Anyone in here hunt whitetail deer with a .223 Rem??? I want to hunt with my AR-15 but a little leary on the .223. If you do, where's the best place to hit for a good kill? Neck or heart? I plan on using a 50 or 55 grain boat-tail from Hornady. Any other thoughts on a good bullet?

What rate of twist is your rifle??

If you have a 1:7.5 up to 1:9, chances are you can stabilize the longer and heavier bullets which will be more dependable for a clean kill.

Folks are making bullets for big game now in the .223 diameter. Keep in mind that most 50 and 55 grain .224 bullets are designed for varmints and very lightly constructed. This can cause splash wounds and may kill pretty poorly. I'd sure look into some of the new 60 plus bullets designed for big game rather than varmints if your serious about using the 223 on deer.

The twist rate is 1:9. Bob, I didn't know that there was such a thing as "big game" designs in 224, so I will be sure to look into that. New to the caliber other than in the Marines, over 12 years ago. Thanks for the input.

Hornady makes a 70 grain Interlock bullet (item #2280) that would be better than the 50 - 55 gr ones. I'm sure Nosler and others make the heavier bullets, also.

Would reccommend the 60gr Nosler Partition.

If you reload .....that's a plus,if not would VERY HIGHLY reccomend the Black Hills loading. They have them rated at 3100fps outta a 24" bbl.

They are also extremely accurate and I have measured the standard deviation at < 12fps.

People down here have been known to kill the bigger hogs with that loading and have heard some great things about it.-----pruhdlr

There's a 60gr. Nosler Partition available - not sure if in factory loads.

There is a factory Winchester 64gr. load. That I've seen kill pigs.

If you can handload the Barnes "X" bullet, say in the 50-55gr. range (not sure exactly what is available right now), that would be idea.

Not sure I'd experiment with anything else. Lung shoot them.

I had a great uncle who hunted deer with a .222 and shot them in the neck. I don't really know if that helps much.

BigCheese,

Well my dad has no experience with the .223 for hunting, but that's what he told me too. "Just shoot 'em in the neck". I can't imagine getting hit in the neck with anything, not doing the trick.

Is it legal in WI??

I have used Nosler 60grn partitions and Barnes 63grn TSX's in my Bushy with good results. Shots were generally close 15 to 50 yards. I wouldn't want to have to track a deer I shot with a 223, as there was very little blood trail.

langenc,

If my memory is correct, I don't think it was a few years back, but I remember seeing in the reg book last year that a person could. Gonna have to look again though to be sure.

Curious, I agree with the tracking. I wouldn't think there would be much blood to track either. 90% of the time I go for a heart shot with the 30-06. A few rare occassions I would take a neck shot. Thing is, they NEVER went anywhere after hitting the neck. I'm just worried about hitting a rib or the shoulder and it not doing enough damage. I DON'T want to wound of course. That's why I am considering only a neck shot with the cal. I hoped that there would be undisputed reports of success with the neck and 223.

in the second year of t-zone i used my ar-15 using a 55grn sp/cann. i placed the shot behind the left ear at about 50-60yrds with scope and the deer never took another step.
i have seen neck shot deer with 30-30 .243 .280 and still run. a .223 may have the same results?

Well mbegg, i don't know what we do differently with neck shots and the .243, but thats like my #1 shot. It has dropped about 20 whitetails for me, and never had one go farther than a backflip.
Anyhow, I have friends that use .223's and .22-250's with success. They are all good shooters and patient hunters. I believe that they use either remington 55gr. green and yellow box, or handloads with heavy for caliber bullets.
Let us know how you do

Federal premium makes deer loads for the .223 and .22-250 loaded with Partitions.

Jim

Pruhndlr nailed it: go with the 60 grain Nosler and plan to be feasting on tasty meat! This bullet would amaze the "30-06 or nuthin' hunters" who don't comprehend the difference made by bullet construction. That's not meant to discredit the 30-06.

