best factory deer load in 223
- Thread starter PSE
- Start date
Alot of the "cheaper" stuff will come apart, but I have no first hand experience with that particular ammo. Get 3 or 4 phone books and put a couple wraps of duct tape around them, soak overnight in water, line them up and shoot a few rounds into them. If they will hold together in wet phone books a deer is no problem. Its not the best ballistic test media, but it will give you an idea of what your workin with.
Jack O'Conner
New member
Ignore the negative comments. These well intentioned hunters have not been shooting dixie cup sized targets with ease all summer. They can't envision shooting precisely into the chest with a small bullet that causes such ghastly damage.
WINCHESTER SUPER X 64 grain ammo is what we've used for mulies. If it didn't work we'd stop. This fact alone is a legitimate experience factor that can not be denied or ignored.
This is my daughter with her 2nd muley. Rifle is my Savage 12 in .223 with 4X - 16X scope.
Jack
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WINCHESTER SUPER X 64 grain ammo is what we've used for mulies. If it didn't work we'd stop. This fact alone is a legitimate experience factor that can not be denied or ignored.
This is my daughter with her 2nd muley. Rifle is my Savage 12 in .223 with 4X - 16X scope.
Jack
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Big Ugly Tall Texan
New member
I would say the heaviest hollowpoint you could find.
You don't want opinions on the .223 for deer or this post would be a lot longer.
You don't want opinions on the .223 for deer or this post would be a lot longer.
treefarmernc
New member
I use 55gr Remington High Velo. loads and 60gr hand load with my 22-250; the 223 would be about the same. Soft points or hollow points both work good. I would say use at least 55 gr, although 50gr would do the job.
treefarmernc
New member
D@#^ this is an old thread! Better late than never.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
I agree with many that the 223 is not the best round to use on deer unless you are one of our new Kordish Overlords.
I just love it when people use the term humanely when describing the 223 for hunting. We shoot a whole lot of humans with it. Some in the gut, some in the legs, a couple in the hips. I have to assume that all of these shots are humane as it is a human shooting a human. They certainly can't be bovine shots.
getupatree
New member
I am considering the Winchester Power Point 64 gr PSP. It is rated for CXP2 game and looks to be the ticket...Also the Remington Ultra Core-Lokt 62gr
skydiver3346
New member
.223 for deer?
I used to hunt a little with my .223 using Winchester 64 grain soft point bullets. I killed everydeer I shot (3 of them) but never felt really comfortable with using that gun. Probably because I listened to all the other guys telling me I was foolish to hunt with a .223 rifle.
As far as having to trail a deer after shooting one with a .223, I know a lot of folks who had to look for deer after shooting them with a .30-06 or .270. So, if you can shoot a .5 group with your .223, then by all means go for it, (head of neck shots if possible) less meat damage too.
Good luck.
I used to hunt a little with my .223 using Winchester 64 grain soft point bullets. I killed everydeer I shot (3 of them) but never felt really comfortable with using that gun. Probably because I listened to all the other guys telling me I was foolish to hunt with a .223 rifle. As far as having to trail a deer after shooting one with a .223, I know a lot of folks who had to look for deer after shooting them with a .30-06 or .270. So, if you can shoot a .5 group with your .223, then by all means go for it, (head of neck shots if possible) less meat damage too.
Good luck.
In WA State and SC it is moot ...
In Washington state, my home state, the minimum caliber for deer hunting is 24 caliber. As a result the .223 Rem, which is 22 caliber, would be illegal!
In South Carolina the minimum caliber for deer hunting is .243 caliber, at least according to my son who lives there, again, as a result the .223 Rem, which is 22 caliber, would be illegal!
I can't speak for game laws in all the other states, but I wouldn't be surprised to see similar restriction, some states on the eastern seaboard require rifled shotgun slugs only.
YMMV
In Washington state, my home state, the minimum caliber for deer hunting is 24 caliber. As a result the .223 Rem, which is 22 caliber, would be illegal!
In South Carolina the minimum caliber for deer hunting is .243 caliber, at least according to my son who lives there, again, as a result the .223 Rem, which is 22 caliber, would be illegal!
I can't speak for game laws in all the other states, but I wouldn't be surprised to see similar restriction, some states on the eastern seaboard require rifled shotgun slugs only.
YMMV
longranger
New member
Wyoming does not allow .223 cal for big game,.24 cal min. Thank God reasonable people prevail here.