I've used 223/5.56 for whitetail hunting in upper Michigan with great success. The key is the bullet. I use hollow point, or polymer tip. A heart/lung shot does the trick, but I've used my aim point in a neck shot. They go down right where they stand. Solid tip rounds at the rate of speed go right through the deer with minimal damage. Just my hunters opinion. A side note, I loaned my Mini 14 to my son-in-law years ago to try it deer hunting. He was so successful.... I never did get it back. But that's what Dads do. Great video Mr. Spomer.

@chadvalliere8697

2 жыл бұрын

Michigander here too. I 100% agree. It does a fine job on whitetail deer

@recon1986

Жыл бұрын

Hollowpont .223/5.56?? Never in my life have I heard of a hollow point rifle round.

@RonSpomerOutdoors

Жыл бұрын

@@recon1986 Mike, hollow point rifle bullets have been around longer than I have. All Barnes TSX and TTSX have hollow points. Hammer bullets too. Sierra Hollow Point Boat Tails. Speer hollow point varmint bullets.

@RonSpomerOutdoors

Жыл бұрын

Barry, you're not alone in your appreciation of the 223 Rem. on deer. It's not legal in many states, however. An important addendum to your polymer tip bullet comment: polymer tip doesn't define the bullet well because polymer tips can be and are put atop frangible varmint bullets, bonded core game bullets, cup-core game bullets, all copper monolithic bullets, etc. I'm guessing the polymer tip you've used successfully on deer sits atop a cup-core or frangible varmint style bullet. When these enter the chest of a deer, they "explode" to create a baseball to softball sized wound cavity. Massive hemorrhaging and quick demise. Good shooting, Barry.

@Smaug1

Жыл бұрын

I think we've got to qualify it. There are some hollow point and polymer-tipped bullets that are designed for explosive damage on prairie dogs. They may not penetrate deeply enough to be ethical on deer, especially if they hit a rib. You want a bullet designed for big game; limited expansion. Some of those varmint bullets just completely come apart and will not even exit a prairie dog. People using 223 with varmint bullets on deer is why it's not a legal caliber in many states.

I am a big fan of the 223. One of the things that is often overlooked is that the 223 Remington is an efficient round. One of the things I have noticed when reloading the 223 is that my powder goes a lot further. The 22-250 is king of the varmint cartridges - the 223 can do a lot of what the 22-250 can do (just not as far out range wise). For the 15% increase in velocity the 22-250 gives you, I have to burn about 40% more powder. You aren't giving up much with the 223 Remington.

@edwardkujawa

8 ай бұрын

BULLETS AND STABIITY MATTER RANGE GIVE OR TAKE i USED A .22-250 REM WTHE A POWDER LOAD IMR4895 WITH A HORNADY SUPER EXPLOVSIVE BULLET 50 GRN NOT 55GRN GOT GOOD ACCURCY TOO 3800FT PS IS DAM GOOD A FREIND OF MY SIGHTED THE GUN IN A REM 788 SAID VERY GOOD LOADIT STUED A .225RTEDOUT AS A WILDCAT THEN REM CAME OUT WITH I SOON AFTER THE REMINGTON788 WAS ADAM GOOD RIFLE CLIP FED 2OR 3 SHOT MAG NOT SURE BEEN ALONG TIME SINCE I OWNED ONE HAD 2 OF 22-250 AND .308 WIN THENCOULDNT GET ONE SAVAGE AXIS .223REM DICKS DIDNT HAVE ANY 22-250'S SO BOUGHT THE .223REM THE OTHR SAVAGE I HAD WASA .308WIN ALSOWULD PUT WOULDUED A .225 HAVE 2R WITH A 30.06SPRFLD

Having shot buckets of .223/556 ammo at everything from prairie dogs to antelope and deer, I can say that the key to success with it is bullet selection. Varmint grenades, V-max or ballistic tips for varmints. For Antelope and up, Copper bullets such as Barns Triple Shock or Hornady GMX will do the job. The actual weapon is what comes out of the barrel of the firearm.

@BigT27295

2 жыл бұрын

Exactly. Well said brother. Makes a world of difference.

@phild9813

2 жыл бұрын

No doubt, goes for all cartridges beyond 223/556 too. Also… Know what you are shooting in general and it’s limitations and stay within them.

@kevinbillow4185

2 жыл бұрын

Have you ever tried the Winchester "Deer Season" 64gr 223s? I've debated getting a box to try next year out of a 18" AR

@phild9813

2 жыл бұрын

I’ve not used them, tried an older version of them and my gun at the time didn’t group them well. I’ve only used TSXs on big game.

@lumpyzx2645

2 жыл бұрын

@@kevinbillow4185 I haven't used them in 223 but I have used them in 6.5 creedmoor and was very impressed with both on game performance and accuracy, best 100yd group was .25moa 5 shots (ruger american predator, factory barreled action but upgraded everything else), it'll consistently shoot sub .5moa if I do my part, a buddy uses the 64gr 223 xp on deer with good results, this last season I tried out the wolf military classic 55gr hp 223 steel case on deer with great results, another buddy had great results with so.e freedom munitions 223 loaded with the 55gr vmax from an 18" barrel (the barrel length I was using is 16" and the other friend I was talking to I believe has a 22" barrel) So my advice would be to pick up a box and see what you think, at best you found your new favorite 223 ammo, at worst you don't like it and wasted a few bucks on a box of ammo

I live in northern Canada, and the 223. Rem is such a good round 👍🏼 I always use it when I hunt seals (ringed, harp, and bearded). I also witnessed my hunting buddies take down a caribou with a 223. 👍🏼

@mikerobinson8734

2 жыл бұрын

Are these done with head/neck shots?

@heathsalter8549

2 жыл бұрын

I'm sorry you live in Canada

@averyabood6155

2 жыл бұрын

@@heathsalter8549 why is that Heath?

