The 223 with lightweights and small scopes

pathfinder76 said:
Was out today playing with a fast twist 223 shooting 40gr BT’s at 3650. Speed sure helps with mid range trajectory and small targets. Using a fixed 6X scope with a ballistic reticle shooting 6” targets at 500 yards was easy.

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My varmint gun is an old( Anschutz 54 ) C.I.L. 900. I have used it since the 1970 for everything from gophers to coyotes , and when it was loaned out to a good friend, a wolf at just under 300 yards.
It's a slow twist though so I don't shoot anything heavier than 53 TNT's out if it and usually 50's.
Still lots of fun, and I have had everything from fixed 4's to 6-24's on it. My all time favourite for coyotes when calling is a 3-9x. 3x in the low light and 9 for the middle of the afternoon.
My .223 Ruger had a fast twist though and it was a lot of fun if not a bit heavy for carrying around.:)
Cat
 
I don’t think a 22 cal bullet gives you the flexibility a larger bullet would. If shot placement is ideal sure it would work. But if you have to start running bullets up its rear because it’s getting away, a bigger, fast, well constructed bullet has to be preferred. No?
I have never had to shoot big stuff with a 22 cal at distance but what are you really trying to prove? That low to no recoil can get it done? That you’re saving 30gr of powder per animal?? That Alberta has laws that shouldn’t apply to me???
 
Buckmastr said:
I don’t think a 22 cal bullet gives you the flexibility a larger bullet would. If shot placement is ideal sure it would work. But if you have to start running bullets up its rear because it’s getting away, a bigger, fast, well constructed bullet has to be preferred. No?
I have never had to shoot big stuff with a 22 cal at distance but what are you really trying to prove? That low to no recoil can get it done? That you’re saving 30gr of powder per animal?? That Alberta has laws that shouldn’t apply to me???
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The .222 and .223 make ideal varmint guns for smaller stuff , but for wolves I have different rifles for that - unless of course they are coming in close when I am calling, which they never have up here.
My friend shot the wolf on his trapline and it was just something that happened to present itself at the time.
He didn't drop right away with a Speer TNT in the lungs, either , but he did not go far across the frozen pond.
Since we are not allowed to hunt big game with .22 centerfires in the Province it is not something I really ponder much .
Cat
 
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No argument what it can do to game far bigger than the standard 40-55 gr standards off the shelf. Great that they’re hybridizing it with 21st century understandings with some faster twists and heavier ammo offerings...heavier for cal to do better work on bigger stuff. A real 21st 22 will come along with the proper formula saami’d (cough 22 arc). But....but....not legal here for everything when one little change and you are. So I don’t get it. Just a range toy and hope only coyotes come in coyote calling...wrong province for that. It’s so much easier to have an all of Alberta alternative for this cartridge length/powder class.
 
blakeyboy said:
No argument what it can do to game far bigger than the standard 40-55 gr standards off the shelf. Great that they’re hybridizing it with 21st century understandings with some faster twists and heavier ammo offerings...heavier for cal to do better work on bigger stuff. A real 21st 22 will come along with the proper formula saami’d (cough 22 arc). But....but....not legal here for everything when one little change and you are. So I don’t get it. Just a range toy and hope only coyotes come in coyote calling...wrong province for that. It’s so much easier to have an all of Alberta alternative for this cartridge length/powder class.
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Lots of choices out there, one does not have to choose a Creedmoor anything if they do not want to- and they would not be wrong, just different.

Cat
 
I agree, I don't have a creedmoor, haven't had one, likely won't, but for only a few grains more powder in that same length cartridge class you can choose 6.5 Grendel and 6mm Arc which is legal for everything in the province. The creedmoor is a 308 class cartridge, way too big for this discussion. ;)
 
blakeyboy said:
No argument what it can do to game far bigger than the standard 40-55 gr standards off the shelf. Great that they’re hybridizing it with 21st century understandings with some faster twists and heavier ammo offerings...heavier for cal to do better work on bigger stuff. A real 21st 22 will come along with the proper formula saami’d (cough 22 arc). But....but....not legal here for everything when one little change and you are. So I don’t get it. Just a range toy and hope only coyotes come in coyote calling...wrong province for that. It’s so much easier to have an all of Alberta alternative for this cartridge length/powder class.
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What’s coming in to your coyote calling?
 
remington jim said:
Then to DERAIL this thread theres the Much " Superior 22-250 REM Cartridge " to the 223 Rem ! Big BROTHER is the Man ! LOL ;) jmo RJ
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Almost nothing seems to cause the vapors, or wads up underwear, as well as a shooting deer with a 222/223 thread.
Again, it would be quite short and more to the point if it were limited to those that have actually done it...

R.
 
Rman said:
Almost nothing seems to cause the vapors, or wads up underwear, as well as a shooting deer with a 222/223 thread.
Again, it would be quite short and more to the point if it were limited to those that have actually done it...

