Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by NoMis

While doing research on another calibre (6.5x55, 160 gr round nose soft point), I came across this Kiwi website that has a lot to say about the .223 as a hunting round. The page briefly recounts the history of the calibre, discusses its performance, compares factory and handloads, and then makes a few concluding remarks. One of the author's performance observations is: "Apart from the use of FMJ ammunition, hunters using the .223 on medium game will achieve best results with neck and head shots. Typical sporting loads with conventional soft point ammunition can penetrate through the chest walls of medium game but kills are always slow if the CNS is not destroyed. The .223 does not have the power to initiate hydrostatic shock."

I'm not capable of determining the accuracy of the author's remarks but wonder whether those of you who do have such a skill set would agree or disagree with his observations?

Holy shit a lot of words. Reckons the 80gr Amax is unreliable. Is wrong - probably has not actually used it. Will steer clear of commentary in general on that source but I'd suggest testing any particlar assertion to check evidence.

Originally Posted by gimp

Holy shit a lot of words. Reckons the 80gr Amax is unreliable. Is wrong - probably has not actually used it. Will steer clear of commentary in general on that source but I'd suggest testing any particlar assertion to check evidence.

Actually In Nathan Fosters latest book "Long Range hunting cartridges" 2nd Edition. He recommends the 73,75 and 80gm ELDM's (Amax) as well as the Sierra 69 and 77gn TMK's. Quote "No other .224 calibre projectiles are in my experience capable of the same level of reliable fragmentation in the absence of both high velocity and bullet energy - while carrying sufficient bullet weight for retained energy at extended ranges" end of quote.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Actually In Nathan Fosters latest book "Long Range hunting cartridges" 2nd Edition. He recommends the 73,75 and 80gm ELDM's (Amax) as well as the Sierra 69 and 77gn TMK's. Quote "No other .224 calibre projectiles are in my experience capable of the same level of reliable fragmentation in the absence of both high velocity and bullet energy - while carrying sufficient bullet weight for retained energy at extended ranges" end of quote.

Well Ive read that quote several times and still cant figure out what it means??

Originally Posted by Tahr

Well Ive read that quote several times and still cant figure out what it means??

Yeah I agree with you in a way. Think the word "Fragmentation" is wrong, a poor choice of words. To me that would indicate projectile failure. However in the context of the book he tends to use this word to describe a projectile which has expanded reliably and lost a certain percentage of its weight as it travel through the animal. Most projectiles intended for soft skinned game, such as deer do exactly that.

Jeez I really do hope the humble .223 lives up to some of the hype I have read on this thread. Seriously though all this info got me interested in giving the .223 a go, I've never owned one. I started hunting with a 30/06, down sized to a 6.5x55 and now use a 6.5 creedmoor, a couple of them actually. I never thought I would downsize further than this when it came to deer sized game. But here we are and I just put together 2 x .223's. One is a TAC A1 barreled action in a Stocky's stock, barrel shortened to 20" with a Delta 4-24x50 scope. The plan for this one is mainly range work. The other is a T3x carbine 20" barrel also in a stocky's stock with a Delta 2.5-15x50 scope. Just playing around with loads at the moment. the T3x hasn't even had any shots through it yet, that will happen this Wednesday the TAC A1 seems to really like the Hornady 75gn HPBT match.
I also have on hand some 69gn Targex and some 73gn ELDM's. ADI 2208 and CFR .223 powder.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Jeez I really do hope the humble .223 lives up to some of the hype I have read on this thread. Seriously though all this info got me interested in giving the .223 a go, I've never owned one. I started hunting with a 30/06, down sized to a 6.5x55 and now use a 6.5 creedmoor, a couple of them actually. I never thought I would downsize further than this when it came to deer sized game. But here we are and I just put together 2 x .223's. One is a TAC A1 barreled action in a Stocky's stock, barrel shortened to 20" with a Delta 4-24x50 scope. The plan for this one is mainly range work. The other is a T3x carbine 20" barrel also in a stocky's stock with a Delta 2.5-15x50 scope. Just playing around with loads at the moment. the T3x hasn't even had any shots through it yet, that will happen this Wednesday the TAC A1 seems to really like the Hornady 75gn HPBT match.
I also have on hand some 69gn Targex and some 73gn ELDM's. ADI 2208 and CFR .223 powder.

Attachment 234618

Get yourself some 80grn Targex they go well in my Tikka.

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Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Get yourself some 80grn Targex they go well in my Tikka.

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

How do they go with the very short throat in the Tikka's. I would have thought these projectiles would intrude way too far into the powder capacity. I find that the 69gn Target has a very long tapered bullet ogive so if the 80gn was a similar profile it might even have the ogive down inside the case neck which would not work too well at all.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Well Ive read that quote several times and still cant figure out what it means??

that the ywill still expand even at longer range/slower speed better than anything else..and they are heavy enough to still hit hard enough to kill cleanly

well thats how I read that.

Originally Posted by zeropak

Actually In Nathan Fosters latest book "Long Range hunting cartridges" 2nd Edition. He recommends the 73,75 and 80gm ELDM's (Amax) as well as the Sierra 69 and 77gn TMK's.

that’s probably because he read this thread!