The AR15, .223 and deer.....

Status
Not open for further replies.
D

dogsoldier0513

Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2006
Messages
296
Location
Heart of Dixie!
The last deer I successfully tagged was a 120# Florida doe shot at approximately 60 yards. The gun was a Ruger Mini-14 Ranch Rifle. The bullet was a handloaded Hornady 55 gr. Spire Point w/cannelure. The bullet entered the right shouldered shattering it, penetrated the heart and both lungs, penetrated the left shoulder and lodged perfectly mushroomed under the hide. The doe ran 30 feet and dropped.

Fast forward a few years. The rifle is now a Bushmaster E15A2 HBAR with a 1/9 twist. The bullet? Well...a lot of work has been done on .223 bullets since 1986. I know Winchester loads a 64 gr. SP designed specifically for the smaller Texas deer. However, I haven't read any 'success stories' written about it.

I also haven't read anything about the Hornady 75 gr. bullets or the solid copper bullets from Barnes. On deer UNDER 200#, how are these working?
 
I purchased some Hornady TAP FPD 75gr loads to try on Deer this season. I have a Stag 5.56 NATO chambered rifle with 1:8 twist, that should handle the 75gr. loads, I have shot Corbon 77gr. Match HPBT rounds with dime size groups at 100yds from shooting bags. So, I will try the 75gr. to see how they do. I also have a Savage 30-06 and Marlin .35REM that I could use also, and may end up using those to Deer hunt.
marcus
 
I've used the Nosler Partition in 60gr out of my 1:9 twist barrel to great effect on Hogs. Hits harder than I expected a .223 round to hit. I was mighty impressed.
 
I've shot 2 deer with a .223. it depends on what kind of shot you need to make. Ok for a nice broadside shot at under 100 yards. Iffy for long shots or where you need penetration.
 
I dont believe the mini 14s will handle a larger bullett like the 64 grain will they? I hear they tend to be erratic due to the twist, any input on the newer mini 14s like the 580 or 581 series....I got a new 581 mini 14 tactical and just wondering if anyone else out there had any input, would love to use it on hogs...
 
Try the Fusion loads, its a bonded bullet loaded for the .223 specifically for deer, I know that Gander Mt down here has them in 62 grain loads and I just bought a few boxes. Haven't PTed them yet, but hope to soon!
 
a 1-9 twist in an AR may or may not handle a 62 grain bullet, my barrel on my AR generally handles weights up to 68-70 just fine, not sure about the mini's but I would think that it would be the same.

Its a hit or miss situation, my friends AR with a 1-9 twist shoots anything over 55 grains like a cat throwing litter in an overfull box. His AR is a bushmaster, mines a RR.
 
.223 is illegal to hunt with in VA, but I have heard of a Federal Bulk 55gr HP dropping one at 175-ish yards out of a S&W MP-15 1:9 twist M4.

Preferably though, I would imagine a well constructed bullet would be necessary for whitetail. I'm not familiar with any types beyond the typical HP and FMJ in .223.
 
i've shot a few deer with the winchester 64 grain power points , with my old M16A1 clone'
they work great.
couldn't tell if it had been hit with a .223 or a 30-06.
one doe hit in front blew out heart lungs and still took out half the ribs. left a hole on exit you could almost putt your fist through.
peabody
 
First and biggest deer I ever shot was with mini 14 and 55 grainer.

For 223 hunting, take a look at the nosler partition 60 grain bullet. My little brother has taken 3 deer with it and it worked very well. All the shots were within 150 yards and were in the typical vitals area.

My 223 has a 9 twist (20 inch barrel) and really likes the 69g SMKs, so I don't see why the 60-65 grain pills wouldn't work for you. The 75s could get a bit spotty depending on conditions with that twist.
 
i bought a .223 R-15CS to serve many purposes(extended defense, varmint, plinking, and most importantly my 3 daughters' first deer rifle. saturday i took it out to make sure it would take a deer if i limited the Girls to 50 or 75 yards. i shot a doe at 56 yards and she only went a few feet and fell. a well trained, well practiced, well placed shot into the vitals will more than make up for the size . and getting a child into hunting without a gun beating the "fun" out of them is well worth it.
 
