philip ferguson

can i whitetail deer hunt w/a.223 and if so what is the max range and the optomal commerical bullet and wt. i do not want to reload this cal. thank you for your help it is for my daughter.

Duckbutter48

Depends what state you live in on if it is legal or not. Federal makes a 60grn Nosler Partition load that wouldnt be bad if it is legal. Just remember its all about shot placement. Heres the link to the Federal Ammo site for more info.

http://www.federalammo.com/ballistics/Ammo_Search.aspx?act=choose&firearm=1&s1=1




Heres a link for DNR info for all the states just click and click on your state.

http://www.federalammo.com/default.asp?menu=1&s1=10

bigbulls

First you better figure out what twist your barrel is becasue any bullets that are designed for deer hunting will be long and heavy and will require a faster twist rate than the light 40 grain bullets.


Aside from that Federals 55 grain TBBC or 60 grain Nosler partition.

Or from a lesser known company like Connely Precisions 53 grain Barnes TSX or 60 grain Nosler partition.
http://http://www.cpcartridge.com/223rem-V.htm

Precision Crafted Ammo loads a 75 grain Swift Scirocco. http://www.pcammunition.com/pc223rem.html

Roskoe

If you have 1:9 twist, you could shoot the 75 gr. Hornady A-Max bullet. This is a great deer killer with broadside rib shot. I think it is available as a factory load in the Hornady TAP line, and also of course as a component to handload.

James B

Its legal in the states where I hunt. It would be less than Ideal but with the Barnes X buule, Speer Trophy Bonded Bear Claw or the Nosler Partition, It will do the job. I wouldn't press it beyond 200 Yards Max. I think Federal loads at least two of the above listed loads. If you did load then the 60 grain Hornady and 63 grain WW would also work with good shot placement.

Many who claim that the 223 and 22-250 won't take deer, Have never tried it with good bullets if they tried it at all. Its sometimes short of power. ( On the Internet)

Rammer

I killed 6 deer or so with my 223s one year as an experiment. I was shooting 60gr Nosler Partitions (handloads to max load). I only had 1 deer that showed signs of being hit (rest ran about 100-200 yards an just fell over). Then I decided to switch to head shots on does and they all dropped in their tracks The ranges varied from 75 yards to 250 yards.

So, yes the 223 will get the job done if the shot placement is good.

North Texan

It will take game up to the size of hogs with the right bullets, but you have to be extra finicky about shots. I killed two hogs during the holidays that went close to 200 lbs. each, but I had stalked to within 20 feet both times.

bigmatty65

JamesB youve got the right idea about the 223 and 22-250 killing deer, they work exellent, with good bullets. I say if your going to hunt deer with a 223 use a 60gr. nosler partition or a winchester 63 grain roundnose bullet. The main factor with using a 223 is a very large emphisis is put on the bullet placement. i think shots should be limited to broadside or quateringaway under 200 yards .

biscuit jake

My daughter would probably drop a deer real well in Missouri. They can use .223's down there. At the same time, she is careful about her bullet placement too. What the hey. Poachers used the .222 Remington in Iowa with success and that has a little less push than the .223. And if you check, some board members have used the .22 hornet. (Doh! Giving away secrets.)

bigmatty65

Ive dropped a about 3 deer with a 22 hornet, trust me even with a good shot it dosent work very well on a medium sized whitetail buck.