.223 deer

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Lets try a novel idea here... how about answering the original poster's real question instead of trying to talk him into a new rifle, arguing among ourselves, or some other option.

For what you are looking for, Take a look a Hornady V-Max or Tap ammo or the Black Hills or the Cor-Bon. I believe any of those will be better suited than the Winchester or Federal options you mentioned.
 
A summary:




I would say, Black hills 77gr molly coated hollow points.

*Note: Disputed/questionable choice.

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There are a few suitable soft points, if you drop down to 55gr there are a gazillion choices. Stay away from ballistic tip and HP rounds, maybe do a water jug test to make sure the round won't fragment like a varmint round.

I've got boxes of Barnaul steel cased 62gr soft points, in a pinch I'd take a deer with one. If you can take a good shot with it expansion won't matter too much, just stay away from varmint rounds, unless you love eating coagulated meat with bits of metal in it.

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By all accounts the Barns TSX is THE bullet to use for hunting medium game with a .223 followed closely by Winchesters 64grn power point. I don't have any firsthand experience using this cartridge on deer....YET. But I'm likely to remedy that come November

By all means read some of the reviews written for the ammo listed in the below links

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...348&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...682&t=11082005

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpag...153&t=11082005

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I'm not a hunter, but people who hunted deer with .223 have said that the 60 nosler partition seems to work well.
Click to expand...

My favorites are any Barnes X type followed by Nosler Partition.
 
I was thinking 70 plus grains wouldn't stabilize in a mini 14 considering rifle twist, but I was just guessing. I'm thinkin' the 60 grain partition or a lighter Barnes if it's made would be much better. Bare in mind, too, if it's a Barnes X, a 50 grain bullet is probably going to stabilize like a 60 grain lead bullet due to the fact that it's all copper.

The above is just speculation not based on any experience as I've never owned a .22 centerfire. But, I've read a lot about 70 grain stuff having problems in sporting rifled guns as opposed to the M16s and ARs that have slower twists for heavier bullets.

Someone with actual experience/knowledge could expound on this or set me straight.:D
 
MC- Heres my complaints with the 77gr HPBT suggestion:

1. 77gr bullet is too heavy (long) for 1 in 9 twist, 100 to 1 odds it won't stabilize at 100yds.

2. .224 HPBT bullets were only meant for target shooting and varmints (with the exception of Sierra's rumored new military bullet, which is used in a 1 in 7 twist)

3. HPBT bullets with a low coefficient also have little (comparative) purchase on rifling due to their football-like shape, a Mini-14 is about as far from a match chamber/barrel as you can possibly get. The proper bullet shape for the barrel can make HUGE difference in older military type guns.
 
so the 77 gr. wont stabilize well in the mini 14? Whats a better choice of bullet then for deer sized game?
 
Not sure if it's been posted or not, but even if it has, I'll sum up the my thoughts behind using the .223 on deer.

If you can't take a deer with the .223, then I wouldn't trust you to take a deer with a .338 WM.
 
Honestly you are splitting hairs selecting the best bullet in a 223. Find a premium bullet like the 60 gr partition. Purchase a box and see how it shoots. If it is 3 MOA or better, then you are good to go. Practice.....Practice....Practice....

Keep your shots under 150 yards and do not take a shot that is a bad angle or through bone and you will be fine.
 
Honestly you are splitting hairs selecting the best bullet in a 223. Find a premium bullet like the 60 gr partition. Purchase a box and see how it shoots. If it is 3 MOA or better, then you are good to go. Practice.....Practice....Practice....

Keep your shots under 150 yards and do not take a shot that is a bad angle or through bone and you will be fine.
Click to expand...

Plus one.
 
I promised myself that I wouldn't wander into the 223 briar patch again, but here goes nothing. I think most of us will agree that the 223 isn't the most "ideal" cartridge for deer, but can be used with sucess if the hunter does his part. I've shot numerouse Montana Muley's with nothing more than a 223, 55 grain ballistic tip Ultramax bullet out of a bolt action rifle. I never had any problems with that round and every deer I hit with it I took home. Now I'm by no means some expert marksman, but I did make sure that my shots where clean and into vital area's which would give me the highest sucess rate I could achieve. I wouldn't shoot much further than 100 yards with your setup due to the acuracy issue's with the mini 14. Pick two or three different rounds listed here, shoot them at 100 yards and use the one that is the most accurate out of your gun. Good hunting to you all.
 
im going to the range in a few weeks so im gonna buy a box of the winchester powerpoints, federal partitions, and corbon tsx's and check which is going to be more accurate in my gun
 
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