.223 Bullets for Hunting?

Nosler makes a 60 grain Partition that stabilizes well in most rifles.

Barnes makes several weights/models of 22 calibre X-bullets.
 
Boer seun said:
Not sure it's legal to hunt deer with 223. check your provinces hunting regs
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In BC it is legal to hunt Grizzly with a 22 Hornet if you are stupid enough.
Alberta however doesn't allow anything 22 Calibre or smaller for big game.

A 223 or 22-250 loaded with a proper bullet is just as capable of cleanly taking deer as a 243.
 
It's legal here in Ontario. I looked up the Barnes TSX, pretty impressive. For information purposes, I only plan on taking head shots with the .223. It's either a hit or a miss, nothing in between. I've been invited to hunt with a group where there is a rifle season. I plan on trying it out with the .223 this year and if it's going to be a regular thing, going out and buying a .270. Thanks again,

-Jason
 
thebuckhunter said:
For information purposes, I only plan on taking head shots with the .223. It's either a hit or a miss, nothing in between.
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Have you ever seen a deer run away with a busted jaw? I have. There's lots more than a brain in a head. In my opinion a head shot is a bad idea.
 
todbartell said:
id go heart shot myself, top of heart in a perfect world
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A headshot is the lowest odds shot out there. As Steve mentioned you have a very good chance of having an unrecoverable cripple run off if the shot is not 100% perfect.

The only shot you should attempt with a small calibre rifle is a heart/low lung shot on a standing, unalarmed, broadside deer.
 
70 grain speer semi spitzer is a possibility, if your rifle can stabilize it and throw it accurately. If your .223 has a 1:7 twist like some of the .223's it should work great if the bullet is placed in a vital spot. It has proven effective for me on deer in NB where it is legal. Obviously this is a marginal caliber for deer and must be used accordingly, with great care as to shot placement and range. I have a recipe which you can try if you wish which has worked well in my 22-250. Send me a pm.:)
 
shepodyguide said:
70 grain speer semi spitzer is a possibility, if your rifle can stabilize it and throw it accurately. If your .223 has a 1:7 twist like some of the .223's it should work great if the bullet is placed in a vital spot. It has proven effective for me on deer in NB where it is legal. Obviously this is a marginal caliber for deer and must be used accordingly, with great care as to shot placement and range. I have a recipe which you can try if you wish which has worked well in my 22-250. Send me a pm.:)
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I shot a 3/4" , 3 shot group, out of a stock, 1:14" twist, A-Bolt 22/250 last night using 70gr Speers.

That Speer is a bit shorter given its semi-spitzer and will stabilize better than a longer bullet. They work well on deer, but a 22CF is not my 1st choice for whitetail. I would try these bullets 1st in a .223.


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I can cut a cloverleaf @ 100yrds all day with my 223. Now with a good rest, lots of time, no wind, basically perfect conditions I wouldn't hesitate to take a shot in the head of even a moose at this distance. However if the conditions were not perfect I wouldn't take the shot. I must admit tho I've never done this.
 
My friend shot a deer's face off one time with a head shot. At the shot the deer ran, he though he missed and was not going to follow it up. The guy he was with insisted they look. They walked over and there was no deer laying there, then they looked 8 feet to thier right and the doe was STANDING right there. He dropped it, they looked and the front half of the face was blown off (270 with 130g sst's)
 
Good point, something I would consider most definately ( if I ever shot a animal with a 223) but........ if I use a premium bullet, barnes or nosler @ 100yrds traveling at the very least 2500fps I think it would do fatal damage espcially if I could put it in his eye or behind his ear.
 
I do not favour head shots - no margin for error and bad results if the hit is non-fatal. A properly designed bullet out of a .223 will get the job done at reasonable ranges with good shot placement behind forward shoulder. My Savage 12 22-250 with 26inch bull barrel and 1-12 twist stabilizes the 70 grain speers great - I can shoot sub moa consistently with this load. I agree with SC that the speers semi-spitzer design makes it more forgiving in slower twist barrels. It is worth trying a load like this at the range. Your gun will tell you if the twist is too slow. I am going to play with this load in an NEF Handi Rifle this fall.

I know of a number of deer that have fallen to this bullet. However a good shot behind the shoulder using any of the bullets mentioned on this thread will cleanly harvest a deer.
 
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