What is best .223 ammo for deer hunting?

[Jeremy]

I've never hunted with my AR before. I just set it up with a 3-9 scope and want to deer hunt with it.

Its a 16 inch barrel with 1:9 twist.

Any recomendations?

[Evild]

federal are made fkr deer hunting.

[varmint]

Nosler Partitions or Barnes TSX

[BustedHorns375]

See if your gun does well with heavier than lighter bullet for caliber; I'll second the TSX/Partition recomendation.

I've done culling with a 223, but it can be marginal for poorly placed body shots. JMO.

[StarKannon]

.223 is marginal it is not really designed for stopping larger game, you do it use heavier grain projectiles and mind your shots.

If you wanna use an AR consider a 6.8

[Evild]

See if your gun does well with heavier than lighter bullet for caliber; I'll second the TSX/Partition recomendation.

I've done culling with a 223, but it can be marginal for poorly placed body shots. JMO.

Same can be said for a 30.06

.223 is marginal it is not really designed for stopping larger game, you do it use heavier grain projectiles and mind your shots.

If you wanna use an AR consider a 6.8

Your basing this on what?

[Jeremy]

Old timers used to hung with .222 50 grain bullets all day long. My neighbor has hunted the last 10 years or more with a 22-250 and has bagged over 20 deer with it.

Anyone familiar with the Federal Fusion 62 Grain? This review looks pretty promising.

This is great ammo! Turned my AR-15 into a killer with it. 185lb 9-point whitetail at 90 yards, shot was placed low on the shoulder, shot hit the leg bone square, shattered it into a million little pieces, exited the leg, re-entered the chest cavity, and put a quarter-sized hole through his heart! The majority of the bullet carried on through the deer... we found small pieces of copper around the leg area, but for the most part held its mass really well.

[meketrefe]

Barnes TSX 62gr
Nosler Partition 60 gr.

Corbon and Double tap have great rounds.
Also Barnes themselves.

[meketrefe]

.223 is marginal it is not really designed for stopping larger game, you do it use heavier grain projectiles and mind your shots.

If you wanna use an AR consider a 6.8

The .223 is just fine where legal. One needs to use the right tips.

[Jeremy]

Anyone know if Gander or Dicks carries that Barnes 62gr TSX? It sounds like a pretty sweet round. I think that's the route I wanna go.

Tomorrow is the only day I have off of work before southern tier opens so I have to find them locally in the Utica / Syracuse area.

[Evild]

Jeremy, I have some Fusion 62 grain projectiles if you reload, I will gladly send you a few to load up. I use them for just various shooting and haven';t shot anything other than a pumpkin with them, but they are accurate as any other high end bullet.

[Jeremy]

I wish I reloaded .223, that's next on my list...I wish I had a single stage press. I just load pistol on a Lee Pro right now.

[meketrefe]

Anyone know if Gander or Dicks carries that Barnes 62gr TSX? It sounds like a pretty sweet round. I think that's the route I wanna go.

Tomorrow is the only day I have off of work before southern tier opens so I have to find them locally in the Utica / Syracuse area.

I don't think so. If you had a 1:8 twist you could go with the 70gr TSX but the 62gr or even the 55gr TSX will do just fine. They are used in TX all the time to pop deer and pigs. The TSX and nosler are brutal no matter what caliber. Just make sure not to try to pop the deer 300 yards away.


DoubleTap Ammunition


Black Hills Ammo 223 Remington 62 Grain Barnes Triple-Shock X Bullet

Federal Premium Vital-Shok Ammo 223 Remington 60 Grain Nosler

Federal Premium V-Shok - .223 Rem. 60gr Nosler Partition 20/Box - Natchez Shooters Supplies

[Jeremy]

So i'm def gonna order some of these but now I need to figure out what I can buy locally so that I can sight in my gun tomorrow and shoot 5 deer on opening weekend. Tomorrow is the only day I can sight in my gun so unfortunately I have to go with whatever I can find locally.

[meketrefe]

Give it a try. The federal with the 60gr partition that one they might have it. This stuff is better to reload as they are very expensive.
There is also a 64gr winchester that is good for deer. Stay away from all the FMJs and varmint bullets. That is why the .223 got a bad reputation for deer because people were shooting with the wrong bullets.

Look for this one too..
Winchester Super X 223 Rem 64gr Power Point - Sportsman's Warehouse

[Jeremy]

Thanks guys....now I have some good ideas of what to grab tomorrow...hopefully I can find something decent.

[sitdwnandhngon]

I think any soft point will do fine if you can shoot well.

[Les]

Jeremy, try Herbs. They usually have a decent selection of hunting ammo.

[Jeremy]

I was at Herbs in Oneida last night and their selection was terrible. It was either soft point Remington 55 grain or hornady vmax (I think) 40 grain. I'm going to try the one in New Hartford today and see what they have.

[zeroskin]

223 fusion..... hit the heart lung area and its a wrap....... also will desroy some meat due to fraging up but its cleanest round ive seen as far as killing deer with 223

[varmint]

you may borrow this opening day....Attachment 12959

[meketrefe]

Thanks guys....now I have some good ideas of what to grab tomorrow...hopefully I can find something decent.

'

Jeremy did you find the nosler or barnes or even the winchester 64gr?

[Jeremy]

Nope. The only thing I could find locally was Hornady Tap 75 Grain. Other than that all I could find is vmax varmint rounds and remington 55grain psp. I spent half the day driving to three different herb philipsons, gander, and dicks. I'm going to have to live with it because today was the only day I could sight in my gun during the daylight between now and Saturday.

I can't wait to fill a buck tag and 4 doe permits!

[Doc8404]

there's always Franks in marcy...he always has various rounds.

[Jeremy]

Do you know if anyone has been there recently? I tried calling him to see if I could find a BCG locally and his answering machine says he opens up in July. My buddy tried going there the other day and he was closed. He ended up buying a pistol at K and K.