@averyabood6155

2 жыл бұрын

@@heathsalter8549 cmon Heath...., squeak up

@dwaybetoggymackinaw5893

2 жыл бұрын

@@heathsalter8549 yeah c'mon Heath. We're waiting with baited breath. Tell us why "'murica is beddur"

I put together a .223 8 months ago mainly because of a crazy hog problem I was having/lots of cheap ammo available and allow me to say i love this little round. With a 1 in 8 twist rate it stabilizes the heavier bullets and it has taken more hogs in the last 8 months than most men will ever see in their lifetime. I'm not saying it's an optimum hog cartridge but with proper shot placement it gets the job done quite well. Great round

And don't forget self-defense... Possibly the #1 reason it's the best selling cartridge.

@nobodyyyyy556

2 жыл бұрын

you know these 5 yard self defense situations with an AR

@zacmiles5342

2 жыл бұрын

@@nobodyyyyy556 Kenosha Kyle found it useful as self defense cartridge ;)

@richardthomas6602

2 жыл бұрын

Anything good for CQB is good for home defense.

@nobodyyyyy556

2 жыл бұрын

@@zacmiles5342 the BLM loving guy who cried? Okay. luckily the world has never been changed by a Zac or Kyle

@floatingchimney

2 жыл бұрын

@@zacmiles5342 Kyle used 5.56 NATO, which is more potent that a plain old .223 cartridge.

The 223 is one of the most popular deer cartridges here in New Zealand for fallow/sika right up to and including red deer. The 55gr Sierra Game King projectile is a honey of a deer bullet

@balazra

2 жыл бұрын

All the Adi manufactured ammo is being rebranded as Adi world class. Other than the name it’s exactly the same ammo.

@rosssrurallife504

2 жыл бұрын

@@balazra Is that the same as Buffalo river ammo? That's what I use :-)

@EdwardSnortin

Жыл бұрын

What kind of rifles do you guys have in NZ?

@rosssrurallife504

Жыл бұрын

@@EdwardSnortin Bolt action, lever action and semi auto rimfires and bolt and lever centrefires. I'm using an old 1916 .303 British at the moment, I've just uploaded my first hunt with it to my channel. I love the old girl. I have a 223, 308, two 303's and two 22s

@robhowardlivefree5519

Жыл бұрын

Hi Ross, I am from NZ and looking to buy a .223 for hunting Fellow. Can you recommend the best rifle/ammo combo? I have been looking at the Tikka .223 Any advice appreciated.

When I went to buy my first ar15. I was confused so just went with the 5.56 barrel to be safe. But honestly mostly shoot .223 since freedom munitions sells 55grain reloads for $17.99 for 50 rounds. ❤ best ammo for the price. Tried every kind they sell and weights. Never once had a bad round or failure to feed or fire. Also I get 55grain sp and 60grain soft points new for 26.00dollars for 50rounds. Keeps me shooting for as long as I want and have stockpiled over 2,200 rounds and now reload them. Great info as always Ron.

I have had a 270 and a 375 Ruger for most of my hunting which spans over 30 years in New Zealand and about 3 months ago I bought a Ruger ranch 223 short barrel with a suppressor and attached my Thermal scope to it. Well I have shot over 200 rabbits a few possums and 1 whitetail and Red deer with it and its a neat little gun to use. I did let a large Red go the other day as I wasn't in a good position and didn't want to wound it, if I had had my 375 it would have taken a round as nothing get up after it gets hit with 270gr bullet. Keep up you good videos, cheers from downunder.

@lobster8009

2 жыл бұрын

If you place your shot right there are very few animals on this planet a single round of .223 would not kill. I stopped using .223 on anything larger that a fox because larger animals take a lot longer to bleed out shooting for lung/heart only. Combine that with the fact that there is verly little blood, sometimes no blood at all and me not havin access to a capable dog its just needlessly hard to find your kill. Rifles like my 8x57IS or 7x65R create nice big exit holes that bleed absolute buckets. Really easy to follow even in bad conditions.

@manofchaitea6904

2 жыл бұрын

Do you eat the possums?

@MikeNaples

2 жыл бұрын

@@manofchaitea6904 I'm sure he did. Possum is very tasty. The only problem is it's hard to tell if they're dead.

@jumpninthedarkalley

2 жыл бұрын

Why are you shooting rabbits with it? Are you wasting them or eating them?? Wouldn't it blow them to pieces....

@YZF750SP

2 жыл бұрын

@@jumpninthedarkalley Yep they explode real good especially in a thermal scope! Just culling them as they number in there thousands down here

I think most importantly, when using this round on larger game, barrel length is a key factor. If you use a long barrel around 20 inches, then it really allows for the round to get a lot of speed and be absolutely devastating.

@PaulM-kc2tk

8 ай бұрын

Generally speaking, you gain, or lose, about 100 FPS per inch of barrel. With a round traveling 2500 FPS that's really not a whole lot to worry about. That's one reason the military standardizes on a 14.5 or 16" barrel. You just don't lose enough velocity to make the tradeoff in length worth it. I remember clearing buildings in Iraq in the early 90's with a 20" M16. I hear that even in the present the Marines still use the 20"...

@TonyWright-tf5zy

8 ай бұрын

@@PaulM-kc2tk Still be a whole lot happier with 150 grains at 2500 than 55 grainers at the same speed..

@Shaggy_Rogers0001

6 ай бұрын

With a 26 inch barrel, standard 55 grain fmj ammo reaches 3,400 ft/s!

@TonyWright-tf5zy

6 ай бұрын

@@Shaggy_Rogers0001 True, you can run them hot, that is getting to the upper limit according to the hornady handbook of reloading. Love the higher energy of larger pills myself.

@Shaggy_Rogers0001

6 ай бұрын

@@TonyWright-tf5zy Even factory 5.56 ammo can reach that velocity. Also, the Hornady 30-06 180 grain SST nearly reached 2,900 ft/s out of a 26 inch barrel!

