.223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

[500grains]

I observed a deer shot with an AR15 at 60 or 70 yards with Hornady 55 grain VMAX (red tip) factory loads. The deer was quartering away. The bullet entered about 3 inches behind the last rib and traveled to the lungs. The bullet did not exit. Depth of penetration was about 16 inches. The bullet entrance hole and lungs are shown below. The appearance of the entrance hole suggests to me that the bullet was rapidly expanding or even breaking up on impact. The lungs were damaged but not blown apart like they are with heavier hunting calibers. At the shot, the deer hunched, took about 10 slow short steps like she was tip-toeing, and then fell over. The deer had blood flowing from her nose and mouth (initial evidence of lung shot). Only one shot was fired.

Note: The 55 gr VMAX is a varmint bullet. Nonetheless, it is interesting to see the results.

I wonder if the 75 grain Hornady red tips would do better on deer.

 

[Shooter21]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

Why a shoulder shot? Why not a head shot?

 

[Clark]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

I like to see the blood coming out the nose and mouth.
That means it was hit in the lungs, probably not the guts.

I have killed thousands of rodents with Vmax bullets, but for deer, I use ballistic tip. It is similar construction, with a plastic tip on that aids expansion of a thin Copper jacket.

The things I love about Vmax bullets:
1) tiny groups
2) fast expansion
3) won't lead contaminate moly coating media

 

[bohem]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

While this wouldn't be an ideal thing to start with for me, I'm not particularly surprised that the bullet did a good job dropping the animal. Like we hear all the time, bullet placement, bullet placement, bullet placement.

I took down a pair of does last year with 45 JHP Remington factory ammo from my AR15.

One neck shot at the base of the skull dropped the first one instantly. The second one was a low neck/spine shot that put her down like a sack of bricks from paralysis. The second shot was just to finish the job quickly instead of letting her bleed out.

 

[Shooter04]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

Just curious, do you normally hunt deer with your 223 and if so what other bullets have you used?

 

[500grains]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter21</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Why a shoulder shot? Why not a head shot? </div></div>

1. The hunter is young and still somewhat excitable.

2. The deer was moving not standing.

 

[500grains]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter04</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just curious, do you normally hunt deer with your 223 and if so what other bullets have you used? </div></div>

I have shot deer with the .223 but I personally prefer not to hunt them with that caliber. In the past I have found that Sierra 77 gr Match King and Hornady 68 gr match did not do great on deer.

If you are looking for a better deer bullet in the .223, I would think about the Barnes X bullet or the Trophy Bonded or the Nosler Partition if the exposed lead will feed in your gun.

 

[bohem]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 500grains</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Shooter04</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Just curious, do you normally hunt deer with your 223 and if so what other bullets have you used? </div></div>

I have shot deer with the .223 but I personally prefer not to hunt them with that caliber. In the past I have found that Sierra 77 gr Match King and Hornady 68 gr match did not do great on deer.

If you are looking for a better deer bullet in the .223, I would think about the Barnes X bullet or the Trophy Bonded or the Nosler Partition if the exposed lead will feed in your gun. </div></div>

I agree. I normally don't hunt with my 223 however I had just moved and everything was bumped/packed/piled in a corner. The easiest thing to get to was my AR15 and I couldn't find any of the 75 Amax's that I would have prefered to use all I had easily available was 55gr FMJ's, so I stopped at Walmart and got a box of the only expanding ammo they had on the shelf which was 45gr JHP's.

Between that and the rifle being topped with only a Trijicon Reflex II I made 2 decisions:

1) No shots that I can't be sure to hit exactly where I want without magnification
2) No body shots, aim for the head or neck only.

This meant that I was not going to take a shot over 100yd in that swamp, turns out I only needed to shoot about 20 feet. Both of them walked out across the path while I was kneeling down.

ETA: I usually use my 30-30 with 150 RNFP's in it.

 

[Shooter04]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

I only asked because I've heard of poor effects on deer with 223, but I assume that if you use the right grain bullet and place your shot well then it will get the job done. Thanks for the info.

 

[esromvre]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

I use the 75 A-Max and it works just fine... and the 178 out of my 308. am going to try the 140 out of the 6.5 this year.

 

[former naval person]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

Just remember...NO blood trail. My experience.

 

[KIDGLOCK]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have killed thousands of rodents with Vmax bullets, but for deer, I use ballistic tip. It is similar construction, with a plastic tip on that aids expansion of a thin Copper jacket.</div></div>

Same thing .

Take that 55 and stuff it in a 22-250 , 1 shot to the neck and its lights out on elk . I was laid off and had mouths to feed , so sue me .


To the OP , I dont think your bullet was coming apart , I push the 55's to 3800-3900 FPS with no problem , the target has the problem , prairie dogs explode .

 

[TOP PREDATOR]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

still in all, a bullet designed for varmints (particularly the vmax) shouldn't be used for big game, .223 or otherwise.

i know, i know, i see the pictures, know of bullet placement, etc.

but IMHO is not the ethical thing to do, and in some states not the legal thing either.

a controlled expansion designed bullet is the best choice, as it's made for penetration through tissue and bone, a large wound channel without coming apart, and to lessen meat waste. whether it's a .223 or a .338, it's the honorable thing to do.

 

[kansas45]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

We can't use the .223 in Kansas. Gotta' be something bigger.

 

[Chanonry]

Re: .223 on deer with 55 gr Hornady red tip bullets

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: esromvre</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use the 75 A-Max and it works just fine... and the 178 out of my 308. am going to try the 140 out of the 6.5 this year.</div></div>

168 AMax in 308 is great for culling roe deer at extended ranges. Guaranteed to expand, huge shock, rapid incapacitation. Very humane.

A bit too much like an RPG at close ranges for anything other than pure culling.

I have shot them with 55gr Vmax in the neck at close range. It works.

Would not use either on anything larger