R.
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Card carryin member of the stunt shooters club.
I refuse to waste a large rifle primer on anything less than a bull elephant and have a personal maximum of 35grs of stick powder.
 
remington jim said:
Then to DERAIL this thread theres the Much " Superior 22-250 REM Cartridge " to the 223 Rem ! Big BROTHER is the Man ! LOL ;) jmo RJ
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The 22-250 drops Deer like they were hit by Lightning. The 22 cal prohibition in some Jurisdictions grew out of banning the 22 RF as a Roadblock to people of lower status. Now some people actually believe 22 cals are not adequate for the majority of hunting.
 
Hitzy said:
It's possible to push a light bullet to the point it will self destruct in the air, but needs to be pushed real fast in a real fast twist. Nothing I've ever seen or worried about in a 223.
They seem fine with fast twists and light bullets.
There are more then a few cartridges that will throw a 40gr 223 bullet at 4000fps+, and they were designed around that.
I remember reading on here actually about a member that was wildcat crazy with the 284Win cartridge, built everything from 22 to almost whatever cal a 284Win is straight walled, I think the 22-284 was called the baboon slayer as he took that one to Africa on a cull. There were a few lighter bullets that didn't hold up to the speed and vaporized 50m out.
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That sounds like a Douglas sort of thing. Guys liked to troll him, he didn't play well in the sandbox. The site took the sandbox away.

Re: remington jim above. I live on a gulf island. Tiny deer, almost always at close range. Literally one of the places in Kanada, that 22 centre fire would shine. How is the 250-3000 Savage fine for deer, but 24 thousands less inadequate. Would I use a 22-250 on a 350lb interior mule deer at 400yds, no chance.

Since the thread is about 223 rem, small bullets, fast twist. The issue is bullet size and construction. The last decade has seen the introduction of super 22 calibers, 22 Valkyrie, 22 nosler, now 22 creedmore. The creedmore being the new pet of the marketing machine known as hornady. They've introduced large for bore deer hunting bullets. The 22 creedmore is pushing light bullets at 22-250 speeds in 1-7.5 or 8 twist, I believe 77 or 80gr hunting bullets at about 3000ft/sec. Some of these new calibers take off others flop. Remains to be seen about the 22 creedmore, but what about .....hmmm 22-250 ai in a 1-8 twist.
 
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pathfinder76 said:
What’s coming in to your coyote calling?
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Cougars(2, 1 me 1 my calling partner), lynx, wolves, black bears, mule deer I can recall easy. Haven’t had a Badger or fox come to call yet. You can have a tag and call the cougar hotline ahead and see what zones still have both ###es open as it’s tough to check em without dogs lol, guessing it’s still same arrangements. It’s not set up very favourable to callers but it’s doable. We did it, partner and I each have cats by calling them in back to back years. Understand there more landowner options now which is nice but still not for callers. We were pretty obsessed for awhile but now icefish more in winter since we camp in trailers on ice, gettin old and been there done that also, always a next phase.

It’s actually ‘predator calling’ here, can’t really use the term ‘coyote calling’ in this province. We have too many species that have sharp pointy bits that will respond.
 
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Those all sound like things that would show up to ivestigate "hey, I'm a small injured mammal you could totally eat if you wanted to" noises
 
nowarningshot said:
That sounds like a Douglas sort of thing. Guys liked to troll him, he didn't play well in the sandbox. The site took the sandbox away.

Re: remington jim above. I live on a gulf island. Tiny deer, almost always at close range. Literally one of the places in Kanada, that 22 centre fire would shine. How is the 250-3000 Savage fine for deer, but 24 thousands less inadequate. Would I use a 22-250 on a 350lb interior mule deer at 400yds, no chance.

Since the thread is about 223 rem, small bullets, fast twist. The issue is bullet size and construction. The last decade has seen the introduction of super 22 calibers, 22 Valkyrie, 22 nosler, now 22 creedmore. The creedmore being the new pet of the marketing machine known as hornady. They've introduced large for bore deer hunting bullets. The 22 creedmore is pushing light bullets at 22-250 speeds in 1-7.5 or 8 twist, I believe 77 or 80gr hunting bullets at about 3000ft/sec. Some of these new calibers take off others flop. Remains to be seen about the 22 creedmore, but what about .....hmmm 22-250 ai in a 1-8 twist.
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And the problem in Alberta, for hunters anyway, is those are too heavy for cal and high sd for the fur saving varmints, unless fur doesn’t matter and strictly pest control, also great for long range shooting but while big game formula is there too we can’t utilize that versatility so makes sense to jump up to a diameter that will allow that versatility. Or stick with the original as designed light bullet original formula for trajectory/fur/low ricochet and targets.
 
The heavy 223 cal bullets that people are hunting with seem to be pretty splashy up close even from 223 and 223 AI for sure. 77gr TMK for example looks a bit too gross on deer up close from a regular 223

Much like the 6.5 123 ELD-Ms you're stickin in deer, eh Blakey. Decisive killers for sure, but more speed on em might not be more better at all lol

Curious about the 77gr LRX at the higher speeds, kinda figure it must be made for those but wonder if it blows petals on imact and that ain't better
 
Fair, just wanted to get you to tell why you like the .223 personally. That’s all, genuine curiosity, you still haven’t said why you like it? I still wanna know lol. You strike me as a hunt-centric kind of guy so...I just find it odd and I’m curious.

Like pulling teeth trying to get you to talk lol
 
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