Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Does any body know if the 69gn TMK is offered in a factory round for the .223 in NZ?
I would like to try some through my Vixen for bush hunting.
I do realize they will not stabilize with my 1 in 12 twist, however I'm thinking under 50m shouldn't matter to much.
I don't reload, so factory ammunition is my only option at the moment.

Not in NZ that I've seen. You'd be better off buying some Hornady match with the 73gr eldm and see if they group in your rifle. If they do, you won't be disappointed.

Couple of Kaweka Sika with the 75gr eldm. Was trying to get the young fulla his first Sika but bush hunting it is bloody difficult to find an adequate rest quickly enough so unfortunately he missed out. Still neat for him to get to see a few well and truly up close and personal.

He looks pretty happy non the less bro

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Thanks for the couple of replies to my question i posted.
I'm new to using a .223 on deer, but not being a reloader limits me a little bit to experimentation with various projectiles as only a few options are offered in factory ammunition.
I don't really want to rebarrel my vixen to a faster twist as my short magazine length probably negates my choices of projectile anyway.
Finding deer in tight bush without a blood trail is a real challenge, especially as I don't hunt over a dog.
I would like to try heavier weight projectiles than the standard Hornady 55gr that I'm currently using.
I'm not proficient enough of a marksman, nor the terrain I hunt allows me to reliably head or neck shoot consistently.
This thread has been a learning curve and a goldmine of information.
Thank you to all the members who have freely offered up their knowledge and real world experiences.

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Thanks for the couple of replies to my question i posted.
I'm new to using a .223 on deer, but not being a reloader limits me a little bit to experimentation with various projectiles as only a few options are offered in factory ammunition.
I don't really want to rebarrel my vixen to a faster twist as my short magazine length probably negates my choices of projectile anyway.
Finding deer in tight bush without a blood trail is a real challenge, especially as I don't hunt over a dog.
I would like to try heavier weight projectiles than the standard Hornady 55gr that I'm currently using.
I'm not proficient enough of a marksman, nor the terrain I hunt allows me to reliably head or neck shoot consistently.
This thread has been a learning curve and a goldmine of information.
Thank you to all the members who have freely offered up their knowledge and real world experiences.

Don’t make it too complicated for yourself. Stuff like the 64 grn Winchester or 55 grn Norma work just fine. Hand loading heavier bullets and a faster twist barrel add a margin but not to the extent that you should be wringing your hands about it. Under 250 yards you will do just fine. A deer lung shot will always die and how far they travel doesn’t seem to me to be caliber dependent. The amount of blood trail does seem to be though and that’s one negative about the .223. But with experience you get pretty good at tracking them. You will soon be reading the signs - a scuff in the dirt there, a broken twig there, and a tiny spot of blood there - and then crushed fern and the smell of deer and the buzzing of flies. Ah ha. There you are!

Originally Posted by 9STAGS

Thanks for the couple of replies to my question i posted.
I'm new to using a .223 on deer, but not being a reloader limits me a little bit to experimentation with various projectiles as only a few options are offered in factory ammunition.
I don't really want to rebarrel my vixen to a faster twist as my short magazine length probably negates my choices of projectile anyway.
Finding deer in tight bush without a blood trail is a real challenge, especially as I don't hunt over a dog.
I would like to try heavier weight projectiles than the standard Hornady 55gr that I'm currently using.
I'm not proficient enough of a marksman, nor the terrain I hunt allows me to reliably head or neck shoot consistently.
This thread has been a learning curve and a goldmine of information.
Thank you to all the members who have freely offered up their knowledge and real world experiences.

Buy some of these mate, I shot 3 dear with these the day I got my 223.

Now I'm reloading and I have duplicated these because they are so good, I am using 1.8 twist but these 60gr's shouldn't be too bad in your 1.12 especially if you aren't shooting long ranges.

OK cheers for the new replies and information.
Yes the heart lung is my go to shot when the head or neck isn't an option.
Used a 308 for 30 years, so I got a bit lazy tracking deer after the shot because if they did move off there was always plenty of blood so looking for the subtle tell tale signs wasnt needed.
Its more of an issue when the ground is very dry and the Sika don't leave footprints in the forest floor, it can be a challenge to find what direction they have run off in, especially in the pepper wood thickets and thicker guts that I normally shoot them in.
Cheers once again, its been a great thread.

Pine block Red from this morning....




A recovered 75gr eldm from a big body Red at approximately 200 yards. No major bones, through ribs, lungs then resting under the off side skin.

How well do the eldm's hold up at close range/high velocity? They dont blow to bits?

Originally Posted by makka

How well do the eldm's hold up at close range/high velocity? They dont blow to bits?

They do lose a bit of weight, core jacket separation but, very effective and the deer either drop or don't go far so doesn't really matter tbh.

Originally Posted by makka

How well do the eldm's hold up at close range/high velocity? They dont blow to bits?

I tend to shoot for the lungs, head or neck with the .223 so do have a preference for softer more frangible projectiles to achieve a bit more damage. These can blow up a bit but never had a problem. One of the better performing .223 projectiles I have used.

I shot 3 Fallow last evening. 77 grn Sierra Tipped. On every one the bullet was just under the off side skin. The one on the right went through the main shoulder joint. 200, 230 and 250 yds.

Originally Posted by Maxx

Well done. These last few you’ve posted about been taken on public land?

If you join the army it's public!

Sent from my SM-A226B using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by Tahr

I shot 3 Fallow last evening. 77 grn Sierra Tipped. On every one the bullet was just under the off side skin. The one on the right went through the main shoulder joint. 200, 230 and 250 yds.

Attachment 240388

You must have a different projectile for every day of the year. You didnt do pathology in your former life?.LOL. Clearly you dont whakapapa to Veganism. HNY.

Originally Posted by TeRei

You must have a different projectile for every day of the year. You didnt do pathology in your former life?.LOL. Clearly you dont whakapapa to Veganism. HNY.

3 x .223's all shooting something different.

I had look up HNY. Yes, to you too.