I know this is kinda like throwing a big rock into a hornet nest, then wondering why you got stung buuuuuut.....


I got handed a 10acre place out in the middle of several hundred acres to hunt on a couple of days ago. The owner is a friend who didn't know I wanted to hunt, all he's asking for in return for hunting is venison if I shoot something. He's also on good terms with the neighbors who own most of the land around him, and said they only hunt it once in a blue moon, and he will get permission for me to cross fence lines to track deer, and maybe squirrel hunt. Can't beat the arrangement, but in a bit of a bind.

Doe season ends Monday, which means with work I have three days to scout, set up, and maybe kill a doe. My only bigger bore rifle (7x57)does not have a scope on it right now, and about the only thing I have scoped is my heavy barreled AR.

I've shot exactly ONE deer in my whole life..... is their a recommended loading for the .223 that will get business done with a typical lung/chest shot at ~100yds? I can hand load, but if I'm going to do that, I'm going to take the time to get the Mauser a new scope mounted and sighted, or get the 30-30 rolling with new glass. I'd like to go stick a few rounds through the AR and spend Saturday and Sunday hunting.

TIA

Try this thread....

https://texags.com/forums/34/topics/2767246

Thanks, missed it in a search for some reason.

Little concerned about doing this book myself for the first time, but if nothing else, I'll go freeze my ass off for a few hours.

I've killed many a whitetail with 69gr smk from my ar... I have only failed to drop one animal with them and that was a massive axis... I got an excellent heart/lung shot on it but the bullet didn't exit the deer and left no blood trail. Since then overkill has been my motto...

If you're proficient with the gun, 223 will do the job. Last two big deer I popped before moving to 6.8 were both taken with 62gr M855. In retrospect, I would rather have used a different round but both bucks dropped right where they were. One was cantering when I shot.

Eye guy, what's your preferred 6.8 SPC round for whitetail? This shop down in Houston called Texian Firearms is building me a sweet custom 6.8. Tungsten cerakote, all the bells and whistles. Should be ready soon and I need to start ordering some ammo to try out. I hear you may have inside info on the status of that build.

Barnes TSX 55gr sold at Academy (Vortex)

I shot 2 in the neck around 50 yards with a hornady tap 75gr.

At 50 yards I'm holding a 1/2 in group so I'm pretty confident in it.

1. A .30-30 requires no glass!
2. Hopefully this is a long, narrow property that is wooded, because you need to keep a miss on premesis
3. What about a shotgun?

Where are you hunting? There may be one of us close by to lend a helping hand or words of advice if you are close. I know I would be more than happy to assist someone who is trying to get into hunting.

most importantly, is the 10 acres high fenced, and is the ranch named?

Plenty of good suggestions and by no means is a .223 'too small' for deer, especially a doe.

But you mentioned 100 yards and a 30-30. If you handed me a .223 and a 30-30 and told me to shoot a doe at 100 yards I would take the 30-30 10 times out of 10.

SWCBonfire said:

---

1. A .30-30 requires no glass!
2. Hopefully this is a long, narrow property that is wooded, because you need to keep a miss on premesis
3. What about a shotgun?

---

Without my eyes, it unfortunately does. See I've got a whole laundry list of crap wrong with my eyes that make resolving a hooded sight very hard. The muzzle loader I can do, the 30-30 dad left me is rough.

It is long and skinny, and I'm planning to hunt near the front.

Don't have a shotgun that would be appropriate to try and take a deer.

Hunting in chambers County btw.


And don't worry, not high fenced, but all deer will be the least 209 ;-)

We replied at the same time. Unfortunately my vision is weird, and I don't feel comfortable with the irons on it at any range. Since it was my father's gun, and I have a reason to shoot it more now, it and my Mauser will get glass back on them. I'm just looking for a short term "will this work" to get me hunting the last weekend I can shoot does.


I'm also supposed to be meeting with the other landowner soon ( got that message this morning), so I might get to hunt a bit more area than just this little section.

Used a .222 for years and now my 8 year old son is using it for Texas doe and pigs. I pick it over .270 or 30/30 for hill county doe. As long as you are accurate, it is plenty of gun.

Between my son, myself, and other kids I have guided, there have probably been about 30 doe killed with it and I haven't lost a single deer yet. (Knock on wood)

If I was buck hunting, hunting south Texas, or out of state - basically planned on killing a deer over 100 lbs, I would carry a larger caliber. For what you are doing, you are in good shape.

Academy sells a 64 grain Winchester power point. That load has killed many big boars and will easily do the same on a whitetail with proper placement.

Cool.

There are plenty of good options at .223 for does.

have killed 3 deer including a nice 10 with xm855 62 gr. all 3 have dropped.

This is what I use. I think I've killed 5 or 6 doe with this round that was all 100 yards or less. Each one right behind the shoulder through the lungs, with full pass through every time and plenty of damage.

I did shoot one last year that was just over 300 yards away with the same round. I just had to see what it would do. I hit the doe a touch back. She reacted to the hit, then walked toward me a bit and just laid down. We walked up to her and she was still alive, and she took one more shot point blank to finish her off.

That was too far of a shot, there just wasn't a whole lot of damage. Won't try that again.

If you are just hunting for a doe and won't have to shoot further than 100y go with whatever bullet is most accurate out of your AR and shoot it in the head...

I use Hornady .223 VMAX 55 grain ammo. I shoot everything in the neck and this bullet drops them instantly.

I've used 62 grain Federal Fusion with much success.

Be careful using VMaxx bullets. They are a very fragile bullet meant for small varmits. I'd suggest switching to the GMX Hollow Point. It's for game animals and will mushroom and hold it retention and make a excellent wound channel.

neck or head shot.
The old caretaker at our place back in the 1950s would hunt deer with a .22LR

I have taken numerous deer with my AR, .223

I use the Hornady American Whitetail 60gr


I shot a doe this weekend in the neck at 50 yds and she dropped dead in her spot

Those are pretty solid. I use these in my 223 but also my 6.5 Creedmore. Also hand loaded some 223 and 6.5 Creedmoor with Norma Brass, Powder and used Barnes Triple X Bullets.

http://m.hornady.com/store/223-Rem-55-GR-GMX-Superformance/

http://m.hornady.com/store/6.5-Creedmoor-120-gr-GMX-superformance/

This thread is excellent. Keep the recs coming.