.223 for southern deer ?

[Tacbandit]

Anybody used a .223 in the south for deer, and could you recommend a
particular factory load that works well? I'm taking someone hunting, and they want to use a light recoil rifle. It's legal here, and most shots would be under 100 yds where we will be...Thanks...

 

[ashtxsniper]

Place your shots correctly and you will be fine. Look for bullets loaded with a non varmint bullet. Something 55 grains or heavier. Barnes X or nosler partition are 2 good ones loaded in .223.

 

[Tacbandit]

Thanks, Ash...I've had both of those recommended before...In my situation,
which would you pick...Barnes X, or Nosler partition? I'm leaning a little towards the Noz...The kids an extreme novice(ROOKIE), but I'll have him out shooting the rifle before we hunt...It'll be dialed, but I just don't know about
using .223 on deer. The next best thing I can offer him is a .270, but I don't think he'll want it.

 

[Water-Man]

The .270 would be more appropriate.

 

[greyling22]

223 works great for texas deer. besides, the 223 was made to kill a 150 lb mammal.

 

[Tacbandit]

Got a factory load you can recommend?

 

[skinewmexico]

Wasting money on both the Barnes X and Partition. A cheap Core-lokt (which was the premium bullet for years) works just fine, and usually better.

 

[Shawnee]

+1 for "SkiNewMexico's" advice. Focus 5% of the shooter's attention on bullet type and 99% of their attention on patience and good shot placement.

 

[35 Whelen]

Wasting money on both the Barnes X and Partition. A cheap Core-lokt (which was the premium bullet for years) works just fine, and usually better.

X's and Partitions are NOT a waste of money in my experience. When you're using a .22 for deer (which I have to the tune of a dozen or so...) you need a good of a bullet as possible. For a factory load, Federal loads the 60 gr. Nosler Partition, or if you just don't want to spend the money, Winchester loads a 64 gr. Power Point that they advertise for deer size game.
Contrary to what "skinewmexico" states, Remington does not, nor have they ever, produced a .22 caliber Core-Lokt bullet. I have, however used their Core-Lokt bullets in .25 caliber, 100 gr. and .30 caliber 150 gr., on deer and hogs with 100% satisfaction. In fact the last .25 caliber 100 gr. bullet I used on a deer entered the left shoulder of a buck quartering to me at something over 200 yds. I found the bullet in the off-side skin between two ribs. It retained a weight of 60 grs. , which is 60% which is pretty close to what the Partitions will do. Their .22 caliber bullets are ordinary soft points designed for varmints. Yes, I know, countless hundreds of deer are killed annaully with them, but I think they're less than ideal for a novice.
I killed probably 8 or so deer with a 220 Swift and an ordinary 55 gr. Sierra BTSP, or SBT as they call them. It killed everyone of them, but there was zero margin for error. All my shots were broadside. If I'd tried to make a quareting shot, I doubt they'd have penetrated far enough.
Good luck,
35W

 

[GooseGestapo]

Ditto skiinewmexico and Shawnee;

I've killed several hundred deer with a .223, not to mention the .22Hornet, and recently the .22-250.

For the single best factory load, I'd recommend the Winchester 64gr PowerPoint, though I haven't ever used it. I have however used the 60gr Hornady PtSpt,(This would be my first choice if Hornady offers it) and the 63gr Sierra as well as the newer 65gr GameKing BoatTail Spt. (I've only taken one deer with a factory .223 load, and I wouldn't recommend it. -(Remington 50gr PowerLokt Hollow Point. after 5 hits, it took a .357mag round to the head to terminate the deer, bullets penetrated only about 2-3", and two to the neck failed to break the spine.....Very accurate small varmint load, however. Range was actually too close ~45yds.) This however was my only failure with a .223.(though the deer still died, eventually). An envyable record.

The most deer have been taken with the Hornady 55gr PtSpt (The bulk ones, with a cannulure). Simply due to the fact that they are cheap (or were, the last 1,000 I bought in 1999 for #42.00/1000). A friend uses about 100 per year. He uses them in a T/C Texas carbine w/16.5"bbl. He's taken them out to 325yds. He uses a shoulder/spine shot usually, however I've seen some with gut-shots that went less than 50yds. (He's got a large farm and takes them on crop-damage permits. I used to issue him his permits, and occasionally accompanied him.)

Simply put, a well placed .223 Soft Point (don't even bother with the Ballistic Tips, V-max's, or various hollow-points) of 55grs or heavier.
A heart shot, or a shoulder/spine shot is the most reliable. Neck and head shots are difficult, especially for an excited neophyte, so avoid those. With broadside hits, I usually get complete penetration and good blood trails. Essentially indistinguishable from the .243wcf.

However, when hunting "horns", I usually defer to a larger rifle, such as the 7mm08, .257Roberts, or if really long shots in really windy weather I'll blast them with a .257WbyMag, or, for deer jelly, the .300RUM. But, this year opening day found me with my wee little Rem. Mod-7 and some 60gr Hornady SoftPoints. No deer, but did whack one coyote!

