Swiss Arms/SigArms 223 hunters?

Up in the Orillia for the controlled hunt a couple of years back. Very nice that the MNR allows rifles for the controlled hunt unlike Southern Ontario.

That buck was walking in a dip 15 minutes after legal shooting time and I didn't see him from sitting down. He grunted and I had to stand up to get a clear view. Even then I couldn’t see his legs. I got him in the cross hairs but when I squeezed the trigger nothing happened. I turned white like a ghost. When I cocked the rifle earlier I didn't let it slam to avoid the noise -> BAD idea! I can't figure out how I was still thinking strait at that point. I ducked down and re-cocked letting the bolt slam home. When I stood up to shoot and saw him looking at me. I popped three fast ones because I didn’t want him to start running. It was around 135 meters.

The Swiss Arms is a great hunting gun especially if one would spend some time choosing the right ammo. And that young buck tasted really good.
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That's awesome Lawrence D ... congrats again! I've bagged lots of tuktu(caribou), several seals and hopefully this winter some wolves ... ;) Cheers,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
Great pic! i got to shoot a seal at my native buddys fish camp, i used a Tavor with a 4x scope at 80 yards or so headshot. they come up river and tear up and eat salmon from the nets .. now that i have a swiss i will bring it next time
 
You guys are using .223 to take large game?? (Deer, Caribou???)

What bullets are you using if so?? If a 55gr FMJ is suppose to tumble upon hitting flesh, and being so devastating, why not use it on deer? Body weight is roughly same as an enemy combatant...it should prove that theory. Should, in theory, take a deer (or larger) down if put into the boiler room.

A guy on my crew at work is Native, and takes moose with a .22-250 to the head.

Proves you really dont need a 375 WSM Super-Wizit Cannon to take a deer.

I think some of those seals gotta weight a fair bit too. I have no idea, but am guessing 200 lbs +-??
 
Using 5.56 FMJ on game is pointless. If the game is too far away, you're liable to make a tiny hole clean through the animal, and if the game is close, you're liable have the bullet fragment and destroy most of the meat. Use soft points / expanding ammo.
 
I didn't think you were allowed to hunt big game with anything smaller then .243 or something like that. Deer are considered big game.

Pretty sure you are not allowed to use FMJ on any game, much less big game with a .223.
 
There are many appropriate bullets designed and available for .223 hunting of small deer types. I personally wouldn't use it for anything larger than a small mule or whitetail.
 
ESQ said:
There are many appropriate bullets designed and available for .223 hunting of small deer types. I personally wouldn't use it for anything larger than a small mule or whitetail.
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Yup, I'm using 60gr Nosler Partitions... they should do quite well for smaller deer.
 
Tango4N said:
I didn't think you were allowed to hunt big game with anything smaller then .243 or something like that. Deer are considered big game.

Pretty sure you are not allowed to use FMJ on any game, much less big game with a .223.
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In Ontario, the only requirement to hunt big game is that the round is a center-fire cartridge. In some provinces, they have minimum calibre restrictions, but as the management of natural resources are provincial jurisdiction, the rules vary from province to province.
 
FMJ will go clean through it and you need a full mag to stop a deer. If you hit the brain or break the spine it will stop right there. IMO if you can hit the vitals you can take a head shot.

I'm used 65 gn with nosler tips. Now I graduated to the 75 gn. I'll give them a try. 223 for hunting is great.
 
Lawrence D said:
FMJ will go clean through it and you need a full mag to stop a deer. If you hit the brain or break the spine it will stop right there. IMO if you can hit the vitals you can take a head shot.

I'm used 65 gn with nosler tips. Now I graduated to the 75 gn. I'll give them a try. 223 for hunting is great.
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I wouldn't recommend going for a head shot. The area you need to hit is much smaller, and if you miss, you can end up mangling the deers face or jaw, usually causing it to starve to death if you can't track it.
 
Lawrence D said:
I popped three fast ones because I didn’t want him to start running
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Lawrence D said:
IMO if you can hit the vitals you can take a head shot.
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If you need to take 3 shots like that, then you likely shouldn't be taking any, you don't want to cause the animal more pain than necessary, slow down and be sure of your first shot. That way you don't end up tracking blood trails through no shooting or hunting areas!!!

Also you should never aim for an animals head, it's bad form, it's a smaller target, and the risk is too great. Suggesting this speaks a great deal of what kind of a hunter a person is as well, and people who go around aiming at Deer's heads are usually frowned upon in hunting circles, at least where I come from.
 
Ar180shooter said:
In Ontario, the only requirement to hunt big game is that the round is a center-fire cartridge. In some provinces, they have minimum calibre restrictions, but as the management of natural resources are provincial jurisdiction, the rules vary from province to province.
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Do you have a source for this? I could have swore that you can't hunt big game with anything <.25 calibre in Ontario.
 
WOW how is it that every FN thread on CGN winds up being hijacked ... I asked who uses their 223 Swiss rifle's for hunting ... and pictures ... we ALL KNOW that you can't hunt with FMJ bullets so get on with it. Thank you,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
Otokiak said:
WOW how is it that every FN thread on CGN winds up being hijacked ... I asked who uses their 223 Swiss rifle's for hunting ... and pictures ... we ALL KNOW that you can't hunt with FMJ bullets so get on with it. Thank you,

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
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In BC there is no law against FMJ bullet use for hunting, so if thats your thing, you can do it here. I personally like Barnes TSX bullets. With one exception (bison need a 175 grain or larger bullet, which retains 2,712 joules or more energy at 100 m), centerfire caliber choice is yours as well. Want to shoot a grizzly with a FMJ 223, have at it. Make sure your affairs are in order first. Page 16 of the BC hunting/trapping synopsis lays it out.

I don't use a 223 Swiss Arms for hunting, but it looks like a great tool. My black rifle is restricted, so I use a 223 bolt gun for deer. I'm in line for the 7.62 version of the Swiss Arms (SAPR) which is currently with the RCMP for classification. It will be a happy but expensive day if/when they come in as non-restricted.

Re thread hijack:
Think of it as conversational drift. Better for your blood pressure.
 
LOL fer fraack sakes ... good on you scottm ... I too would love the SAPR but I honestly don't see it happening ... bloody gun laws in this country are fraacke! ;)

Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
 
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