Thread: .223: The Ins & Outs of it

I'm finding the 55gr Sierra Game Kings in the Buffalo 223 ammo really good. This is one from the opposite shoulder of a fallow yearling at 346m (used a rangefinder). it held together really well Usually I wouldn't shoot that far with the 223 but had a perfect rest (used a red deer spiker on the front of the bike as a rest !). it was at the same elevation as I was shooting, no wind and a yearling.

Bumblefoot, those projectiles are the ones sold here in bulk as Sierra Super Roo pills. $600/2000 if irc. Well known to be a hard cup and core projectile. Your data point probably supports this.

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

I'm finding the 55gr Sierra Game Kings in the Buffalo 223 ammo really good. This is one from the opposite shoulder of a fallow yearling at 346m (used a rangefinder). it held together really well Usually I wouldn't shoot that far with the 223 but had a perfect rest (used a red deer spiker on the front of the bike as a rest !). it was at the same elevation as I was shooting, no wind and a yearling.

Attachment 162544

Excellent expansion from a 223 projectile at that distance, have you shot deer with it under 100 meters.

Originally Posted by tetawa

Excellent expansion from a 223 projectile at that distance, have you shot deer with it under 100 meters.

@tetawa I've only shot 5 deer with it. The fallow buck below was about 100m away. All have dropped on the spot. This buck was above me coming down a hill (NOT sky-lined...) The projectile entered the chest (front on) smashed up the lungs, and ended up smashing the spine just in front of the rump.

On goats at close range they drop them like a sack of spuds with about a 50c size hole in and out the shoulder; but the lungs wrecked; same with fallow under 100m. My mate shot a big heavy billy right through the shoulder at 100m and it went 5m 50c hole either side and lungs wrecked too. Bugger all ruined meat in all cases.

@Phil_H Just remember to get the Buffalo ammo with the 55gr Game King; not the 55gr Blitz King which is a varmint bullet. It easily puts 3 rounds into an inch through my Howa mini. It could probably do better with a better marksman as I don't pretend to be a sniper by any means!

Originally Posted by bumblefoot

@tetawa I've only shot 5 deer with it. The fallow buck below was about 100m away. All have dropped on the spot. This buck was above me coming down a hill (NOT sky-lined...) The projectile entered the chest (front on) smashed up the lungs, and ended up smashing the spine just in front of the rump.

On goats at close range they drop them like a sack of spuds with about a 50c size hole in and out the shoulder; but the lungs wrecked; same with fallow under 100m. My mate shot a big heavy billy right through the shoulder at 100m and it went 5m 50c hole either side and lungs wrecked too. Bugger all ruined meat in all cases.

Attachment 162567

Very good, did you happen to retain any of the projectiles, if so did they show great "mushrooming" like the long shot or break up.

@tetawa @Phil_H This is the billy that my mate shot through the shoulder at 100m. It only went 5m. And it was a really big-bodied animal with a shaggy coat, so harder to knock down than a fallow doe etc.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65WkFb9gbUM

When I used to reload for the 223 the 55 gr Sierras were my go to, the hollow point boat tail version seemed to be the better bullet in my rifle but really drops off past 200 metres

Lots of .223 projectiles work. I shot a Fallow at a couple of hundred with a Targex 52 grain not long ago. It did some impressive damage. Ive shot dozens with the 52 grn hollow point match. 55 grain. Sierra too - they are a good bullet to use on wallaby if there are deer around...just in case

Have shot more than a few deer with .222 and .223, 99% would be under 180 meters, was very impressed with the end result of the projectile at close to 400 meters, but still don't class the .223 a 400 meter deer cartridge.

I shot my first deer 17 years ago with a .223 and have always had a probably unreasonable enthusiasm for it. It seems to work well even with 55gr size bullets but there is a lot more potential if using heavier bullets. Factory rifles are a bit limiting for the best possible results with the longer 75-90gr bullets mainly due to restrictive mag length now that 1:8 twists are more available. Aftermarket mags like the AICS pattern accurate mags can be modified easily to allow about 70mm OAL, 10-15mm more than most .223 factory mags. This is a more modern and geeky approach than the spirit of the ol' .222 with factory 55 grainers but it does extend the capability of a .223 by miles, to within spitting distance of standard factory .243 maybe but for half the powder. 80gr at 2850 from an 18" barrel.

I like my custom model 7 and haven't taken another rifle out of the safe in the last 6 months but have only been out 4 times and shot 4 deer with it so far.

I am thoroughly impressed with Bruce's dedication to continuing to get out in the hills also

Originally Posted by gimp

I am thoroughly impressed with Bruce's dedication to continuing to get out in the hills also

This last night. 7-08 @ 110 yards though. Common garden 140 sst

Originally Posted by gimp

I shot my first deer 17 years ago with a .223 and have always had a probably unreasonable enthusiasm for it. It seems to work well even with 55gr size bullets but there is a lot more potential if using heavier bullets. Factory rifles are a bit limiting for the best possible results with the longer 75-90gr bullets mainly due to restrictive mag length now that 1:8 twists are more available. Aftermarket mags like the AICS pattern accurate mags can be modified easily to allow about 70mm OAL, 10-15mm more than most .223 factory mags. This is a more modern and geeky approach than the spirit of the ol' .222 with factory 55 grainers but it does extend the capability of a .223 by miles, to within spitting distance of standard factory .243 maybe but for half the powder. 80gr at 2850 from an 18" barrel.

I like my custom model 7 and haven't taken another rifle out of the safe in the last 6 months but have only been out 4 times and shot 4 deer with it so far.

Attachment 162583

Exactly. Im limited to the 77 Sierra tipped because of mag length but man they punch above their weight. Have just bought some 80 eldm and have a long T3 mag on the way from Aus. From what @gimp has posted (through pics) the eldm are a bit harder than the Sierra tipped. The Sierra at 2.9k are impressive all the same, and Im not quite sure why Im mucking around with the eldm. Maybe mu ocd

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.

I was thinking the same thing , back in the day when using a .243 the 100gr Nosler solid base was a very good pill on deer.