The 5.56/.223 has had a tremendous impact on the shooting/hunting community. In 1998 when I was assigned to Camp Perry most shooters were using the M-1 and M-14 to shoot across the course. A few years later the Army Marksmanship Unit developed long range loads for the M-16 and cleaned up against all comers. Several years later the Marines had caught up and their top shooter was a female E-5. Due to the light weight of the weapon system and the lack of recoil from the 5.56, ladies could now compete across the course on an equal footing. Game changer. Oh, and it does make things very dead.

@fustyblatherskite2142

Жыл бұрын

On average the ladies have better hand and eye coordination than men. If more ladies were to shoot, with equipment suited for them, they would probably dominate competitive shooting.

@wisconsinfarmer4742

Жыл бұрын

Yeah, my niece made it to a team in the Marines.

@russday1400

8 ай бұрын

I have always felt the .223 was a glorified squirrel cartridge. But, it is fun,fun,fun. Ron ur show has no equal!

@RailRoad188

4 ай бұрын

​@@russday1400if you want squirrels and other small game to disappear, not if you want to eat them or have a furr etc

Ron like you said my first encounter with this round I was a hot young Naval recruit fresh out of basic training that was in 1975. Fast forward to the early 2000’s I bought a Savage model 12 with a 26 inch barrel , man that little.223 and that heavy model 12 just go together like peanut butter & jelly . I’ve spent many a relaxing fun filled day shooting groups as small as dimes.

@BigT27295

2 жыл бұрын

Yea. Good times.

Remember, when a pistol is equipped with a pistol brace, the .223 becomes more powerful than the .338 Win Mag.

@kineticenergy1085

5 ай бұрын

Absolutely. Just speaking the words “pistol brace” and I’m like………”damn…… that sounds like it makes any gun 10x more deadly 👍🏽🤗

@eriksforestryvision8751

5 ай бұрын

Yup those short barrel are platform running 5.56 turns it into a t90 tank

@RailRoad188

4 ай бұрын

​@eriksforestryvision8751 Only three concussion lol 😅

@RailRoad188

4 ай бұрын

​@@eriksforestryvision8751Only the muzzle signature lol

Bullet selection is EVERYTHING! Talk to our veterans that relied on this cartridge to survive. There was a lot of concern with the ability to neutralize a threat quickly. It got the job done. No more no less. Our special forces realized the 77 gr ammo was most effective at this. If they needed a longer range solution they let the marksmen handle the situation.

Thanks Ron, Good video. I have killed white tail and hogs with a 223, but I load my own and shoot 77 grain HPBT. I stay in less than 150 yards and most importantly, I get steady and know pretty much exactly where the shot is going to go. Shot placement is key when using a smaller caliber.

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Good advice and good practice, Russell. Thank you sir.

I’ve taken everything that walks down here in north Georgia with a 22 mag… the 22 mag is really underrated by many… they do a good job as long as your inside of a 100 yards …. Awesome video… thanks buddy…

@chuckydubree1925

2 жыл бұрын

Here in my where I live and hunt all my shots are a 100 years and in hard to beat a 22 mag

@chuckydubree1925

2 жыл бұрын

Yards not years sorry

@bobgordon1754

2 жыл бұрын

I knew a man ,now deceased, that had no problem killing all our local animals with a .22 long rifle. I introduced him to the .22 mag and he couldn't believe it. He killed many deer with it and at least one I know of just past 100 yards. I do love the cartridge. If it works in the woods at close range a .223 would be like a magnum indeed.

@Wootangtw

2 жыл бұрын

@@bobgordon1754 oh yeah a 223 is definitely more powerful than a 22 magnum …but the 22 mag is a little more quieter and the rifle’s are usually cheaper to buy and you can carry 100 rounds in your pocket … the 223/556 is a awesome round I also like the 22-250 I’ve shot deer and other game and non game with it … and the 22lr I’ve also killed deer with them years ago… I guess I just love guns in general… almost all of them… thanks for your comment buddy…

@bobgordon1754

2 жыл бұрын

@@Wootangtw Thanks for the reply. Good men in the woods get by with what the have. The .22s are enough to get the job done.

Shot placement is everything.

The most accurate gun I have ever owned was a .223 TC Contender with a 14 inch bull barrel, and a 2x7 Burris LER scope mounted. When I first sighted it in (off a bench of course) with factory Amer. Eagle 55 grain FMJs, it placed 5 shots at 100 yards you could cover with a dime. I was shocked at the capabilities of that gun and cartridge.

Love the .223 in an accurate bolt action.👍

@byronfranklin3612

2 жыл бұрын

Custom Remington 700, 223 caliber, all in a dime with hand load ammo at 300 yards. Awesome

@joeyvanover9465

2 жыл бұрын

I have a Ruger predator, and man it is great

@allenbournes4697

2 жыл бұрын

Byron - that is fantastic! Can you give hand load particulars?

@RailRoad188

4 ай бұрын

I don't have a use-case for a bolt-action. My best group so far is .65MOA with the Faxon match .223wylde pencil barrel (called gunner profile) using 77grn in a personally assembled, lightweight AR-15 SPR build.

been living in NC since 85. 223 for deer? I was shocked, however, I became friends with gentlemen who 'nuisance hunt' for local farmers etc and they are quite pleased with the 223. In fact, the local farmers use the 22magnum and they are also quite successful. The 22 mag, head shots, however, they are happy with the immediate effect of the solid when using the high shoulder shot within 75 yards; they stated that the bullet does ricochet within the ribcage and just flattens them. For clarity, the nuisance hunters were averaging 100 deer a season, the farmers, probably 20. The farmers would shoot them while they sat on their tractors. Now they are dealing with pigs coming up from Chatham county.

