223 ammo

[bobw]

what do you guys think is the best .223 ammo for deer only open field shots 100 to 150 yards

[popgun]

Re: 223 ammo

About the heaviest I've seen around here is 55 grain pointed soft-point.

Personally, I wouldn't use a .223.

I just think it's too small for for a whitetail, pumped with adrenalin.

By the way...Welcome to the Realtree Forums.

....popgun

[Adjam5]

Re: 223 ammo

Welcome to the forums Bob

The heaviest bullet weight I could find, and shoot accurately. I don't know if a heavier bullet than 70 grains comes in .223

[bobw]

Re: 223 ammo

THANKS for your greetings been reading here a long time now.

[AJ]

Re: 223 ammo

Welcome to the group Bob. I would not recommend any 223 bullet for deer. Get something bigger.

[toddyboman]

Re: 223 ammo

Welcome to RT Forum

GOing to have to agree with the rest 223 a tad to small for deer.

[DU_man_84]

Re: 223 ammo

Welcome to RT and im with the rest of the guys .223 IMO is to small

[wtnhunt]

Re: 223 ammo

Welcome to the forums. I would not use a .223 for deer. Legal here, but minimum we will use is a .243.

[Adjam5]

Re: 223 ammo

Bob, while a well placed .223 will kill a deer, you owe it to the animal to be as efficient as possible. I'm not sure if the .223 comes in the magical realm 1000/lb of energy at 100 yards needed to cleanly kill a light skinned deer sized game animal.

[Shaun_300]

Re: 223 ammo

Welcome to the forums Bob, like previously stated, I wouldn't hunt deer with a .22 caliber rifle no matter what the size of bullet. .24 would be as small as I'd go.

[LETMGROW]

Re: 223 ammo

Keep the .223 for varmits. I wouldn't use anything less than a .25 on any northern deer.

[IowaDeerHunter]

Re: 223 ammo

While well placed, it can be deadly, yet I would highly recommend go to at least a .243. Just for the sake of the deer and maybe a not so well placed shot.

[LETMGROW]

Re: 223 ammo

?? If we have him talked out of the .223, which we all agree is too small, why not go to something which is not marginal at all? He is going to have to buy another gun anyway and the price would be no different between a .243 and a .25 or larger caliber.

[AJ]

Re: 223 ammo

Very true Lynn. A 243 Win or bigger usually costs the same as a .223 Rem does.

I am not saying this is Bob's intent or direction but, many people want to get their kids involved at a way too early age IMO. If they are not big enough to use an adequate gun, they have no business hunting big game. Stick with rabbits and squirrels. When they are big enough to handle a big game rifle, they can step up to big game.

[johnf]

Re: 223 ammo

I was going to ask where you're from bob to get an idea of how big your deer are. I think a heavy soft point bullet 55+gr would do for small deer under 50 yards. If your talking about taking shots over 100 yards get a 243. You can ethically use that caliber at 300 yards with the right bullets.

If you've got a 223 and can't get a bigger gun, get the biggest soft bullet you can find and keep your shots under 50 yards.

JMO

[bobw]

Re: 223 ammo

I am 67 years young and in nj but hunt ny southern zone ,i have 66 acres of my own to hunt plus 600 of my friends i mostly hunt open fields lots of deer and turkey. Thanks for all your input and have a nice easter

[wtnhunt]

Re: 223 ammo

Actually I think you can get .223 ammo on up to 75 grain in a variety of different bullet types. I still dont think that it would be wise to use a .223.

[robk]

Re: 223 ammo

if you reload there are 72 gr spbt's you can get and shoot for deer and i wouldn't be afraid to do so. i reload and i test extensively so i feel like i am able to take the shot with no problem. i am not bragging i do a lot of researching and testing. if your shot is true you can kill with a 22-250 and a 55 grain bullet but you have to know your gun and what it will do

rob k

[toddyboman]

Re: 223 ammo

[ QUOTE ]

if your shot is true you can

but you have to know your gun and what it will do

[/ QUOTE ]

Very true. But sadly most hunters dont know their gun. They go to wal-mart buy some ammo shoot it at paper a few times IF its close then they call it good.

[bobw]

Re: 223 ammo

what is the closest ammo that i can buy like you reload thanks bob

[Adjam5]

Re: 223 ammo

Bob Take a look at Black Hills ammo. They have a 77 gr Sierra Match HP that might be what your looking for.

http://www.black-hills.com/rfactorynew.htm

Gander Mtn in Middletown,NY carries Black Hills. I use the 50gr V Max out of the AR's I have.

[AJ]

Re: 223 ammo

[ QUOTE ]

Bob Take a look at Black Hills ammo. They have a 77 gr Sierra Match HP that might be what your looking for.

[/ QUOTE ]

You had better have a fast twist barrel to shoot those bullets. You will need at least a 1:9" twist to stabilize the heavy bullets. Above the 75 gr bullets, you need a 1:8" twist.

[Washi]

Re: 223 ammo

Match grade bullets do not expand. They are not good for hunting.

I have seen a deer killed with a 64gr Winchester power point (soft point). It did not leave an exit wound but the deer didn't go far. I was surprised how well it worked actually. I myself probably wouldn't use less than a .270 , especially on big deer, but as long as you understand and stay within a rounds limitations it can be effective.

[bobw]

Re: 223 ammo

rob what do you think is the best round i can get .223 i dont reload ,i shoot a rem. # 7615 pump with a 1in10 twist also a 2x10 weaver on it do you sell reloads i have a n.j. firearms permit. thanks bob.w

[wtnhunt]

Re: 223 ammo

Have heard the black hills ammo is decent, they offer a pretty wide range of bullets. Dont know how much it runs or what they offer in a .223, but the hornady custom lines of ammo are supposed to be as good or better than the average handloader is capable of loading. Might be worth checking them out.