"big game" with a .223

[afweinie]

This thread was put here because I had the question and there was only a little info on this rather specific topic. So I had to go out and do a little research for myself, and I wanted to share it with all here.

What started this is that it has been a couple years since I did any hunting and was thinking I wanted to get back into it, at least a little. There is a reason that I'm deciding to go with .223 at least for this season. I did have a very Remington 700 Youth in .308 that I used to have that would have been my first choice, unfortunately it was sold a couple years ago due to a financial shorfall. I'm currently in the desert and deer/ hog season starts about the time I'm getting home. I don't want to spend the money I have set aside for a hard-earned vacation to buy a new rifle and accessories. Of the guns I have, I have my AR and 2 Savage model 24s that I could use in a pinch. In my home state of PA it would be illegal to hunt with the AR as I think the min. caliber is a .24. so it would have to be one of the combo guns. Here in FL it need only be centerfire and I'm way better with my AR accuracy-wise so I'm thinking of going that route. Also, the deer really are the size of poodles anyway.

Here is what I found on ammo that I thought would be suitable:

1. Corbon has their DPX which is the Barnes TSX bullet loaded in new or remanufactured ammo. The 62gr load would be my choice, but there is also a 53gr option. Info here:Corbon DPX (http://www.dakotaammo.net/products/corbon/dpx.htm) Barnes TSX (http://www.barnesbullets.com/products/rifle/tsx-bullet)

2. Black Hills or Federal Premium both load a 60gr Nosler partition which I think would be good based on what I've heard of this bullet type used in other calibers on much larger game. Info here:Black Hills (http://www.black-hills.com/rfactorynew.htm) Federal P223Q (search) (http://www.federalcartridge.com/default.asp?br=1)

3. Hornady makes the excellent TAP round in three bullet weights; 55gr, 60gr, and 75gr. the 75gr would be my choice, but I do not know if it will work from a mag in an AR. ANYONE KNOW? Info here:Hornady TAP (https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=a6f7c537a7503fd08a3f30744b47edac&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=f5a8f338ed2cc84911aec57bb74a84a5) I really have not seen a lot about this round on game, but I'm thinking if it's popular for personal defense, these heavier loads might be viable for hunting man-sized game.?

Those are the three main bullet choices as I see it for medium game with the .223 round.

By the way, I will steer clear of the large hogs, but they are so tasty I don't think I can abstain completely. I carry my Glock 32 while hunting, doubly so for hogs.

Any input on other .223 rounds that should be considered would be appreciated.

[RJ Shooter]

FWIW, i've seen many a Whitetail fall to a standard 55gr 5.56mm out of a 20" barrel. ;)

[afweinie]

I'm not really in doubt about the capability of .223 on deer, but secretly I'm after a pig (a smaller, good eatin' one). My M4 is sporting an ultra-cool 14.5" barrel like it should. I did not get this rifle with the intent of hunting with it, but I feel it is the best tool in the chest at the moment, and if I apply it judiciuosly it will do the job cleanly... I hope. At least I won't be tempted to take any longer shots, there probably won't be any.

Jeremy

[Blubaru]

It may take a few shots but .223 will put most things down.

[afweinie]

I'm going to try to minimize the need to have to make followup shots by first and foremost picking my shots a little more carefully than I might have with a .308 or a 12 ga. and #00 buck. Then I thought I'd opt for a purpose-designed bullet. The bullet was more-or-less the point of the post, I was pretty well ignorant about the fact that there are several good medium game bullets availale in .223. I wanted to show what lessons I'd learned. Like I said above, .223 was not even a consideration since it was not legal where I originally lived. I'm just ignorant that's all.

[retromullet]

I've heard a lot of people cry about how a .223 isn't big enough to put down a Deer humanely, I think thats a lie. A well placed shot would without a doubt in my mind, suffice.

[abpt1]

I agree I use a .270win 130gr sp or a 300 win mag with 150gr BT when i am up in clearfield since most are long shots out to or past 200 yards up there(i hunt around a powerline up there)... but a .223 55gr SP will kill a deer and a pig just fine it allways comes down to , shot placement, shot placemant, shot placement

I say the .223 up to 150-180 lbs of critter is ok up to 150 yards maybe even up to 200yards IMO as long as there is good shot placement ....

[RIGHTWINGJOE]

.223 will drop deer in their tracks. Not legal here, so I prefer 30-06, 25-06, 280, or 7mm mag depending on where hunting.
I'd definately take one with no second thoughts inside of 250 yards with a 60+ grain .223 if it was legal though.

[afweinie]

Shot placement is first and foremost.

Next year I'll more than likely have a new rifle for big game.

[Flinter]

Well, I guess I'll be the one to stir the pot.

.223 is marginal for deer at best. Will it kill them? Yeah, it will. I've killed quite a few with it. I've killed even more with a .22mag. That doesn't mean that I'd recommend it.

The energy just isn't there.

The other problem you will have is that most of the fancy .223 rounds are designed to open up like a hand grenade. That could be big trouble if you smack a bone.

Personally, I'd go with the heaviest soft point that I could find and only take neck shots.

YMMV

[Partisan1983]

Well I am gonna stir the pot even more.


The Deer in Northern MI are bigger than any dog on the planet BTW....