@ed5042

2 жыл бұрын

and for those guys that ramble on about 'y'all need a ..............at least', I ask what they shoot, then I tell them I carry a 6.4 lb Mossberg Patriot in 375 Ruger as backup for you guys .

@paulmoss7940

2 жыл бұрын

Been in NC all my life 61yr. and I can vouch for your statement as pure truth. People talk about .223 as marginal ,I chuckle cause I know what even the lowly rimfire can do. Its mostly about placement and the less precise it is the more the other factors play out. Outside of war , more people have been killed with a .22 than any other although 9mm is closing fast in the last few years.

@jasonburrell3508

2 жыл бұрын

Cool! That 22mag would be cool to see.

My first varmint rifle was a Ruger M77 in .223. It’s a beautiful gun (much nicer than the Remington 700 VS I have in .22-250) and great to carry around, be it for ground hogs or coyotes. In Ohio we’re pretty limited in our uses, but it’s still nice to have.

Thanks Ron.My first center fire was a .222 Savage.Could knock the eye from a fly.haha.Love the .223 and hope to find a Remington 700(older)to complete the collection.👍👍

Wonderful evaluation of the .223

Always like the way Ron explains in depth so everyone can understand.. Love his vids. He is very interesting and enjoy to watch

I love it because of the availably and versatility of the round. Of course it's great for coyotes, hogs, but could be used for small game with 40grain and up to whitetail with 77grain along with self defense. If you had to have a single cartridge, this is a good contender.

The .223/ 5.56 is an awesome Jack of all trades. It's great for anything from rock chucks to deer with the right bullets. It's incredibly accurate, soft shooting and is excellent for self defense. The .223/ 5.56 is easily in my top 5 favorite cartridges 😊👍

@russellkeeling4387

Жыл бұрын

I have owned a nice Ruger #3 .223 for many years and it is a wonderful rifle. It is somewhat heavy though so I bought a nice little bolt action .223 when I could finally find one. It is going to be my new truck gun that rides with me on the ranch. It is one rifle I have components to last the rest of my life.

@lisachavez6085

Жыл бұрын

How do you feel about the SAVAGE HMR 17

@lisachavez6085

Жыл бұрын

Hello how do you feel about the SAVAGE 17 HMR

@jaredgreen5840

Жыл бұрын

@Lisa Chavez I actually happen to have a Savage 93 in 17HMR and it's one of my favorite rimfires. Savage makes pretty decent and very accurate rifles for the money and the 17 HMR is a great little cartridge. It's has great accuracy potential, it is great for small game out to 150 yards and has virtually no recoil. So if you're looking for a fun little target rifle or something for small game you can't go wrong 🙂👍

Another great informative video my friend and yes it’s a limited round and I normally Hunt Whitetail with my 6mm I took a beautiful Buck this season with a .556 using Hornady 75 grain BTHP .223 and it dropped in his tracks but the shot was roughly 100 yards and right through the Boiler Room with no exit, the HP instantly fragmented if anyone is curious it was a gooey mess but humane. Stay safe my Friend Semper Fidelis

.223/5.56 is somehow both the smallest intermediate rifle cartridge you can get and a devastating explosive 50 caliber AP round that kills people if they look at them wrong

I used to hate the .223 Remington because I was a proud member of the .22-250 Remington club. Then I turned 18, joined Army ROTC, and entered the world of AR-15s. I’ve built a half dozen or so AR-15 lowers in the short time since then, and currently have 2 in the 5.56 NATO chambering and 1 in the “anemic 6.5”, my precious 6.5 Grendel. I’ve killed an axis doe, 2 aoudad ewes, a wild hog sow, and a whitetail doe with my 16” AR-15s using 62gr soft points and hollow points and Fusion (bonded soft point?). I’ve killed at least 3 times as many animals of similar size (and bigger) with the .22-250, using (overwhelmingly) 55gr Nosler BT and VMAXs. (All the previously mentioned loadings are in their respective factory offerings as I’m not a handloader unfortunately). The bolt 250 is more accurate and harder hitting and flatter shooting than even a 20” AR-15 could ever be. Between the .223 and the .22-250, I think the .22-250 is the better choice in terms of ballistic performance and killing efficiency. But the “fun” of the AR-15 platform, the ease of ammunition procurement even in these crazy times, and the wide range of factory ammunition makes the .223 a better choice for many. In fact I’d say I’m pretty salty about this subject because a 24” 1:9 22-250 with 75gr BTHPs is probably one of the mildest recoiling and effective game killing medicines out there (I live in Texas, so we’ll call it red deer or smaller, with the exception of aoudad, and with a maximum range of 300 yards), but it just isn’t something I have access to. Meanwhile I can enjoy whatever barrel twist rate I want and have factory loadings of 75gr BTHP or 69gr Gold Medal Match or 77gr OTM out of either 5.56 or .223, get a 20” 5.56 or .223 Wylde barrel, and go to town. Yeah I’m “that guy”, the .22-250 apologist in the comments’ section of a .223 video; everyone needs a hobby, I guess. Excellent work as always Mr. Spomer. I’m selling my Grendel and .270 to try and get a lightweight short action in Weatherby’s new Mark V Hunter, and one of your videos a while back has solidified in my mind the 7mm-08 as the best choice for me…although I might end up going with “6.5 man bun” (Creedmoor) instead due to ammo availability and still having a .30-06.

@tbjtbj4786

2 жыл бұрын

Keep a look out for a old Olympic arms 22-250 the made a ar for the 22-250 And some in the 223 wssm and 25 wssm

@justinlance4174

2 жыл бұрын

Yep I hunt with 6.5grendel. It's my favorite do it all cartridge. And its lightweight

@richfinley6017

2 жыл бұрын

"6.5 Man Bun" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Thank you TONS for that! Amazing how a 250 Sav Improved, squoze up .007" has gained such a mythical reputation. An optimization for sure, and an excellent cartridge, but not magic.

