Best factory .223 hunting ammo

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kiwihunta

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For the last few years i have been having outstanding results with the Hornady .223 55grn vmax using it on everything from hares and rabbits to fallow deer with excellent results the deer have been substantially one shot kills and mostly dropped in there tracks, i should point out i also hunt with a .44 mag and a .308 win but my little .223 is my favourite and put in the right place it is devastating on fallow deer,our roar is coming up and this year i am chasing Reds and the elusive sika (quite a bit larger animals than the fallow),and i am considering using a heavier grn pill,my Savage is 1-9 twist so i can go a lot heavier in pill weight....maybe up to the hornady 75 grn tap ammo, or federal 64's anybody been using these two on deer ,grateful for the input.cheers.
 
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64 grain soft points either federal or winchester would be vastly superior for larger game. The vmax will likely not penetrate if you hit heavy bone. This is a thin jacketed varmint bullet only.
 
A 77gr SMK (Open Tip Match bullet, formerly Boat Tail Hollow Point) will put a person down pretty well over in the desert of Afghanistan and Iraq. I doubt they would do any worse on big game around whitetail size and smaller.

However, a soft point in the same weight range will give you much better terminal performance, usually.
 
Were I limited to factory loads I'd opt for the 64g win power point as a balance of price vs effectivness. if price isn't a concern buy something loaded with a barnes bullet

I used the Sierra 55g Gameking myself
 
I would stop looking for heavier .223 bullets and get a .243 or 6.5x55. They are a little more versatile than the .223
 
When you already have a rifle chambered in .223, the answer doesn't seem to be spend more money on another gun. Especially when he already has a .308 and a 44 magnum also for hunting.

I recommend if you want factory loads, get the Fiocchi PSP. I can them at sports authority, or order online. They are under $10 a box of 20. They're only 55 grain, but very effective, at over 3200 fps.
 
Federal Vital Shok Ammunition P223Q, 223 Remington, Nosler Partition, 60 GR, 3160 fps, 20 Rd/bx.

I reload my own using the 60 gr. Nosler Partion bullet.

Jimmy K
 
lopezni said:
I would stop looking for heavier .223 bullets and get a .243 or 6.5x55. They are a little more versatile than the .223
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I have had a .243 and 6.5x55 ,not really into those cals anymore cheers for the input, i have got it covered with what i have the .223 a .22 hornet .44mag and .308,i love my .223 and have never had any probs with deer not dropping ,just wanted some input on some alternative heavier loads for thicker set deer as in reds and sika,my previous .223s were a Howa and a remington 788 both had 1-12 twists where as my new Savage is 1-9 giving me more options bullet wise....cheers.
 
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Federal Vital Shok Ammunition P223Q, 223 Remington, Nosler Partition, 60 GR, 3160 fps, 20 Rd/bx.
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This is what a hunting buddy of mine uses for deer. It leaves no blood trail, doesn't exit, but kills DRT or within 20 yards. If I were going to hunt with the .223 for medium size game, it would be with this load.

t2e
 
tango2echo said:
This is what a hunting buddy of mine uses for deer. It leaves no blood trail, doesn't exit, but kills DRT or within 20 yards. If I were going to hunt with the .223 for medium size game, it would be with this load.

t2e
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Thanks for that,from what i am reading and hearing i may well try the federal,i saw some 64 grners in it as well today so i will rezero with it and give it a go.
 
I have had a .243 and 6.5x55 ,not really into those cals anymore
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arggggghhhhhhh! not into those calibers! the .243 is one of the best cartridges ever developed. Send me your rifle, I will get into shooting it.
 
I've personally never had a need for a .243. Then again, that's the "SMALLEST" caliber we can hunt big game here with. Can only use .223 on varmints and such. But considering 300+ yard shots aren't uncommon, that's why .243 is the smallest caliber allowed. But that is pretty rare out here except for a few antelope hunters. I'll stick with my 7mm magnum. Hell, because of the distances, I haven't used my 30-30 or 30-06 in 15 years. And that was hunting in texas. But after seeing deer in Wyoming, the deer in texas remind me of my german shepherd.
 
