Thread: 223 for deer hunting?

Originally Posted by Rushy

Is that you chomping on the supplejack VC?

no that is bald bob

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

no that is bald bob

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Solid unit

Originally Posted by Scribe

Yes as I was saying that was a problem inn places like the Ureweras where we did a lot of shooting. It was mostly slip and riverbed shooting there. But when a deer carrying a bit of lead made it into the podocarp it was not that easy to finish off unless you had the AR15 handy.

Ah I see.

Originally Posted by Rushy

Solid unit

He is the DonKey (private joke on many levels )

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

He is the DonKey (private joke on many levels )

Enough said

I have 90 grain hollow point loaded for 223 they work well

Originally Posted by kawekakid

I have 90 grain hollow point loaded for 223 they work well

I have over the years developed an affection for the hollow point. Kawekakid I have been eyeing the hollows that xring is making with interest. I just think a 60gr hollow point projectile would be the best in my rifle.

Mostly this is just intuition but I have this feeling. Up until recently I Have been using the lighter hollow points on deer with good success but I feel they are a bit frangible.

a couple of months ago scribe did a great article on the 222. seeing the bullet hitting the deer through the scope . when using a 223 with 75 gr to 90 gr bullets is that still possible and also what about a 243 with 85gr. cheers

yes and yes

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Originally Posted by jefftrevor

a couple of months ago scribe did a great article on the 222. seeing the bullet hitting the deer through the scope . when using a 223 with 75 gr to 90 gr bullets is that still possible and also what about a 243 with 85gr. cheers

I have not had a 223 that I thought would stabilise a 75 to 90 gr so don't use them. Current rifle is 1 in 12 twist so 60's are the highest I go. I have such success with the fast 55's and that is what I am currently loading.

These suit my method of shooting through the ribs admirably. It doesn't take a heavy bullet to break in and the organ damage from the 55gr is something to see. Rib shots give a wide margin of error. (Base of the neck to last rib)

On a long shot I might hit the shoulder, though I curse the loss of meat as both shoulders are often destroyed.

Now I content myself with one deer at a time. But if I want a second I will shoot the lead animal on the last rib back destroying the liver but keeping it on its feet for the few seconds necessary to kill the other.

Head and neck are a sometimes shot and I have no complaints with the 55's there either.

If I went back to the 243 (though that is not likely now) I would continue to use the 85 sierra HPBT because we had such success with them over the years.

This may be an old fashioned view. But dead is dead and as far as I know there are no degrees of dead. It is a long time since I wounded a deer.

second part of my question is. I bought my rifle brand new 50 years ago, a parker hale 270. it is a great accurate rifle but I have never seen the bullet hit the deer. it is the only rifle I have used is this normal or is it bad technique.I have toyed with the idea of getting a 223 but not if I am not able to see the bullet hit the deer.

Never under estimate the mighty 223. Ive shot all my deer with it up to 180-200m and all have been accounted for with the 55gr. Shot placement is key, but it makes you a better hunter I believe.

Originally Posted by jefftrevor

second part of my question is. I bought my rifle brand new 50 years ago, a parker hale 270. it is a great accurate rifle but I have never seen the bullet hit the deer. it is the only rifle I have used is this normal or is it bad technique.I have toyed with the idea of getting a 223 but not if I am not able to see the bullet hit the deer.

If you are able to follow through on your shot and watch it you should be able to see the bullet impact on the deer. Generally though at closer ranges with a higher powered rifle you won't see the bullet impact as in the time it takes for you to recover from the recoil it has already hit the deer. A rifle with less recoil allows you to watch the shot a bit easier.

nothing wrong with 223 deer cullers used 222 for years.... as others have said shot placement is important as with any rifle but more so as you go down in cal
my advice would be plenty of range time I would do shooting at all distances starting at 25m and working in 25m increments 25,50,75,100,125,150 and so on so and write it all down
for example
25m 1" high
50m 1/2" high
75m 1/4" high
100m dead on
125m 1/4 inch low
and so on you could even tape the info to your butt for quick reference so you know exactly where your shot is going at said distance so you can be dead on the mark when you need to make it count

Originally Posted by Scribe

I have not had a 223 that I thought would stabilise a 75 to 90 gr so don't use them. Current rifle is 1 in 12 twist so 60's are the highest I go. I have such success with the fast 55's and that is what I am currently loading.

Dad and I use the sierra 63gr SMPs - they are simply deadly on deer. As you mention the worst bit about shoulder shooting them is you loose the meat. My 223 is a 1:9 twist and Dad's a 1:12 twist. Both stabilise the 63gr projectiles fine.

Originally Posted by Scribe

If I went back to the 243 (though that is not likely now) I would continue to use the 85 sierra HPBT because we had such success with them over the years.

Yep, using these in my .243 at the moment. And I thought my 223 was bad for damaging meat! The 85gr Sierra HPBTs kill stuff dead - very impressed!