Thread: 223 on deer

I don't think anyone disagrees on the principle; the point of difference is regarding what the limitations are. I don't shoot deer at 500m with the .223, the bullet won't function reliably at that impact velocity. I do with my 6mm, because it will (and it does).

I'm currently trying to empty my freezers and have been giving away all my deer meat for the last couple of months, so I don't need the pork, however depending on how much value Mr whanahuia thinks he'd be able to get out of the exercise, I'm happy to try make time to find this pig and shoot it somewhere near the right place so he can assess in person whether or not it might exceed the limitations of a heavy .223 bullet - I don't think I've ever seen a pig so large as this one is described but I haven't seen any issues with the performance of the 80s to date that would make me hesitant to poke it through the shoulder - maybe an extremely big boar really is the limit

Ill send you a PM @gimp. But if it doesn't work there will be others, and Im loaded with pork myself. So I'm happy to give you a bell whenever big one shows up on the chance it suits you.

Im am genuinely interested too see the performance and compare. But equally, I have a suspicion/ Will be interested to see if I will notice some difference in shot preparation, patience etc between what you do and I would do.

Just back from a couple of nights away. I forgot how important shot placement is . I fouled up my first deer. Gutshot it and put a second through the shoulder all at 60 odd yds with all the time in the world. Thats 12 one shot kills i've had with the .223 and it came to an abrupt end . Ruby tracked it 30 odd metres and a headshot dispatched it. Being not far from camp got the raincoat on and carried back whole.

Heading out again that evening I didn't have to go far. Sneaking in on this hind I got within 50 Yds. As soon as she fed out from behind the scrub a 69gn tmk hit her like lightning . DOA . The bullet punched through the vitals and left a decent sized hole in her chest .


Boned everything out and had a heavy pack coming home.

First time out for ages, got out of the truck at 6.10pm and started a hasty walk across the first paddock.
I looked up in the distance and saw some sheep grazing on this side of the fence but also noticed a brown shape over the other side of the fence which I thought would be a cow but as a precaution I lifted the scope to my eye and bloody hell its a deer.
I lay the pack down and took out the range finder 314 meters, righto so got down on the ground and got the perfect rest but the deer disappeared behind a pile of old branches surounded by tall grass but waited and sure enough it appeared on the other side of the pile side on.
Without hesitation I lined up on the front shoulder and sent the 62gr SP on its way, I saw the deer go belly up through the scope (good shit all of 5 mins).

I walked over, cut its throat, dressed it out, then 5 min walk back to the truck, drove over and tossed it in the back.

I thought to myself shit I was looking forward to a hunt and now its all over, I decided to carry on hunting but although I had another one lined up later on it seemed to quickly dissappear not to be seen again, anyway a great evening/night.







The mighty 223 does it again

Out for a quick morning hunt. Home by 6:30.

73gn ELD-M sorted Xmas salami and sausages.

Looks Phat!!

Originally Posted by Billbob

Looks Phat!!

Great condition. Good grass season in the Mackenzie

400 yards crease shot. 62 Norma went right through. Didn’t go 10 yards.

Good looking wobbly country.

Bella looks to be having a ball. When this rain stops there will be animals everywhere trying to dry out.

Fresh snow low down on Mt Hay this morning.

Originally Posted by Trout

Fresh snow low down on Mt Hay this morning.
Attachment 263271

9am and I’m still in my sleeping bag. The wallaby probably are too.

lol…@Tahr…… that dog of yrs is a camera hog….no make up ,no accessories…. Quite the boy!!!

150 yds high shoulder. Still killed it ok. 74 Targex.

Excuse my ignorance. What's a "crease shot"?