Cousin Pat
New member
If you WERE going to attempt a small deer (out to, say, 100 yards) with a 223 rem, what cartridge would you recommend to maximize the chances of a clean kill?
223rem . small deer
- Thread starter Cousin Pat
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Crankylove
New member
For bullet choice, I would go with a 55 gr. soft point to the skull. Should make short work of a deer. I see lots of hunters around my home state using Mini-14's for Deer......proper shot placement, and the .223 works just fine.
Since I don't own a .223, or hunt small deer.......the closest I can get is when I take my .22 Hornet (with 40/45 grain soft points) on the Elk hunt.
Since I don't own a .223, or hunt small deer.......the closest I can get is when I take my .22 Hornet (with 40/45 grain soft points) on the Elk hunt.
I have taken 2 deer using 55 grain one with jacketed hollow points and another with ballitstic tips. Both didnt go more than 50 yards. Thats what worked for me. Others may say to use something else and to be honest Id listen to them when I shot those two deer I was coyote hunting and I just happened to have a deer tag.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
Just generalizing, but the bullet guys' R&D efforts have come up with .223 bullets which are much better for penetration and controlled expansion than the bullets designed for varmints.
Generally, bullet weights in the 60- to 70 grain vicinity meet a deer hunter's needs better than the lighter weights.
Generally--again--for a neck shot or a 90-degree cross body shot, most any bullet will work. But the newer-designed bullets are more likely to give adequate penetration on any sort of angling shot, or will go on and get past bone without blowing up and merely inflicting a surficial wound.
Generally, bullet weights in the 60- to 70 grain vicinity meet a deer hunter's needs better than the lighter weights.
Generally--again--for a neck shot or a 90-degree cross body shot, most any bullet will work. But the newer-designed bullets are more likely to give adequate penetration on any sort of angling shot, or will go on and get past bone without blowing up and merely inflicting a surficial wound.
Agreed, Art. As I see it, there are three ways to skin the 'adequate penetration' cat... slow a 55 grain SP down, use a heavier bullet, or use a premium bullet.
I'm using 65 grain Sierra SPs at about 2800 this year, that is whenever I'm not using my old 94 Winchester. Hopefully I'll have some .223/65grain results to post.
I'm using 65 grain Sierra SPs at about 2800 this year, that is whenever I'm not using my old 94 Winchester. Hopefully I'll have some .223/65grain results to post.
03Shadowbob
New member
I used a 62gr Winchester Ranger to get this one a month ago. DRT. I've used the .223 round a couple times successfully but prefer my 30-30, 30-06 or 308. Placement though, as has been said millions of times in the past, is everything.
bamaranger
New member
.223
Not a fan of head shots.
BAmaboy used a .223 on deer for his first couple. Both were shot with Federal Tac loads and the 55 gr or 62gr bonded bullet. One exited, the other did not, on double lung/ribcage shots, and neither went any further than a deer shot w/ a bigger gun. There was a distinct lack of blood trail on the one that didn't have an exit wound.
I also have some 60 gr Nosler partitions that I would not hesitate to load and use.
Not a fan of head shots.
BAmaboy used a .223 on deer for his first couple. Both were shot with Federal Tac loads and the 55 gr or 62gr bonded bullet. One exited, the other did not, on double lung/ribcage shots, and neither went any further than a deer shot w/ a bigger gun. There was a distinct lack of blood trail on the one that didn't have an exit wound.
I also have some 60 gr Nosler partitions that I would not hesitate to load and use.
Buzzard Bait
New member
70gr speer
look at the speer 70 gr semi spitzer their # 1053. My daughter and I have both taken white tails with this bullet, all in the 100 or so yard range all about 130 lb field dressed size. We are using a 222 should work better in your 223 but out of the duece the performance has been good with threw and threw wounds on most except one my daughter center punched in the chest that was facing her straight on, never found the bullet though my back was bothering me that day and bending over to dig in a gut pile to find the spent bullet was more painfull than it was worth.
bb
look at the speer 70 gr semi spitzer their # 1053. My daughter and I have both taken white tails with this bullet, all in the 100 or so yard range all about 130 lb field dressed size. We are using a 222 should work better in your 223 but out of the duece the performance has been good with threw and threw wounds on most except one my daughter center punched in the chest that was facing her straight on, never found the bullet though my back was bothering me that day and bending over to dig in a gut pile to find the spent bullet was more painfull than it was worth.
bb
My kids have killed quite a number of deer with either Speer 70 grain or Hornady 60 grain soft points. Either of these will usually give full penetratation on broadside shots. I've also had to put a finishing shot into several that didn't die as quick as I thought they should. Head shots are not a good idea but a center shot to the neck will do well. If a 223 is your only choice, it will work but there are many better cartridges. The bi-metal jackets of European ammo I've tested will likely blow all the way through a deer but I'm skeptical of consistent performance with those.
I have a pretty accurate load worked up for my CZ-527 using the 53gr Barnes Triple Shock. The plan is to use them for javelina. I prefer to use something bigger for deer. If I was going to go after deer with a 223, I'd want a Barnes triple Shock or a Nosler Partition. I doubt my 527 could stabilize the Speer 70gr. If you decide to go heavy, make sure your rifle's twist rate will support it.
shastaboat
Moderator
.223 for deer
I've done it and the first doe I shot I had to chase for 3 miles. Second 250 lb mule deer took (3) 55 gr Speer loaded to 3300 fps all solid boiler room hits. I'm not recommending it. One 200 lb hog hit with one 55 gr went 25 yards and dropped dead. (spleen shot). Use something a bit heavier...
I've done it and the first doe I shot I had to chase for 3 miles. Second 250 lb mule deer took (3) 55 gr Speer loaded to 3300 fps all solid boiler room hits. I'm not recommending it. One 200 lb hog hit with one 55 gr went 25 yards and dropped dead. (spleen shot). Use something a bit heavier...
The army has been using the .223 for killing people for a long time. So its proven it can kill. If you look at ballistics tables. The .223 might make a smaller hole but it has better stats then a .44 mag. But when it comes down to it as long as you make a good shot you can kill a deer with a .22 short if you wanted.
I killed a doe at about 30 yds. with my AR-15. Barnes X handload. Double lung, deer went about 15 yds. I did it just to do it, wanted to get one w/the AR and had decided ahead of time to limit my shot to < 50 yds. Won't do it again b/c I would've been mad if a big buck showed up at 150 yds and i can't shoot b/c I'm unsure of my weapon.
LanceOregon
Moderator
The Winchester 64 gr Ranger Law Enforcement cartridge that was mentioned earlier would be a good choice. The exact same loading is sold by Winchester to civilians under the Super-X label also. Both loads use a Powerpoint bullet.
Others worth considering would include:
Hornady's brand new 223 REM 55 GR GMX SUPERFORMANCE
Federal ammo makes two excellent .223 Deer loads: One uses a 60 gr Nosler Partition bullet, and the other a 55 gr Barnes Triple Shock X bullet.
Black Hills ammo has a good .223 load in their Blue Box product line that uses a nice 60 gr soft point that would be ideal for deer.
Of all of the cartridges, the Black Hills is the least expensive. I also like their ammo a lot, so it is what I would use myself.
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