What is a 223 good for hunting? (2024)

Over the years, I and those I hunt with have managed to take quite a few deer and antelope using the . 223 Remington. It may not be ideal for certain applications, but it is certainly useful as long as you use proper bullets and can shoot them accurately enough to hit the right spot.

What is a 223 rifle good for hunting?

223 - it is a viable deer cartridge when the appropriate bullets are used. It is good enough when shots aren't excessively long and a broadside shot presents itself. It's not a foolproof cartridge, however. If you choose to hunt with it, be prepared to pass on an animal when the angle or distance isn't right.

Can .223 take down a deer?

223 Rem. cartridge can take down a deer. These include the 55-grain Trophy Copper, the 62-grain Fusion MSR, the 60-grain Nosler Partition, and the 62-grain Trophy Bonded Tip. All these cartridges use projectiles designed to expand and penetrate the vital area of medium-sized game.

Why is 223 banned from hunting?

Pay close attention to be sure your . 223 bullets fit this description, as most . 223 bullets are manufactured with full metal jackets, which would be unlawful to use.

Is 223 good for coyotes?

223 Remington is the most balanced predator cartridge in existence. From small fox to northern coyotes, if you know how to coax a predator within range, it's all you'll ever need.

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Is a 223 or 22 250 better for deer hunting?

Can you use a 223 or 22 250 for deer? If your state allows it, yes. Of the two I'd favor 223 as it allows for heavier bullets which will be more effective and harvesting the animal. However, as there are so many more powerful options on the market, I'd prefer something larger like a 308 or 30-06 for whitetail.

What is the best caliber for coyotes?

223 Remington. Many consider the . 223 Remington to be one of the best all-around coyote-hunting cartridges. That includes reigning champs of the World Coyote Calling Contest, Kimberly Bangerter and her father, Layne Bangerter.

Why doesn t Walmart sell 223?

Walmart also pressured Congress to enact gun safety measures. The company, America's largest retailer, said it will stop selling handgun ammunition and “short-barrel rifle ammunition,” such as the . 223 caliber and 5.56 caliber, that can also be used on assault-style weapons after selling all of its current inventory.

What are the cons of the 223?

Cons: Limited Stopping Power: The . 223 Remington is not as powerful as some other cartridges. While it is suitable for small to medium-sized game, it may not be effective for larger game animals or self-defense situations.

What is the best caliber to hunt deer with?

308 Winchester is a precise, lightweight cartridge that works past 500 yards and is very efficient at killing deer. It's also a NATO cartridge typically offered by every major ammunition manufacturer. The balance of energy, velocity, and recoil helps provide accurate shots.

What states is it illegal to hunt deer with a 223?

It's best to look at the states that don't allow deer hunting with . 223 diameter bullet or an AR-15 rifle. Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Washington, and West Virginia require larger bullets to be used to hunt game.

Will a 223 take down a bear?

So, all things considered, I'd say that 223 is a bad choice to hunt a bear with because the ranges are going to be long enough to take some oomph out of an already poor cartridge for an animal that size. It's pretty likely you wouldn't be able to anchor a bear with one . 223 round in most hunting situations.

What is a good 223 bullet for deer?

Federal Fusion 62 gr.

Federal Fusion was the one of first, for rifle ammunition, specifically built for deer hunting, and it's still one of the best go-to offerings. It is known for large bullet expansion and high weight retention.

What is the smallest caliber for deer hunting?

223 Remington, which is considered by many to be the smallest deer-appropriate rifle cartridge, produces 1280 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle with a 60-grain bullet going 3,100 feet-per-second (fps).

Is 223 considered high power?

Reynolds considers any . 223-caliber and bigger, to be high-powered. The most common round used in AR-15s is . 223-caliber.

What is the range of a 223?

The effective range for 223 is 400 to 600 yards. This makes it perfect for shooting game in the woods without getting too near. Controversy covers the use of the 223 in civilian hands due to its ability to drop long-range targets with high accuracy.

Why is 223 ammo so hard to find?

223, 45, and . 40 S&W rounds have been the hardest to find. The consolidation of ammo manufacturers and the exponential increase in new gun ownership contributes to the shortage.

Why is 223 so popular?

223 Remington (5.56 mm NATO) because it is light. A . 223 round is about half the weight of a . 308 Winchester (7.62 mm NATO) round.

How lethal is a 223 rifle?

223 drop a deer dead in its tracks as often as any bigger rifles. I've seen the 5.56 NATO (the military version of the . 223) do some do some serious damage to insurgents at under 100 yards. Beyond 200–300 yards it's not very impressive.

What is better than 223?

In standard production rounds, 5.56 NATO ammunition is packed with slightly more powder, creating a slightly faster round. 5.56 ammo also utilizes a heavier bullet than most off-the-shelf . 223 ammunition. That combination of more powder and heavier bullets creates more pressure in a rifle's chamber.

Does US military use 223?

While not interchangeable, 223 and 556 share common DNA. Both cartridges were designed for military use. In lightweight service rifles, these small-caliber, high-velocity rounds facilitate rapid fire and performance on target.

Is 223 safe for home defense?

Upon adoption into the U.S. Military arsenal came the adoption of the . 223 Remington cartridge. The . 223 Rem/5.56mm is well-suited for personal protection and available in a wide variety of loads including this 75-grain SBR load from Hornady (top left).

What is the smallest caliber for coyote hunting?

30 cal but I've killed many coyotes with my . 25 cal air guns.

What is the best gun for fox hunting?

22 LR can be ideal. This is a very quiet round when the rifle is fitted with a sound moderator, and with subsonic hollow-point ammunition will deal with any fox within 50yd, which is pretty normal in and around these locations. A . 17HMR will also do the job, but at the cost of substantially more noise.

What is the best gun for predator hunting?

The Autoloader