The 223 as a viable big game round.

[Edandedna]

Because Alberta knows best they do not allow the 223 to hunt big game. I'm sure three minutes of thought went into that rule and on another forum when I brought it up say that the rule should change (mainly as a benefit for the youth), snowflakes fast started melting. To belabour the point and because this place slows to a crawl in the summer here it goes.

Even though I apparently will shoot less in my lifetime than some here will shoot in a year I was out again this morning. I had zero intention of running my phones video capabilities but thought what the heck. The video is only for sound (I’m going to buy a phone Skope now) so please have no expectation of a Warner Brothers movie.

Yes, I know I’m not shooting deer. Yes I know steel does not bleed. But a deer at 250 yds could not, in seven lifetimes, win this battle. And I wouldn’t have wanted to be a deer standing at the distances illustrated either.

The scope is an SWFA 3-9 HD that apparently can't work as well.

https://youtu.be/kn5VfOXG8sQ

https://youtu.be/nB55NuE6PjM

The ban probably has more to do with guys using cheap military jacketed bullets then any thing else, but it could be noting more then where the line was drawn. Just like speed limits, some people want it faster and some want them slower, the line pleases no one but is still there none the less. You don't have to like it you just have to accept it.

 

[nowarningshot]

ive shot deer back when I had only one gun with less than a 223. a 204 ruger with a 39 gr sierra blitzking at 3800 fps. this bullet will not penetrate a broadside coyote. put it in the white patch and death is instantaneous. I shot one 4x4 buck behind the shoulder lung shot. 120 yards, he ran 40 yards and piled up.

I know for a fact that my 223 loaded with a 55 gr sierra gameking(1365) would be a better choice than any varmint bullet in 204 or 223, I would not hesitate putting one in a bucks lungs out to 300 yards. I look for every bullet that stays in an animal and measure penetration and note damage. I know the sierra 55 gr sp will give over a foot length wise on a coyote so I imagine on a deers rib gave it would either exit or be under the hide far side.

however these days if im deer hunting its a 270, 3006 or 7mm mag. any angle any range out to a long ways the deer is mine. I use a 243 with 85 to 100 gr bullets when I am more coyote hunting than deer but the opportunity of a nice buck may present itself.

last fall I put a 130 gr accubond from a 270 win leaving the barrel at 3050 fps into a big bodied bucks neck, right where it leaves the body, 2 inches in front of the shoulder blades. 120 yards. it was the only shot I had, the other vitals were behind brush. imagine my surprise when i found the bullet under the hide far side. It did center the spine destroying a good chunk, the spine must be a hell of a bullet stopper. i am not sure how my 223 would have done in this instance.

So your saying you were not ethical, but now a.little.less ethical.

Read on......now your using a big game caliber....sorry bout that....carry on.

 

[rifleman762]

The ban probably has more to do with guys using cheap military jacketed bullets then any thing else, but it could be noting more then where the line was drawn. Just like speed limits, some people want it faster and some want them slower, the line pleases no one but is still there none the less. You don't have to like it you just have to accept it.

We don't have to like it OR accept it. We just have to obey it. There's a difference

 

[grelmar]

The ban probably has more to do with guys using cheap military jacketed bullets then any thing else, but it could be noting more then where the line was drawn. Just like speed limits, some people want it faster and some want them slower, the line pleases no one but is still there none the less. You don't have to like it you just have to accept it.

IIRC, the ban had nothing to do with .223 at all.

It was actually about poachers using .22LR rifles with pop-bottle suppressors. When they wrote in the regs, in typical lazy bureaucrat fashion, it was easier just to have a blanket minimum caliber.

 

[axeprecision]

Are deer considered "big game" because .223 is fine for deer.

 

[prairie lover]

So your saying you were not ethical, but now a.little.less ethical.

Read on......now your using a big game caliber....sorry bout that....carry on.

Nope never did I say anything of the sort. The small guns do fine when the nut behind the trigger can place the bullet where it needs to be and understands the limitations of what he is shooting as far as angles and penetration. I shoot big guns these days so I can shoot the deer from any angle pretty much. More forgiveness.

Never had an issue with the small pee shooters. Shots were very carefully selected. Usually in the white throat patch resulting in instant death.....not sure how you get more ethical than that.

 

[Dogleg]

Are deer considered "big game" because .223 is fine for deer.

It depends who you ask and where you are. In Canada everything with hooves is big-game. Places that don't really have anything big do the same. On a more international scale any species that describes its males as bucks or rams is medium game; big game is known as bulls and stags. Frogs don't count.

 

[Mr. Friendly]

It depends who you ask and where you are. In Canada everything with hooves is big-game. Places that don't really have anything big do the same. On a more international scale any species that describes its males as bucks or rams is medium game; big game is known as bulls and stags. Frogs don't count.

that's not true...we have different classifications and any hunter knows deer are not 'big'.

 

[Rob]

The only real big game in Canada are Polar Bear and maybe Yukon Moose.

I would think that because Deer vary so dramatically in size and are found in such a variety of habitat it is hard to make any claims for an appropriate "deer caliber." I have shot plenty of all the Canadian deer species, from big prairie Whitetails and Mulies down to tiny B.C. coast Blacktails. I mostly used .243, .308, 30-06, and 9.3x57.

 

[todbartell]

shooting 3/8" AR550 this morning with 55gr SP (Hornady factory ammo, 2870 fps MV 16.1") - sounded pretty anemic hitting the plate at 380 yards (1600 fps impact / 312 ft lbs energy). I better try the 75gr Amax next time to compare