|
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,589
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,589 |
I used a 55 grain Sierra game king powered by Varget out of a Zastava mini mauser on a Wyoming antelope buck this last fall. Worked fine on the 200 yd shot.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300
Campfire Oracle
|
Campfire Oracle
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 78,300 |
I used a 55 grain Sierra game king powered by Varget out of a Zastava mini mauser on a Wyoming antelope buck this last fall. Worked fine on the 200 yd shot. Shhhhhhh...I thought Wyoming had a 60 gr. minimum...
"...the left considers you vermin, and they'll kill you given the chance..." Bristoe
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,929
Campfire Savant
|
Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 150,929 |
I would use my Rock River AR if I had to use a 223 on deer.
Last edited by hanco; 01/20/20.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,649
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 13,649 |
I used a 55 grain Sierra game king powered by Varget out of a Zastava mini mauser on a Wyoming antelope buck this last fall. Worked fine on the 200 yd shot. Shhhhhhh...I thought Wyoming had a 60 gr. minimum... They do! Kinda like the poster who had a 22-06 he liked to tout using on pronghorn in WY before .22 was made legal. Think he lived in Pinedale part time...
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,355
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,355 |
If the 300 Win Mag is just right for elk, then the 223 is overkill for the largest mule deer. Snaggletooth would say that sounds logical, but we don't need killing power to match the game. We need a rifle that has the maximum range and accuracy, with tolerable recoil, and still only weighs 10 pounds or less. A boy's hunting rifle weighs 5 pounds. A man's hunting rifle weighs 10 pounds. This equation is what drives the rifle choice. [despite millions words rationalizing] The best elk gun and the best antelope gun both start to look like a 7mmRemMag. What is wrong with the 223? Great weight. Great low recoil... But the not great range and and not great side wind immunity. But the 223 will kill the antelope. Yes, and if you can put salt on a bird's tail, you can catch it.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,006
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 3,006 |
by all means get a good 223 , I have a stainless ruger 77 I like and it is as tuff as an anvil
but I would say go with a 6 or 6.5 creedmoor with moderate loads for your deer killing
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,853
Campfire Outfitter
|
Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 8,853 |
by all means get a good 223 , I have a stainless ruger 77 I like and it is as tuff as an anvil
but I would say go with a 6 or 6.5 creedmoor with moderate loads for your deer killing Winner winner for the chicken dinner. got it right on both accounts. Why use something to hunt deer with that is minimal anyway you look at it. Let the flame ignite, 6-6.5 way better choice. MB
" Cheapest velocity in the world comes from a long barrel and I sure do like them. MB "
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 180
Campfire Member
|
Campfire Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 180 |
Right now I'm just looking for something fun that costs little to shoot, is accurate and has almost zero effect on my shoulder while it is healing up. And if it is useful for deer and antelope in the meantime, so much the better! [/quote]
It's not something I've seen anyone mention, but something that would meet all your criteria (other than bolt action) is a Henry Long Ranger in .223 / 5.56. I bought one this past year and it is fun, accurate and has very little recoil. It's well built and good looking. It is a bit on the heavy side as it is the same gun as their .243 and .308, just with a smaller hole in the barrel, but your shoulder won't feel a thing. It has 1 in 8 twist so will handle somewhat heavier bullets, but still shoots 50's and 55's great. Mine doesn't like 80's. It get some serious looks at the range when I bring it out, especially from the AR guys. I've got a 4x-12x Vortex scope on it and it will hang in with the best of them. I plan to take it deer hunting next fall.
Member: NRA Ohio Gun Collectors Association
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,137
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,137 |
I like the Kimber rifles, but that's personal choice. As for the .223 on deer, MANY years ago I was forced to shoot low recoil rifles due to an eye surgery. I borrowed an 722 Remington in .222 with an old 2x or 5x Weaver variable from a friend. I was careful of the shots (actually, shot) I took, nothing marginal. I got my deer that year, dead right there. I don't think the .222 or .223 are ideal deer cartridges, but they will do the trick if you choose your shots and use the right bullets. And sometimes physical limits arise with regard to recoil. IF the original poster's shoulder can handle the recoil, a .250 Savage or one of the smaller 6mm cartridge might be perfect.
|
|
|
|
591 members (1936M71, 10gaugemag, 160user, 10Glocks, 007FJ, 10ring1, 51 invisible),
2,281
guests, and
1,235
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,190,551
Posts18,453,584
Members73,901
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|