@justinlance4174

2 жыл бұрын

@@richfinley6017 triggered snowflake alert. If u Dont want it dont buy it. Ur loss not mine. But it's the best cartridge ever squashed into an ar15 reciever. No one here ever claimed 6.5grendel was magic. Ur the one who came up with that assumption. But dont get triggered when someone wants better performance than u.

@fisher1972

2 жыл бұрын

6.5 grendel out of an 18 inch barrel is magic! It kills out of proportion,out of a light handling semi auto! I have several bigger calibers but the 6.5 grendel is a favorite

Hello from Oklahoma! Good Video! I've spent time in Canada years ago. Back in the 70's the 30-30 was very popular up north. As was the '06. I'm sure the 223 is also. Really it boils down to know how to hunt, get close shoot accurately. Shot placement is key with any cartridge.

@DavidDeshane-ic4cg

Жыл бұрын

Not all provinces alow .223 for deer up here. 30-30 and .308 are popular and I think that the possibility of encountering a bear while deer hunting drives the want for larger calibers up here.

Firstly, another informative, interesting and engaging vid 👍👍👍 The .223 is kind of like the Swiss Army Knife of rifles and it cements the notion that this is another old school round that is difficult to top. An almost infinitive array of rifle brands chamber for it, it’s cheap to shoot, comfortable recoil with pretty impressive and consistent performance…On a side note here in Australia the . 222 is still a popular calibre with plenty of folk using it on vermin / foxes and the like

@mikedundee65

2 жыл бұрын

The 222 is still a great cartridge

Love this one . This is one of my favorite go to cartridges .

I have a Remingtin model 700 - 223 with a 24 inch barrel and I have taken more than 50 whitetails a 14 inch antelope and a couple elk with my 223 . Shot selection and distance and bullet selection are critical when using a 223 to take larger game animals .

@woldridgefencing9021

2 жыл бұрын

Teaches a lot of patients too!

@mddunlap03

2 жыл бұрын

I mean you can drop a grizzly with a 22 if you wanted to but doesn’t make it the best option

@dranelittle7726

2 жыл бұрын

@@mddunlap03 you can easily brain one at twice the distance any archer can reliably hit the chest with a broadhead. So what's the problem? You can't get half as close as a bowhunter, or you can't hit a 6" disk at 100m, from a braced firing position with a scope?

@negativerush

2 жыл бұрын

A 62 or 77 grain control chaos might be a good choice

@fiveowaf454

2 жыл бұрын

Having the longer barrel is important to 223 performance IMO, many rounds peak in velocity from a 24" barrel and that gives a benefit in that at 100 yds the bullet can be travelling at the same speed it is from the muzzle on a lot of the shorter barrel AR's that are so popular now. I have a 24" barrel, a 20" and an 18.5" in the 223/5.56 caliber, what I also like with the 24" barrel is how quiet the round is to shoot in the field compared to shorter ones too, makes it a real pleasure to fire, very soft shooting with no noticeable muzzle blast.

Been a fan for years, watched you for years. Thanks for all the fun and informative videos and shows on tv. Good shooting and gods speed to you and yours. 👍🦌🎥🏆🏆🏆

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Joel. All the best to you and yours as well. Thanks for watching.

Thanks. I'm an incredibly new to I guess hunting and rifles and everything, so I'm doing the best I can to learn all arounds. So thank you for doing these videos. You're teaching me a lot

I graduated from the 30-06 to the 223 with a Savage model 25 bolt gun. I loved it so much I decided to get an AR which I built myself. Lower recoil, less cost to reload, and darn accurate. Sub MOA out of a good barrel. I use 69 to 75 grain bullets out to 600 yards

The 223 is my personal choice and my most favourite ammo for hunting and self defence and it has armour piercing capabilities. I use it all the time and would never give this round up

@johnfrank4558

Ай бұрын

Lol

Hey Ron, best reviews of the Rem .223 and Win .308 I have seen. I appreciate your honesty and candor and presenting the real data!. You are the thinking man's hunter and ballistics expert.

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks Chet. I appreciate that! Not sure I deserve it, but life's short, so I'll take it!

Absolutely love your videos. You talk like i think! Bought my 1st 223 and I listened to every word of this video! THE BEST!

I appreciate your opinion on this subject and agree, shot placement is a key factor.

Thanks again Ron: You're becoming a regular thing for me. People could start talking. :) The .223 Rem or 5.56mm is a good little cartridge. I wouldn't use it on anything more than 150 to 180 LBS. I own a Remington model 700 in .223 and love it for all manner of pest. I have heard of Northern Native Americans hunting moose with a .22 Hornet, but I can't say I'd ever try that. Those Natives up north kill to eat, and their shooting reflects that.

Ron you’re right about range, I have a Remington BDL 700 little custom work in trigger on the range with hand loaded ammo all in a dime at 300 yards

I enjoyed this video, I never really thought about using 223 for whitetail but it is definitely an all around effective round. Great video as always Ron!!

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

Ron I think you are on the right track with the 223. The first center fire rifle I taught my daughter how to shoot with was one of the first Ruger 77 MkII in 223. Have had great success with Varmints, predators, and Javalina. I have not used it on deer but at the right range with a good bullet no problem. Thanks. I always enjoy your podcast and share it with friends and family

Great video, I love my 223 I can shoot it all day long and for hunting I've shot big mature coyote with it they drop a die instantly I'm very confident a shot in the vitals on a whitetail dear would have the same affect . Thanks Ron

I have dropped a couple deer with my 223 no problem with a neck shot. My favorite cartridge. I have a 30-06 if I need to go heavy. Good work, keep it up!👍👍🤠🇺🇸

this has been a great channel for someone new looking to get into hunting

Fast follow up shots and capacity is awesome

Great video Ron! .223 Rem is a very versatile round, as you said. The .223/5.56 is easy on the shoulder and fun to plink with. Taking NC deer, raccoons and coyotes is absolutely possible with this round. Thanks Ron, and Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours. Grace & Peace

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Peace and Merry Christmas to you, too, Rev. Steve.

