Welcome guest, is this your first visit? Create Account now to join.
  • Login:

Welcome to the NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums.

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.

Darkness Ammo Direct


User Tag List

+ Reply to Thread
Results 1 to 15 of 30
Like Tree49Likes

Thread: howa 223 at ranges

Hybrid View

  1. #1
    Member Flyblown's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2018
    Location
    Waikato
    Posts
    3,346
    You’ll probably get some differing opinions on this. The .222 / .223 is the minimum legal deer cartridge on public land in NZ, and a lot of guys will say its not powerful enough for red deer in particular.

    However many hunters use .223 without difficulty (me included), but you’ll find they are very fussy about shot placement and bullet construction, and rightly so.

    What you need to do as a new hunter is study deer anatomy and understand exactly what you’re aiming at, and why. A lot of new hunters aim too far back behind the shoulder and that’s a guaranteed disaster with the .223. Lots written about this, it’s essential knowledge.

    Bullet construction is really important. You need to look at the barrel twist which will be stamped on the barrel. If it is a new Howa it is 90% sure to be a 1:8”. This means you can select one of the 60+ grain soft points in standard ammunition, e.g. Federal Power-Shok 64gr (blue box) or Remington Core-Lokt 62gr.

    Don’t select a varmint bullet like a V-Max.

    It’s great that you’ve asked the questions, keep up with that. Lots to learn!
    Tahr, veitnamcam, Trout and 6 others like this.
    Just...say...the...word

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2022
    Location
    Otago
    Posts
    13
    Quote Originally Posted by Flyblown View Post
    You’ll probably get some differing opinions on this. The .222 / .223 is the minimum legal deer cartridge on public land in NZ, and a lot of guys will say its not powerful enough for red deer in particular.

    However many hunters use .223 without difficulty (me included), but you’ll find they are very fussy about shot placement and bullet construction, and rightly so.

    What you need to do as a new hunter is study deer anatomy and understand exactly what you’re aiming at, and why. A lot of new hunters aim too far back behind the shoulder and that’s a guaranteed disaster with the .223. Lots written about this, it’s essential knowledge.

    Bullet construction is really important. You need to look at the barrel twist which will be stamped on the barrel. If it is a new Howa it is 90% sure to be a 1:8”. This means you can select one of the 60+ grain soft points in standard ammunition, e.g. Federal Power-Shok 64gr (blue box) or Remington Core-Lokt 62gr.

    Don’t select a varmint bullet like a V-Max.

    It’s great that you’ve asked the questions, keep up with that. Lots to learn!
    oh that's awesome thank you, yeah lots to learn about and think about, have been reading some articles trying to better my knowledge a bit too so will be needing to do more of that to get my shot placement good thanks for the tip. that's good to know about the twist thank you ill have a look and think about the ammo side once I run out of my current stuff thank you

 

 

Similar Threads

  1. Drop for each ranges
    By Tangobravo in forum Questions, Comments, Suggestions, Testing.
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 05-06-2017, 07:40 PM
  2. Ranges in Tauranga
    By Double Shot in forum Shooting
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 09-03-2017, 10:32 PM
  3. Shooting ranges
    By Beaker in forum Shooting
    Replies: 122
    Last Post: 11-02-2017, 06:02 PM
  4. Ranges for sighting in.
    By roig in forum Shooting
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 06-11-2016, 09:12 AM
  5. Canterbury- Ranges
    By Tangobravo in forum Shooting
    Replies: 29
    Last Post: 29-07-2016, 10:42 PM

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
Welcome to NZ Hunting and Shooting Forums! We see you're new here, or arn't logged in. Create an account, and Login for full access including our FREE BUY and SELL section Register NOW!!