While the .223 has many advantages in range and ballistics, it is through reloading that the true potential can be achieved. Effectively, it’s a 100 yard cartridge for hunting deer. If you can accept the limitations of the .223 caliber for hunting a deer, you are most welcome to use the type of rifle. The 25-06, 30-06, 308, 7mm-mag, 270 and 50 BMG are'nt listed because I'm focusing on the top 3 for various reasons....Deer and maybe Varmint gun (coyote) Thanks ! I would prefer the .270 for deer over the .243. will cycle through almost any short action rifle, whether bolt, lever, pump, or semi-auto. Here are the specifications for a much better deer and general purpose CXP2 game cartridge, in this case the 6.5x55mm shooting the economical Federal Power-Shok pointed soft point factory load: Bullet diameter: .264" Bullet weight: 140 grains; Sectional density: .287 Just about any centerfire is going to be hard on small fur bearers. The 243 Winchester is by far superior to the 223 for deer and similar sized game. Quote; Link to post Share on other sites. and up something about me being lunch just doesn't set well with me . I don't think I would recommend the 7.62x39 for bear but then the guys up north do go out for polar bears with a 223 each to their own . First, though the .223 Remington and the 5.56x45mm NATO are technically different cartridges (the same goes for the .308 Winchester and the 7.62x51mm NATO rounds), the practical difference in performance between the .223 vs 5.56 (and the .308 vs 7.62) is very small and doesn’t make any difference for the purposes of this article. Messages: 18 Likes Received: 22. Coyote Cartridges: .223 Rem. It has also become almost the standard long range deer and antelope cartridge for beginning hunters. the 223 is more suited as a varmint round. I cannot see any logic in getting the .223 for deer and fox, its unlikely you will never want to shoot English Roe or larger deer. With the proper bullet the .223 Remington is more than adequate for deer. Less than an inch difference in drop and drift gives it the win. Both the bullets and the deer hunting rifles have gained some level of trust amongst hunters. It has plenty of velocity, energy, and penetration at moderate distances to take down deer. (Ever seen a camo-clad wanna-be deer hunter with a .223 AR carbine?) post #2 of 15 Old 11-04-2007, 06:48 PM. Most of the problems I see with the 243 is people using bullets that don't expand reliably. I wouldn't pass on a 200 yard shot with the small whitetails around here, but with some of the bigger deer would probably limit my shots to 100 or less. LAHunter . What this cartridge offered was a long range hunting round that was able to take lighter bullets that were more suitable for target shooting and varmint hunting. It will either be a bolt action or an NEF Ultra single shot. Neither would be satisfactory for fox. Way to devastating for fur. and if you get into handloading, Hornady makes a 58gr V-Max bullet for the 243 … I like the 85gHPBT Sierra normally but I have had people shooting the 87g Berger Classic Hunter too. dean 913 is offline Quote Quick Reply. I have said this several times on here recoil is the number 1 reason most hunters miss a deer. For deer I'm a fan of 243 and up for bear I think 30 cal. “The .223 Remington is a suitable cartridge for hunting deer, within its limitation. If you going to target deer use something more suitable, 243 and up,no need to be a hero and gloat bout i use a 22, 222, or 223 on deer, no need for 7mm mags etc. i was wondering what will be a better rifle a .243 or a .223 for whitetail deer . projectile is a great starter gun for young hunters. The bullets used must be tough, as they move at such high velocities. Anyway, I used to use the .243, and it is a joke in comparison when it comes putting the bigger deer species down, it will never see the open hill again to be honest. In addition, it doubles as an effective varmint cartridge. ... • .223 Remington vs. .22-250 Remington. About the same as a 357. The .243 Win is a necked down version of the .308 Win and was introduced to the shooting world in 1955. Then of course there’s the long range rock star competitive round 6.5 Creedmoor against the .223/5.56 combat load issue of the military and well known among recreational shooters. The .22 Hornet or .223 Rem would work okay, but not for deer. The .243 is often referred to as the baby brother of the .308 Win. The 243 Winchester versus 7mm-08 Remington race is won by the 243, but not by much. I will fire a 100 gr bullet at almost 3000 fps at about 2000 ft lb of energy and is capable of taking deer out to 300 yds. vs. .30-06 Springfield Three of the most revered deer-hunting rounds in a head-to-head-to-head comparison By Ron Spomer AKG. It will shoot a 55 gr bullet almost 4000 fps while the .223 can barely break 3000 fps. Nov 29, 2018 #15 . It has better expansion for deer sized game and is a better hunting cartridge out to about 250 yards. What you want to avoid are light-for-caliber bullets that are made for either match or varmint shooting. Now don't get me wrong some can handle recoil fine but many have to much gun for there shooting experience. Vs. .243 Win. Whitetail Deer Cartridge Shoot-Out: .30-30 Win. walt1980. and it’s close cousins — the 6XC, 6x47 Lapua, 6mm Remington, 243 WSSM, 6mm-284 Win., and 240 Wby Mag. I shot my biggest whitetail deer to date with a .243 Winchester in Texas—with, of all things, an 85-grain Federal Trophy Copper bullet—and have many friends who find it to be absolutely perfect for deer. With good softpoint ammo a 223 will kill any deer. I like to think of a 7.62x39 as a 30-30 with a better bullet design. I doubt many hunters -- big, little, veteran, or novice -- are capable of determining if they or the bullet missed by an inch at 300 yards. 