Hunting & Fishing What all have you killed with a 223?

[Grand]

I've shot pigs with everything from a .221 Fireball to a 7mm RM. For .223 Best to have a well constructed bullet for shoulder shots (copper or bonded), or a heavy bullet (75g Amax). Most important rule is to put your shot in the front 1/3 of the animal - the engine room. Pig's heart is forward in the chest cavity between the shoulders. Kills everytime.

 

[TanktheFrank]

Here are 2 yotes put down with a handi rifle and 64 gr powerpoints. The daylight picture was 320, night was 40. Not my kills, but I watched them happen.

 

[Howland]

I can't wait for a few veterans to chime in.

 

[lancetkenyon]

 

[Soulezoo]

I can't wait for a few veterans to chime in.

Won't say what, or specifically where, but it was with 5.56 and not .223.
Somewhere, goats are safer.

 

[Ryan Brownshoe]

11.5 BCM shooting a 70gr Barnes TSX. Neck shot at 140 yards.

take screen shot

 

[Fig]

Neck shot is DRT most of the time.

 

[RobertTheTexan]

... even in a 10.5" barrel which according to the internet, shouldn't work..

Hawg Slayer speak straight as arrow. Internet speak with forked tongue.

 

[jstamper1979]

Turkeys.

Where legal, it is the perfect turkey cartridge.

 

[RTH1800]

Where legal, the .204 is light years ahead of the 5.56

 

[deersniper]

Where legal, the .204 is light years ahead of the 5.56

You think?

 

[RTH1800]

I'm actually fairly certain of it.

 

[deersniper]

Ahhh you're talking turkey

 

[RTH1800]

Absolutely. Turkey.
It is better on runners, flyers, unknown distance and multiple targets.

 

[jstamper1979]

I'm actually fairly certain of it.

What bullet do you use that isn’t too destructive?

 

[RTH1800]

I use 32 grain Vmax.
Just shoot them High. Very high.

 

[jstamper1979]

I use 32 grain Vmax.
Just shoot them High. Very high.

Yeah, I’m sure you must. I guess I’m not a good enough shot to count on that. I’d rather there be something left to eat if I miss low a few inches (and no jacket fragments at all).

 

[Khavic]

50gr Sierra Blitz on a white tail doe at 130yds. Complete pass through and took a rib on exit side. She went about 30yds.

55gr Hornady SP on a 4 point whitetail buck at 40yds. Took the top of the heart off at the valves. Bullet was under the skin on the opposite side. He jumped and thought about running, but didn't have the heart to go anywhere.

 

[WoobieJ]

Pigs, bobcats, jackrabbits, foxes. I would step up to a larger caliber for deer.

 

[Khavic]

What twist barrel with the 50gr Sierra? IIRC that's a copper projectile, still stabilizes in a 1:7", 8", and 9" twist?

1 : 9

 

[user]

Killed 5 black bears on the ranch last year with 223's / 556. Mostly a Colt 6920 with an ACOG. Damn apple thieves.

All head shots. Most shots end up about 45-65 yds. 70 Grain TSX and Barnes 50 Grain Enhanced from Blackhills.

 

[Wheedle]

I absolutely exploded a crow from about 25 yds. That was a while ago, cheap milsurp ammo is all i remember.
I also shot a quarter from 100yds with some Federal Gold Match with a Bushy DCM I used to have. I put it at the center of standard 100m taget, and my eyes were much much better back then.
Also, destroyed a boar silhoutte that apparently was only rated for pistols. I kept shooting because I thought I was missing. Turns out, the bullets were just zipping right through and not even swinging the target.
Other than that, lots of paper.

 

[shooter65]

Pigs, deer, bobcats, pdogs, javelina, jack rabbits, coyotes, turkey, woodchucks, etc.
Colt 6724

 

[JG26_Irish]

Thousands of Prairie dogs using Rem M700HB. Mostly with 40g Nosler or Hornady Vmax bullets. Some with 52 & 55g HPs/BT's. Longest was 575 meters. All exploded. Even all of those out past 500y. A badger at 420y with the 40g BT, dropped in its tracks. Ground hogs from 100y to 300y or so. All DRT. Stray Dogs using 55g FMJ's out of a short bbl AR15. Very effective. Did take 2 shots on one though. Lots of coyotes. Mostly with the same 40g & 55g BT's. Never had one get away from those. Drops em in there tracks. Have not shot mine much lately. Been playing with rimfires. I don't use the 223 for deer or pigs but I am fairly sure it would work fine on both.

Irish

 

[ReaperMedic]

Deer and Rabbit. I'd say its a little overkill on the rabbit, but its what I had on hand at the time.

 

[DrainTheSwamp]

Coyote 55 gr vmax from 16 inch ar, 60 yards. No hogs this far north. Looks like I need to take a trip south

 

[kraigWY]

I killed a water buffalo in SE Asia with a M16A1 using M193 Ball

 

[natdscott]

...M193 Ball

Just ONE?!!

 

[SBGreen0369]

Many many insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan. Wish I could post photos.... apparently that’s frowned upon.

 

[Peterpan]

I've killed deer with the 223 since Kansas legalized it a few years ago, but usually I don't carry a 223 for deer. Coyotes rabbits and whatever else comes to close to the buildings gets it with #4 buck or a 223

 

[Raffica762]

Very nice guys! killed a few pigs ..barnes 70gr tsx does the trick at 100 to 150yards

 

[Adb1228]

Few does from 29 yards (that one snuck up on me) to 100 yards. Mostly head shots, double shouldered one at around 50. All with Barnes Vor-TX 55 grain. Dropped them instantly.

