Thread: .223: The Ins & Outs of it

Ive always used a .222 or .223 and over the last 12 months have shot 18 deer with my .223's. I have 3 .223's - more by accident than design - but at least it means that I can have certain loads for certain uses (e.g. one is set up for wallaby and one for deer). My favourite is a little Savage Lightweight and the others are a Tikka and a Mod7. There has been a bit of revival in interest on here about the .222/.223 on deer recently and its got me using mine even more. @Nathan F started an interesting thread about the .222.

So yesterday instead taking a big banger for a walk I opted for the Savage and a warm load of Nosler Bonded Solid Base 64 grain at 3150 fps. You can't get these bullets any more but I still have 100 and they are pretty damn good and very accurate in my rifle.

It was also the first outing for my dog Tilly since she had a cancer op 3 weeks ago to remove a couple of tumours in her udder/breast.

It was pretty damned windy over on the Wairarapa coast when I arrived at 5pm and I had to shift location to get the wind right, but I had plenty of time. After a bit of a walk Tilly and I eventually parked up at a spot where I could get a good view and we relaxed a bit while waiting for deer o-clock. She was loving being out, albeit a bit annoying by rubbing against my face to show how pleased she was.



As the shadows got longer the wind abated a little bit, but still strong enough to mean that I needed to hunt the sheltered gully heads rather than the open bush line. So we dropped down and started to sidle around looking into the little sheltered nooks and crannies. Tilly wasn't much use because there wasn't any sort of updraft so I was on my own in terms of finding something. Usually I can rely on her nose a bit to at least give me a heads up.

It started to look like we were going to have a dry run as it got really gloomy but as we peeked into a sharp little creek I spied what I thought were dappled light spots. I raised my binos with one hand and saw what I first thought was a red fawn and then realised it was a Fallow. It was the first I had seen in the area so it was a surprise to see it. It was feeding and unaware and quartering towards me at what I thought was about 80 yards. I quietly sat down, and very quietly stuck a round up the spout (Im seldom on half cock) - put the cross hairs on its shoulder and sent a not very confident shot off.

There was a good "thwack" and it leapt in the air and then looked like it was tipping over, but regained momentum and disappeared into the the trees. Tilly and I sat for 5 minutes and then quietly dropped down towards where it had been. Tilly's nose told me it was dead close by and sure enough she found it less than 10 yards from where I had shot it. Her 210th deer with me. Bless her.



It was a big fat spiker, so that was pretty good. But there was a hole in its guts and at first I though I must have gut shot it and my heart sank, but then I realised it was on the wrong side and turning it over I found that it had a busted shoulder right where I had aimed. I had ranged the shot before we walked down and it had been 114 yards ((a bit further than I had thought but steep down hill can be deceiving).

You can see its busted shoulder in this pic.



What really impressed me was the performance of the little bullet. A diagonal pass through and a quick kill. Even with larger calibers the gut bag can be a bullet stopper. Big ups for the little bullet's design.

Here's a pic of the entry under the shoulder.



And here is the exit.



And here's the little .223



It was dark now and we had plenty of time so I leisurely boned the deer out ((discarded one blood shot shoulder) and prepared for the carry out. Tilly woofed down lots of scraps. We were a happy couple.



It only took 45 mins to get back to the truck and I was looking forward to getting home before midnight. But it wasn't to be. I had forgotten that the Rimutakas were closed for repairs for the next few nights and at Greytown was met by flashing "road closed" signs. Bugger. So I had to wake a motel owner up at 11pm and get a bed for the night. I finally got home at 7.30am this morning.

Great stuff Tahr, good to see the Tillster out on the hills again she looks as happy as a pig in muck in that photo
Geez at least you didn't come back around and over the track and back home the long way

Originally Posted by rugerman

Great stuff Tahr, good to see the Tillster out on the hills again she looks as happy as a pig in muck in that photo
Geez at least you didn't come back around and over the track and back home the long way

haha. I rang my wife and told her that's what I was going to do, but she put a stop to it. Best thing, because I was tired anyway.

Originally Posted by Tahr

haha. I rang my wife and told her that's what I was going to do, but she put a stop to it. Best thing, because I was tired anyway.

Greetings Tahr and Tilly,
I suspect that a lot of hunters today wouldn't have heard of the solid base. Nice deer should be tasty.
Regards Grandpamac.

Good plan man there are a few cars that go off the side of the track road, it's pretty turny especially when ya tired.

Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings Tahr and Tilly,
I suspect that a lot of hunters today wouldn't have heard of the solid base. Nice deer should be tasty.
Regards Grandpamac.

Hi GPM @grandpamac. These are different to our old Nosler "solid base". https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1010872858

I’ve still got a bunch of the Nosler loaded up and ready to go. They are a hard little bullet - it’s designed to penetrate walls, glass, people’s vests, etc. I’ve got photos somewhere of the chest cavity from the inside showing what it will do to a red deer.

Looking at the photo of Tilly with the deer, my instinctive response was “she’s had a blue rinse like my Nan”. She’d probably qualify now, definitely blue, not pink eh. Delighted to see her back on the job, good on both of you.

Originally Posted by Flyblown

I’ve still got a bunch of the Nosler loaded up and ready to go. They are a hard little bullet - it’s designed to penetrate walls, glass, people’s vests, etc. I’ve got photos somewhere of the chest cavity from the inside showing what it will do to a red deer.

Looking at the photo of Tilly with the deer, my instinctive response was “she’s had a blue rinse like my Nan”. She’d probably qualify now, definitely blue, not pink eh. Delighted to see her back on the job, good on both of you.

@Flyblown I expect that she votes National, but she won't say. I've only shot 3 deer with those Noslers' so its hardly an extensive test. But I like them - accuracy is number one for me and these have that and great penetration. I have noted your comments previously though that they might not "do the damage". And my experience is that where there isn't foot-pounds there needs to be damage.

The best .223 projectile for me on deer has been the 77 grn Sierra tipped but my Savage has too slow a twist for them (1/9).

Its a load of fun though, loading stuff.

awesome to see Tilly up and out again...great lesson on the wee 224s....you are 100% right,its a thinking game when using them,got to accept the limits and stick to them.

Nice one Mr C. Love your work. What a gem that dog is

Originally Posted by mimms2

It's a hard life, but someone has to do it...

Im very happy for you to leave it to the old, while you thrust and parry your way life

Good report on the bullets performance, always nice to see the real thing, it gives you confidence in them to do a good job. Great to see Tilly in her element long may it last.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Im very happy for you to leave it to the old, while you thrust and parry your way life

through ^

I read that 3 times and my mind had put missing word in each time..... thrust and party might have fitted better (I seem to recall doing plenty of thrusting at parties as a young fella)

Great stuff, now I don't feel so guilty for having two 223's.