223 round for deer
- Thread starter bigrob
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Plateau Hunter
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Winchester 64g Power Point…
TboneD
Well-Known Member
Daddy told me the value of opinions but you wouldn't be posting if you didn't want them.
So respectfully, I honestly don't believe there is one. I was just talking to a buddy of mine yesterday morning who's hog hunting next weekend with his 5.56. He's a trained marksman, though, and plans on taking only head shots on the nuisance critters, completely unlike his shots on deer.
I'll spare you anecdotal stories of my own and others and just conclude with the fact that you just gotta decide if it's worth paying for insurance against a kids first experiences shooting deer being sad experiences. Trustworthy calibers with relatively low recoil that come to mind are 243 Win (with heavier bullets designed for deer), 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm/08, and the tried and true 30-30 Win. Best of luck with the kid.
So respectfully, I honestly don't believe there is one. I was just talking to a buddy of mine yesterday morning who's hog hunting next weekend with his 5.56. He's a trained marksman, though, and plans on taking only head shots on the nuisance critters, completely unlike his shots on deer.
I'll spare you anecdotal stories of my own and others and just conclude with the fact that you just gotta decide if it's worth paying for insurance against a kids first experiences shooting deer being sad experiences. Trustworthy calibers with relatively low recoil that come to mind are 243 Win (with heavier bullets designed for deer), 6.5 Creedmoor, 7mm/08, and the tried and true 30-30 Win. Best of luck with the kid.
Opinions are like bungholes -- everybody has one. That being said, I have killed several with 223, but I believe 223 is a good deer round only for experienced shooters. Shot placement is extremely critical, much more so than larger calibers. I personally do not recommend a new hunter use 223 on deer size animal. There is a reason the tried and true 30-30 and similar cartridges are still popular. Mild recoil and the great terminal performance is pretty forgiving.
TboneD
Well-Known Member
Wasn't going to spell out the value of opinions since my dad didn't use the word "bunghole"
Hog is a completely different animal. Head shots are taken on pigs because of anatomy.
TboneD
Well-Known Member
Yep. That's why I said ".,,unlike his shots on deer". From my own experiences of having to finish off a wounded deer and from what I have learned from others, a lethal headshot on a deer has much less margin of error than one would think.
Hardwoodmaterials
Well-Known Member
I have a Rem 700 .223 that I'm setting up for the kids to shoot because the ammo is cheap and it's similar to what they will hunt with so they will be familiar with how it works and feels. I doubt I will let them shoot at deer with it but groundhogs, armadillos, coyotes, ect are fair game. I had my 6 and 8 year olds out shooting this morning. The 6 year old is a whole 50lbs and wouldn't shut up until I let him shoot a Browning Micro Composite in 6.5CM. I finally gave in and let him have a turn and he handled the recoil much better than I expected and could hold minute of milk jug at 100yds on his own. If you're worried about recoil with a bigger caliber you might want to let the kid try it and decide.
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Do you reload, or are you looking for factory loads?
If you reload, Ive got about 30-35 of those Nosler 64g bonded solid base. I would be happy to send them to you.
I killed my biggest deer ever with one last year. About 150 yrd neck shot....but It was with a 22-250. Ive also killed several with a 223. Those were all taken with the factory Barnes vortex loads.
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Stuff 24-25 grains of any good .223 powder and a 53-62 gr Barnes or NP. Barnes factory stuff is good also. As is Black Hills ammo.
Dead deer.
It ain't rocket science.
560 yards is my best. Daughter's is 127.
Dead deer.
It ain't rocket science.
560 yards is my best. Daughter's is 127.
DaveB
Well-Known Member
We have 25 grains of H335 behind Nosler 60 gr partitions in several .223 bolt guns. The results on deer at about 60 yards is very good.
The lack of recoil is a big aid to getting youngsters to shoot without yanking the trigger.
The lack of recoil is a big aid to getting youngsters to shoot without yanking the trigger.
Long read, but very worth it.....
https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/
https://www.rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/
JN
Well-Known Member
I use federal fusion 62gr. Put it where you are supposed to and it is dead deer. One of the farms I hunt on is allowed to kill so many does during the summer due to crop damage and they shoot them all with a .223 and they have no issue.
That's what my son will start with. The goal is to switch to Grendel Barrel in a few years.