@cugir321

2 жыл бұрын

Amen! I've shot numerous big bucks with the sierra 55 gr sbt....it's like a hammer for a chest shot. Shot a 200lb NC 10 pnt last week.....ran 100 yds and flopped over.Amen!

@TonyWright-tf5zy

8 ай бұрын

It should be, it an itty bitty .22 round.. accepted for military service not for its ability but because of corruption and backroom dealings.. Always find it so funny that Yanks love the 'fat' .45 over the 'skinny' 9mm yet go for the .22 round over the .30 family rounds like 7.62x39..

@kennyk541

5 ай бұрын

⁠@@TonyWright-tf5zywe don’t even use the 45 anymore haven’t used it since Vietnam and we prefer the 5.56 since it performs very well in warfare there’s a reason the Russian stoped used there 7.62x39 in favor of there 5.45

I use a 270 for deer hunting and depending on weather sometimes a 30/30. I use my 223 on coyotes and hogs. I use Hornady V max 55 gr bullets. It drops coyotes where they stand and depending on shot placement has dropped 350 pound hogs in their tracks. It's a great round for what I use it for. Another great presentation 👏

My dad had one of the Remington pump 760 I believe . Purchased it 1965 . Good shooting gun. . Thanks for the video

Your comments are spot on. For me, any game inside of 100yds is fair game with my savage .223. Beyond that and my confidence falls as quickly as a 50g bullet. Great video!

A whole lot if your aim is good! Chest/body shots on varmint are just fine, especially with speedy 40-55gn projectiles. Larger critters benefit from headshots, however a well placed heart/lung shot will indeed do the job with a well tailored load and a heavier 55-70gn projectile. Mild recoil and generally good accuracy and efficiency really make this cartridge shine. Hi from Australia, love your stuff!

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks boingkster.

Fantastic "field gun". By that, I mean a great rifle to carry while in the field for "incidental use". I'm not saying anything about deer or larger game, but more of a "something just popped up" shooter. Also, probably one of the most controversial loads in America. Everyone has an opinion on it, but don't automatically count it out of an application!

@stevepuyear2738

2 жыл бұрын

Hedge 774. Very well put Sir! It's not overkill for anything, or under kill 'if" common sense is applied when matching cartridge to game size.

@simpleman4196

2 жыл бұрын

I have taken dozens and dozens of white tail deer over the years with 55gr 223 it has never failed me one shot and down out to 180yards. But yes just be wise and understand what your doing

@G19Jeeper

2 жыл бұрын

Agreed. It’s my favorite and makes a great truck gun or walking about rifle

@Washyourbellybutton

2 жыл бұрын

Just say it's good for killing bad guys lol

thanks for making this great video i am from new zealand where 223 is very common i have shot alot of hares rabbits goats and deer with the 223 such a good round!

Another great video, Ron. I appreciate you sharing your wealth of knowledge.

The 223 with the 60gr.Nosler partition works very well on deer.Aim small miss small !

@bobgordon1754

2 жыл бұрын

I have killed more than one deer with the 60grain nosler partition.

@demetriuscooksey7147

2 жыл бұрын

My Dad used that bullet in the 220 Swift to kill a pile of deer and antelope, and the occasional unsuspecting yote.

223 with a 55 grain ballistic tip is my favorite for woodchuck, fox and coyote. Drops them dead where they stand and no exit wound. Also super fun to shoot woodchuck on alfalfa fields out at 250-300 yards. Gets some long range practice at shorter ranges.

As I have mentioned in the past Ron, my .223 Ackely is as much rifle as is needed for so much small and medium game. Very enjoyable video as always mate, Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year. Joy and great fortunes to all.

I harvested an 8 point whitetail in Oklahoma at 397 yards with Barnes vortex factory 223 ammo. The 55gr monolith Passed through the deer's spine and both shoulder blades. complete pass through. The animal dropped in its tracks. Careful shot placement, lots of practice at the range you plan on shooting, and the 223/556 is plenty for game up to 200lbs. Great videos!

It worked like a charm on a roe deer. My friend uses it on hogs with great success. And the outfitter that took me roe deer hunting uses it on everything up to moose and red deer. He says the only thing that matters is the shot placement.

@dragoonTT

2 жыл бұрын

Bingo, any animal with a hole through the lungs and heart won’t last long.

@nielrossouw7831

2 жыл бұрын

My cousin was a PH here in South Africa. He used his .222 on all plains game. He had the rifle since he was 16years old and he always said that nothing can survive a .222 in the brain. He was a fantastic shot and I never saw him miss anything during the 35 years we hunted together. I wont advise most people to use a 223 as a hunting rifle but if you have his skill set go ahead!

@66smithra

2 жыл бұрын

Why not use an air rifle then? Place the shot PERFECTLY behind the shoulder. Should do the trick, right?

@actionjksn

2 жыл бұрын

@@66smithra I can assure you that there are air rifles that can kill a deer. I use real guns but i know there are some super powerful air rifles with larger calibers. You know there are some really poor people with one rifle in one caliber who shoot larger game in order to eat. People shooting elk with. 223 are not recreational hunters, they're hungry. I know a guy who was starving back in the day who shot a whitetail with a. 22 long rifle. He had to chase it a long way but him and his family got to eat.

@66smithra

2 жыл бұрын

@@actionjksn Yeah obviously we're not talking about necessity. The point was that the 223 is not a good deer cartridge. We should use better tools if at all possible. The original poster said "the only thing that matters is shot placement," and that's obviously not true.