My brother-in-law hasn't had as good of luck, head shot turned in to a frontal lobotomy the doe walked around for 10 minutes and still wasn't dead. Finished it off with a 38 special to the back of the head.

 

[gopherslayer]

There used to be quite a few of my deer I’ve killed with 223 on google images. 53 and 62 tsx for bullets. Ranges from 10 yards to 220 or a bit farther. Heart and shoulder shots.

 

[TexGlocker]

I’ve had good luck with 64 grain PowerPoints and either 55 grain or 60 grain v-maxes. Shot loads of hogs as well as foxes, bobcats, coons and the occasional deer.

 

[gopherslayer]

Here’s a big doe I took with a 62gr tsx

 

[gopherslayer]

202 yards in and out behind the shoulders. Went about 40 yards. Left a small blood trail. 20” Criterion. Looks a bit different now.

 

[TexasUplander]

Everything that the Texas panhandle has to offer. I prefer the 6x45 but the .223 does a good job when you do yours!

 

[houtdoor]

Pigs, deer, rabbit, raccoon, and coyotes

 

[Sethshaun]

Around 30 ish whitetails using 55 fmj with nuisance permits in the summer. None made it past 150 feet. All low stress easy shots. Several rabbits and squirrels that exploded. Dozens of groundhogs. And one shot that im really proud of- an invasive bird species landed on my target at 300 yards and I shot it dead....and shot it again.

 

[SkyScrapin]

Many pigs with my 10.5" running 50g Z-Max of all things. I'm always on the lookout for coyotes with this rifle, but we frequently see pigs instead. Have 100 or so 62g TTSX rounds loaded up, but they're never on me when it's killing time. Eventually I'll get to them.

 

[CuTm]

W

Killed 5 black bears on the ranch last year with 223's / 556. Mostly a Colt 6920 with an ACOG. Damn apple thieves.

All head shots. Most shots end up about 45-65 yds. 70 Grain TSX and Barnes 50 Grain Enhanced from Blackhills.

what side of the skull?

 

[tsavo303]

both this weekend!

 

[Aescobar17]

Lots of hogs, few coyotes, turkey, prairie dogs, fox, 5 white tail doe all within 75 yds, and most recently a fat mulie doe at 236. She DRT when she died from sudden cranial expansion.

 

[GrandpaDeadLegs]

Celebrated Labor Day with a woodchuck lobotomy, next year we will try the .224 on whoever moves in and compare results.

 

[TexasUplander]

Was hunting with a couple of buddies a few weeks ago just catching up on old times. I didn't even have a rifle with me. When this guy showed up one buddy says "take him", other buddy hands me his rifle. It is a built AR 223 but I don't know the specs. It does have a GREAT trigger though. Anyway, buck was chasing does and stopped at 350+ yds . I knew the shot needed to be perfect with a 223 at that distance so I asked for dope, dialed it in, and squeezed. He reacted to the shot and I knew the hit was good. Went about 10yds and tipped over. During the butchering process I found the entry in the pocket of the shoulder. The bullet traveled through the vitals and broke the off side shoulder before stopping under the hide. Never asked what the load was until after the fact........55gr FMJ!?

 

[Bender]

Was hunting with a couple of buddies a few weeks ago just catching up on old times. I didn't even have a rifle with me. When this guy showed up one buddy says "take him", other buddy hands me his rifle. It is a built AR 223 but I don't know the specs. It does have a GREAT trigger though. Anyway, buck was chasing does and stopped at 350+ yds . I knew the shot needed to be perfect with a 223 at that distance so I asked for dope, dialed it in, and squeezed. He reacted to the shot and I knew the hit was good. Went about 10yds and tipped over. During the butchering process I found the entry in the pocket of the shoulder. The bullet traveled through the vitals and broke the off side shoulder before stopping under the hide. Never asked what the load was until after the fact........55gr FMJ!?View attachment 6989156

Nice buck! A .223 is a great hunting round if you are a great shot!

 

[Roo_man]

deer

 

[Healy]

40 grain v max works great on crows

 

[Mike Casselton]

In order of size:

Mormon crickets.
Grasshoppers.
Mice.
If they were legal to shoot, I'd say chipmunks...
Townsend's ground squirrels.
Rats.
Squirrels.
Columbian ground squirrels.
Sparrows.
Starlings.
Grackles.
Magpies.
Crows.
Possibly a raven or three...
Grouse.
Most likely other nuisance birds.
Prairie dogs by the tens of thousands.
Rabbits.
Jack rabbits.
Rock chucks.
Badgers.
Fox.
Turkeys.
Coyotes.

And last but not least, a few Ditch Panthers

Longest measured shot on a PD was 518yds. Other shots were longer, but not verified.
Coyote at 520, and numerous rock chucks at 450-480.

Most PD kills were in the 275-350 range using 50 V-Max.

I've got a hunt set up in the next couple of weeks and I'm tempted to break out old Black Death. (named by an old shooting partner) John called it that because whatever it was pointed at just died.
The only thing it's killed in the last 14 yrs has been paper, steel and clay targets.

Here's a pic of her with her circa 1995 litter mates.

 

[TexasUplander]

Hard to beat an old VS front that era!