223 is great for smaller game but isn't really the ideal cartridge for anything bigger than a man. The design features play a big role in the general performance of the bullets. The .243 is an awesome varmint round. In most cases, the .223 will work best with a barrel length of twenty-two inches or slightly higher. This cartridge relies on velocity to drive the lightweight bullets deep. If you are asking from a purely performance perspective I'll take the 223 any day. Join Date: Oct 2007. The 223 ammo is indeed a radical design. The .243 is also a great deer sized cartridge. Reload beast. The 243 is ok on deer. Vs. .22-250 Rem. Just looking for some "educated" opinions ::; on these 3 calibers for next deer rifle....223 vs .243 vs 7mm-08 ??? The .243 is marginal for deer except for experienced riflemen. Contrary to popular belief, the .223 is a legal big-game cartridge in most states. (granted, a well placed shot is effective on deer), but the 243 with 100gr. Having witnessed the impact of dozens of .243 bullets of many styles and construction on dozens of whitetails, pronghorns, feral hogs, coyotes, bobcats and even one zebra stallion, I’m convinced the 243 Win. Posts: 28 That seems like a question that answers itself. It will either be a bolt action or an NEF Ultra single shot. 243 is excellent for deer as well as 22-250 and 223. Not sure for handloading, but in factory loads, the .243 has better performance in deer bullets than the .257 according to both winchester and remingtons sites John, and is considerably flatter shooting over longer distances. 6.5 Creedmoor vs 223 Inside the gun community there are always talks about which is the better caliber, such as .308 vs the .243 or 9mm against the .45 ACP. JMHO. The .223 gives more distance than .222, and good caliber for fox and small deer species and exhibits good terminal ballistics for humane kills. The .243 has only two downsides 1. it burns barrels quicker than .223 rem 2. its harder to moderate. The ideal coyote hunting cartridge is flat shooting, highly accurate, and won’t ruin pelts. The .243 has become a favorite of hunters who want to shoot varmints, predators and deer size game with the same rifle. When it comes to the 223 vs 243 recoil, you may find that hunting with a 243 may tire you out after a long day, but the 223 Remington is a faithful and easy to handle companion you’ll be glad to have by your side. Re: 223 vs 243 vs 270 by duncan61 » Sun Nov 13, 2016 1:05 pm Ive never shot a 270 but I have shot the 30/06.The ballistics are nearly at 7mm rem so Its got some go It generates a bit more energy at the muzzle than 223 and uses sane speeds, so I think it’d be a better close range deer cartridge than the 223… I use the .243 for coyotes and groundhogs, and do the same with the .22-250. The mild kick of the .243 makes it perfect for kids, and yet it is powerful enough to take down the largest deer. go with the 243 for sure. I own an AR15 in .223, a singe shot .243 Winchester, and a Weatherby Vanguard in a .22-250 Remington. Very similar to ballistics on the 7.62×39, but lagging in power at 100-150 yards. Therefore, 5.56mm NATO ammo isn’t safe for use in a rifle chambered for .223 Remington, but .223 is OK in 5.56. hey thanks alot for the help. 243 Winchester Overview. Ammunition is available nearly everywhere, and bolt-actions, lever guns, single shots, and semi-autos are all available in this caliber. Many of the 100g bullets will pencil. Some hunters think the .223 Remington is too small of a caliber, without enough bullet weight, for deer. In other words don't shoot deer much beyond 150 yards. The key to using a .223 Remington on deer is to keep impact velocities high. Wait. The .223 is not legal for deer hunting in many states. If you really want to use it for deer go 243. Thus, powder charge is the main difference between 5.56 vs .223 cartridges. I will take a well placed shot over knock down every single time. I have Remington AR 223 and a number of other rifles that I have or had for coyote hunting. Here’s a look at three of the best "The .243 Win. Federal’s 62-grain Trophy Bonded Tip is an excellent example of deer-worthy .223 cartridges. Just have to limit your ranges a bit. Just looking for some "educated" opinions on these 3 calibers for next deer rifle....223 vs .243 vs 7mm-08 ??? Advertisement . Otherwise 223 and buy a separate deer rifle sureshot006, Nov 27, 2018. sureshot006, Nov 27, 2018. By contrast, .223 Remington tends to produce lower chamber pressures between 52,000 and 55,000 psi, going by SAAMI specs. Remember that your right selection of caliber will only bring success to your hunting experience..223 caliber vs 22-250 caliber Bullet diameter: .243 in (6.2 mm) Case length: 2.045 in (51.9 mm) Twist: 1-10, 1-8 Availability: Great IN THIS ARTICLE vs. .243 Win. This same velocity contributes to tissue damage. , it doubles as an effective varmint cartridge highly accurate, and penetration at distances! 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