Thread: 223 on deer

Another happy Dad and Daughter (12) hunt.
She really has the bug now. She shot her first goat, a billy @60m, as well as two more the next day @220m.
75gr eldm @2900fps.
I shot the little stag (@70m high neck) as we were down to the wire to get one for the kids hunting comp. But she helped me gut and later butcher it.
She got to carry her first pig too for abit after we got it to the top of the hill. No 223 on the pig, was a 44mag.

Great stuff

Good pig that.

55grn VMAX from 225 yards steeply downhill. In through ribs ,left patch bloodied of about 6" the young stag kicked out when hit,ran into cover and made all of fifteen yards before doing the moonwalk then falling over.,long way to carry so didn't look further for damage.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

55grn VMAX from 225 yards steeply downhill. In through ribs ,left patch bloodied of about 6" the young stag kicked out when hit,ran into cover and made all of fifteen yards before doing the moonwalk then falling over.,long way to carry so didn't look further for damage.

do you use those v max rounds much?
. I got one box of it and the first fallow I shot at around 250 meters it nearly split the heart in half, couldn't believe the damage at the time. Next deer I shot at 15 meters the bullet hit a rib on the way in a broke up ,only a few small fragments went through and peppered the heart. Still killed it but I had my doubts after that and went to the Belmont stuff

It's my wallaby load sometimes.was heaviest load I had on hand and figured out past 150 it should've slowed down a bit so not so explode. Agree std cup n core better up close.

I shoot a 222 so of course very similar in some ways. I shot a goat with 55gr vmax for the first time, entry hole looked like an exit wound. Made me reconsider vmax on deer and pigs re penetration .I usually only use soft points on all game, but run out this time.

I think this entire thread started from a post I made on using the 60gr vmax to extend the range available on game on twist constrained 223s. I have used the 60gr vmax a bit at medium-longish for 223 ranges and yes lits of blood shot meat...I wouldn't use it on a shoulder shot at less than 200y risks under penetrative and wounding.
However it's a 223 and you can an should pick place your shot.
65gr gameking for the win in 9 twist

I've still got a couple of hundred 50grn VMAX/zmax...I would not use then other than headshot...man are they violent and explody... Perfect for what they were designed for,varmits...deadly wobbly medicine.

This may have been asked before - has anyone had any hunting experience with 77gr SMK at 2-400yd ranges?

Originally Posted by MP270

This may have been asked before - has anyone had any hunting experience with 77gr SMK at 2-400yd ranges?

Many, many, many times. There are so many anecdotes floating around online if you want to do a search.

They are not hunting bullets. They do not have polymer tips to offer some guarantee of expansion. And they do not have any design features to limit expansion either.

So when they work, they will work well (no better than anything else, mind you) but you do run the risk of them either blowing up or penciling through things.

@mickyDuck, I know I shouldn’t be using them on deer but I’ve dropped so many fallow with chest shots with the 50g max! 20-150m

Yip all about placement and range aye....that much is written in stone.

Unreal, I watched my mate kill a red hind tonight at 387 yards with a 73gr ELD-M from his howa mini. Using loads I worked up for him- only doing 2700gps from the 16” barrel.
Impressive performance for sure. No photos sorry, but took out the top of the heart and ran about 40m and lights out.

I see they're back in stock in a factory Hornady Match load now. That would be the way to go for a non-handloader.