AR or .223 bolt rifle

[351 WINCHESTER]

Due to shoulder problems I'm thinking of using a .223 for deer hunting, but can't decide if I would be better off with an ar or a decent bolt gun. The cz carbine looks great, but only has a 1 in 12" twist which probably won't stabalize a heavier bullet. A carbine is what I want. I have not decided on a bullet yet, but most likely will want one with more heft than a 55 grain to insure penetration especially if I run across a hog.

I am open to all comments and considerations as I've never hunted with a .223.

 

[porscheboy]

The .223 is an adequate round for the military, im positive it can take down medium sized game.

 

[migkillertwo]

Make sure that it's actually legal in your state to hunt with a semi-auto. It isn't legal to hunt with a semi-auto or a .223 in my state.

 

[NWCP]

Get one of each. I have an AR with a 1 in 9 twist I use on coyote and the likes, but my CZ with its 1 in 12 twist is used on small furry critters that need eliminating and is murder with the lighter ballistic tip ammo. Can't hunt deer with them though. Get a more robust round and have a Pachmayr Decellerator installed on it. The Decellerator makes my .338 Win Mag tolerable so I know it would make a .243 a cream puff as far as recoil goes.

 

[DIM]

Get Tikka T3 it has 1:8 twist you can charge 80 grain bullets with it...

 

[Grey Morel]

You have options for a 1-12 twist: 55gr Barnes TSX & 55gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaw (federal) are your best options. Many also report favorable results with the Remington 55gr PSP.

Even for a slower 1-14 twist, Barnes makes the TSX in a 53gr version. This is reported as a good close range deer bullet by many 22-250 owners. Browse on over to Midway and read the scores of reviews reporting positive use on deer with these bullets.


The opinion that "No 22 will ever be adequate for deer, regardless of bullet weight or velocity" (Chuck Hawks) is a relic from a past age when controlled expansion bullets were not availible in .224" diameter... Even so I would personally choose a 257 Roberts or a 6.5 Swede if I were after a light recoiling deer rifle; this is a matter of increased range rather than effectiveness.

BUT with these modern bullets, especially the 53gr Barnes TSX, a .223 or 22-250 can indeed fill the role of "general rifle" in the modern rifle battery.

 

[DIM]

69 gr SMK and 25.5 gr of varget is deadly combination when it come to the bucks, to stabilize 69 grain bullet twist of 1:9 or faster is required, Savage makes .223 in 1:9, for 1:12 twist Berger makes 64 gr varmint bullet its HP flat base, if shoot one of those in the chest area, your buck is done.
I only tried once to shoot them in the head, stops them dead in their tracks, it wasn't .223 but 308, the mess was less then Grey Morel described and I used 155 gr HPBT, but there were no single solid bone left in the scull everything was crushed and the antlers where swinging, because only skin was holding it... O yeah the eyes where popping out like snail's... After that I reserve head shot as last means.