Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

@TeRei
A lot of different factors to be sure I’m not talking about that ,so no nead to claim some imaginary high ground on me.I’m just taking a guess as to how many deer are going to be where they should be when average joe has taken his shot with his 223.
I guess around 60-75% vs maybe 80% with a bigger cal.
What’s your estimate?
I don’t know why everyone is so upset?

Average man doesn’t use the best bullets,have the best rig,the experience,the nerve the tracking dog,the best terrain,ballistic this and that etc
So what’s your guess?

Average man shouldn't take shot if not 95% confident animal will die Quickly. That's one animal not so ideal or clean missed in 20. I clean missed five one year....so have tried to be much much better since. If I do miss,or think I may have hit I spend a long time looking.

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

Not what I said mate.I’m just throwing a rough guess out there for the average joe kiwi hunter.
Of the last 100 you hit with the 223 how many we’re laying where they should be ?
What would your estimate be of anchored 223 deer?

Last year, February to end of November. 357 deer shot/confirmed dead plus 6 never recovered. 3 lost using 223 and 3 when using 308, one a subsonic load. So yes, the odd one turns to custard but can happen with any caliber. Also passed on a fair few shots too. Still bugs me that those lost animals happened along with this morning’s 4 shots for two deer but shit happens.

@gimp
That’s not what I said was it.
Mines better but I can and do shoot more than most.
@mickey duck never misses.
Another fella 93-95%

What’s your guess mate?notice word GUESS

For some reason I can’t edit previous post but of the 357 only a dozen or so were taken with 308.

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

@gimp
That’s not what I said was it.
Mines better but I can and do shoot more than most.
@mickey duck never misses.
Another fella 93-95%

What’s your guess mate?notice word GUESS

I missed five in single calendar year. I'm still 3-0 with my .45/70 .....three clean misses,two in same day FFS.....

Dog is handy. I would lose the odd one without a dog. The lack of a blood trail with the .223 can be a bugger at times. I miss about 5 percent. Very seldom hit one and don’t find it. 1 percent maybe. Ask yourself how many deer can survive a hit in the lungs with any bullet. Almost none. I lung shoot the majority of mine. Try to avoid fancy.

@Tahr
Average man doesn’t have a dog.top of the line gear top of the line access,60years experience,wiz bang bullets,gets excited sometimes,has a bad day,doesn’t come from the east coast.
Now how many of his 223 deer are anchored on the spot?
What’s your guess?
Think 60-75% is way off ?

Average man shoots a 223 better than a 270 or 308. Balances things out to the point I'd say there's no difference in % of deer lost with either. I very much doubt that even 25% of deer hit are lost. Missed maybe but that's different.

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

@Tahr
Average man doesn’t have a dog.top of the line gear top of the line access,60years experience,wiz bang bullets,gets excited sometimes,has a bad day,doesn’t come from the east coast.
Now how many of his 223 deer are anchored on the spot?
What’s your guess?
Think 60-75% is way off ?

If he sticks to the OLD,TRIED n TRUE rules that were normal thinking before tight twists n heavies came in..... Eg 55 GRN soft point was normal..... Stay under 150 yards,either poke it in crease or head/ neck shoot. Don't attempt shot on moving animal and wait for good shot to present itself or let animal walk away..... 90-95% still applies no matter the cartridge used. Hell I know folks who regularly shoot deer with 22 magnum or the later 17 wmr.... Spotlight from vehicle on private land...headshots under hundy yards . If you think that doesn't happen like that ....one of my work mates only shoots deer he can drive to.never shoots past 100 yards. Care to guess rifle etc??? Kimber in 6.5 Creed more lmfao.

@Tentman
Respectfully disagree.
I’d say Average man shoots paper better with a 223.
But on deer -extra horsepower will count at times.
You’re going to see it count for more on bigger deer and in rough country and distance.
25%lost bit high?maybe.
@mickey of course I agree with your parameters but the average man takes the shot he’s given with the gun he’s holding.
Now there’s some phenomenal tally’s and shooters here talking but I’m not hearing the Joes ?
I think the extra horsepower is going to get the average guy his deer 10%maybe more.
Just a hypothetical guess

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

@Tahr
Average man doesn’t have a dog.top of the line gear top of the line access,60years experience,wiz bang bullets,gets excited sometimes,has a bad day,doesn’t come from the east coast.
Now how many of his 223 deer are anchored on the spot?
What’s your guess?
Think 60-75% is way off ?

Well I was doing it for a living with a dirty old Brno 222 and no dog on public land with much the same results. And Im from the east coast.
Im happy not to judge others and even happier when Im not being judged. I think it's likely that your estimate is close but I would say its regardless of caliber not because of caliber.

Anchoring on the spot for your 65/75 percent means bang flop. You are not going to get that with lung shots but its still very effective.

Originally Posted by Scortched earth

@Tentman
Respectfully disagree.
I’d say Average man shoots paper better with a 223.
But on deer -extra horsepower will count at times.
You’re going to see it count for more on bigger deer and in rough country and distance.
25%lost bit high?maybe.
@mickey of course I agree with your parameters but the average man takes the shot he’s given with the gun he’s holding.
Now there’s some phenomenal tally’s and shooters here talking but I’m not hearing the Joes ?
I think the extra horsepower is going to get the average guy his deer 10%maybe more.
Just a hypothetical guess

I can't see your logic, how can you shoot better on paper but not on game . . .

That "average fella" is a bit average then and should not be such a dick. We should all conspire for a quick,clean kill. Anything less is just a bit average...

To be fair, I think projectile choice is the difference between "average" results and excellent outcomes when it comes to 223 on bigger animals, and if Mr Average is just going to run his 223 on bulk 55s his average is probably going to be lower than it needs to be . . .

@Thar you started it with your judgee east coast Taco scope comment.you wouldn’t say that to me in person now would you.
Now you’re saying my estimate is likely close.
@Tentman I suppose what I’m saying is that down the range with our comfy setups we are going to shoot our 223s better but take average joe out on the hunt with a million variables and live game he’s just as average with his 270 as his 223.
I think most would agree it’s a lot easier shooting well on paper.
Yep the heavy projectiles are going to help-what give us another 10-15% would you say?
@micky we all conspire for the quick clean kill but what percent do you say that is with the 223 ?
My guess was 60-75%now what’s yours ?