Author Topic: What do you guys use your 223 for? (Read 1370 times)

rickt300 · « **on:** April 14, 2009, 09:12:25 AM »

Where I hunt in Texas varmints are coyotes, raccoons, feral hogs that are seldom shot at more than 150 yards and most under that. I therefore like the heavier bullets as they seem to work well enough on the smaller stuff that may get shot like jackrabbits. I wouldn't even consider going out of my way to shoot prairie dogs as there are none on my property therefore not a problem. I am picking up a scope base for my Superlight barrel today and after my barrel bedding experiment cures I will try some loads in a serious way looking for good groups. In my situation a gun that shoots 3 shots into 1 1/2 inches is good enough though smaller is always better.

PartsMan · « **Reply #1 on:** April 14, 2009, 09:57:54 AM »

Officially mine is my coyote rifle. Every gun in the safe has a purpose you know.

Of course here in north central OK it will kill about anything.
It has probably taken more armadillo than coyote.

myarmor · « **Reply #2 on:** April 14, 2009, 10:23:58 AM »

I killed more groundhogs with mine than anyother game. Though I have taken a few rabbits with it. Little overkill for them but with the reduced loads I have been working with using BlueDot, you can tame a 223 down to a 22, 22Mag or 22Hornet levels. It's been a lot of fun shooting reduced loads in the 223.
Still hot 40gr and 50gr V-Maxs are awesome

-Aaron

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #3 on:** April 14, 2009, 04:26:18 PM »

I really got my .223 for long range turkey before I learned to call them and it's taken all but one of my turkeys.This .223 has taken more crows than anything else.What a blast watching them crows blow apart.

tykempster · « **Reply #4 on:** April 14, 2009, 05:07:14 PM »

Paper and deer.

The Hermit · « **Reply #5 on:** April 14, 2009, 05:33:51 PM »

Beer cans (empty of course). Coyotes & bobcats too.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #6 on:** April 14, 2009, 06:41:00 PM »

I use my 223 Handi for chargin' paper.

I have two other 223 rifles and they are even heavier than my Ultra Varmint, so mostly paper, but hope to use them all for a PD hunt one day. I have been using a 221 Fireball for my pest control and groundhogs. I think the 223 is one of the most versatile rounds available that is easy on the pocket book and generally accurate. If enough people answer this thread, you are going to find the Handi 223 used for every thing up to and including deer. Some day I will have a light weight one for carrin'.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #7 on:** April 14, 2009, 10:58:42 PM »

"Varmits" and for years I used the brass for 22 targets. That may sound ridiculous, but it was in a different era. You could buy good ammo for $3.00/box never even thought of reloading 223 THEN!

JPShelton · « **Reply #8 on:** April 14, 2009, 11:49:38 PM »

I primarily use mine at the range, punching holes in paper, but its "higher purpose" is that of taking smallish deer (under 150 pounds) at relatively close range (under 150 yards). I've also used it to shoot coyotes and packs of stray dogs harrasing livestock, and mouflon sheep.

JP

cwlongshot · « **Reply #9 on:** April 15, 2009, 12:23:23 AM »

Now a days, its primarily for shooting little groups at the range!

Years past it was varmint duty and worked great for this!!

CW

taylorce1 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 15, 2009, 12:59:15 AM »

Prairie dogs and coyotes, but just mainly the p-dogs.

wreckhog · « **Reply #11 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:12:03 AM »

My .223 Ultra with big scope and bipod is insanely heavy. I hump it from the car to the bench.

rickt300 · « **Reply #12 on:** April 15, 2009, 05:17:22 AM »

What do you think it weighs? Are the Ultra rifles typically heavier than the regular Handi rifles with bull barrels?

mitch132 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 15, 2009, 07:08:02 AM »

They are when you put a couple pounds of lead shot in the butt stock, at least my ultra varmint is. That way it doesn't fall off the front rest when reloading or cleaning with it supported under the hinge. Very stable!

Sourdough · « **Reply #14 on:** April 15, 2009, 07:37:08 AM »

Wolves, Coyotes, Foxes, and an occasional Beaver.

jmayton · « **Reply #15 on:** April 15, 2009, 10:49:41 AM »

Paper, steel, crow, armadillo, raccoon, coyote, fox, bobcat, goat, feral hog, deer...pretty much whatever walks in front of me while I'm carrying it.

Oldshooter · « **Reply #16 on:** April 15, 2009, 12:14:26 PM »

Pardner can you give me some coordinates to avoid?