christcorp said:
I've personally never had a need for a .243. Then again, that's the "SMALLEST" caliber we can hunt big game here with. Can only use .223 on varmints and such. But considering 300+ yard shots aren't uncommon, that's why .243 is the smallest caliber allowed. But that is pretty rare out here except for a few antelope hunters. I'll stick with my 7mm magnum. Hell, because of the distances, I haven't used my 30-30 or 30-06 in 15 years. And that was hunting in texas. But after seeing deer in Wyoming, the deer in texas remind me of my german shepherd.
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Here in New Zealand we have a variety of deer, from the little Fallow ,sika ,Red,Sambar,Wapiti,Rusa,and the Stewart island white tail,and a variety of habitats from closed in bush shooting to open tussock country so theres a fair old range of choice on game and habitats.This also leads to a variety of calibres used to suit the type of deer and the particular terrain...i stick with my .223 for the little fallow and the Sika and as stated earlier very very rarely have a problem(my .44 mag kinda turns the good bits to soup LOL) and .308 for the rest.cheers
 
Our national parks have restrictions on calibres (no rimfires or shotguns any centre fire is ok ) but private blocks anything goes .
 
60 gr Partition

The US Marines did some testing recently looking for the same result you are, a more deadly bullet for the 5.56mm. Someone from the USMC was posting about it a few months ago on one of the forums I read. He said that the 60 grain Nosler partition proved to be a very devastating bullet, much more so than what they are presently using in Iraq. It even penetrated well through glass windshields and such, and still hit the target hard. You might try googling that subject.

Cheers!
 
kiwihunta said:
Steady on lads!! thats what the commas are for,and hey i thought this was a gun forum not an English comprehension discussion,i guess over here we just talk faster than you guys,but hey if it makes you happy i will slow it down ...LOL. slow it down ...LOL.
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I didnt mean to come off sounding like an as*. You're right, this isn't an English comprehension forum, but you're likely to get more responses with easy to read posts. Usually I won't read a post when its one large paragraph or if I have to strain to read it. Im sure there are others like me, so I'm just trying you help you out.
 
The Winchester 64gr PowerPoint, the Federal TRU223 64gr, the Nosler 60gr Partition and Hornday 60gr Barrier TAP are all popular for hunting deer and pigs here. The new hot load is the 70gr Barnes TSX; but you'll need at least a 1:8 twist for it as it is even longer than the 77gr Sierra MatchKing.
 
we penetration tested a bunch of .223 ammo and the nosler partitions hands down preformed the best and ive taken a few deer with them and they allways worked well. Believe it or not the ww 64 grain bullet seemed to fragment worse then alot of the 55 grain varmit bullets. The 60 grain vmax did fairly well too. the barns penetrated well but did not reliably expand enough for me to consider it for deer hunting. By the way i keep a 1000 rounds loaded with partitions for self defense. I couldnt imagine a better bullet for a combo of knock down power and penetration.
 
"You have no obligation to understand me. I have an obligation to make myself understood."

That's a two-way street.

The use of proper capitalization and of such things as commas make life easier for the reader.

One idea and associated comments per paragraph is quite helpful in understanding a person's offering.

Last is that since we only have the typed words, without facial expressions or body language to help in understanding what's said, reading and editing for spelling and typos before posting is very helpful to everybody.

Otherwise, why bother?

:), Art
 
Art Eatman said:
"You have no obligation to understand me. I have an obligation to make myself understood."

That's a two-way street.

The use of proper capitalization and of such things as commas make life easier for the reader.

One idea and associated comments per paragraph is quite helpful in understanding a person's offering.

Last is that since we only have the typed words, without facial expressions or body language to help in understanding what's said, reading and editing for spelling and typos before posting is very helpful to everybody.

Otherwise, why bother?

:), Art
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Actually i did pass NZ School certificate in English along with five other subjects,i also hold the NZ University English entrance level Qualification certification.I guess blogging is like texting we cut corners and are far more casual than perhaps sometimes we should be.
Whilst i admit to being initially a little perhaps perplexed at people on a gun /shooting forum being more hung up on English comprehension than the forum subject,i will definitely endeavor to scrutinise any future posts i make concerning my comprehension.
...........LOL.
 
kiwi:

Hain't no problum. Eye hain't nevur see'd why peepull kant jest lett uthurs spehl how thay whant. Eye'm thin-kin itz jest mi. <<smirk>>

Sorry, friend, I used to be an English teacher. :D Sew eye kan git way wigth rightin' badly. <<smirk>> It's fun to sometimes have fun ain't it?!

Geno :eek:
 
Geno said:
kiwi:

Hain't no problum. Eye hain't nevur see'd why peepull kant jest lett uthurs spehl how thay whant. Eye'm thin-kin itz jest mi. <<smirk>>

Sorry, friend, I used to be an English teacher. :D Sew eye kan git way wigth rightin' badly. <<smirk>> It's fun to sometimes have fun ain't it?!

Geno :eek:
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It sure is ........good on you mate!!!!
 
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