Most people here in Nome, Alaska rock a .223 for all winter time hunting use. Works well on seals, caribou, wolves, ect. I've even shot and witnessed others take down both grizzly bears and sometimes moose with a .223. No need for fancy bullets either, 55gn surplus m193 works great on everything. ARs of good quality generally perform well in the arctic and some stay away from the mini-14 after more than one person has had the bolt explode, blowing out the extractor, and yes that is with .223 not 5.56.

@amramhakohen3923

Жыл бұрын

....and only a 3-round burst to take down the grizz, right?

@MarikHavair

Жыл бұрын

@@amramhakohen3923 People have taken everything from Lions bears and even a fucking elephant with 22LR of all things, I don't think there's a single extant animal on earth that 223 won't kill with proper shot placement sans maybe a great whale.

Hey Ron, love the videos. I am from South Africa and I know hundreds of people, and most of them are PH’s who shoot Oryx sized game with the .223 rem all the time.

Good stuff Ron.

When I lived in Alaska (70s) the Eskimo hunters commonly used .222Rem on scoped bolt actions on more open areas/shores. They were excellent shots who took large game (moose, walrus, polar bear) with 222. The Indians I knew, hunted the dense coastal forest mountains. They weren't particularly good shots, but were amazing stalkers. They usually used lever. 30-30s and snuck in real close. Both groups fed there families with their rifles. I used. 30-06 for moose.

A well presented video here, Ron! This is the first video I've watched of yours. I love the .223 round. I use my rifle for plinking these days, but I have used it for those wonderful little Prairie Dogs 30 years ago, when I was much younger, much stronger, and wildly handsome! lol By the way, I did subscribe to your channel just now.

I've taken an watched other whitetails of good size bget flat out dropped in their tracks with a 223 and a 60 grain nosler partitions. Would never be afraid to use it for deer within 300 yards. Past that a 243 is good. An so on so fourth. Great video ron.

Thanks for the info Ron. Love your videos.

as a Korean, honestly M-16A1 and K2(Piston driven AR style rifle) are my only two rifle I ever shoot. I shoot lots of 9mm, .38spl, some .357mag, and few 12gauge from O/U shotguns. so I have very little reference to the cartridge, but I know 5.56x45mm NATO is very mild and soft round to shoot for the first time I pull the trigger. I've quite surprised to AR's mild recoils. because I always listen my grandfather's "aemu-wang(of course, he mean M1 garand)"story when he participated in the Korean War(6.25.1950-7.27.1953) - big, long, heavy and powerful to broke his shoulder bone(as just kidding) and enemies's skull(which is not kidding) at the same time when he pull the trigger.

@bobgordon1754

2 жыл бұрын

Keep shooting girl. it is wonderful that you are shooting, absolutely wonderful.

My CZ 527 in .223 is my favorite rifle. Probably taken 3 dozen groundhogs and a fox. It's a sweetheart. 130 yards is my common distance and 300 yards would be a long shot here so it's perfect for my needs.

What a great video Ron produces here!

I really appreciate your videos. They are pleasant and informative, almost calming. Thank you and have a Merry Christmas.

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! You too!

when hunting my buddies place , the longest shot maybe 100 yards, I use my T/C venture with Barnes 55 grain , dead accurate. I am quite confident with this rig

Don't forget, that twist rate of the 223 Remington, will also determine the best bullet weight for your rifle.

Thanks Mr. Spomer! I’m really really enjoying your content!

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoy it!

For the larger game it worth mention a lot of companies and people are loading some hot 77g sierra match king bullets

Folded 2 does with Speer gold dots in223 within 30 seconds of each other last week. One ran/ stumbled 30 yards. The other about 15 yards. Autopsy: Exit wounds on both. Each of the chest cavities were obliterated. Shots were inside 100 yards. It’s a good little round especially for newbies, oldies and anyone who just enjoys time on stand.

@victorsmith468

2 жыл бұрын

What grain gold Dots were you using?

@alquinn3562

2 жыл бұрын

@@victorsmith468 75 grain

@alquinn3562

2 жыл бұрын

Now keep me n mind, in north east Oklahoma, a big doe is 85 to 110 pound animal. If I were hunting ag raised midwestern deer I would tend to use a larger caliber. 308 Speer gold dots are very devastating on bigger animals. I have used 169 grain gold dots and dropped many in their tracks. Not sure what I’m going to do with my surplus Cor lokts now!!🤫

Tip selection and accuracy is key to the 223 for harvesting any size animals. I loaded up 50gr varmint tips at max powder and took a couple whitetails down, huge amount of damage but no exit holes. Gonna try some heavier rounds next year to get a little more penatration

@jamescalhoun4588

Жыл бұрын

Get you some 62gr federal fusions !

I have been using mine for whitetail deer. 55 TTSX barnes. This years three point went down like a sack of potatoes. Cheap to load. And fun to shoot.

Fantastic presentation! Ron aced it again!!!

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it

A lot of creatures have been harvested with the 22 Savage Hi-Power, which has about the same power as 223 Rem.. I recall watching a film, back when films were actual film, of Native Alaskans taking sea lions, caribou, even polar bears with the 22 Savage. Shot placement and distance, usually close, were paramount considerations as the ammo store was NOT just around the corner. Great video.

@MrHyde-dt1sx

2 жыл бұрын

Hell, they shot tigers in India with the hi power. I think Newton said it worked best after the tiger had a full belly. 70 grain .227 caliber bullets. I've had one for 40 years and shot several whitetails with it. Savage model 99

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

Good one William. The 22 "Imp" was famously used to slay an Indian tiger back in the day as an advertising stunt. It's actually a bit more powerful than the 223 Rem., pushing a 70-gr. bullet about 200 fps faster. The 22 High Power also fired .228" diameter bullets, not .224." I suspect .224s would obdurate sufficiently to work well enough in an Imp barrel, but have no proof.