 

[Tacbandit]

Thanks, ya'll...a lot to think about...I may try to nudge him over to the .270, and he won't go, I guess I'll have to weigh all of this out, and try
to pick one....Much obliged...

 

[35 Whelen]

Thanks, ya'll...a lot to think about...I may try to nudge him over to the .270, and he won't go, I guess I'll have to weigh all of this out, and try
to pick one....Much obliged...

If recoil is the factor with the .270, Remington makes a managed recoil load, that'd be similar in recoil to a 257 Roberts. Whatever you do, I wouldn't force him to shoot the .270. A flinch is a difficult thing to conquer.
35W

 

[Deer Hunter]

My girlfriend will be using one of my .223s this season. She's a bit recoil shy. No reason they can't be used on a deer down here.

 

[freakshow10mm]

Winchester 64gr PP is an outstanding deer load. I handload them to 2650fps and they do the job on big bodied UP whitetails.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I plan on using a Steven's model 200 in .223 with Golden Bear 62 gr, soft points this season. Our hunting club has opportunity for shots ranging from 10 to 300 yds. Alabama deer are not just one size. I personally know of one buck that tipped certified scales at 360lbs(in the round). We also have feral hogs that I plan on hunting as well. I haven't used this set-up before so I won't know how it will perform until the season actually opens.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I haven't tried it, but I've heard of people using Winchester Power Point 64 grain ammo with success on deer. You can get this as a factory load or get these bullets and load your own.

But as mentioned, you're probably ideally better off stepping up to a .243 or similar.

 

[skinewmexico]

OK, a 55g Remington Soft point. My kids have killed about 30 does in the last three years with them, and they were all DRT. This is going just like last weeks "223 for deer" thread. And the week befores. and the week before that.......

 

[Tacbandit]

PremiumSauces Quote:
"I haven't tried it, but I've heard of people using Winchester Power Point 64 grain ammo with success on deer. You can get this as a factory load or get these bullets and load your own.
But as mentioned, you're probably ideally better off stepping up to a .243 or similar."


Thanks, Premium...I'm with ya on that, except the next step up is .270, and I don't think the young man wants to shoot that...and only gets bigger from there. However, I believe in trying what works for others..I'll pick up some
Win 64gr PP, and give it a whirl...Thanks...

 

[Tacbandit]

Thanks, Everybody....Appreciate all the info

 

[CSA 357]

The 223 is not a deer round, i have taken a few with it and i was impressed! Its about shot placement!!!! I tryed the 22 250 and it was not what i wanted, it wouldnt penatrate with the bullets i was using , but i did take a few deer with it, i would go with a heaver bullet, the 223 is a great cal but as said !!! Shot placement is the real answer! Csa

 

[trigga]

i'm shooting my .223 a15 this year on deer, i kinda have an iffy feeling about it. second day on doe only hunt i saw a good size buck. man i tell you my finger was itching. came so close i could spit on it from the treestand. this is only a temp gun until i can afford a more appropriate gun like an ar10 in .308, i like semi auto with a lot or rounds, that's just me. i'm using hornady 55gr tap.

 

[Encoreman]

In Mississippi, which btw is the deep south a .243 is the smallest allowable centerfire round that is legal. I prefer 30 cal myself. 30-30 for the woods and .308 or 30-06 for longer shots. Mac

 

[Sunray]

"...I don't think he'll want it..." Take him to a range using 130 grain bullets. You'll like be surprised. Had a small statured female Army Cadet who could shoot circles around most of the big teenage guys with either a .303 No. 4 Lee-Enfield or a 7.62NATO FN C1A1.
Felt recoil has more to do with the stock fit and shooting technique than anything else.
Most 55 grain .223 bullets are varmint bullets. Don't use 'em for deer. The right bullet construction is essential. Not all heavy for calibre bullets are suitable for deer either.

 

[trigga]

might be a dumb question but what is the reason not to shoot deer with varmint loads, not enough penetration? i have the v max 223 and was just wondering...

 

[JWarren]

In Mississippi, which btw is the deep south a .243 is the smallest allowable centerfire round that is legal. I prefer 30 cal myself. 30-30 for the woods and .308 or 30-06 for longer shots. Mac

Absolutely wrong, Mac.


I believed this for years. When I actually looked for the requirements rather than listen to what every hunter around here says, I found nothing.

I went to the MS Game Commission's website. Still nothing.

So I called them. After speaking with a number of people, I got it directly from someone in Enforcement that .223 is legal to hunt deer in MS.

According to the guy in enforcement that they patched me through to in Jackson:

"Any centerfire .22 caliber or above is legal for deer in MS."



Please don't take this post as "calling you out" or anything. I have always believed that .243 or above was the requirement -- as I was always TOLD-- until I actually looked for the law and spoke to the MS Game Commission.

I've made the exact statement that you made both verbally AND on posts on THR.


-- John