Ammo for Deer Hunting with .223

Curious what ammo y'all would recommend for deer hunting with a .223 I was thinking...Black Hills Ammunition 223 Remington 62 Grain Barnes Triple-Shock X Bullet. Any other thoughts? I know some will say another caliber, but lets stick to .223 ammo recommendations if we can lol

Not saying it wont kill'em but typical behind the shoulder shot with .223/5.56 usually ends in a LONG blood trail if finding at all. Now I have seen DRT also. Worked at a processor right out of high school and found countless 20 Caliber rounds just under the skin that were healed up just fine. Just my experience

I went with Federal Fusion 62gr (NOT MSR), but I have other guns so that may not get a kill this year.

You are not the first to ponder such a question on this forum. There are lots of opinions. I use Hornady 75 grain BTHP. It's the largest .223 I have found, expands well and wreaks havoc for such a small bullet. As with any caliber, shot placement is key, but even more so with a lighter caliber.

I use a hand load 64g power point by nosler. Prefer high shoulder to drop them in their tracks, but behind the shoulder works fine too. Haven't lost a deer with the .223

I load 65 gr SGKs.

I use a 50gr vmax, it's a tack driver, shoot em in the heart and your good to go... Killed a couple hogs with it too

I have used Remington 55 grain PSP for high-shoulder shots with great success.

A 'typical' behind the shoulder shot with my .223 over the last 20 years or so has been a short walk to where i saw the deer (or hog) die. 'Typically' less than 50 yards.

I shoot 55gr Remington PSP. Fiance uses that rifle now.

Federal 60 grain nosler partition is best ive found for a standard twist 223.

I have had a lot of success out of my 22-250 with a Hornady 60gr BTSP. I have taken deer out to 440 yds and never had a deer walk more than 30 yds. I would think you will have similar results out of a .223. That being said I think the accuracy of the round is more important than any other factor as proper shot placement with a small caliber is the battle you can't lose.

I reload and I like the Nosler 55 grain ballistic tip. Hit the deer in the heart lung area or neck and they go no further than 30 yards. For some reason Ive yet have had s hog or deer stop the round. Always a pass thru

In my experience, Black Hills 75 grain BTHP has been devastating.

Federal Fusion 62 gr

As has been said multiple times already, shot placement is key

Wouldn't recommend this small caliber for deer. The last thing you want is to track a trophy for days. Try something with some knockdown power....Take it off its feet!

Or learn how to shoot well and anchor them in their tracks with a .223 whichever works for you.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/129470/...=ProductFinding


http://www.midwayusa.com/product/494440/...=ProductFinding

These would be a good start.... I have shot plenty with a 222, and a copper bullet in the right spot will do the job...

Glad to see the good reviews on the 55gr tsx. I've got the Barnes Vortex loaded in my AR. I've never killed anything but paper and a few armadillos with it. I think I'm gonna haul it and the .308 to the blind this year since I'll be in a box blind instead of a tree stand.

Until I shoot something bigger than an armadillo with it I probably won't trust it for a trophy buck. I know that sounds dumb but its a mental thing for me I suppose. I like punching .30 caliber holes in deer. Maybe this will be the year to change that.

Do you ever have issues with that load blowing up/not penetrating the shoulder?

Never had one yet.

Here we go...

x2 including the second biggest buck ever killed on our ranch and many head shots on big boars.

223/ 22-250 are NOT deer calibers

these calibers are ILLEGAL in some states because they are not suitable for deer!!!

This thread pops up every year and we hear the same thing, a .223 will not work on deer. Never stops me and lots of others here from killing plenty every year. Bows kill deer fine, why won't 223?

there is a difference between shooting a 120 lb Texas whitetail and a 250 lb mule deer in Colorado.


I've killed a pile of deer with a .22-250. its not ideal for all scenarios, but its fine for whitetail in a lot of areas of the state when shooting 75-150 yards under a feeder

ive also killed plenty of hogs in the 300lb+ range with no problem.

Well said. I'm not taking my .223 elk hunting, but if I'm heading to hunt tx WT within 100yrds, it's more than enough.

I will also add a 55 grain v-max will penetrate the rear tires of a 75 hp case tractor at 100 yards....3 outta 3 times

I bet it dropped in its tracks also.

They sunk quick

Some great comments thanks guys...going to be taking out some does with the .223 this year and see how it goes. I never have killed a deer with anything smaller than a .243 Good luck to the bow hunters tomorrow morn! Going to be nice a cool

We have had great results with the 64 gr. Winchester Power Point if your rifle will shoot well with it. Very few deer run after a good hit with this.

Shot my deer last year with a 62 grain federal fusion at about 100 yards. Didn't take a step.

anything less than 50 cal is inhumane...
For those that use the .223, would you recommend shooting a deer at less than 50 yards? Seems to me that kind of muzzle velocity could get messy.

Ah, good to find another .223 fan for hunting! Well in short, we reload here. My
choice 55grns Nosler ballistic tip bullet on any 556 or 223 case, load to standard factory loads,
chrons at 3120 fps, muzzle. Puts meat in the freezer last 6 yrs. Its a Remington 700 ADL
with plastic stock.... Easy neck, or below ear shot, quick painless, no running around in the
woods with flashlights scaring other wildlife out, looking for blood trails to 1am in the
morning!

my nickels worth on 223 rounds!

hunt safe....

I would have to say quite the opposite...I think the high velocity .22 do a fine job with the right bullet. I will say the 222/223 are marginal, but a 22-250, 220 swift, 224 WBY mag, 22-6mm with a premium bonded core, to copper bullet are absolute death on Texas whitetail....would I take it to MT or Alberta....no but on my farm in Runnels/Coke county, or on our place north of ThreeRivers I will hand have...my 224 WBY with a 55 grain TSX bullet is a soft shooting death ray...

Ed

That is a poacher bullet north of TR in Live Oak County

I've killed a couple with the 70 grain Barnes Triple shock.

I think I would go with any heavy bonded bullet. I probably won't buy more of the Barnes. They are expensive. Be sure to know your twist rate, too.

223 has tons more power than a bow and a musket.

I have shot over 75 deer with a 223 with the Barnes 55gr and never a problem most right in their tracks the other run just a few yard. Shot placement is key with a 223 you should be able to put it anywhere not just a shoulder shot.