Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 223 for deer-what bullet?

I am thinking of trying my Tikka T3 in 223 for Missouri deer this year. I have always considered the 223 too light for deer, but after reading accounts from other forum members, I am willing to give it a try.
I have narrowed my bullet selection down to the Nosler 60 gr Partition(the 100 gr Partition works great in my 257 Bob), the Barnes 55 or 62 gr TSX. The 55 gr will give me about 200 fps more than the 62, but will it give me adequate expansion and penetration? Will the lower velocity of the 62 gr bullet limit expansion?
I will be hunting from a stand, with the longest shot 125-150 yds, with an average around 100 yds. I realize any of the three will work well with a broadside shot, but how will they penetrate on a slight angling shot( not talking about a "Texas" heart shot- no offense meant to those from Texas!) If you have any experience with these three bullets in the 223, please chime in. Your favorite load can be included, with the usual caveat that I work up to the load in my particular rifle(1-8 twist).
If this doesn't work out, I will just have to stick to the 257 Roberts, 7-08, 30-06, 30-30, or the 35 Remington. Or the Marlin lever in 41 Magnum. But I enjoy shooting the 223, so thought I would give it a try. Thanks for your input!

I'd give the 53 TSX, a 63 Sierra, 64 Win PP and a 55 Horn w/c a go. Any of those will do what you need done and then some.

If the 60 Noz shot, it'll do as well, my experience has been that it's normally not a rock star in terms of accuracy.

Dober

62

For deer in a .223; 75gr Swift Scirocco II, 24.0gr Varget, Winchester or Lapua case, Remington 7.5 primer, loaded to maglength in my 20 inch 1:8 twist AR.. It's a compressed load and the bullet is precise as all get out with a BC over .400. Deadly on deer and hog.

50gr Vmax

That'll work as well GW.

Tons of deer/lopes taken here every year with the 223. I'm for betting that the vast majority of them are taken out with factory ammo 55 soft points. Rem's, Fed's and or Ultra Max all of them will do one just fine.

Dober

That's cuzz they ain't spun fast enough.

Oh they spin pretty quick when hit and they hit the turf..

Dober

I think bullet companies should start making hunting bullets just for deer and antelope like partitions and core-locs.

I have almost (not quite) come to the conclusion that deer-bullet selection isn't near as tricky with a .223 as many people like to make it. Mark's list is a good one, but I just wish Nosler still made the 60-grain Solid Base. It shot a lot better than the 60 Partition and worked very well, even from hotter .22 centerfires like the .220 Swift, and killed really well.

Oh yeah, I have a few of those left as well, the 60 and the 55 NSB's were both very good!

Dober

I just wish Nosler still made the entire Solid Base line, period.

But to the OP's question.....I'm fond of the 63 Sierra and the Winchester 64.

+1. Another good little slug is the 60 gr Hornady SP

I got a box of 53gr TSX's to try this year but I have not had time to throw any down the tube yet.

Do I hafta chime in here yet???

Yeah, lets hear it.

OK..short version...Ive got 23 kills with various .22 caliber centerfires and the 53 gr TSX...no hesitation at recommending that one...recovered two bullets so far...

There are other good ones, and they have been mentioned, but the TSX or the New TTSX is a sure bet..and the OP doesnt have to go with the heavy 62 grainer...as Steelie says, where the TSX is concerned..speed kills.

Well I'm glad I asked 'cause I was certain you'd say 75 AMAX.

Nope...those are for the tight twist crowd..

The 53 grainer has been providing the right degree of "dead" for me...

But im anxious to try the 50 TTSX in the mornming...see if I can kill some paper with them...

Shameless plug, we just addressed this very issue on our new American Hunter "Bullshooters Blog":

http://www.americanhunter.org/blogs/223-for-deer-hunting/