Highest Grain .223 Factory Load

**st.marys** · October 22nd, 2007, 03:52 PM

I just bought a Remington 7615 ( the new remington pump that takes AR mags) as I need a very light recoiling rifle to hunt deer. I had back surgury this summer and needed something lightweight and a less than optimal caliber. What factory round would you suggest I use. My pap killed deer every year with his .222 so I know the light little round can do it. Should I use soft point, hollow point, etc.

**Hawk** · October 22nd, 2007, 04:13 PM

Originally Posted by st.marys

I just bought a Remington 7615 ( the new remington pump that takes AR mags) as I need a very light recoiling rifle to hunt deer. I had back surgury this summer and needed something lightweight and a less than optimal caliber. What factory round would you suggest I use. My pap killed deer every year with his .222 so I know the light little round can do it. Should I use soft point, hollow point, etc.

Not sure what the optimum round would be for this rifle but in my AR I shoot both the .223 55gr or 62gr FMJ or HP

Hawk,

**knight0334** · October 22nd, 2007, 04:17 PM

Most hollow points for the .224" are designed to expand explosively for varmint, same goes for many of the softpoints. A softpoint would tend to be a better choice between the two. There are a few all copper slugs(if you roll your own) that are designed to expand for big game, but they are rather long to due to lower density - thus needing a faster rifling twist rate.

I had a cousin that took deer with a 222 for a few years until she could handle something bigger.. cant remember what ammo she used.

You will want penetration and mass retention. Varmint ammo blows up on impact, which is bad for heavy bodied critter penetration.

**MarcS** · October 22nd, 2007, 04:47 PM

You could probably use a bonded law enforcement round. They're designed to stick togeather and expand instead of fragment for better performance through barriers like auto glass. Would probably be your best bet for keeping the round togeather in a deer.

**JIMMYC308** · October 22nd, 2007, 05:55 PM

The biggest I've found is a 77gr. sierra match king hollow point go to www.midwayusa.com for a nice selection.

**MarcS** · October 22nd, 2007, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by JIMMYC308

The biggest I've found is a 77gr. sierra match king hollow point go to www.midwayusa.com for a nice selection.

the SMK will probably frag within 100-150 yards.

**JIMMYC308** · October 22nd, 2007, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by MarcS

the SMK will probably frag within 100-150 yards.

can you explain what that means, not trying to start a war just curious

**JIMMYC308** · October 22nd, 2007, 06:19 PM

Is it that a 1 in 9 twist barrel may not stabilize that round?

**MarcS** · October 22nd, 2007, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by JIMMYC308

can you explain what that means, not trying to start a war just curious

no problem. Most 223's are designed to fragment to cause incapacitation and do so above a threshold velocity. It depends on the design of the bullet what that fragmentation velocity is, but generally, within 100-150 yards, the round will fragment.

For instance, here's what happens to your standard military FMJ round when it hits flesh

In ballistic testing, the SMK acts very much the same way. This is the case with light, high velocity bullets. Do you see where this would be an issue for hunting? You destroy a lot of meat and end up with bullet fragments everywhere. The only way to prevent this fragmentation is with a bonded bullet. Many law enforcement agencies use bonded rounds so they don't fragment going through car windshields and such. It sacrifices a bit of the lethality, but the round stays intact and penetrates. Here's a couple examples of different rounds going through gelatin.

The rounds on the bottom (the bonded rounds) are the ones you want to shoot something you intend to eat with...unless you like finding jacket fragments in your venison steak. The bullet design is more important than the weight.