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well I used 24.5grns of same AR2206h for many years with 50-55grn projectiles...still do,have upped it to 25.1grn with a barnes 50grn ttsx with good results on deer n pigs...Quote:
Originally Posted by Ground Control
the terminal result is like a mildly loaded .243 or .270 using cup n core projectiles but the damage is done in reverse order eg lots damage near side,little hole farside.
Gees mate leave some for me, all in an afternoon. Good shooting also like the GKs.
All i managed to do with my 223 over the long weekend was "educate " a couple of stags :thumbsup:
77 Sierra TMK (last night)
325 yards, chest.
Attachment 208909
220 yds, neck.
Attachment 208910
Did the 325 yard chest shot exit @Tahr? Looks like a yearling maybe, not very big?
Well done on the neck shot, very tidy! Pays not to be a deer when Tahr is about with a rifle ��
good on ya thats xmas BBQ sorted -Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
It didn't appear to. I dropped the deer off whole for my son at midnight so I never really had a good look. She didn't go far. Ran 15 yards maybe.Quote:
Originally Posted by Steelisreal
She was heavy enough to make me grunt getting her on the ute :)
Attachment 208925
Here's the neck shot one
Attachment 208926
@Tahr you running those 77s at standard tikka mag length? any issues?
Out of my small experience there is a big difference in case capacity my staline brass is a compressed load at 25grn of 2206h but adi you can fit 27 grn of 2206hQuote:
Originally Posted by Ground Control
Yes. Just a snug fit. No problems at all. 2900fps standard 1:8 twist barrelQuote:
Originally Posted by drunk_mexican
Thats hoofing it, good stuff.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
How would you compare the 77 tmks vs the 69 targex on fallow?
Using 2206H. The 77TMK are next level but nothing wrong with the Targex on Fallow or Reds.Quote:
Originally Posted by drunk_mexican
To be fair 223 would be fine for goats, fallow. But reds, Its boarder line, use something a bit bigger IMO
I would say there’s probably been more red deer shot in NZ with .223 & .222 than any other caliber.
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Yes the few ive shot with those calibres have not complained :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshC
They would complain if they could but they are stone cold dead, best calibre ever the mighty 223 :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Nathan F
you could probably say there has been more deer wounded in NZ with then too.......... the .303brit was up there for many years,the .308,243,270,30/06 came along and killed it off...Quote:
Originally Posted by JoshC
said it before..re read Philip Holdens chapter 222 the controversial one...... its as relevant today as when he wrote it all those years ago..the heavy for calibre and mono projectiles have changed things for the better but you still have to get in as close as you can and poke that wee bit of metal in the right place....a gut shot with a .50BMG is still a gut shot and will still crawl away to die horrible death....
@Micky Duck yip. Old acquaintance of mine spent a couple of years culling and such.
Wore 2 barrels out on a browning bar 308 using predominantly 180gr round nose.
Never had an issue.
Went to a sako 222 and first handful of deer were a right xock up. Had the habit of aiming for big bits usually and even if he was a little off the big pill still did the bizzo.
Had to quickly learn to aim at different spots.
He was a good enough shot to make it work but had to change his shooting habits
In a way it’s a bit like surfing.
If you’ve ever surfed some of the big waves at the internationally famous breaks like Pipeline or Waimea Bay, the smaller you call the wave, the bigger the man you are.
So 3 guys will go out, one will call it 30’ one will say it’s only 28, and so on. In actual fact it’s probably 35 foot.
Obviously successfully killing a deer with a light calibre at longer distances proves your hunting prowess. The lighter the bullet and the further….
funny thats a bit like a pissing contest.... who can go the furtherest..
for ME harvesting a deer is NOTHING like that... NOTHING AT ALL.
I usually use my faithful .270 but at times feel like a change so carry something else,I KNOW the range will need to be closer and my aim better... if I do my bit and poke that tiny bit of metal in right place all is good.
Yeh mate, I’m sure that’s most often the case.Quote:
Originally Posted by Micky Duck
I’m sure most of us have our favourites, and a few others in our collection, so we take them out for a walk. But I tend to refer back to type, my old faithful is my 308.