I personaly would not use a 223 on a deer, but if that is all you have to hunt with the best two bullets to use are the TSX and the Partition, I would not even think about trusting anything else in that small a caliber. There are some very light kicking rifles in much more suitable calibers then that if recoil is the issue, 257 roberts, 243, 30-30, 260 rem, and my personal fav the 6.5x55. BTW I don't think you can stabaleize a 75gr copper bullet in a 1:9 twist, try the 62gr first and if it won't group go down in weight.
 
Recoil is NOT an issue. And from past experience I already know that the .223, with proper shot placement and range judgement, WILL cleanly harvest deer. I was simply asking in my original post how NEWER bullet designs were working out for the .223 on deer. There are LOTS of folks out there that think the .30-30 isn't 'enough gun' for deer.
 
As of 1992, the .223 was legal for deer hunting in Florida. What has changed and why?
Click to expand...

Nothing, it's still legal and popular.

Same here in Bama as I'm sure you know. Any centerfire rifle .22 and larger.

I've taken plenty of deer with one and they fall just as dead as they do when I take one with a 7-08.

Magazine writers and mfgs have been very successful at convincing the gullible members of the shooting public that the only "humane" way to take game is with the magnum du jour.

White tail, mule deer and prong horn are actually very easy to kill quickly.

I have no problem with a .223 on any thin skinned game.
 
Last edited:
i am using 62 gr. remington premium core lokt ultras.
i agree the media and arms mfgs have succeeded in convincing the public that you need the biggest and baddest caliber THEY can offer to humanly take a deer. funny how the best military in the world trusts and utilizes this round to take "targets" twice the size of a southern US whitetail deer.
 
If someone says that a 30-30 is not enough gun they just cannot shoot! A 170 gr 30-30 is an effectice and ethical ELK rifles within 150 yards in the right hands. Don't let anyone lie to you the old calibers still put plenty of meat on the table even if some corprate bigshot ain't pushing tv adds on it. I hunt with one of the oldest calibers still in production, not for history sake, but around here it does everything the newest Uber mag will do, i have NEVER tracked a wounded deer or hog in 20+ years of hunting with hundreds of quick clean kills. If you have the right bullet, and you have a sure shot, yes a .223 will kill even nice sized deer at close ranges, I still perfer somthing pushing a bit more mass 6mm(.243) is the minimum cal in alot of states.
 
ITs been the idea bigger is better for a long time. He who carries the biggest stick wins.
 
maybe mainstream says he who has the biggest stick wins but imo he who can use his stick best always wins.
 
That is what I love about hunters in Europe, they still drop elk and moose with the same 6.5x55s and 7mm Mausers that their grandpa did a hundred years ago, sure some of them cought the magnum bug, but it is not nearly as common there, I don't think I saw 10 magnum rifles the whole 4 years in lived in Europe! I have seen numerous stories about Americans shooting elk multiple times with large calibers like the 338 win mag and not recovering their game, while in the hands of a real marksman a 270 win or .308 with quality bullets is more then enough. American hunters as a whole need to know their equipment better, we want instant gratification in everything we do. Run to wal-mart grab a pre-sighted package gun and a box of core-locks, shoot half of them at the range and save the other half for hunting. LOL Take some time, get to know your gear, don't just launch a box of bullets at the range and assume you are ready, practice shooting from prone, kneeling and standing positions in the feild, you cannot rush good hunting or good shooting IMHO :)
 
amen. 50 round minimum from as many positions as possible before aiming at an animal. i spent 6 hours searching for a deer my father n law shot with a 7mm mag from less than 75 yards. i have yet to have one fall out of sight with .223 or marlin 30/30.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

trigga
  • Locked
fragmenting round for deer?
2 3
Replies
70
Views
4K
Fremmer
F
Steve Traxler
  • Locked
.243 shot placement on deer
2 3
Replies
68
Views
9K
Ks5shooter
Ks5shooter
M
  • Locked
22 centerfires for deer. A personal experiance
2
Replies
31
Views
5K
Art Eatman
A
N
  • Locked
.223 should be illegal for deer hunting.
2 3
Replies
52
Views
8K
Art Eatman
A
35 Whelen
  • Locked
45 Colt vs. Deer & Javelina
Replies
18
Views
2K
TimSr
T
Back
Top