.223 for bear, deer, elk and moose.

260madman

WKR
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Dec 15, 2017
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24gr of Varget and a 75gr bullet has been a mainstay load forever. They crunch a little but are accurate. Don’t overthink it.
 

mt100gr.

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Jan 29, 2014
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NW MT
Okay. I read the whole thing. Getting ready to set up a Ruger American Ranch in 5.56. 1/8 twist 16.5” barrel. I have 77 TMK, ADI brass, Varget and CCI 450’s. I need to stay at magazine length so I can use Magpul P Mags. Any insight on a charge weight with the Varget? I’ll take all the speed I can get without pressure signs and without giving up accuracy.

Also, with the lower muzzle velocities of this combo (probably 2600?) what would be maximum terminal distance on whitetail? Cyotes? 300 if I do what I need to do? Thanks.
I have a Ruger American Ranch 5.56 that shoots the 77TMK as good or better than my Tikka .223. It's a super fun little rifle.

I've currently only shot the Unknown Munitions AR-length load in Norma brass over 8208XBR. In my rifle, it chronos at 2560fps which, by the numbers, is a 400ish yard max.
 

BLJ

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Jan 19, 2020
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@mt100gr. Greatly appreciate your input. I was hoping to get close to 2600 and it sounds like I’ll have a pretty good chance. 400 yard max is plenty for were I’ll be hunting. For sure. Thanks again.
 

Tesoro

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 19, 2018
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130
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Southern Oregon
I just traded my ar for an unfired 40yr old L461 sako in 223. I plan on hunting blacktails and varmints with it. Cheaper plinking ammo avail and best of all you can see your hits when hunting. Thats a big one for me. I will use my 270 for mulies due to wind and to be able to reach out to 400. I would say up to 100-150 for a 223 is about it for deer.
 

260madman

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Dec 15, 2017
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I just traded my ar for an unfired 40yr old L461 sako in 223. I plan on hunting blacktails and varmints with it. Cheaper plinking ammo avail and best of all you can see your hits when hunting. Thats a big one for me. I will use my 270 for mulies due to wind and to be able to reach out to 400. I would say up to 100-150 for a 223 is about it for deer.
LOL! Okay.
 

Shraggs

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Jan 24, 2014
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Zeeland, MI
I just traded my ar for an unfired 40yr old L461 sako in 223. I plan on hunting blacktails and varmints with it. Cheaper plinking ammo avail and best of all you can see your hits when hunting. Thats a big one for me. I will use my 270 for mulies due to wind and to be able to reach out to 400. I would say up to 100-150 for a 223 is about it for deer.
Hey sako’s are nice. I think if you haven’t, read this entire thread - you may find folks are killing deer well over 400 yards as well elk and moose with extraordinary lethality.
 

mt100gr.

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@mt100gr. Are you using AR mags in your RAR? Any feeding issues?
Yes, I'm using the 10rd AR mags. I haven't had any issues but I really don't rapid fire or test it. And I usually single feed if I am shooting targets.

My daughter hunts with the rifle and every time we've needed to chamber a round for show time, she's racked it fast and we've never had to give it second thought.
 
Joined
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oregon coast
Aside from living in a sh!thole state that requires monos, WHY would you choose to shoot them out of a 223 for anything?!?!
not knowing any better.... that's why i picked up a box of barnes when i first got my AR setup for lion calling... i simply didn't know it was a poor choice... luckily they didn't shoot well compared to many other rounds i also tested... it wasn't until reading this thread that i realized they were a poor choice in .223... now it makes perfect sense.

i was starting to lean on Barnes for all of my rifles before reading this thread, but this whole thread changed my perspective on bullet choice in general, not just for the .223.

nobody really does a good job explaining why they choose a match style, or soft bullet for hunting in general... they are popular, but most don't seem to know why they choose them over a tougher bullet, they just buy their long range rig and use match bullets because others do.... this thread shed light on the "why" of someone choosing a softer hunting bullet, which makes sense to me now that i understand why.

most info packed thread on any hunting forum imo
 

fish impaler

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 23, 2020
Messages
100
Have had no issues with .223 Barnes tsx 62gr out of a savage . not a ton of data points but 2 CA black tail bucks, 2 WY mule deer bucks, and a WT , and 3 antelope. 200-310yards B4518212-DD1C-4000-A53C-35FB6E582677.jpeg1051EEC9-329C-4181-B431-8553F3E81308.jpeg
 

Ens Entium

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 4, 2016
Messages
131
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So Cal
For anyone looking Sportsman's has the 223 Superlite in stock as of 10pm 12/10/21:


Even better it's on sale!
 
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kkp005

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Jan 4, 2021
Messages
311
Location
Texas
@mt100gr. Greatly appreciate your input. I was hoping to get close to 2600 and it sounds like I’ll have a pretty good chance. 400 yard max is plenty for were I’ll be hunting. For sure. Thanks again.
I’m getting 2640 out of an 18” barrel with 23.9 of varget
 

kkp005

WKR
Joined
Jan 4, 2021
Messages
311
Location
Texas
Is the 77gr Federal Premium Law Enforcement Tactical Tip Matchking the same bullet as the 77gr tmk?? Just a blue tip instead of green ?
 

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tradman

Lil-Rokslider
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Adding to the thread. I'll be using my 18 in AR for my rifle deer hunt starting on the 26th through the 31st. I'll be using the 70 grain Barnes Vor Tx 5.56 X 45 load. Shot some steel this past weekend. Hunting accuracy is pretty good. Also threw some .308 ELDX at the steel. 130 yds. Pace count certified. All the hits on the head are your Zmax .223 handloads. Not to shabby.
 

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fshaw

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Jan 26, 2015
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I just traded my ar for an unfired 40yr old L461 sako in 223. I plan on hunting blacktails and varmints with it. Cheaper plinking ammo avail and best of all you can see your hits when hunting. Thats a big one for me. I will use my 270 for mulies due to wind and to be able to reach out to 400. I would say up to 100-150 for a 223 is about it for deer.
Great trade.
 
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