It’s a rare thing it’s found wanting, and by in large there’s enough overkill in it to make up for my inadequacies…
I’m no sniper or Peter Hathaway Capstick!
That’s not what this thread is about. It’s about killing deer with .223’s. Take the ethics and moral high ground elsewhere. Not on this thread. Phillip Holdens chapter may have had relevance in the 1970’s , not in 2022. Optics , reloading and bullet selection make a huge difference. Some points are valid. A lot are moot.
As posted on other threads I’ve used 222,223 &308 over last 46 years. Shot thousands of animals, lost one or two as you do. The lighter cals. are just as effective as bigger cal. as long as the nut behind the butt does their part. Just got to be aware of conditions and make allowance for them. As pointed out in post above one can get lazy or complacent about where they aim with larger cal. I have a soft spot for 308 but since shoulder surgery I tend to use 223 almost exclusively. It’s a lot easier on the body with multiple shots and just as effective The only difference from Holden’s days is 50gr psp 222 back then vs 55gr psp 223 now. I do play around with heavier bullets but about 90% use 55gr. Just my 2 cents.
You can’t compare Holden shooting factory 50 grain .222 with a modern fast twist .223 with hand loaded heavy bullets.
This thread is about the performance and capability of the 222/223. It’s been on point for 46 pages. Now this. Why??Quote:
Originally Posted by Lauries Hut
Wasn’t really trying to, just noted that 55gr 223 does the job as good today as back then. Only had trouble finding two out of twenty-seven deer in last few months. Of course faster twist barrels and heavier bullets add another dimension.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
thats the interesting bit.....you can get 55grn loads for the .243 too......
its all about putting that tiny bit of metal in the right place....for sure the heavier pills AND mono pills around today have upped its preformance no end.... yo ustill got to poke it in right place...THAT MUCH HASNT CHANGED.
another way of saying what Im trying to get across.....any cartridge has good loads,OK loads, really good loads and some absolute shockers....
the secret is to use a good bugger or make plurry sure you poke it where its weaknesses wont stop it killing well.
I KNOW of members on here who bush shoot sika using 50-55grn vmax with great results...all about placement.
shikes my last deer I didnt use a 223.....I just happened to have its older smaller sibling in my hands,the wee fallow didnt complain,it took half dozen wobbly steps and fell over dead...JOB DONE.
Or Rex Forrester recalling shooting deer with a .22 when possum hunting. Right off the topic now. So 65gr sierra or 52 Targex or 55gr Barnes. Might as well throw in a 53gr Barnes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
Centre shoulder shot. Off hand at 80 yards. 80grn Targex drove right through into the off shoulder. I only found shards of copper. Ran a few yards, reared up, and died. Attachment 209413
good back on track
223 is a great little round not ideal for a beginner hunter as said you need to poke the round in the right place and isn't as forgiving as a 308 or 270. That being said you know what the range limits of your 223 and projectile choice and half the fun is getting in close enough to make it count and satisfying that part of hunting/shooting
Attachment 209427
55gr Sierra game king, 3125 fps. 274m. dropped on the spot.
the size of some of the fallow now with numbers up a .222 or .223 bout all one needs otherwise mince meat -projectile choice though everything and where this forum is great for reloaders - and the new hunters - wise old heads who have actually tried various projectiles - always seemed to me in DOC and earlier Forest Service the USA made .222 was crap on killing although accurate ( federal winchester ) the Euro made ammo especially Sako and Norma killed well on goats and deer . Sako was always our favourite -I guess the USA made stuff was designed for gopher smoking- but in the red roar .308 every time
Yes @Barry the hunter . There are some pitiful Fallow around.
I shot this pregnant doe culling a couple of days ago. She was poorly grown out and light.150 yards and the lung shot 80 grn Targex went right through her and left a gaping hole as you would expect. But in reality any 222/223 would have dealt to her.
Attachment 209604
80 grn Targex. Took the top of the heart off and destroyed half the lung. 300 yards. A beautiful deer.
Attachment 210203
Jealous. Plenty of good grass for them by the looks too
Its a magnet for them.Quote:
Originally Posted by charliehorse
Damn that's an epic skin! Be good chewing too.Quote:
Originally Posted by Tahr
I just wish we could get more of those 80 grn
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