bullet weight verse speed

foreign · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 2:30 pm Post subject: bullet weight verse speed

i was wondering what the best bullet weight would be for a .223. this would be for varmiting to 500m and deer shooting to 300m. a 55gr acn be pushed around 3500fps were a 75gr is slower at aroung 2950. but is heavier so carries more momentum. where is the optimum compermise? prefer one load for both and twist is 1 in 9

FALPhil · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:18 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

I always shoot the bullet that gives me the tightest groups. I don't worry about velocity. My feeling is that what whatever I hit with the bullet will neither know not care about how fast it is going.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

For your twist rate, I'd go with a 65-75gr 224 bullet that is meant to work with small to medium game hunting. As how I figure it the 223Rem is kinda light, but a heavier bullet will be better then a lighter bullet which will be more or less meant for varmint hunting and not deer sized game. Velocity with this caliber wouldn't be my biggest worry, biggest will be making sure that bullet does indeed hit vitals, so it must be a accurate load, and must not break up after impact like alot of the varmint rounds are meant to do. Smile

By the way if this is a AR-15 platform, remember CCI sells military spec primers for the semi-automatic rifles that are being sold today, to help prevent the risk of a slam fire. Cool

Dimitri

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

In my opinion I think you're expecting way too much from a .223. It could kill small varmints at 500m but you'd be stretching it. And its generally a poor choice for deer even up close, much less at 300m! Varmint bullets and big game bullets are two significantly different things, you won't find a single bullet that will do both well.

1895ss · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:32 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

foreign wrote:

i was wondering what the best bullet weight would be for a .223. this would be for varmiting to 500m and deer shooting to 300m. a 55gr acn be pushed around 3500fps were a 75gr is slower at aroung 2950. but is heavier so carries more momentum. where is the optimum compermise? prefer one load for both and twist is 1 in 9

In my opinion any .224 cal bullet of any weight/gr and shot from any of the .224 caliber rifles, is too light and not suitable for deer hunting, much less 300m. Shocked

1895ss · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

Pumpkinslinger, I guess we both replied at the same time with the same thought. Smile

You know what they say .......... "Great minds think alike". End of quote. Very Happy

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:13 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

I notice that "foreign" is from New Zealand. Perhaps they have a deer species there that the .223 is suitable for? I know people that have filled their freezer every year with a .222 with 55 grain Remington factory loads. I'm NOT suggesting anyone else try it, only commenting that it is done.

1895ss · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:18 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

That's possible. Around here it is even illegal to hunt big game with a .224. Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5944

Well they have Sika deer in New Zealand, they are comparable to a medium-large sized dog. I guess I could see a 223Rem being used on a Sika at 200-300 yards with little wind, and a good accurate shot as they are not much bigger then the coyotes and wolves that are killed with the same round. Smile

According to the DNR of Maryland:

Quote::

They are 2 ½ feet high at the shoulder, weigh 50-100 pounds and originate from Asia

But if he means Red Deer, they can get pretty big, comparable to what we in North America know as Elk, and I'd be hesitant to use a 243Win never mind a 223Rem on those ones. Shocked

As for being legal or not, the 17 Remington is legal in Ontario to hunt Deer, Moose and Black bear, only requirement for rifles is a CENTERFIRE, (so no rim fire rounds) to be legal here for rifles. Shocked

Dimitri

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

1895ss wrote:

That's possible. Around here it is even illegal to hunt big game with a .224. Smile

Now how much time DID it take???

1895ss · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:32 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

hunterjoe21 wrote:

1895ss wrote:

That's possible. Around here it is even illegal to hunt big game with a .224. Smile

Now how much time DID it take???

Very little. It has been illegal to hunt big game with anything smaller then a .24 caliber for as long as I can remember. Very Happy

foreign · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:07 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

thanks for the interesting comments. yea i realise that the .223 is a little on the small size but there used to be deer cullers here in nz who would use them. rether just for my bro since that is all he has. i would back him up with my .308. sika deer are small to as Dimitri states so that would be ok. as for red deer well it would manage but might be inhuman.as for bullet type. will just go for a hunting round and use that for varmiting since rabbits and hares can be knocked over with a .22lr at 150m happily.

Wicky · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:21 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

My 10c worth - I know deer cullers that used the 222 mainly for deer but it was a few years ago - 60s and 70s and my feeling is that while anything can be killed with a 22lr I would feel a little under gunned and with the increased hunting preasure all over the world, and I'm sure NZ is the same a larger calibre would be a better option.
I don't wish to sound like a wowser and certainly if your stalking and shooting skills are good you can kill any animal but anything less than a perfect shot could cause a lost and wounded animal.
Me, I'd buy another rifle but the I'd buy another rifle anyway!!

Vince · Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

Gidday Foriegn.

I have a mate over here in Oz that has taken fallow with a .223 using 55gn bullets, but personally I don't believe they are anywhere big enough as he needed a second shot. Also, the other guy we go out with uses a .22 Hornet for everything he shoots and he never fails to stop a fallow deer.

Myself, I would use nothing less than a .243 firing an 80gn bullet.

If your brother is hell bent on using his .223, then I would seriously consider either 55gn or 62gn bullets, maybe as high as 69gn. They can be driven fairly hard and with the correct bullet (remember wildswalker's suggestion - Barnes TSX) to be preety good on the right sized game.

150m with a .22LR on rabbits?? What ammo are you using mate? I use Winchester Power Point in my Krico .22 and I reckon 100m pretty much pulls them up.

Cheers, Vince

foreign · Posted: Wed Apr 09, 2008 6:55 pm Post subject: Re: bullet weight verse speed

hey vince. yea i agree with u in the fact that a .223 is a bit small for deer. but being a student the option of getting another gun is pretty low. so the .223 with 65gr will have to do. he will just have to head shoot or place shots well. yup 150m is pushing it with the .22. i use the samt ammo. just cant shoot on windy days at all. i have a are with a bank thats shingle so you can see where you miss and correct easily.