All Weather 223 Deer Rifle

Yes a 22 arc, nozler, creedmore would be cool. It's just not all calibers take off like a 6.5 creedmore. Then add the Kanadian factor of price and component availability.

Here I monster buck would be 80lbs on the meat hooks, more normal 40-60. For a 22 I would pick 223 or 22-250, for available ammo and brass. But if 22-250, how about the parent caliber or 243.

I know to be a Nimrod is to be s tinkerer, and we really don't need a reason. Just for me, applying it to these tiny deer and bayonet range. So many existing choices. If AR's were legal, a 1:7 AR would be perfect, even for across on the mainland
 
I had a Kimber Montana in 223 I stupidly sold. The stock wouldn’t suit iron sights and it was a 1:9 but it shot 62 tsx’s fine.

I’ve gone the cheap and easy route with a ruger ranch and my kids have shot a number of coastal dinks with 62 tsx or 77 nosler comps.

As an aside, I find it pretty funny that a lot of people will tell you a 180 grain bullet out of a 30-06 is perfect for a 1200 lb moose, but a 62 grain bullet on a 150 pound deer is a stunt.
 
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2” hole through rib cage after lifting the front quarter off. 2 pt moose.
Bullet impact at bottom of the scapula. 1:7 twist with an 88 ELD m at just under 180 yards. 3 ribs broken at entrance - 1 from direct bullet impact, rib on either side also shattered. Offside ribs also broken with a 2” hole bored through, scapula also broken - complete with 2” hole. Bullet caught under the hide. Both lungs completely saturated with burst blood vessels.

From bullet impact to moose on the ground - less than 1.5 seconds.

Bullets are the only thing that matters when it comes to killing animals. Pick a bullet that will have the appropriate terminal ballistics at your impact speeds. Spin it fast. Bullet rotational velocity and bullet length appears (to me anyway) to play a bigger part in terminal effects than most people realize. The cartridge used to start the bullet on its way has far less importance than people want to believe.

*note same pic, just two different objects for scale.
 

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rgv said:
I had a Kimber Montana in 223 I stupidly sold. The stock wouldn’t suit iron sights and it was a 1:9 but it shot 62 tsx’s fine.

I’ve gone the cheap and easy route with a ruger ranch and my kids have shot a number of coastal dinks with 62 tsx or 77 nosler comps.

As an aside, I find it pretty funny that a lot of people will tell you a 180 grain bullet out of a 30-06 is perfect for a 1200 lb moose, but a 62 grain bullet on a 150 pound deer is a stunt.
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I have to admit, I’ve often thought the same thing about bullet to animal weight ratios.

And I have to say, my Kimber Montana 223 AI just came back from having the original 1:9 barrel replaced (wouldn’t hold 75 Amax’s inside an inch anymore- would still keep 75 HPBT’s at 3/4” though) and now it’s got a 1:7” on it. I own a fair jag of rifles, but that little Montana is the last one I would ever sell. I keep a mitt full of cash on hand at all times just in case I ever see another one for sale.
 

Same rifle. Same bullet. Next day. 6’ brown phase out of the neighbors oat field. Shot was a little farther ahead than I typically shoot bears, in that the bullet punched through both front shoulders. 151 yards, and an exit.
Bear half rolled and lifted one front paw up and death bawled.

Pardon the poor videography, it was November 11 and a bit brisk.
 
KodiakHntr said:

Same rifle. Same bullet. Next day. 6’ brown phase out of the neighbors oat field. Shot was a little farther ahead than I typically shoot bears, in that the bullet punched through both front shoulders. 151 yards, and an exit.
Bear half rolled and lifted one front paw up and death bawled.

Pardon the poor videography, it was November 11 and a bit brisk.
Click to expand...

Nice shooting Kodiak!

My hunting partner just had Paul Cook build him a sweet 223AI on a REM600 action.
He will be taking his spring bear with a 75gr ELD-M launched at around 3150.
 
Sun_and_Steel_77 said:
Nice shooting Kodiak!

My hunting partner just had Paul Cook build him a sweet 223AI on a REM600 action.
He will be taking his spring bear with a 75gr ELD-M launched at around 3150.
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I haven’t sent a single 75 ELD m downrange yet, but I’ve sent a few thousand 75 Amax’s down the tube. I can’t see the 75 ELD m being anything less than spectacular for your buddy.
 
Gatehouse said:
I watched Bartell use a Fireball to kill a big doe mule deer a number of years back. Bang, took a few steps then dropped. The TSX bullet made lung soup on it's way through.
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Three steps? What a friggin' rodeo.
The mighty .223 would have reduced that number of steps to just one, and if he decided to risk his shoulder and shoot an elephant gun like a 22-250 it would have DRT'ed that muley!

It's a question of ethics.
 
I have never said or believed that a .223 can't kill deer or bear etc... I just believe that if you have other, better options, use those first... my SHTF go bag has plenty of .223 game bullet loads, and if it comes to that, I will be hunting with a .223. Having said that, there is a difference between an 80 pound coastal deer and a 250 pound Northern woods buck, or big mulie buck 300 yards out. The bigger the animal and further the distance the smaller the margin becomes. In the OP's scenario, a .223 would work just fine. I have a nice Target Grey M77 Mark II Stainless .223 that would be great, even with the 9 twist. I would definitely go for the Tikka loooong before the Axis.
 
track said:
I know a little-bit about deer, however know alot better than to joint the "WOKE" gang (it's my rights!!!) to hunt big game with a centerfire 22.
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How do you know that, especially with the bullets being shown in use here, like by Kodiak, etc?

"Its my rights!" hasn't seem to come up
 
On rokslide there's 1000s of posts in a thread proving 223 with the proper bullet is just as effective as a 30 magnum boomer.

Personally because I live in AB hunting big game with a 223 won't be something I do because of the regs.
 
Desjard said:
On rokslide there's 1000s of posts in a thread proving 223 with the proper bullet is just as effective as a 30 magnum boomer.

Personally because I live in AB hunting big game with a 223 won't be something I do because of the regs.
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And the 24 hour campfire.
Hunters have successfully (and cleanly)been killing deer and moose in several provinces as well as the States since the .22 caliber centerfires have been made with Smokeless powder .
Anybody who says it is " unethical" or foolish knows nothing about the topic .
Ethics are based on emotion not fact .
Cat
 
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