Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 223 Rem best deer bullet?

My stepdad had heart surgery a few months ago and would like to shoot a deer this year with his 223. He has a nice insulated heated shooting house 100 yards from his corn pile. He needs advice on a good factory load that will work in his TC 223. My thought was either a copper bullet (which one) or the Federal Fusion 62 grain. I have been impressed with the Fusions in 270 but haven't killed anything with them in 223. Need suggestions please.

I’ve killed a ton of pigs and a handful of deer with the 65 Sierra BTSP. Youngest daughter took a small Buck with it at 135 yards back in Oct. High shoulder and dick in the dirt. Caught the jacket in the offside shoulder but the core exited.

I prefer the 55 TTSX, which you can buy in factory ammo. Never caught one in a deer. Out to 250 or so they work very well.

I don’t know about the Sierra’s factory offerings.

62 Grain Barnes TSX has worked well for me. Any of the Barnes offerings should work well. Nephew just used a .222 with a 50 grain Barnes on his.

Have also used the old 60 grain Hornady FB which worked fine. Not sure if the bullet construction on that has changed but a fair number of folks seem to like the 55 Hornady.

We can't take deer with .223 where I live but I would think the 63 grain semi point by Siera would be a great option.

kwg

Guys over on Rokslide swear by the 77 grain TMK (tipped MatchKing) loaded by Black Hills Ammunition. It’s not easy to find so start looking.

https://rokslide.com/forums/threads/223-for-bear-deer-elk-and-moose.130488/

I use the 75 gr ELDM but I handload.






P

He doesn't know the twist on his 223. I have concerns about the heavier bullets if he has a faster twist. It also needs to be readily available in factory loads.

Speer Trophy Bonded Bear Claws

I've used the old Speer 70gr semi-spitzer in my 1:14" 22-250. This bullet is short for weight given the semi-spitzer shape and will stabilize.

The 77TMK may just be the ultimate, I’ve killed hundreds of pigs and deer with it out of the 223 and it is impressive.

But not knowing his twist, and it’s probably slow anyway, plus wanting factory ammo would have me looking for something using the 55gr Hornady. They really are a great little bullet. I’ve killed over 100 pigs with the 55s of all flavors from Hornady and everything but the HP are very very good. You can expect 12-14” of straight penetration with a 2” diameter wound channel. They’ve been very consistent in the way they perform.

My granddaughter killed a buck a few days ago with the Winchester 223 factory load 64 grain bullet. It worked extremely well

Fusion is a great choice. It tends to be readily available and it flat out works.

Both myself and probably 6 of my grandkids have killed a bunch of whitetails using factory Winchester 64gr power points. Broadside thru the ribs and they don't run far.

I have been using a 223 rem and 55gr ttsx for years. Haven’t had a deer go more than 30-40 yards on a death run. Most drop at the shot.

Shot a nice buck with them a few days ago.

Are they still available in the States? They haven't been sold here in Canada for years.

Picture of 55 grain Hornady SP out of the neck of a buck my grandson killed this year.



It broke its neck at about 150 yds out of a 223AI. I haven't chronographed it so I don't know the velocity
Weighed right at 51 grains.

Is hunting deer with these small calibers even legal?

Seems he has had health issues , so legal doesn’t really matter
Man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do
Kenneth

I recently have been relegated to 223 for hunting as well. I have an older 223 with 1:12 twist. The largest bullet my gun shoots well is the 60 grain Nosler Partition. It is made for deer sized game not a varmint bullet as most 223 offerings in 55 grain are. That said I killed the largest deer I ever shot with a 55 grain plain jane soft point in the early 1980's before the fast twist and wizz bang bullets were the rage. My friend shot a huge Kudu in Africa with my gun and factory Federal loads with the 60 grain Nosler Partition @ 220 yards DRT.

Used these successfully on deer and hogs with my young nephew years ago. Heard the 64 gr PP is even better, but couldn't find them at the time:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/2900167412/

And it most certainly was legal