5.56 is waaay too small.


I have seen deer survive some incredible shit.


The idea is, once hit, they drop right to the ground...no tracking BS.

[Flinter]

The idea is, once hit, they drop right to the ground...no tracking BS.
And that's the ticket right there. You may very well kill that deer, but if he travels 3 miles before he dies then what good did it do you?

.223 does not have the energy to take the feet out from under a deer reliably.

It also doesn't have the diameter to open up a big hole...that makes hydraulic failure a relatively slow process.

In short, that bitch is more likely going to run than drop. Unless you are absolutely sure you are going to take out something critical....like a spine or a brain.

Forget the heart. Even a 7mag through the heart will make them run. No idea why, but that's what happens. A straight up jump and a deadrun.

Hit anywhere else and I can guarantee you that he'll run.

The question is, can you find him before the crows?

[abpt1]

Shit I hit one with my 300 win mag with a 180gr barnsX went in the left front of the chest and came out the top of the right hind quater.... I have shot loads of deer here in pa and 20-50 yards is as far as one has ever run on me ......my 270 works great with a 130gr sp in the heart .

[dissidentman]

3. Hornady makes the excellent TAP round in three bullet weights; 55gr, 60gr, and 75gr. the 75gr would be my choice, but I do not know if it will work from a mag in an AR. ANYONE KNOW? I recently got hold of some Wolf Gold 75gr. copper jacketed HP BT .223 and found it to be 100% reliable feeding and ejecting from 20 & 30rd mags through a POF upper mounted on a DPMS lower. Accuracy was excellent, at least from the 75 to 100yds I was shooting at.

[tre60a]

If you have to use a .223 to hunt deer, I would recommend two choices:

1.) The Barnes 53 grain DPX
2.) The Nosler 60 grain Partition

If you do not reload the Barnes DPX is factory loaded by Cor-Bon, and Nosler is factory loaded by Federal.

I would not recommend the Hornandy TAP ammo for hunting, it is designed for home defense and police use where over penetration is a big concern.

I have used the Nosler personnally, It works just limit your shots to 100 yds, aim for the neck or head, it is not a thur the shoulder bullet.

Just my two cent so to speak.

[afweinie]

any reason you choose the 53gr Barnes TSX over the 62gr one?

I do have some doubts about the TAP, that is why I was leaning to the 75gr load primarily. Even it was third behind the TSX/DPX and the Partition.

For the rest of you guys, I did say I hunt in FLORIDA, usually in the swampy water management district and the deer, in case you have never been here, ARE THE SIZE OF POODLES. Well standards anyway.

Thanks for all the pennies guys. :cents:

[tre60a]

I have used both the Barnes and the Nosler 60 grain Partition on deer here in Mississippi, (It was actually my 9 year old niece) the 257 Roberts I had made for her broke a firing pin and the youth hunt was that weekend and a promise is a promise). The Barnes DPX is what I had and used before, the penatration was unbelievable, the bullet was a completely intact, fully mushroomed bullet, found on the far side of the shoulder after shooting broadside a little quarterly away, the bullet weight 48 grains. the deer walked 8 steps and fell.

The Nosler Partitions where used later during another hunt, had no problems with that bullet. it preforms very well also. 2 deer 2 kills only one bullet recovery it was fully mushroomed also and weighted 50 grains at recovery.
The other kill was a neck spine shot and the bullet past through.

Both bullets are excellent in the factory loadings:
Federal Premium 60 grain Nosler Partition
Cor-Bon 53 grain DPX Copper
plus another to try is the Federal Premium Vital-Shok 55 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw Round Federal #P223T2

Sometimes these factory rounds are hard to find so you met have to look around a while.

I now reload all of my ammo for the AR-15 and FPK 7.62x54 Russian.
I am able to customize the ammo for the use and get 1/2 MOA with the AR and 1 MOA with the FPK.

[afweinie]

I'm leaning toward the DPX loading from Corbon and the Partition if I can find them. That is the first I've heard of the federal round. I will look into it.

I went to Federal's website and all I still see is the Partition. DO they sell the Bear Claw round loaded or is it just as the bullet only for reloading?

[tre60a]

The Federal Premium Vital-Shok 223 Rem 55 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claw #P223T2 is a factory round, the box I have is about 3 years old, shot only 5 rounds, 3 sighter, 1 round to check zero, and 1 round to kill a coyote.

I think Federal is making the bonded bullet a factory round still, I have not checked in awhile.

I have just checked the Federal Web Site - The bonded bear claw rounds has been discontinued.

[afweinie]

Always wonder if I'm just being blind sometimes. But thats OK there are others to pick from.

I appreciate it.

[afweinie]

but i thought I might just pass on that I wound up finding a very nice 870 Experess Magnum combo at a very good price. Now all I have to do is figure what my range limitations are.

[falakar15]

What? You mean you haven't been hunting yet? What the hell you waiting for ole son. Get some Remington slugs and go hit you one out to 50yrds or so and stop talking about it . that is what my son shoots and he hits like a rifle at 50 yrds. I would have been ranging my AR with some 55-65gr soft points for neck shots and been done with it , and had fun with the Black Gun. Love the Black gun on predators, hogs I don't know . Let us know how it went.