Reloaders: Which 223 bullet for hunting whitetail deer?

Question

I intend to hunt whitetails this season with my AR-15. What type of bullet is best and what is the heaviest bullet that I can load to magazine length without sacrificing powder capacity?

My state allows 223's for deer and I am not looking for suggestions for other calibers, I am simply trying to load the best and most humane 223 that I can shoot from a semi-auto.

Answer 1

My favorite is the 60 grain soft point that Nosler discontinued over 10 years ago. It mushrooms like a good 30 caliber and has good weight retention.I only have about 400 left and then I'll be sad. Try the Sierra 69 grain Match King. It breaks apart when it hits, but the back half of the bullet stays together, usually with the jacket folding around the lead core so it penetrates well, but sometimes doesn't go as straight as I'd like after entering a deer. I'm planning to try the Sierra 65 grain Game King bullet. It looks good and Sierra doesn't make bad bullets. Since you are using a semi-automatic be careful if you use a lead nose bullet. Sometimes lead scrapes off as the bullets feed into the chamber. This usually isn't bad, and to test for it fire a couple rounds, drop the clip, and take the loaded round out of the chamber and look at the point. Hollow points like the Sierra Match King and polymer tipped bullets feed better. You also have to know the twist rate of your rifle's barrel. To use heavy bullets you must have a twist rate of one turn in 7 or 8 inches to stabilize the heavy bullets. Some bullets that stabilize in my Ruger Mini- 14 with a 1 in 7 twist will not stabilize in my Ruger 77 with a 1 in 12 twist. Although I haven't used it yet, I'm sure the Sierra 65 grain Game King will stabilize in the slow twist barrels. First try the Sierra 69 grain. It should do well.

Answer 2

Sierra 223 Bullets

Answer 3

Regardless of what I, or anyone else, thinks about the .223 as a deer round, choose a bullet your rifle shoots accurately. I know of at least 3 different rifling twists available in AR style rifles. Last month my buddy was trying out different loads in his .223 and his groups varied by more than 2" at 100 yards. His recommendation for deer is a hunting design bullet, not a hollow point that is near 60 grains and shoots accurately out of your rifle.

Answer 4

I've shot a mule deer with an ar-15 using nothing but 55 grain fmj's. The US military uses the rounds on Iraqi's... so I don't completely understand the moral dilemma in using it on a deer. As with any caliber, a good hunter isn't going to take a shot that he can't successfully kill a deer with. It took one shot for mine to go down. I was actually hunting coyotes that day and had the opportunity to take a deer... so I would use a 65 grain or bigger next time just to be on the safe side. I wouldn't worry much about bullet expansion because with this small of a round, it's the speed... or percussion of the bullet that does the damage. The 223 is also on the verge of stability in the air.. and becomes completely unstable upon impact. Meaning it tumbles like crazy when it hits. I shot mine in the left lung and it came out of the right shoulder. If you can't get a solid lung or head shot, just let it go or call it in closer. If he's running away from you.. it's definitely not worth taking. I use wolf ammunition.. and have never had a problem with it. Pick a round that you're comfortable shooting with.. doesn't have to be the biggest baddest thing out there, because you won't be able to afford to practice with it. Plus.. the standard 3200 feet per second is already plenty.

Answer 5

I use 64 grain power point. According to ballistic charts at certain velocities between 100 and 200 yards a .223 has an equal to or greater knock down force than a 145 grain 30-30 round nose bullet.(the 30-30 lever action type bullet has claimed more American whitetail than any other cartridge)

Answer 6

Stay with the 150grain. The Winchester cartridge mentioned is a very good choice. Good choice for deer. However unless shooting varmits, hard to beat the 180 grains

Answer 7

Which .223 bullet for hunting Whitetail? Seriously, NONE.

Whether it is legal in your State or not, and it IS legal in Texas, it is NOT a good choice for deer hunting. The round is too slim and too light to humanely, consistently take deer size game. Deer are tough. They have heavy bone and muscle tissue which easily deflects light bullet condemning the deer to a slow, lingering death and the hunter to... NO venison.

When I was younger and more foolish I tried this round out on deer and had to shoot them twice. WRONG. A mistake I don't plan to repeat. Get yourself a proper deer rifle. A .25-06 comes to mind, but if you want smaller get at least a .243 Winchester.

Best.

H

Answer 8

Any bullet is okay to shoot a deer with in your 223; please have a friend with a more realistic hunting rifle accompany you so the poor animal does not run off and suffer a slow death from having a dozen 22 pellets in his/her body. The 223 was a mistake from the git-go from which we are slowly recovering.

Answer 9

If you are going to do it, use the Sierra Game King or the Barnes Triple-Shock X-Bullet. There is a bewildering number of .224 bullets out there and 'match' type and fmj military type are not for taking game.

The reason fmj is used for military is that the strategy is to would the enemy and not kill the enemy. Exactly the opposite for responsible, humane hunting.

Answer 10

I would not recommend the .223 at all. Use some bigger, A .270 is minimal . A .30 caliber is preferable.