Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by 25/08IMP

About 2578fps as I'm loading the same bullet and are 2900 at the muzzle.

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80 gr .223 at 2900 fps, that is impressive and is hard on the heels of many 80 gr .243 factory loads.

Originally Posted by rockland

80 gr .223 at 2900 fps, that is impressive and is hard on the heels of many 80 gr .243 factory loads.

Yeah mine maybe closer to 2800 so i may have that wrong didn't have my book

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Originally Posted by rockland

80 gr .223 at 2900 fps, that is impressive and is hard on the heels of many 80 gr .243 factory loads.

I use the same 80grn load in 2 rifles. My 20 inch savage chronographs at 2837. Haven’t chronoed the 22 inch Tikka but I expect it’s close to 2900.

Originally Posted by Tahr

I use the same 80grn load in 2 rifles. My 20 inch savage chronographs at 2837. Haven’t chronoed the 22 inch Tikka but I expect it’s close to 2900.

talk dirty to me!

sorry but I have a few .223's and your numbers almost make me want to take up reloading

I really pushed the envelope with the 80 Targex and .223 this morning (with a grandson).

330 yards back of the shoulder hit (lung, where I mostly go for with the .223). There was a bit of confusion after the shot because instead of there being just 3 deer 10 scattered all over the show so I lost sight of the one I had fired at.

Another one at the same range presented itself and I dropped that with a spine shot. Long story short and after searching for an hour for the 1st one and giving up, when I dealt to the second one I had hit the same deer twice.

It had run 20 yards with a back of the shoulder hit and was probably dead on its feet but it was going to be a slow kill never the less and a good indication of the limit of these things. At these longer ranges I actually think the 77 grn Sierra tipped performs marginally better (softer I think).



This is the entry after penetrating the rear of the shoulder. I didn't look inside.

That's good to know the limit

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Tahr, what velocity do you have the 69 grain Sierra going from your 20 inch barrel?

Originally Posted by JohnDuxbury

Tahr, what velocity do you have the 69 grain Sierra going from your 20 inch barrel?

3k

Had this Tikka running for couple of years now and it can account for a large number of deer and goats.
Shooting the Belmont made Sierra 77gr HPBT through the 1/8 twist barrel.
On the list is to cerakote the barrel and maybe shorten it up a tad.
Awesome rifle paired with the nightforce and super accurate.

Thought I’d bump this thread up to the top , because it’s one of my favourites.
Anyone done some more .223 stuff of any kind ?
Also I’m interested in others opinions about velocity/ barrel length for the .223 , I see that there are a few here running shorter barrels ( mainly I suspect to accommodate suppressors) , but my thoughts have turned to trying to ring as much velocity out of the .223 as possible ( no matter what bullet weight) to increase on target performance/ energy , because any increase is a benefit with a cartridge as small as the .223
Id be interested to hear others thoughts on that .

Yep agree, one of my favourite threads as well. I love the mighty 223 and may not use anything else again if my early experiences are anything to go by.

Originally Posted by Ground Control

Thought I’d bump this thread up to the top , because it’s one of my favourites.
Anyone done some more .223 stuff of any kind ?
Also I’m interested in others opinions about velocity/ barrel length for the .223 , I see that there are a few here running shorter barrels ( mainly I suspect to accommodate suppressors) , but my thoughts have turned to trying to ring as much velocity out of the .223 as possible ( no matter what bullet weight) to increase on target performance/ energy , because any increase is a benefit with a cartridge as small as the .223
Id be interested to hear others thoughts on that .

Just me, but for an all round .223 I wouldn't want under 20". 20" is the ideal for me (I have 2 20", and a 22"). The folk with shorter barrels always seem to be chasing velocity. My theoretical minimum is 3 K for a 69 grain projectile (that is achievable in some 18" but you never know until you have made the cut). But all of that is just me.

Ive also gravitated towards faster twist barrels so I can use heavier for caliber projectiles. The 80 grain are something else for bucking wind and knocking over, but require a 1:8 barrel.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Just me, but for an all round .223 I wouldn't want under 20". 20" is the ideal for me (I have 2 20", and a 22"). The folk with shorter barrels always seem to be chasing velocity. My theoretical minimum is 3 K for a 69 grain projectile (that is achievable in some 18" but you never know until you have made the cut). But all of that is just me.

Ive also gravitated towards faster twist barrels so I can use heavier for caliber projectiles. The 80 grain are something else for bucking wind and knocking over, but require a 1:8 barrel.

In my limited experience I would have to agree with you .
I have a 20 inch 1:8 barrel and a 22 inch 1:12 .
I’m leaning towards getting one that is the best of both worlds a 22 inch 1:8
I use Factory ammo ( gave up reloading 10 years ago ) and the true velocity of Factory is never what it says on the box .
My 22 inch barrel is probably only delivering what hand loaders are getting from a 18-19 barrel

@Tahr did you long throat your chamber neck to run the 80 grainers? The ballistics look expressive for a 223.

Originally Posted by tikka

@Tahr did you long throat your chamber neck to run the 80 grainers? The ballistics look expressive for a 223.

I told the smith I would use heavier projectiles and he set it up based on his .223 that he uses 69 grn in. I get touching the lands inside the mag length and plenty of powder space so it is ideal.