advice for 223 build

[cocopuff]

Thinking of making a 223 for deer hunting..I know a lot of people do not agree with it being a deer cartridge.....Wondering what twist barrel to get and what bullet would be good..Not planing on shooting more than 125 to 150 yards is all here..How about those Shaw barrels..It is a savage action..Appreciate any ideas..Thanks..

 

[jsthntn247]

For 150 yards the Shaw barrel will be fine. Get a 8 twist and shoot 62gr Barnes ttsc, 60 grain partitions, 62 nosler bonded bullets, or swift scirocco's and you will never have a problem.

 

[Geno C]

Don't forget the amax. 8 twist will let you shoot just about everything you would want. I've killed a lot of deer with a 223 over the years. Bullet placement is key as it is with whatever you shoot

 

[40X Guy]

Don't forget the amax. 8 twist will let you shoot just about everything you would want. I've killed a lot of deer with a 223 over the years. Bullet placement is key as it is with whatever you shoot

Agreed! Build an 8 twist .223 set up for 75 A-Max and you will have a nice accurate deer rifle with no recoil. My dad at the end of his hunting days used a .222 Remington in a Sako chassis and would simply shoot them in the neck. You'll be fine with the .223.

Frank

 

[MrMajestic]

Like was stated, my .223AI pushes the 80 gr. A-Max from a 26" 8tw Criterion at 3050 fps and kills Whitetail well. Shot placement is King, adequate penetration is Queen and the rest is dancing on the head of a pin. Of course there are range limitations on the .223 and yours are certainly inside those. Of course you could look at the 6X45 also, just saying.

 

[Turbulent Turtle]

I have had excellent results on large pigs (250+ pounds) with the 75gr Swift Scirocco II. Textbook expansion.

 

[searcher]

Only because hunting does not always present the perfect shot - or because I'd feel better taking a less than perfect shot if it were the only opportunity presented to me, I'd be in the camp of going bigger in caliber. Maybe a .243, .257 Roberts, 6mm Remington, maybe even a 6BR? The .223 is good - these are better when needed or wanted for a tougher shot even at 150 yards.

 

[Phil]

.223AI
8 Twist
75gr. bullet

This is the way I`d go.......................For what that`s worth..............

 

[olympian]

The .223 works great for whitetails. In a 1-8" twist, I have cleanly killed whitetails with 80 AMAX, 60gr nosler partition, and 50gr hornady SX. I have yet to have a deer take a step after getting hit with my .223 trainer.

 

[amlevin]

Thinking of making a 223 for deer hunting..I know a lot of people do not agree with it being a deer cartridge.....

Here in WA State the Department of Fish and Wildlife don't agree that it's a deer cartridge either. Don't hunt here with less than '.24 caliber'.

 

[jsthntn247]

Only because hunting does not always present the perfect shot - or because I'd feel better taking a less than perfect shot if it were the only opportunity presented to me, I'd be in the camp of going bigger in caliber. Maybe a .243, .257 Roberts, 6mm Remington, maybe even a 6BR? The .223 is good - these are better when needed or wanted for a tougher shot even at 150 yards.

If you don't get a good angle on the deer you shouldn't be taking a shot with any caliber. That's how 90% of 2 mile track jobs start.

 

[searcher]

A perfect shot can kill a deer with a kid's air rifle. I would not use that because it 'could' do the job - even if it were legal where used. Many states don't allow .223's because they don't kill as well when NOT hit just so. You typically won't get the penetration with angled shots that you will in a larger, more potent caliber. To argue that is pretty pointless. I personally think the use of the premium bullets and heavy monolithics, such as the TSX's is a .223 will do the job. The question was caliber in general, not bullets for caliber. I won't argue with the deer hunters who "have never had one walk more than 5 feet". And when that huge trophy of a lifetime will not give you that perfect shot, I salute those who pass on it because they know the limitations of whatever it is that they are shooting. My point was not to go with a bigger caliber to make crappy shots as someone seemed to think I was implying - just that there are better options, regardless of the successes of others.