.223 Deer Loads

I have a friend who shot a deer each of 8 consecutive years with a .222 Remington and each was a one shot kill. This was in the 1960s. He was using a SAKO with a fixed 4 power scope and handloads. This guy was an exceptional marksman and all but one were headshots. Before you throw the 15 yard bullshit flag you have to realize that he approached hunting with this rig much the same as most people would bowhunt. Extremely close standing shots. The only one that wasn't a head shot happened when a doe jerked her head up and he caught her under the chin and through the throat. Lungs looked like a bomb went off in her ribcage. Except for this ont though a .22 rimfire probably could have done the job. Please understand I'm not a fan of .22 CF for deer but for this particular guy it worked out fine. He did eventually buy an .06. RD

All I needed was good a good powder load combo to try in the Sako. Figured someone had already been there and done that. Didn't intend to fire up a debate on the pros or cons on the cartridge for the purpose. Guess I'll just try the 64 grain bullet over a starting load for a 60 and see what happens downrange.AW

Adobe Walls wrote: All I needed was good a good powder load combo to try in the Sako. Figured someone had already been there and done that. Didn't intend to fire up a debate on the pros or cons on the cartridge for the purpose. Guess I'll just try the 64 grain bullet over a starting load for a 60 and see what happens downrange.AW

Adobe Walls,

I have been using a post '84 Winchester Model 70 carbine(20"bbl) since 1987 for our smallish Texas Hill Country whitetails.  My load with WW cases and WW55gr SP bullets is 27.0grs. of Hogdon's BallC2 powder and WW SR primers, chrono velocity is average 3,075fps.  3-shot groups at 100 yards average 0.75".  This combination has accounted for 35+ deer and 2 Aoudad rams since then.  That said however, bullet placement is critical...most have been neck shots on the deer but the 2 Aoudads received their killer bullets in the lungs.  The Aoudads went about 50 yards prior to expiring.

Ol' John 

Edited by HondoJohn6508

my opinion .223 isn't enough for a deer, not even these little texas deer, i looked into it when i was looking for my son a deer rifle, he's 14yo and maybe 90lbs, but after a trip to the range he handled my 30.06 just fine! we sighted it in using the remington 125gr managed recoil rounds and he took his first deer on friday using those rounds, if just want a low recoil get a 243 or a 7mm-08 but in my opinion if my 90lb 14yo boy can handle the recoil from my 30.06 there no reason a grown man can't handle the recoil from a 243, for what it's worth!

Adobe Walls wrote: Hondo, Thanks.  ............................................ I think the .223 is both more and less gun simultaneously than lots of folks think it is. I find it odd that backwoods types and subsistence hunters almost always used "little" guns for their meat hunting when compared to the average "sportsman" hunter type. I guess it's HOW you employ what you have more than anything else.AW

"backwoods types and subsistence hunters"  that is a pretty accurate description of yours truly.  I currently live on a cattle ranch that has mananged to survive thru drought and screw-worm flies and other calamities for 4 generations........The plan has always been to sell the beef for "cash money" and put venison in the freezer.  I much prefer the taste of venison over beef anyway!  My "little" .223 is good for coyotes to about 250yards but for deer my yardage is limited to about 125 as that is about the max I feel comfortable taking neck shots.  That said, however, most shots are in the 60-75 yard range.  Neck shots are preferred as very little meat is wasted and my particular rifle is more than accurate enough for taking those types of shots.  I am definitely not recoil sensitive and have shot most every centerfire up to and including the .375 H&H.  I have been doing custom riflesmithing for the last 8 or so years.  As a general rule I do not recommend the .223 for the inexperienced shooter/hunter.  Most want a .243 or better anyway........whatever "floats your boat" and you have confidence in is the best rifle/caliber there is.  I know I can get the job done with my particular .223 and the terrain/game I hunt in.  It also does nicely on the little feral "piggies" up to about 100lbs or so........its getting where we have more piggies than deer and they do BBQ well.........but thats another story for another day.  Hope you get a good combination worked up for your .223 and find success.

Ol' John

Well I guess I will take the .223 out this week and see if I can kill a deer, I have some loads for the 30-06 I loaded up for this perpose but I am sure that I can kill a deer with my NEF .223 out to about 200 yds. It is shooting a 1/2 moa @ that distance and I think a head shot will do it.

John