.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

[Maverick1]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

 

[grfox92]

Maybe, does your gun shoot factory offerings fine? Do you like to load? Tinker?

I do reload and enjoy it. I've quite litterally never shot my AR once in the 3 years I've owned it and have shot the one I've owned for 10 years twice in that time lol.

I'm going burn 30 rounds of bulk fmj I have getting on paper and close to zeroed and see how those group, then I'll truly zero with the 55gr Vmax I bought so I can take my son Coyote hunting.

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[Pickettpuncher]

I do reload and enjoy it. I've quite litterally never shot my AR once in the 3 years I've owned it and have shot the one I've owned for 10 years twice in that time lol.

I'm going burn 30 rounds of bulk fmj I have getting on paper and close to zeroed and see how those group, then I'll truly zero with the 55gr Vmax I bought so I can take my son Coyote hunting.

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For low volume, I wouldn’t mess with it. If you want high volume and quality ammo I’d get to pulling the handle.

 

[PNWGATOR]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Bullets matter.

Correct bullets (wound channel, depth of penetration, BC) delivered with high accuracy and high precision out of a robust delivery system with impact velocity adequate to deliver terminal performance with the highest hit rate and lowest recoil…

This entire thread is based on objectivity and efficiency and end results that matter.

Please, read the thread. Trust the process. Verify the process for yourself. Post your findings with pictures and necropsy results.

We’ll all learn!

 

[Tahr]

I’ll be there in September. You on the north or south island?

North - Wellington. Make contact if you pass through.

 

[atmat]

North - Wellington. Make contact if you pass through.

Wait you’re taking 70 deer annually on the north island? I thought the majority of the hunting was South Island. That’s awesome!

 

[Tahr]

Wait you’re taking 70 deer annually on the north island? I thought the majority of the hunting was South Island. That’s awesome!

Lots of hunting on the NI. I don't want to distract from the purpose of this thread so have PM'd you.

 

[PNWGATOR]

Lots of hunting on the NI. I don't want to distract from the purpose of this thread so have PM'd you.

Please keep posting your .223 experiences!

We all have a lot to gain from first hand terminal performance reports including pics!

 

[Tahr]

Please keep posting your .223 experiences!

We all have a lot to gain from first hand terminal performance reports including pics!

It's pretty good performance for a 52 grain bullet to go right through this deer and make a good exit wound (pic shows the width it penetrated). As said they are Berger jackets and the guy who makes them here seems to have got the core mixture pretty right. Im not advocating little bullets but it does show what can be achieved with the right mix of ingredients of speed plus bullet design.

 

[lhbackcountry]

Ruger American 223 / 23g TAC / sierra 65 htbt match.
One went about 30 yards into creek and crashed. The other looked at me, acted like nothing happened took 10 steps before keeling over.

 

[KHNC]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Yep, and 6000+ posts about how they are devastators. Whats wrong with these people?

 

[mt terry d]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Yes they are.

A lot lighter to carry, cheaper and kill as quickly as my 300 win mag.

Win/Win/Win

 

[wind gypsy]

Edit: maybe another question I should ask is, how much is it costing you to reload .223? Is it even worth it for ringing steel at 400 yards? I bought a box of Fiochi 55gr Vmax for 50 rounds for $42. They have 50rnds of FMJ for $37 also.

You can certainly get to where cost per round makes it tough to justify hand loads. I like the ADI stuff through global ordnance personally. https://globalordnance.com/adi-worl...a-blitzking-200-round-case-upc-9332153003173/
AAC has some cheap ammo as well. The ELD and TMKs are nice when you start shooting beyond the 100 or 200 yard line to reduce how much the wind is impacting a guy.

 

[ElPollo]

I was in the store today and looked at .223 ammunition. They are small.

Cute and deadly. It can be hard to get your head around the amount of damage they do with the right bullet.

 

[Ken_L]

I purchased a Steyr ProHunter III in 223 and I am going to load it with Barnes TTSX 62 grains. I think this will be a good combo for deer. Most of our shots are within 150 yards and typically less than 100.

 

[FB Trout]

Hello all,
I have been a long time lurker here and have learned an absolute ton! Thank you for changing the way that I hunt and practice. I figured it was time to join and contribute.
In the past 4 years, my sons and I have killed 4 mule deer does, at ranges varying from 90 to 375 yards, using Tikka Rokslide specials with chopped 18.5” barrels and TBAC Ultra 7 suppressors. Our .223/77 TMK handloads shoot with a muzzle velocity of 2725 fps. Impact velocities have been from 2100 fps (375 yard shot) to 2580 (90 yard shot). The deer either wobbled for a few yards, then collapsed or ran 30 or so yards and collapsed. Very impressive. Last year, my youngest son killed a cow elk at around 250 yards, 2300 impact velocity. One shot and it hunched up and then laid down and expired quickly. I shot my antelope this year with a 18” chopped Tikka rechambered to 22 Creedmoor shooting 88 ELD match bullets at 3050 fps. Distance was 200 yards and was equally impressive. I look forward to being able to continue to contribute and thank you again for the drop tests and helping us change the way we hunt! We have trusted the process. The photos are as follows:
1) Doe shot at 375 yards with right front shoulder removed, with a close up of entrance, which was tucked in the crease.



2) Cow elk and also right front shoulder removed with entrance wound.



3) Buck antelope shot with 22 Creedmoor.

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

North - Wellington. Make contact if you pass through.

If you’re serious I’ll take you up on this! I’ll be back to New Zealand in 2024, is there a time of year requirement for adding some hunting into my trip plan?

 

[david2duck]

I second the ADI stuff from global. Good price and my tikka likes it.

 

[grfox92]

Not sure if posting non hunting related .223 stuff is ok, but here is the result of me zeroing my Factory stock M&P15 today with Fiochi 55gr Vmax and a bullshit Vortex 3x9 Diamondback.

I'm shocked how well this factory gas gun grouped box ammo with what is arguably the worst trigger I've ever felt in my life. Probably 1/8 inch of creep before it breaks. Ill see if I cant put a hole in a coyote this Sunday.

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[SBR Sarge]

grfox92,

Not a bad start. Add a Larue MBT, better scope and some TMKs and you’re all set!