Swampman · « **Reply #17 on:** April 15, 2009, 01:10:37 PM »

The .223 is a varmint cartridge. Not big enough for big game & too big for small game.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** April 15, 2009, 03:24:36 PM »

the main use for my .223 is prairie dogs and wild turkey. I just bought a heavy barreled model, for who knows what reason. But it will be mostly a prairie dog gun and maybe ground squirrels. Have used them on coyotes, but the bigger .22's are better due the longer shots on coy dogs and the fact they are harder to kill.

youngbdv · « **Reply #19 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:11:45 PM »

Paper Coyotes and Whitetails all with Black Hills 60 grain sp ammo.

ro · « **Reply #20 on:** April 15, 2009, 06:43:04 PM »

I use my 223 as a varmit gun not a deer rifle, coyotes, groundhogs, crows, beavers, hogs, coons, armadillos, fox, bobcats, but not deer I think it just to small of a round to deer hunt with.

Datil · « **Reply #21 on:** April 15, 2009, 10:40:59 PM »

Targets and any thing else that I get a chance to shot that I want to kill
when I have it with me. Mainly P.-Dogs. Datil

omcforever · « **Reply #22 on:** April 15, 2009, 11:01:08 PM »

Do the deer a favor. Dont use a standard 223 Rem on deer, its a varmint round,I did however shoot one last year at 100 plus yards and it dropped in its tracks with a winchester model 70 223 WSSM and handloaded with a 60 Grain partition and H4895. Thumped it!! Big difference in down range performance. I have seen numerous deer lost by hunters shooting 223 rifles down here. If the shot is perfect/the right bullet and weight are used/then ok but most are not. I have a guy that hunts here and all he shoots are 55 grain FMJ white box el cheapos and every year he looses deer. Use the right tool for the job.Just my 2 cents.....

dw06 · « **Reply #23 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:13:19 AM »

Mostly varmints, but it is also my woods walking rifle.

jmayton · « **Reply #24 on:** April 16, 2009, 03:51:12 AM »

The only factory .223 loaded for deer is the Federal Premium with 60gr partitions. I handload with 55gr Sierra GameKings and they work great. I wouldn't shoot anything larger than a coyote with a varmint bullet. Terminal performance is more about bullet construction than about caliber. If you can push a given caliber abover 2500fps and is expands in a controlled manner, then it will do an effective job dispatching the animal.

rickt300 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 16, 2009, 05:51:02 AM »

My 223 must be deadlier than than the ones some of you own, here in Texas it kills deer just fine with a variety of loads and is commonly used on bigger game like hogs with success too. Exact bullet placement is nice and the right bullet very helpful but the 223 is used by a lot of first time hunters using standard 55 gr. soft points to take a lot of game every year. It is not a round for jump shooting deer and you have to pick your shots but I do that anyway.

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #26 on:** April 16, 2009, 02:45:09 PM »

Over the years I have shot quite a bit of medium game with the .22's mostly the .22-250, 22=250 AI, and the Swift. But some with the 222 and 223. the only failure I had was with the .222 and a 50 Blitz. Which was a thin skinned bullet for varmits. It blew up in a doe's shoulder, but I was able to deliver a second shot to the lungs. BUT I had a 225 grain bullet from a .44 mag. blow up in an antelope's shoulder also, so this can happen with any weapon. The years I shot game with these rifles, I was in areas with lots of game, and I had lots of time to look for the perfect shot. It was fun to look for that perfect shot, and I never lost a head of game with any of the calibers. HOWEVER, if I hunted out of state, or out of my immediate area, I took a heavy rifle, always.

.22's are like bows they can work if all is correct. I was surprised at the killing power of the various .22 caliber rifles, but for some one who is exciteable, has limited time, limited experiance, etc. they are certainly NOT a good choice. To me, for the novice or the person with limited time, big game rifles start with 270 cal. and goes up.

JPShelton · « **Reply #27 on:** April 17, 2009, 01:26:01 AM »

Quote from: jmayton on April 16, 2009, 03:51:12 AM

The only factory .223 loaded for deer is the Federal Premium with 60gr partitions.

I started using the .223 Remington on California blacktails with Winchester's 64 grain Power Point load. It was then, and still is, marketed as a light big game round. It worked well for me.

I also saw some factory .223 tipped with Barnes TSX's once in a shop. I can't remember what company loaded it, though.

-JP

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #28 on:** April 17, 2009, 02:14:26 PM »

JP, I bought some of these also, but didn't notice the game designation. Later I bought a bout 500 64gr ww. Used them on various game in the big .22's. they worked well. I did shoot a big coyote with one this winter at aboutr 275 yards with my .22-250AI. I hit him perfectly, but he ran over 200 yards before dropping??? Unusual for that caliber.

Maybe due to the heavy jacket. I have loaded some in my .223 for turkey this year.

jmayton · « **Reply #29 on:** April 17, 2009, 04:03:43 PM »

JP, thanks for the correction. I guess I should have written, "The only factory .223 loaded for deer I have seen is. . ."