Centerfire small game

brybenn said:
I have two 223 rifles. A beautiful winchester with flur de lis checking and perfect bluing that isnt accurate enough with light loads to hit paper at 30 yards consistently. Its not all that steller with any load for that matter. 1.5" 3 shot group maybe on a good day. My other is in a mdt chassis and set up for coyote hunting. I dont have a 22 hornet to play with yet
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Try 4.0 grains of TB with a 50 SP in your .223... I get 1050 fps from a 22" barrel... taken dozens of grouse and hares with that load and a couple racoons too.
 
I like the idea of the 223 loaded down to low velocities. No need to buy a 22 hornet at all then if you think about it. Even load them to 2000-2500fps like a hornet. Boom. Done.
 
brybenn said:
That was my original intention with the last 223 i bought but the folks at mdt stated it likely wouldnt feed thru their mags so i decidied on a 20 tac but i made the mistake of shooting the original 223 and well it shoots to good to rebarrel so ill rebarrel after i wear the barrel out.
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I've got a Model 7 Predator in .223 and I have a sneaking suspicion that it'll end up as a 221 Fireball or a 22 Nosler. 24 Nosler does seem somewhat interesting to me though...
 
After much trail and error I settled on a short, light 223 with Blue dot powder and 36 gr bullets. Ended at 8gr (2223fps) ,small one hole groups at 50 yds. Played with charge until I was within 1/2" POI of my full house 55 gr at 100 yds.
Stuck a bullet at 4 gr but 5 gr up to 13 gr was very accurate. Just tuned until bullet drop was where I wanted it.
Accuracy is grouse head easy at 50yds and bunny head at 100.
Carry 2 mags and most is covered.
Happy hunting.
 
I was in South Africa last year for work. On a trip to a game reserve, they were harvesting impalla and nyala to feed to recovering Lions and cheetas in a rescue program.

The technique was to shoot from a bench in a pickup, using a padded rest on the cab top, at night and going for straight on head shots. The guy I was with was using a 223.
 
It is a shame about the southern Ontario .275 rule. I have found through experimentation with subsonic lightweight(115 gr) cast loads for my .308, how effective and clean killing a flat nosed 30 cal is at 1000 or so fps. Damage akin to a HP .22LR, and certainly no more than even a rn fmj 9mm(35 cal).

Then I got to thinking about how quiet and effective they were. But 308 is too large a case for this for anything other than a few grouse loads per year. A bolt action 7.62x39 takes care of all that. A small enough case that low volume of fast burning flake powder(I like Red Dot) burns fairly clean and consistent. The available bullet moulds, especially from places like N.O.E., really have an amazing variety of bullet styles.

Not much but change loads and re-sight to have an effective deer or coyote rifle either...
 
I know. My just right carbine would be absolutely perfect for calling coyotes in the small woodlots and fence lines here. I can use a 270wby but not a pistol caliber carbine. Im going to try reduced loads but am planning on trying to convert a cooey or stevens 25 rimfire to centerfire and use cast bullets. Always need something to keep my mind and hands busy
 
I would 2nd the idea of looking into something like a 17 squirrel. Its a shortened .22 hornet case thats necked down. Its similar to performance of the 17 wsm but you can reload it. It might be your ticket....

My 2md choice would just be the good I'm 22 hornet loaded down!
 
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