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Message
Recommended .223 ammo for whitetail deer?
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:24 am
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:24 am
I've shot a few deer with Federal .223 Rem 55Gr tactical bonded the last couple seasons (that's what I have somewhere between a hundred and 10K rounds of). The round travels so fast it simply liquifies the chest cavity and ultimately makes a mess of some of the meat.
The Federal .223 I have at 100YDS has a velocity of 2680fps and 875Ft#. Too fast and too hard.
Though I have a Marlin lever action .30-.30, which is a nifty rifle and my favorite, I really enjoy the my Bushmaster AR-15, especially when a group of hogs screws up and enters the kill zone.
I'm looking for recommendations on .223 ammo specifically for deer, virtually all of my shots are sub 100 yards. I'm a novice on ballistics, but I think what I am looking for is a much slower, bonded and rapidly expanding round.
I'm certain there are several here who know exactly what I am looking for, and I appreciate your help!
The Federal .223 I have at 100YDS has a velocity of 2680fps and 875Ft#. Too fast and too hard.
Though I have a Marlin lever action .30-.30, which is a nifty rifle and my favorite, I really enjoy the my Bushmaster AR-15, especially when a group of hogs screws up and enters the kill zone.
I'm looking for recommendations on .223 ammo specifically for deer, virtually all of my shots are sub 100 yards. I'm a novice on ballistics, but I think what I am looking for is a much slower, bonded and rapidly expanding round.
I'm certain there are several here who know exactly what I am looking for, and I appreciate your help!
11
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:37 am to eatpie
If you can find them and they shoot well in your gun federal fusion 62gr is what you are looking for. Bonded bullet and numerous positive results with deer and pigs from 25yd to 125yds for me personally.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:46 am to Ol boy
I've killed deer with them and with Barnes Vor-Tx solids. Both will get the job done.
Not my favorite choice, but certainly capable.
Not my favorite choice, but certainly capable.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 8:47 am to Ol boy
quote:
federal fusion 62gr
This or the 62 gr. Barnes TTSX
might also try out the 64 gr. Federal Power Shock JSP.
This post was edited on 6/24/21 at 8:50 am
Posted on 6/24/21 at 10:09 am to eatpie
70gr Barnes. Or Hornady 75 gr interlock SBR.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 10:15 am to eatpie
Thats not too fast or hard and you aren't losing any meat.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 10:40 am to eatpie
quote:
I think what I am looking for is a much slower, bonded and rapidly expanding
To accomplish your goal, here is the $64,000 question. What twist rate is your barrel ? Rule of thumb: if you want to push heavier projectiles at a slower velocity, you need a faster twist barrel. .22 centerfire barrels range from 1:6.5" twist to 1:14". Most .223/5.56 barrels today have a 1:9" which is fine for bullets in the 50gr ~ 75gr weight range - See charts below. Whatever ammo you decide on, you're still gonna have to shoot a group to see how accurate it is in your rifle.
source: Shilen barrels
.224 CF
- 6.5" * Ratchet rifled 4 groove
- 7" for bullets up to 90 gr.
- 7.5" * Ratchet rifled 4 groove
- 8" for bullets 80 gr. and under
- 8" * Ratchet rifled 4 groove
- 9" for bullets up to 70 gr.
- 10" * for bullets up to 65 gr.
- 12" for bullets up to 63 gr.
- 14" for bullets up to 55 gr.
- 14" * Ratchet rifled 4 groove
source: NRAblog
Posted on 6/24/21 at 11:35 am to Got Blaze
What Blaze said
Posted on 6/24/21 at 11:55 am to eatpie
77g SMK HPBT, 77g OTM Black Hills, 75g Hornady HPBT, 69g SMK HPBT.
This post was edited on 9/10/21 at 5:12 am
Posted on 6/24/21 at 12:17 pm to eatpie
I use 62 grain soft point Federal Fusion and it has performed great. My daughters have shot 3 deer so far and everyone had died within sight, furthest ran about 50 yards.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 12:45 pm to eatpie
Id probably use barnes ttsx on the heavier side. Something like a regular bonded soft point will probably work well too.
Thats not the problem. Speed is a good thing. You are using bullets meant for two legged targets. They expand much more violently than hunting bullets.
quote:
velocity of 2680fps and 875Ft#. Too fast and too hard.
Thats not the problem. Speed is a good thing. You are using bullets meant for two legged targets. They expand much more violently than hunting bullets.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 12:55 pm to eatpie
Fusion, they are like like little grenades. My son dropped a 215 pound 11 point beast in Mississippi like a sack of potatoes at over 100 yards years ago with a 223 fusion.
But with one caveat, do not do heart shots do shoulder shot, or something that will hit bone. I shot several deer with fusion bullets with my 30 06 and no blood trails even though I killed them. I have heard similar stories from other hunters. The Teflon bullets charterize the wounds or something. If you hit bone the bullets explode like a grenade.
I remember thinking no way I missed a doe one time, but not a speck of blood, etc. Found her next day 100 yards off the field with perfect shot. She was dead and didn’t know it
But with one caveat, do not do heart shots do shoulder shot, or something that will hit bone. I shot several deer with fusion bullets with my 30 06 and no blood trails even though I killed them. I have heard similar stories from other hunters. The Teflon bullets charterize the wounds or something. If you hit bone the bullets explode like a grenade.
I remember thinking no way I missed a doe one time, but not a speck of blood, etc. Found her next day 100 yards off the field with perfect shot. She was dead and didn’t know it
Posted on 6/24/21 at 12:55 pm to eatpie
I've always used the Barnes TSX
Posted on 6/24/21 at 1:58 pm to eatpie
Another good option if you can find them , or have them reloaded for you would be a Nosler Partition.
Posted on 6/24/21 at 3:52 pm to mfiredog
quote:
Nosler Partition
Probably a little too squishy for solving OP's problem. It takes a good bit of horsepower to drive them, they always open up very wide. I think OP probably needs a little less expansion to get better penetration.
Eta: I had a 180gr from a .30-06 stop under the hide on a deer at about 20 yards. I think they are excellent bullets better suited to modest speeds.
This post was edited on 6/24/21 at 3:55 pm
Posted on 6/24/21 at 6:45 pm to eatpie
I also recommend the Barnes tsx.
I’d use something bigger than a 223 though. Years ago when I was hell bent on using an AR for deer hunting somebody recommended the tsx to me and I killed 1 deer with it. Little 5 point came running by and I put a perfect shot on him. He only made it about 20 yards but there was no blood because there was no exit hole. That’s when I stopped using a 223 for deer.
Just my experience though. I know people like them for hunting
I’d use something bigger than a 223 though. Years ago when I was hell bent on using an AR for deer hunting somebody recommended the tsx to me and I killed 1 deer with it. Little 5 point came running by and I put a perfect shot on him. He only made it about 20 yards but there was no blood because there was no exit hole. That’s when I stopped using a 223 for deer.
Just my experience though. I know people like them for hunting
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