picking a 223 bullet for Deer
- Thread starter Masson94
- Start date
I have both the Varmageddons and the Hornady Vmax (Superformance). Both are varmint rounds - like groundhogs, prairie dogs, coyotes at the most. They are NOT deer rounds. Something like Federal Fusion 62 gr may be better, but I think you need a higher caliber than a .223.
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
I have never shot a deer with any 22 cal. I've helped clean and been around dozens that were however. I know over a dozen guys whose only rifle is a 223 or 22-250 and thats what they use come deer season. Usually does and spikers, most of them don't wait for a big mature whitetail.
You dont need a tsx or an overly heavy bullet. The 55gr stouter sp like the sierra 1365 and hornady 55 gr sp(not the spsx!) Work just fine. As does the 65 gr sierra sp. No funny angles and these guys know it. 200 yards and under usually alot less. Into the ribs and its game over very fast. 223 exits slightly more than half the time with those bullets otherwise a well mushroomed bullet is under the hide far side. Never seen the 22250 not exit yet with the above mentioned bullets on a broadside lung shot.
Bigger bodied bucks are a whole nother story. I've seen a few if those track jobs and we got him. 3 223 in the lungs well mushroomed good damage but he went a long long way. Not every big buck but enough to know that you need more gun for them.
You dont need a tsx or an overly heavy bullet. The 55gr stouter sp like the sierra 1365 and hornady 55 gr sp(not the spsx!) Work just fine. As does the 65 gr sierra sp. No funny angles and these guys know it. 200 yards and under usually alot less. Into the ribs and its game over very fast. 223 exits slightly more than half the time with those bullets otherwise a well mushroomed bullet is under the hide far side. Never seen the 22250 not exit yet with the above mentioned bullets on a broadside lung shot.
Bigger bodied bucks are a whole nother story. I've seen a few if those track jobs and we got him. 3 223 in the lungs well mushroomed good damage but he went a long long way. Not every big buck but enough to know that you need more gun for them.
At the risk of repeating a statement that has already been posted, I am of the opinion that there are so many better chamberings
to hunt and shoot deer with that I question the validity of using a 22 centerfire. Granted, with good bullets, they will kill deer with
a properly placed shot, often even with authority, seemingly, but they leave virtually NO room for error at all.
My deer "Chamberings" START at 6mm and go up from there, and even with the 6mm, I prefer a bullet that I have learned to trust
to penetrate and expand reliably without disintegrating. Again, shot placement is paramount.
I have shot muleys that dressed in excess of 135 kg, so live weight would be on par with many cow elk. Mind you, that is an
exceptionally large deer, but if one is hunting deer, you never know when that "monster" will appear.
If pressed, I would probably say that my favorite deer chamberings are in the 6.5mm - 7mm range. Bullets from 125 to 150 grain.
If one must hunt deer with a 22 Centerfire, then he/she must be willing to pass on iffy shots. Also they must shoot a suitable
bullet. Dave.
to hunt and shoot deer with that I question the validity of using a 22 centerfire. Granted, with good bullets, they will kill deer with
a properly placed shot, often even with authority, seemingly, but they leave virtually NO room for error at all.
My deer "Chamberings" START at 6mm and go up from there, and even with the 6mm, I prefer a bullet that I have learned to trust
to penetrate and expand reliably without disintegrating. Again, shot placement is paramount.
I have shot muleys that dressed in excess of 135 kg, so live weight would be on par with many cow elk. Mind you, that is an
exceptionally large deer, but if one is hunting deer, you never know when that "monster" will appear.
If pressed, I would probably say that my favorite deer chamberings are in the 6.5mm - 7mm range. Bullets from 125 to 150 grain.
If one must hunt deer with a 22 Centerfire, then he/she must be willing to pass on iffy shots. Also they must shoot a suitable
bullet. Dave.
thats nonsense, no such thing. You trollin bro?
So a 300 win mag is 7.62mm in diameter. A 10,000 Mag would be 25.4cm in diameter.
I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that a poorly placed hit with Naval artillery on a deer will more effectively kill it than a well placed .223
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
i agree. the guys carring 300 wm claiming that it makes up for an occasional bad shot? hog wash.
As everyone has stated if your going to shoot a deer with your 223 don't use varmint bullets . Id aim for the head also . many years ago I was at a gun show in the US and this guy was selling ammo to hunt deer with . his own reloads . the rifle was an AR15 that he was using and the ammo Nosler ballistic tips . not my choice in caliber nor choice in bullet for deer . I worked in a slaughter house many years ago . they used a sledge hammer or a 22 rifle . but we were at point blank range . I'd use a Nosler Partition bullet if I was you .
prairie lover
CGN Regular
- Location
- southern MB
A nosler ballistic tip varmint in 22 cal is on a whole nother level of toughness than the OP's mentioned bullets.
Yeah. See. The issue at hand is a lack of reading comprehension somewhere out there, not a lack of understanding with me over here.
I don't shoot animals in the arse, and think that somehow, they should automatically die, because the magazine article said it was the biggest and baddest that anyone could get.
With a well placed shot, I think most of the naysayers would be damn near on to being amazed, at how fast the 'too small' cartridges will kill a large animal. If you cannot pick and choose your shots, that's on you.
The folks I dealt with, including absolute newbs, did pretty well with a .223. Six for six is a decent enough record, I figure.
But it does show (what I originally posted) that there are a fair few morons out there, that do actually think they should be able to hit the animal 'anywhere', and have it's head explode, or some similar results.
