Thread: 223 on deer

Definitely....any help is hugely appreciated.i do see photos of young folk under huge loads and my back cringes,oh how I wish I knew the easier ways that I do now,when I was younger.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Definitely....any help is hugely appreciated.i do see photos of young folk under huge loads and my back cringes,oh how I wish I knew the easier ways that I do now,when I was younger.

There is actual video footage of Dave Saxton of venison era fame carrying ...2 large gutted red stags at once. Dave Ratcliffe says Saxton was a monster when it came to carrying.

Sax was always monster when it came to Deer recovery

Don't cut the bum out MD . You won't have that problem

Anyone had any luck with 69gr tmk and 2208?

Shot the .223 out to 600M today 73 eldm slight bit of wind but pretty good I thought

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How often has this happened? A .22 centrefire not pentrating a shoulder bone that is. This tread is full of success stories, a lot of which appear to be shoulder shots. To be fair, I would be surprised if even a standard 55gr bullet would not make it through the scapula.

Originally Posted by Dama dama

How often has this happened? A .22 centrefire not pentrating a shoulder bone that is. This tread is full of success stories, a lot of which appear to be shoulder shots. To be fair, I would be surprised if even a standard 55gr bullet would not make it through the scapula.

A .224 projectile, or any other caliber, will penetrate onside scapular easy enough but not always the offside shoulder. If you don’t break both scapular and you hit the void between spine and major organs you end up with three legged animal, still more than capable of gapping it never to be seen again. If you hit onside scapular and a major organ or spine there’s a chance you’ll get animal. Over the past 47+ years I’ve witnessed a few animals lost with a too high shoulder shot from various caliber rifles and spent a lot of hours helping look for animals, mostly never found or seen again. Done it myself too. Hilar shot, you don’t have to break a leg but it can be a bonus. My 2c. Other’s opinions may vary, each to their own. PS I mostly use 55 grainers but also heavies from time to time.

Originally Posted by Dama dama

How often has this happened? A .22 centrefire not pentrating a shoulder bone that is. This tread is full of success stories, a lot of which appear to be shoulder shots. To be fair, I would be surprised if even a standard 55gr bullet would not make it through the scapula.

I've had one failure like this occur out of roughly 40 deer. 75gr eldm hit shoulder joint at 220m on a rutting stag and failed to penetrate vitals. Required follow ups and a track with the dog.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

I've had one failure like this occur out of roughly 40 deer. 75gr eldm hit shoulder joint at 220m on a rutting stag and failed to penetrate vitals. Required follow ups and a track with the dog.

If a big red stag with a heavy wet coat they can soak up pills like nothing else. Armour plating got nothing on mother nature at times.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

I've had one failure like this occur out of roughly 40 deer. 75gr eldm hit shoulder joint at 220m on a rutting stag and failed to penetrate vitals. Required follow ups and a track with the dog.

Funny you mention this, I had two less than impressive results with the 75grain eldm. Both deer were close (30m and 10m approx). Animals were recovered but the time taken to recover them (without a dog) was enough to make me switch to the 80grain eldm. I haven't had any such issues since switching to the slightly heavier bullet.

Originally Posted by Calikiwi

Funny you mention this, I had two less than impressive results with the 75grain eldm. Both deer were close (30m and 10m approx). Animals were recovered but the time taken to recover them (without a dog) was enough to make me switch to the 80grain eldm. I haven't had any such issues since switching to the slightly heavier bullet.

Yes I'm running 80gr eldm now too but funnily enough, the 73gr eldm have been outstanding aswell.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Yes I'm running 80gr eldm now too but funnily enough, the 73gr eldm have been outstanding as well.

That's cool to hear the 73 grain eldm are going well. Better than the 75's you recon? Any structural differences that you are aware of? I initially used the 75's as I could achieve a much higher muzzle velocity in my .223 than I could with the 80's. Perhaps the 75's were travelling too fast on those closer shots. The two deer mentioned above were sika so not big bodied deer (in case anyone was curious). I shoot the 80gr out of a 22-250 as well and despite it going faster than the 75's did in the 223 I've had no problems so far even at very close ranges. It seems odd that only 5 grains increase in bullet weight would make such a difference....

According to the media in the States if you use an AR shooting a 223 there’s nothing left of a deer. It’s blown to pieces. You guys are telling me a bullet won’t penetrate a shoulder blade?

Originally Posted by 260madman

According to the media in the States if you use an AR shooting a 223 there’s nothing left of a deer. It’s blown to pieces. You guys are telling me a bullet won’t penetrate a shoulder blade?

According to the NZ media an AR is the root of all evil.