Deer hunting with 223 Remington

Balrog said:

I am sure he can, but these kinds of threads often degenerate into caliber wars and that is not what I am looking for. I don't find 223 Remington necessarily ideal for deer but developed a detached retina recently and am a little shy of using my 308. So I may try to 223 this season instead. I thought about getting a 243 win, but don't really want to buy a new rifle and have a new caliber to keep up with. If I can get decent performance from 223, that is what I intend to do.

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Not trying to derail your thread but another option may be H4895 and download your .308. It can be loaded down up to to 60% of a max charge. Hodgdon has some great youth load data online. Recoil is less than a .243. I have had very good luck loading 125gr ballistic tips and 130gr TTSX (estimated 2400fps) for the grandkids, nieces and nephews. When 8 year olds go through 50 rounds a piece of .308 and ask for more you know you've got a winner and I have gotten to where I like to shoot em a lot myself. Way less recoil, noise and muzzle blast with plenty of giddy up for deer. Here's a link http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Youth Loads.pdf
More than one way to skin a cat.

I wanted to kill a deer with a .223. Was I nervous a bit but research showed me shot placement an bullet design was the main factors for .223vs whitetail. I went with Remington HogHammers in 62gr TSX I think I'd have to doublecheck haven't shot them in a while. They sighted in less then 1in out of Colt. I'm now 2 for 2 both shots less then 100yds both broadside both performed flawlessly. Entrance an exit niether went more then 40yds.

My buddy went with Fusions 64gr I think. I know they Fusions we went stalking around his farm 240yds across a wheat field complete pass through down in 30yds. .223 will kill the fire out of them

bighonkinjeep said:

Not trying to derail your thread but another option may be H4895 and download your .308. It can be loaded down up to to 60% of a max charge. Hodgdon has some great youth load data online. Recoil is less than a .243. I have had very good luck loading 125gr ballistic tips and 130gr TTSX (estimated 2400fps) for the grandkids, nieces and nephews. When 8 year olds go through 50 rounds a piece of .308 and ask for more you know you've got a winner and I have gotten to where I like to shoot em a lot myself. Way less recoil, noise and muzzle blast with plenty of giddy up for deer. Here's a link http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Youth Loads.pdf
More than one way to skin a cat.

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So I will second this comment. I load a 9lb rifle in 308 for my son with 47gr of IMR4064 and 125 gr accubonds and that exits just shy of 3000 fps and drops them like a rock. Recoil is minimal. If you want to use an AR platform I really think the 300 blackout with 125 gr SSTs, Nosler green tips, or Barnes 110 Gr is really ideal under 150 yards. Will double punch, expand, and make a .30 caliber hole. At 2300-2400 fps it will dump almost all of its energy into the animal. Not picking on the .223 but i think that is a far better deer killer and you can run your AR15. Have uppers from .223 to 458 Socom and I would use the 300 black or more for deer in the SE

55gr sp was effective in the boiler room and it ran less than 50 yds

weagle said:

The Barnes bullets are long for their weight, so they need a faster twist than lead core bullets of the same weight. On the other hand; my Zastava mini mauser has a 1:12 barrel and it shoots the Barnes 53gr Vor-Tx just fine. It's plenty of bullet of deer and hogs.

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That's a PURTY rifle

killerv said:

son broke both shoulders with 62gr fusion on a doe last year. I was impressed.

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WHAT he said !!! 62 grain fushion Bad to de bone!!

Barnes TSX 55 gr My Grandson uses them in his 223 and is 3 for 3. Complete penetration in all 3 and good blood trail, easy to follow