.223 got the job done, but...

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newfalguy101

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I am going bigger next year.

I used my Ar-15 rifle for deer this year, I REALLY liked using the AR, its a lightweight gun, going about 6 lbs with a New Frontier Armory poly lower and Surplus Arms and Ammo upper in 5.56.

I used a handloaded .223, 63gr powerpoint loaded to mid-upper power level.

The bullet hit a rib on the way in and didn't exit.........turned the lungs to mush, but no exit hole.

I LIKE exit holes, they bleed for tracking, should that be needed.

Anyway, meat in the freezer, yea!!

Now for next year.

What caliber do you think is a minimum for consistently passing through, assuming good shot placement.

100ish pound deer, hit either in or just behind the shoulder.

Optimally, I want to stay with the Ar-15 rifle, just replacing the upper.

Let the debate begin.........
 
Not familiar enough with the .243 AR rifles to know if you can get there simply with another upper. 6.8 will do well on deer.

But you certainly can simply swap the barrel or a whole upper to get a 300blk.
 
I've put venison in the freezer with .224 60 grain partitions & a 16" AR as well.
Yep it works, but the lack of blood trail didn't sit well with me either. ( a life of one inch broadheads and twelve gauge slugs tend to spoil a guy.)

Staying with the 15 platform, a 6.8 SPC would be a vast improvement over. 223.
 
I'm going to use the .224 70gr Hornady GMX. I think it gives a better chance at an exit wound. Changing caliber would mostly defeat the purpose of the AR for me.
 
Look into 6mmx45, I think maybe on ar15 or another forum a guy had posted kill pics of skinned deer with it.
 
I have been looking at the 243 wssm for the ar 15 platform just for that reason. I don't have that kind of money right now, but it is on the list towards the top.
 
.25-45 Sharps virtually duplicates the performance of the classic .250 savage, a very well respected deer cartridge in it's day. Factory ammo available, cases easily made by simply necking up the .223 Rem case. Uses stock AR bolts & magazines, only a barrel change needed to convert an upper. It has win written all over it IMHO.
 
try barnes or gmx solid copper.

location of bullet impact
bullet construction
bullet velocity.
 
I have had a 6.5 Grendel for several years that has done very well on deer and pigs, I'm running mine heavy with 129 grain bullets.
pigJan082010.jpg
BobcatJan082010.jpg

This year I have been playing with the .300 Blackout. I am running 110 grain bullets with full house loads running 2465 fps. This rifle has done very well with two pigs down (both head shots) at 160 and 180 yards. Two deer taken, one at 175 yards and the other at 205 yards.
8DAFF4A6-FE33-4BD5-8CEA-3D9D1C56F950_zps9yzkkkxy.jpg
AA5C5DEF-EE70-4021-812C-A5DF6F4E8206_zps7cegvcxm.jpg

If you want something that is waay overkill, try the .50 Beowulf. Loaded with 335 grain HP bullets it does ugly things to pigs!
Beowulfbuckdec212009.jpg
BeowulfpigsNov22008.jpg
 
The Winchester PowerPoints are on the fragile side.
Try a Sierra 63gr Smpt or 65gr GameKing. Also, I've had good luck with 60gr Hornady Spt. The Nosler 60gr Partition is good but $$.
At closer ranges, you'll likely not get complete penetration with a LOT of rifles, not just the .223.
I've seen same thing with 100gr bullets from .243, .257 Roberts and WbyMag, even 120gr BallisticTips from 7mm08. Even .308 and .30/06 will do same thing with 150gr SoftPoint bullets.

Shot placement is the key.
 
While I am a huge fan of the 6.5 Grendel (which is my current hunting round for hogs and predators) which does get great overpenetration with Hornady SST 123 gr. ammo, a change in bullet choice will get you more penetration on deer, such as going with Barnes solid copper TTSX bullets. They certainly work well on hogs.
 
The Federal Fusion loading in .223 makes good deer medicine at a lower price point than many of the suggested loads
 
Stick with your 223 and load Partitions, they'll hold together better than PowerPoints.

If you're set on a new upper I would go with 6.8.
 
A bit of an update, of sorts...

When I skinned the deer, I quickly realized my hit wasn't quite as good as I had thought it was. I hit a bit further forward then I realized, hitting the shoulder.

STILL a textbook good hit and in fact, better penetration than I initially thought, even though it didn't exit.

I may opt for a better bullet and give the .223 another chance.........course that means I don't have an excuse to buy a new upper..........decisions decisions
 
try an upper in 7.62X39. it will be close to a 30-30 if you hand load for it. with in 200 FPS anyways. i used one on a deer and worked great. on the plus side if there is no exit hole and you hit the deer right the bullet has done more damage than a bullet that goes threw and the deer will go down faster. I do not like my bullet to exit i like leaving all the fragments and energy in the deer. i have never tracked a deer either, been fortunate to make good fast/clean kills.
 
If what you're mostly looking for is an exit hole, and want to minimize changes to your setup, would some green tip penetrator rounds get the job done? Or are those not legal for hunting? (Sorry, not being a hunter, I honestly don't know.) Cheers!
 
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