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Is the 70 gr Barnes TSX too heavy for .223, resulting in speeds that are too slow for reliable expansion in deer-sized game?

I have lined up doe tags for two inexperienced hunters. I am proposing that they use my .223 Tikka 1-8" twist. The supply of big game capable bullets in .22 caliber was limited here, so I bought the 70 gr TSX. Muzzle velocity is 2800 fps or so, according to Barnes data.

So is that bullet too slow starting at that velocity? I like Barnes, but I tend to push them pretty fast. Don't want them penciling through.

Not trying to start a fight, but I don't have any experience with the .223 on deer.

Check out Tman's experience with the 62 gr and .223!

Check out Tman's experience with the 62 gr and .223!

Can you provide a link? I have never been able to get the search feature here to work worth a dam.

And please don't make me look through the "Is the .223AI enough gun" thread. I might not come out for days.

SkyPup on M4Carbine shot a lot of stuff with the 70gr TSX.

http://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?94628-223-Barnes-70-Grain-TSX-Performance&highlight=

My girlfriend punched a WT buck through the lungs with a 55gr TSX out of a 223 last year.

NEVER AGAIN

It was a long tracking job. Bullet did very, very little damage.

I've had very good results with the 53 gr TSX in the Vortex loading and also the 62 gr Fusion factory load. I think I've killed 5 total - 3 with the Fusion and 2 for the TSX. The blood trails were better with th Fusion but all fell within 40-50 yards.

Kills were with an 8 tw Tikka and a Montana.

I'd use either loading again within a couple hundred yards as long as the shot angle was favorable

This article discusses that very bullet.

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/ammo/223-remington-viable-deer-cartridge/

Not used the 70's but the 53 and 62's do great. After shooting a few with the 75amax I stopped switching back and forth between play and killing bullets. Have some guns now that have never shot anything but the 75's. I just deer hunt with them though.

No problem using the 53 gr tsx. Especially if you catch a shoulder.

GreggH

One can always use the 60 gr partitions

That's my favorite!

utah, T shot several animals this fall with the .223 and 62 gr.. His final doe antelope shot though the lungs. It ran three hundred yards and was still alive when he got to it.. Shoot him a pm.. He is a cool guy!! I have shot a lot of stuff with .22 cal. rifles from the Hornet through the .22 Cheetah.. I am never at ease shooting game with them.

What 62 grain bullet?

I wouldn't use the TSX for lung shooting in that small of a caliber myself. Put it on bone and they work great.

If you have any 55 grain softpoints available, they work very well on deer in the 223. As will everything heavier than that.

If you want to buy factory ammo, just get the 62 Fusions and be done with it.

Hazen, I probably was a bit vague in my VBTE post concerning that doe antelope...I did not shoot it with the 62 TSX. I apologize if I wasn't real clear about that. That doe left chunks of lung all over the sage for those 300 yards and when I gutted her after finishing her off, half her lungs were gone. She was just a stupid tough doe! Can't totally blame any bullet for that performance.

Anyhow to the OP, I would suggest one of the lighter TSX bullets, if legal and you're determined to hunt with a 223 this year. While my sample size is pretty small (big buck mule deer and a big antelope buck), I was less than impressed with the performance of the 62 TSX at vanilla .223 speeds. Maybe it was a coincidence...maybe not.

I'd suggest a different bullet (certainly not the 70 TSX) or a much faster round to spit them out of.

Good luck with what ever you choose.

Thanks Tman for clearing that up!! I love .22 caliber centerfires,but I am not sold on them for shooting big game!!

FWIW. Several years ago I took a nice little 8 point with a 50g Sierra softpoint in a 221 fireball. Roughly 80-100 yards and he was dead before he hit the ground. Also have shot several deer with the 55g soft point in 223 with equal results

Why not just use a deer cartridge in the first place?