TR

Hornady makes a 70 grain Interlock bullet (item #2280) that would be better than the 50 - 55 gr ones. I'm sure Nosler and others make the heavier bullets, also.

Just a quick note - that Hornady bullet is .228" diameter, not .224", and it is not for the 223 Rem. It is for the old Savage Hi-Power with its larger bore diameter.

The Partition or Barnes TSX would be my choice.

The thing about neck shots is that the vital area - the spine - is relatively small. Hits to the spine generally drop an animal instantly, but you can hit a lot of tissue in the neck WITHOUT hitting the spine. I've done just that. I shot a muley in the neck with a 7 Mag, and it ran off. Luckily it was in open country - a shot from my wife's .243 dropped the deer. I'd hit squarely, but somehow missed the spinal column. Never taken a neck shot since, FWIW.

My dad shot sika for years with a hornet (when it was legal.)
Headshot, they fall over straight away. The one problem with them is there's a chance you could hit the jaw. but then again, there's always a chance you'll miss.
If a .223 is legal for deer shooting, i'd use it. as long as you're confidant you can hit a vital area. It's a piece of metal moving at supersonic speeds - it'll kill.

That said, there was a case in england where some guys Lamping deer with a .270 shot a walker who came to investigate the noise in the chest with a 140gr softpoint. The guy lived. We humans are pretty great, huh? :eek:

_Kar.

My last year hunting in WI before I joined the USAF i neck shot a White tail with my 308... It went about 30 yards... but left a 24" wide blood trail the whole way... I hit both arteries in the neck. So yes Neck shots are ok but shot placement is critical...I was low, but it still worked.

Good luck

Dan

Yeah the 223 is one sweet round (from USMC guy 1975-1979).

For deer hunting----
I would just go heavier than those 55 grainers. That 1-9 twist will stabilize the standard loads of 69, 75 or even 77 grain boolits. I vote for Black Hills ammo. Get some remanufactured. Inexpensive and accurate.

Head or neck shot. I'm confident you can do it. The key as always is to know your gun and your limits. If you are shooting iron sights, I am sure you know what range you can shoot acurrately to. If scoped, the same applies although I'm sure it will be alot further. I don't think I'd go further than 220+- yards. I target shoot my 223 caliber to 300 yards with a 24 power NIKON. I can definitely keep them in a deer head sized group at those distances although I would NOT try shooting a deer at more than 200 yards wih that setup.

223 can be a very deadly dear round. Just stay away from the ultra fast, light (55 or less grain boolits). Use the heavy 223 rounds in your 1 in 9 twist! Let me know what you think.

killed plenty of whitetails with a 223, second the ammo recommendations and of course see what groups the best in your gun, Speer just released a 64g golddot bonded softpoint that shoots sub MOA in my 1/8 twist Sabre 16 stainless, it doesn't like the 64g Federal TRU. That round put about an 1.5" hole clean through a whitetail my son shot at about a 125 yards

Curious, I agree with the tracking. I wouldn't think there would be much blood to track either. 90% of the time I go for a heart shot with the 30-06. A few rare occassions I would take a neck shot. Thing is, they NEVER went anywhere after hitting the neck. I'm just worried about hitting a rib or the shoulder and it not doing enough damage. I DON'T want to wound of course. That's why I am considering only a neck shot with the cal. I hoped that there would be undisputed reports of success with the neck and 223.

DON'T DO IT!! You MAY get lucky with a heart shot with a .223. However, consider this: The .223/5.56mm was developed for disabling an enemy combatant and not necessarily killing him. Reasoning, is that it takes more people to care for a wounded man than a dead one. The light bullet of the .223/5.56mm is designed for swift velocities (3,000 fps +) and are deadly on thin-skinned animals (ie. Prairie Dogs, gophers, turkeys, man, etc). The .223/5.56mm can be very effective on deer if you use a 55+ gr bullet and shoot the deer high in the neck (right below the jaw line). This will usually sever the carotid artery and make death by exsanguination and shock very rapid. If you insist on using a .223/5.56mm for deer hunting (and I know you will), stay within 200 yards at maximum distance, and always use the just-behind-the-jaw neck shot and you should be successful in downing your deer.

