 grn Targex.



They do the business ok. Pass through at 150 yards.



Lungs from same animal.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Bottom right 62 Gold Dots at 100. 3 shots. Tikka. 26 grns 2206

Attachment 236425

@Tahr, are you using 2206 or 2206H.

@tetawa 2206H.

That's very interesting @Tahr.

What I am seeing is vitals damage that's significantly disproportionate to the calibre / weight of the bullet.

That's been my experience of using fast, frangible .223 bullets that have a decent lower jacket / shank. The damage is not really discernibly different to .243 Win / 100gr.

I've got a collection of gralloch photos here, you'd be hard pressed to spot the difference between your photo and one of mine with the .308 Win.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

That's very interesting @Tahr.

What I am seeing is vitals damage that's significantly disproportionate to the calibre / weight of the bullet.

That's been my experience of using fast, frangible .223 bullets that have a decent lower jacket / shank. The damage is not really discernibly different to .243 Win / 100gr.

I've got a collection of gralloch photos here, you'd be hard pressed to spot the difference between your photo and one of mine with the .308 Win.

Yes. It was quite a big lump of a Fallow Spiker too. Here's a pic of the under the shoulder entry side. Ive sort of discarded the foot pounds of energy thing and look at the trauma and impact on function. The little ones like these 52 Targex behave out of proportion to their wight. I found this out many years ago with the .222 and Sierra 52 grain match - they were similar to the Targex - and I agree with you that the solid bit at the back that does the driving is important.

I still prefer heavy for caliber .223 projectiles for momentum, penetration and BC but they do need to be softish with a splat factor.

Good going with the gold dots. I have two cans of Belmont ammo loaded with the 62's and they don't shoot well in any rifle I've tried. I have handloaded the 75's. Have not shot a deer with them, but I shot a decent boar charging me and it almost went the whole length. Entered in the shoulder and stopped in the opposite rump.