I am old school. I consider 6mm/243 minimal for deer. I, me, myself would not intentionally hunt deer with .223/5.56.

Lots of people do it and without problems. I have no suggestions for reloading as I have never considered hunting deer with this cartridge.

Ammunition has changed since the old days when I first started hunting deer and that includes a vast improvement in performance. If I were to choose to hunt deer with this cartridge here is the factory ammunition I would use.

Federal Fusion 62 Gr.https://www.federalpremium.com/rifle/fusion/11-F223FS1.html

Hornady 50 gr. ECX 22 Cal .224 50 gr ECX™ - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc

Winchester Super X 62 grain, X223DS | Winchester Ammunition

Remington Super performance 55 gr. PSP Buy High Performance Rifle 223 Rem Ammo | 55 Grain, 3240 FPS | Remington

 

I'd use Winchester 64g PowerPoint, fusion 62gr, or a nosler partition of they make them for 223. I'd avoid any hollow point or plastic tipped bullet.

 

Never deer - and I probably sound like a broken record by now - however, I've killed some big hogs with the 64gr Gold Dot (62-64gr bonded soft point equivalent).

Gave a handful to my buddy for his daughter's first hunt last season, and she killed a 1-1/2 year old doe without issue.

I really think that any 55gr+ bonded or all-copper will be just fine as long as your shot placement is good. Where the .223/5.56 lacks in is forgiveness for poor shot placement.

A lot of guys swear by the OTM stuff, but I've had some poor results with good hits... enough that I won't do it anymore.

 

What's otm?
Edit: nevermind. Google answered that one. It's open tip match.

 

Yes the Barnes TTSX bullet should work on with that monometal bullet. THey will stay together yet expand well. Monometal bullets should work well for you.

Stay away from Hornady V-max bullets the are for small thin skinned game. V-max bullets are what Diggler is warning you against. V-max bullets at lead core design rapidly expand in small game.

 

Yes the Barnes TTSX bullet should work on with that monometal bullet. Stay away from Hornady V-max bullets the are for small thin skinned game. V-max bullets are what Diggler is warning you against.

V-max bullets at lead core design rapidly expanf in small game.

Monometal bullets should work well for you.

Thanks. I thought that was the case.

 

Anyone use Winchester sta ball match powder in the 223 and have any thoughts on it?

 

I h

I Have a pound of Sta-ball in the cabinet that was bought for some project but don’t remember which one it was. 😂
I’ll have to go through some books and figure out what load it was bought for. I’m thinking 6.5 manbun but not for sure.

 

I tried to search your posts because I remember seeing you post one before but you have a lot of posts so I didn't find it. 😁

 

I would hate to say with any certainty about the powder and weight without consulting my load data.
The bullets used were Sierra 55 grain soft points.
I was in the process of looking for a ballistic tip to replace the soft points, but things got in the way.
The TTSX bullet posted earlier would be a great choice I’d think.
The reason for changing from the soft points was because the magazine and feed ramp of the AR deforms the lead tip.
The recoil in the mag flattens it and the feed ramp pushes it sideways a bit.
I’ve actually tested the deformed bullets for accuracy. At 100 yds, not much difference was noticed. The .223 isn’t designed to be a long range cartridge so didn’t test further.

 

I have a buddy that has great luck with 55 grain v-max 🤷🏻‍♂️

 

I knew a guy who shot quite a few hogs with the .223 and 55gr V-Max. He stuck to headshots ONLY. He has more cajónes than I do (or maybe he's a moron... there's a fine line between balls and stupidity).

No way would I recommend that for the vitals of a deer. You're talking violent expansion... and about 6-7 inches of penetration and that's it. Hit a bone and it is never going to reach vitals.

The .223 is fine, just understand that you're not going to get the same amount of tissue and organ destruction as you would if using a larger caliber.

Here's a massive boar that I killed years ago with a 5.56 and the 62gr Mk 318 Mod 0 bullet. Not going to lie, I was nervous as hell going after this dude and shot him a second time in the ass as I walked up (just to make sure he was dead). The exit of that bullet is under the front leg. Be prepared, this was my 2nd or 3rd video and the quality SUCKS.

 

I have shoot rock chucks, prairie dogs, badger fox and and number of coyotes with 50 and 55 grain V-max Never had a pass through on any of these animals. How ever I was never convinced that I missed the coyotes that I thought I hit, and they ran away.

 

There is a whole lot of "just because you can, doesn't mean you should" floating around the internet gun and hunting forums.

I agree with the sentiments above (and maybe add my own) that the BEST option is to use the largest cartridge you can comfortably shoot well, and to use a designated hunting bullet.

^^^ That doesn't mean it is the only option, and certainly not a requirement for success. However, it does reduce the chances for head-scratching moments some.

 

I used to be in the bigger is better group.
I tossed stones at the tiny .223 until I was presented with one at a store on Black Friday for $150.

Can't say No to a new rifle for that price.
I began testing some loads and settled on the 55 gr V-max bullet.
I shot a Buck deer during Bow season and removed the head and neck and did some bullet performance testing on it with that 55 gr bullet.
It went into the neck about 2" and then started coming apart like a hand grenade.
When it reached the spine it tore through it like a meat grinder and looked like you took a 2" paddle bit and wollered a hole through the spine.

Ok results looked great there and so I shot it in the side of the head and it blew the off side antler off and made the eye pop out on the off side.

That load has dropped over 100 deer between me and 3 friends that shoot the same load and dozens of hogs. Never had to track any of them.

For those that Poo Poo the 55gr v-max in a .223 or 5.56 AR rifle I must ask have you done your testing with that bullet.
Not a similar bullet or same weight bullet.

I tested a 55 gr lead tipped Hornady in .223 but not in dead meat like I should have.
Results were horrible with the bullet ending up pushing the hide out on the far side and only turning into a mushroom shape.
Not enough trauma or shock.
One deer had the top of the heart shot through with that bullet but ran over 500 yards.

You put a 55gr V-max into the heart and you do not find the heart. You will find a lot of red matter.


My load since you asked.
Bolt gun 26.0 gr H4895 F-C or L C .223 cases are my favorite CCI 450 primers.
All cases need annealed. VLD chamfered and necks brushed with spinning nylon bore brush.
I seat my bolt gun loads and the 55 gr V-max to 2.278" I shot these from 4 bolt guns and 1/2" groups are a gimme. If you can hold steady and you have good brass prep.

You can reduce the load for an Ar and use 25.0gr and seat the bullets to 2.255" or a bit deeper and still get great accuracy.

I have never took a broad side lung shot with that bullet.
Neck and heart and for hogs into the ear or neck and I have sent one through the shoulder on a 250+ lb hog at 40 feet.
No splatter and it killed it instantly.

The accuracy of that bullet and the performance on deer and hogs has made me rethink the big caliber.

Friend of mine called me every year to track deer for him. He hunted 70 miles from me so not too bad.
His caliber was 30-30 and 30-06 and they were accurate.
Most deer were withing 200 yards many we never found.

I got him into 5.56 Ar and load the 55 V-max for him and he has never called me to track a deer since.
He takes terrible shots messing up a lot of meat and asked me if there was a different bullet that did not destroy so much meat.
I told him where to shoot them and be patient and wait for the shot.
15 years later he is getting the hang of it.