-Dad
Tue 0807291001s

I have never used a 223 for deer hunting but have heard of people that do and use it quite regularly without fail. I agree that big game bullets are the way to go or use heavy for cal s.p's. That said I have shot deer with a 22-250 and a 55 gr trophy bonded bear claw one shot drt.Yes its leagle to hunt deer in Wi with a 22cf

the neck shot is the worst shot to try for. the "goods" are not really where they seem like they should be and a small target compared to the chest cavity. the artery is what, the size of your thumb, and the spine may be the same. could you hit a one inch stick from field positions out to 200 yards all the time?

a premium game bullet such as the TSX in the boiler room will not fail you.

I have a buddy that got a sage goat with a .223, kilt him dead-but I would use my .220- more power/ punch.

Hunt with your .223 with confidence. I have two deer loads for mine that drop them like a hammer. The 55gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw at 3070 and the 60 grain partition at 3110. I use a Rem 700 VS with a 26 in barrel. These are not max loads in my gun. They are the most accurate in my gun. And with this round it's all about shot placement. I will only take a broad side or full frontal shot. I only use this gun and load when hunting from a stand that has a solid rest and keep shots to 150 yards. I go for the heart with this gun. The head moves way too much and I have seen deer loose a jaw to other guys trying head shots. Most of the deer I have taken have not made it more than 50 yards.
On broad side shots I have never recovered a bullet. Always a hole in and out.
When shot facing me I find the bullet in the back of the lungs or front portion of the liver.
I'm going to try the 53 gr TSX this year.
Just my 2 cents good luck.

Hntr

i found 70gr projectiles out of a 22-250 worked really well . Another thought You should practice getting a second or evan third shot away quickly and acuratly seeing as you are useing a semi auto . I used to use a SKS a lot and would pratice so as i new how quickly i could shoot acuratly . Work to what ever guns your useing advantages . You might spoil some meat but better than loosing a dear .

this subject sure is going smooth, it should be that way. there is another guy getting his butt kicked for asking the same question about the swift. we use .223 for antelope-have to use the white flag to get them close enough, one hunter gets camo on and the other gets way behind him wave some kind of white paper plate or towel the anteope come see what the white thing is they are curious

Hunt with your .223 with confidence. I have two deer loads for mine that drop them like a hammer. The 55gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw at 3070 and the 60 grain partition at 3110. I use a Rem 700 VS with a 26 in barrel. These are not max loads in my gun. They are the most accurate in my gun. And with this round it's all about shot placement. I will only take a broad side or full frontal shot. I only use this gun and load when hunting from a stand that has a solid rest and keep shots to 150 yards. I go for the heart with this gun. The head moves way too much and I have seen deer loose a jaw to other guys trying head shots. Most of the deer I have taken have not made it more than 50 yards.
On broad side shots I have never recovered a bullet. Always a hole in and out.
When shot facing me I find the bullet in the back of the lungs or front portion of the liver.
I'm going to try the 53 gr TSX this year.
Just my 2 cents good luck.

Hntr

Are you talking whitetail or mulies, do you think there is a difference as far as loads ?
what does a large whitetail weigh, have not hunted them

Biggest difference I can tell is the 60 gr penetrates a bit deeper when I'm shooting them head on. Both reach the heart from that angle. Both of them do the job well. MY gun seems to like the partition better.
I have harvested 18 deer with the 223 since I got it. Largest to date is a nice 9 point that dressed out at 186 pounds. I have used the 60 gr partition on a couple of pigs also. Worked very well. Those shots were taken from less than 60 yards.

Hntr

For got to answer the other part of the question. I'm hunting white tail. Big ones get to 225 to 250 dressed out. The average run of the mill goes 180. I got a nice doe that went 176 dressed out with the 223.