Thread: 223 on deer

73gr ELD is a beast of a bullet and easy to get shooting. I'm yet to recover anything other than fragments in any of the animals I've shot.

Living vicariously. My 2 lads have got my .223 meat collecting devices at present. They have an annual hikoi to our old farm at the end of duck shooting.
4 deer and 3 goats. 1 of the deer wasn't shot with the .223. All fallow.

Originally Posted by Beavis

73gr ELD is a beast of a bullet and easy to get shooting. I'm yet to recover anything other than fragments in any of the animals I've shot.

A beast alright!

Headed south on Sunday for the Woodhill Ballot. 69gr Tmk doing the job.

Shot was just shy of 200. Animal was hard quartering away. Shot entered tight in crease and blew through thr chest. Ill get some pics in the next couple of day's if anyone is interested.

What the heck is growing around you? Funny looking grass,almost looks like slow vera in photos. Not been chewed either.

Its a blue iris i think. I'm standing on a skid site, animal wasn't shot where I'm standing. Being a horticulturalist I should really know the answer to that question.

It looks a bit like spare grass

Haven't posted in this thread in a while, long story short, still works. What I would say is that in my experience (50 odd deer with 223) it is often romanticised people wont admit fuckups or the cartridges shortcomings. Here is some data all with 80gr ELD-M 2700fps:

5/2/24 228m Sika stag, crease lung shot, ran 30m stopped no reaction, followed up with second through shoulder ran a further 30m, dead.
28/6/24 330m ,Sika hind, rear lung, lengthy track required finishing
28/6/24 245m, Sika stag (Wifes first) ran 20m dead
28/6/24 220m Sika Hind, DRT
29/6/24 161m Sika Hind, DRT
29/6/24 170m Sika Hind, DRT
29/11/24 370m Sika Hind, ran 30m dead
29/11/24 370m Sika Hind, shot low lung behind crease, ran 100m
12/12/24 40m Sika stag DRT
12/12/24 309m Sika Hind, neck shot, DRT
12/1/25 171m Sika Hind, DRT
23/1/25 240m Sika Hind, DRT
23/1/25 130m Sika Hind, DRT
5/7/25 187m Sika Hind DRT
6/7/25 131m Sika Hind DRT

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Haven't posted in this thread in a while, long story short, still works. What I would say is that in my experience (50 odd deer with 223) it is often romanticised people wont admit fuckups or the cartridges shortcomings. Here is some data all with 80gr ELD-M 2700fps:

5/2/24 228m Sika stag, crease lung shot, ran 30m stopped no reaction, followed up with second through shoulder ran a further 30m, dead.
28/6/24 330m ,Sika hind, rear lung, lengthy track required finishing
28/6/24 245m, Sika stag (Wifes first) ran 20m dead
28/6/24 220m Sika Hind, DRT
29/6/24 161m Sika Hind, DRT
29/6/24 170m Sika Hind, DRT
29/11/24 370m Sika Hind, ran 30m dead
29/11/24 370m Sika Hind, shot low lung behind crease, ran 100m
12/12/24 40m Sika stag DRT
12/12/24 309m Sika Hind, neck shot, DRT
12/1/25 171m Sika Hind, DRT
23/1/25 240m Sika Hind, DRT
23/1/25 130m Sika Hind, DRT
5/7/25 187m Sika Hind DRT
6/7/25 131m Sika Hind DRT

29/11/24 when you could shoot? LOL. Nice data.

Originally Posted by TeRei

29/11/24 when you could shoot? LOL. Nice data.

Sorry don't get your meaning? For additional context, deer were side by side, second shot was quick on the other hind.

Originally Posted by mawzer308

Sorry don't get your meaning? For additional context, deer were side by side, second shot was quick on the other hind.

Distance.

Well I'm finally a convert, my S&L with 77 TMKs is now up to five fallow and two reds without a lost animal. Ranges out to 240M. Bullet placement hasn't been ideal in 3 or so animals and one might have gotten away without a followup. I think that's a record for me!

It's not for every hunt, there's no way I'd take 4-500M shots across big gullies and less in any wind so if I was expecting that the 6.5-284 or 308 would get a trip.

I cheated yesterday and used 22-250 but at 275ish yards the 53 GRN Berger hit front end with wallop and deer didn't stay in feet more than ten seconds.

Anyone using the PPU Matchline 75gr on deer? Results?