why does 223 suck so bad?????

Robmcleod82

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Could anyone explain to me why the 223 doesnt kill coyotes very well? At 200 yards if I shoot a coyote in the vitals with my 22 hornet he will drop dead, if I shoot one with my 243 he will drop dead. So why do they always spin around in circles with the 223???? 223=junk for coyotes
 
What are you using for ammo/bullets? I'm heading out this morning with my
.223 loaded with 60 gr softpoints. It messes them up pretty bad. I only ever hit one yote that I did'nt find, and that was with my .300 win mag. It is'nt the calibre.
 
Between me and my hunting partner we have 50 grain nosler ballistic tips in just about every 22 cal rifle out there. 223 is the only one where they dont flop over dead
 
I'm not doubting what you are experiencing, it's just not what I have found.
I always used 60 gr as I'm shooting a 1/9 cz, but now that I have shot 50 gr on paper I'm happy with them. I have'nt shot a yote with 50s yet, but I don't see how there would be that much of a difference. I always seem to be shooting well inside 200yds anyway.
 
People have used 223 for deer with success, so I'm thinking its not the cartridge. You say you guys use the same bullet for all the 22 centerfires, right? If it works good in a Hornet, and not so well in a 223, I'd think the bullet is not holding up well...but if it also works in a 22-250....I would suspect shot placement and/or just a case of a tough Wiley. My .02
 
There are too many variables when shooting live animals to say definitively that one cartridge doesn't work well. Are you sure that shot placement is the same for each shot, that the animal is standing exactly the same or that the range is the same (I know you're not saying these things, but for a comparative test to be valid the variables have to be the same). Now that said, I initially was going to blame the construction of the bullet for the poor performance and was going to say that they were likely too frangible for the 223 velocities, but then you said you use the same bullet in the 22-250 with good results. Honestly I still think that it may be the bullet. Perhaps it's perfect for hornet velocities, and comes apart violently at 22-250 velocities but for the 223 it's in the middle in terms of construction - too tough to expand violently ala 22-250 but too frangible to penetrate ala 22 Hornet (I'm skeptical of the Hornet being a good 200 yard yote cartridge but I'll defer to those that use it a lot).

Before you write off the 223 you should try some other bullets. Try going up to 55gr in the NBT or even up to 60 in a Game King.

Unless you're going to get rid of your 223 for cheap. Then I agree, it's a POS on yotes. Sell the sucker and start anew. :D
 
LOL@this thread

I use a .223 and have shot 6 coyotes with it in the 2 years i've had it. Never lost one, had one run for about 40 yards before it dropped, got it in the lungs too. All over 150 yards as well, The last one i got was running full tilt with hounds on its tail about 50 yards back and I pegged it at 250 yards in the neck and it went ass over tea kettle. Fun watching the bullet hit threw the scope.

all out of a Remington 700 shooting 55g Remington core-lokt PSP's
 
bullet choice and where it hits are far more important than if you shoot a hornet or 223. the 223 will get it done if you do your part.
 
Velocity, bullet weight, and type of bullet. The 223 is a good groundhog bullet, but when you get into anything larger you REALLY have to do your part.
 
te 23 was made to kill human siztargets for the miltary and i have shot a lot oif big deeer with a 223 as well the right bullet should cut a yote near in two .i shot one last witer with a 17 rem .and it almost vut it right in two what a mess haha DUTCH
 
22-250= bang flop. 22 hornet=bang flop. 221 fireball=bang flop.223=bang spinning in circles for a minute then flop.

Bang flop with a .22 Hornet but not with a .223?!? I'd say poor shot placement, or poor bullet choice (FMJ vs Hollow Point). Pains me to think you run around wounding animals.
 
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