224 Hornady 55 Grain SP W Cannelure Deer

[razorback2003]

Has anyone used the Hornady 224 55 grain soft point W cannelure on small deer? We have a lot of 100 lb or smaller deer where I hunt and this seems to be a pretty inexpensive bullet.

I'm assuming it does not shatter like the VMAX or Nosler Ballistic tip varmint bullets?

 

[VoodooMountain]

I have not personally used them on deer but they should work fine if you can get a boiler room shot and you keep the velocity fairly mild. They will grenade if you run them hot.

There is 1 gel test that I am aware of and I found it on YouTube a while back. May want to check that out to give you some idea.

Otherwise, another box of bullets you have confidence in is cheap and available.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I have. They work.
I prefer something heavier. I like the non-cannelure 60gr Hornady. Considerably better penetration combined with good expansion and better weight retention.

The biggest problem I've had with the Hornady's with cannelures, is inconsistent accuracy. Some lot #'s will shoot like the non-cannelure version, but more often the cannelure will significantly degrade accuracy. Poor accuracy affects good shot placement which is paramount shooting .22cf's. The last lot# I had shot 2" groups from my .22/250 that occasionally puts 5 Sierra's in one hole.

I bought a thousand Hornady 60 gr Blems that has the cannelure too far foward. They shoot decently, but no better than 7/8" at 100yds.

If I was going to buy more bullets to shoot deer with my .223 or .22/250's, I'd get more 63gr Sierra Semi-pointed. My 1/14" twist .22/250 shoots under 1" with them.
My go-to .22cf for plinking does is a Rem. M-7 in .223. It has a 1/12" twist bbl and shoots the Sierra 65gr GameKing as well as it shoots anything. (1.5" 5-shots@100yds).

If you have a1/9" twist, try the Berger 70gr VLD over 25.0gr RL15 @2.26"oal.

Also, a better choice is either the MidwayUSA "dogtown" or Midsouth " VarmintNightMare" 55gr SoftPoints. Better accuracy at similar pricepoint as the bulk Hornady's with the cannelure.

Remember, with the .22cf's on deer, It's "shot placement, shot placement, shot placement".
Just don't expect much from a TNT, blitz, SX, or plastic tip explosive expansion bullet.
No need for a uber expensive monolithic alloy bullet either. Your 55gr soft points will work it you can get them to shoot accurately.

 

[AnselHazen]

Nosler Partition 60gr.

I have managed to scavenge 5 boxes so far. Hunted with them last season.
Also Federal Premium Vital Shok 60gr uses the Nosler Partition.

http://sportingdealnews.com/the-223-remington/

 

[outlawjw]

Shoot them in the neck and a 223 will drop them to 347 yards I know . I shoot 50 gr UMC HP. PAST 350 IM AFRAID I MAY miss the spine , with only 1/2 minute accuracy.

 

[MtnCreek]

70 gr Speer works well. No exp with the Horn 55gr.

outlaw, you're holding 1/2 moa in the field? That's hard to believe.

 

[ants]

Neck shots that don't hit the jugular vein or the spinal cord are not reliable killers.

LOTS of muscle in a neck built to hold up antlers. Muscle shots don't kill quickly.

Even if you penetrate the windpipe they run for miles and miles. And miles. And miles.

 

[snuffy]

What rifle, 22 hornet?

Incomplete thread, which rifle what twist rate?

I did extensive tests with .223 in my 1-9 twist bushmaster AR with what I consider deer hunting grade bullets commonly available to reloaders. I stayed away from 55 grainers, mostly 60+.

If a bullet says varmint anywhere on the box or in the description, don't even try it. One case is the 70 grain Speer semi-pointed, some call it whitetail medicine. Don't believe what you hear. In my wax media tests, it simply blew up!

Best bullets were the bonded types, or the copper solids, like Barnes or Horn. GMX .

Take a look here;

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=791412

 

[Hardtarget]

Snuffy...I took a look at your photo of the Barns 62 gr TSX. That is what I would like to see. Can you share your load for that bullet/performance? I'd like to see if I can get close to that. My AR is a 20" 1:9 gun and I think I'd like to try it for deer next year. I'll try to pick up a couple of boxes to start my load work up now to be ready for the season opener. Got time! I'm ready!

thanks.

Mark

 

[razorback2003]

The rifle is a 1:7 twist carbine. I have been reading good things about the 62 and 70 grain barnes bullets on deer. That may be a better direction to go with a 223 on small deer.

 

[VoodooMountain]

With a 1/7 twist I would look more to the 60gr partition, 64 gr pp, or a Barnes bullet.