Thread: 223 for deer hunting?

Never under estimate the mighty 223. Ive shot all my deer with it up to 180-200m and all have been accounted for with the 55gr. Shot placement is key, but it makes you a better hunter I believe.

nothing wrong with 223 deer cullers used 222 for years.... as others have said shot placement is important as with any rifle but more so as you go down in cal
my advice would be plenty of range time I would do shooting at all distances starting at 25m and working in 25m increments 25,50,75,100,125,150 and so on so and write it all down
for example
25m 1" high
50m 1/2" high
75m 1/4" high
100m dead on
125m 1/4 inch low
and so on you could even tape the info to your butt for quick reference so you know exactly where your shot is going at said distance so you can be dead on the mark when you need to make it count

You don't automaticly have to discard the shoulders if shot there, usually the actual damage is confined to a 3 inch diameter circle, yes there will be blood between the muscles but the muscles themselves will usually be fine if separated and trimmed.

just saying

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

You don't automaticly have to discard the shoulders if shot there, usually the actual damage is confined to a 3 inch diameter circle, yes there will be blood between the muscles but the muscles themselves will usually be fine if separated and trimmed.

just saying

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Some shoulders are of the yearlings I have shot are real bad. I am not picky but I even have trouble persuading the Labs its edible. It smells like meat but it sure doesn't look like or have the texture of meat that I would eat.

Usually a few razor sharp slivers of copper with pulverised shards of bone are mixed in with it that I would hate to bite on or swallow. I gnashed a piece of steel shot recently that nearly knackered a tooth and sent me out of my seat hollering like a Bantu.

Originally Posted by Scribe

I gnashed a piece of steel shot recently that nearly knackered a tooth and sent me out of my seat hollering like a Bantu.

Oh the mental image that conjures. I have broken more than one tooth through sitar experiences. Not fun at all.

Whats the easiest way to work out the twist rate of your barrel if you dont know it?

Originally Posted by Rusky

Whats the easiest way to work out the twist rate of your barrel if you dont know it?

a tight patch on cleaning rod.
mark its depth and rotation then pull out slowly till it has done one turn and mark.
measure between marks, 12 inches would be 1 in 12 or one turn for every 12 inches.

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Originally Posted by veitnamcam

a tight patch on cleaning rod.
mark its depth and rotation then pull out slowly till it has done one turn and mark.
measure between marks, 12 inches would be 1 in 12 or one turn for every 12 inches.

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+1

Or if its a modern rifle google it, most manufacturers will post their twist rates.

What rifle is it?

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

a tight patch on cleaning rod.
mark its depth and rotation then pull out slowly till it has done one turn and mark.
measure between marks, 12 inches would be 1 in 12 or one turn for every 12 inches.

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Very Useful Cam - especially if you suspect it may have been re-barrelled.

Its a ZKK 601 brno 223. I knew how to do the rod thing but have only a pull through so not sure if it will work properly.

Originally Posted by Rusky

Its a ZKK 601 brno 223. I knew how to do the rod thing but have only a pull through so not sure if it will work properly.

I am pretty sure those had a 1:12 twist.
No, the pull through won't work

Good to see my opinion from 11 years ago was correct