@MrHyde-dt1sx

2 жыл бұрын

@@RonSpomerOutdoors the224 works good enough for 50 yards and in

Best caliber ever made! My 8yo boy took down a Kudu bull, Impala, Bluewildebeest and Bushbuck in one week, each with one lung shot at around 150 yds. The 223 is our go-to rifle on the farm and used around 99.9% of the time, with the 7mm Rem, 308 and 375H&H almost never used collecting dust in the safe... Thanks Mr Spomer for your great videos. All the best

223 62 grain or 75 grain from a 22 inch barrel bolt action OR 62 grain from a 20 inch AR does GREAT at North Alabama whitetail within 150 yards. Longest one has walked after impact was about 30 yards. I believe 223 with the right bullet from the right barrel is a nearly perfect Southeastern whitetail cartridge

Thanks for an excellent presentation!

Hey Ron great description and evaluation of the 223 cartridge. I used my Savage axis 223 with a Burris 4 x12 scope shooting a 50 gr V Max ( 25.6 gr H 335 ) Winchester case and 205 primer to take a coyote this morning . Dropped in his tracks and no exit hole. Have a good Christmas !

Hey Ron love the vid. Would love to see some ballistic gel tests one day! Comparing varmint, bonded and mono projectiles. Too many people don’t realise how important projectiles are. At the end of they day that’s the only thing that touches the deer and is the most important. Using a varmint projectile on big game doesn’t end well!

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

You're playing my song when you sing about bullet importance, John. That's the whole reason for the rifle, scope, case, primer, powder... Everything hinges on bullet performance.

@richardpowell1664

2 жыл бұрын

Yep, at the end of the day our rifles are bullet launchers.

@johnshields9110

2 жыл бұрын

@@richardpowell1664 Numerous people used to chide me and my favorite hunting buddy for 'shooting up your ammo'! We tested for bullet performance, as well a finding our rifles favorite loading. We'd shoot 10 rounds out of a box of 20 to make sure it was the right load, then try to kill the next 10 critters in a row, which we did on more than one occasion. We liked the spire point 50 grain 223 bullets better than HP's.

I really like my 20" 5.56 AR with a 1:8 twist and a solid Vortex optic, combined with a Winchester Deer Season XP (223, polymer tipped, 64gr) round. Here in the northeast, our typical range for deer is in the sub-150yd (and more usually in the sub-100yd) range. Easy to carry, easy on the shoulder, and damned effective to place right where it needs to go.

I don’t know if you rehearsed your sessions or not, But man, do you speak well! Great content and I love to hear you talk. Thank you for making videos.

It's a good cartridge for alot of things. I wouldn't hunt anything larger than deer with it personally. But I'm sure you could do it if you needed too. No cartridge is perfect. It's like getting a tool from your toolbox. Your not going to use a flathead screwdriver for a phillips head screw, but in a pinch sometimes you can do it. Use the right tool for the job and if you have to improvise, make sure your well practiced and using your head.

@benoutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

People bow hunt big game, If a broad head can kill it so can a .223

@northman77

2 жыл бұрын

I know a native guy who killed a moose this fall with a 223! 130 yards headshot. As a white guy, I dont have the right to do this, it is mendatory to use 6mm (243) or more for big games here. That said, 223 and 22-250 seems to work pretty well!

@66smithra

2 жыл бұрын

@@benoutdoors That's not the same comparison. The 223 "can kill" an elephant of course. But it's not the proper tool for that job. The chances of wounding big game and the availability of proper calibers make it sort of silly to use a 223 for something it wasn't designed for.

@benoutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

@@66smithra it’s funny because my friend just killed 2 deer with a .22 lr.

@66smithra

2 жыл бұрын

@@benoutdoors Is he a poacher?

I own a 222 and 3 different 223s. My kids took alot of deer with them both at younger ages with a 100% success rate. Its where u place that shot. They're all older now and moved up in calibers but my son and I still do alot of our groundhog n further hunting with this round. I personally have no problem with pa sized whitetail hunters using this round...it has worked for our family over a dozen times out to 150 yards give or take and killed everything its connected quickly

@blakevanness

2 жыл бұрын

I've probably killed a pickup truck load of central pa whitetail with my 222, as have my grandparents and my mom. A core-lokt through the vitals and I've never had to track more than 50-75 yards, quite a few only went 10-20 yards. I upgraded to a 30-06 years ago, but I'll always have a soft spot for the 222.

Versatility is exactly right. From both the barrel length to modern technology bullets, the .223|5.56 can be tailored to virtually any use case (except big game in my opinion). Thanks Ron.

My 12yo niece has harvested a whitetail the last two years with her dads AR15! Yeah, her uncle is proud of her!

He definitely nailed it for me. As a boy growing up in the desert of Arizona I never fired a semi-automatic anything! It was all break open shotguns and bolt action .22's. My Father's philosophy being that if you couldn't get it done in one shot you had no business being out there! Shot placement was everything to him! My first experience with anything bigger came in the Army with an M16. After I got out I hadn't really thought much about one just trying to put my experiences with one behind me. I picked up an AR-15 years later and teared up when I held it at the store. I literally wept when I held it at home. So many memories and experiences came flooding back to me. People and things I hadn't thought about in years just came right back as If it hadn't so long ago! I don't get to hunt as much as I would like to and other than my military experience (which I am not gonna go into!) I really couldn't say or attest to it's prowess for any particular hunting. I agree that shot placement is paramount but over the years I have also come to respect the fact that you need the right kind of bullet/round. If you want or expect a decent and humane kill and don't want to have to track and or chase the animal you shot. Good shot placement and the right bullet will go a long way in making that happen! Always remember to keep your finger out of the trigger well till you are ready to shoot! To be safe and know your target and what's beyond! Once that bullet leaves the barrel, there is no taking it back! God Bless us, each and everyone! In the service I learned that in the bush and outside the wire, all we had is what you carried and each other! In other words, be kind to others and hopefully they will be kind to you! Stay safe in all you do!

@jessemendoza1758

2 жыл бұрын

Sorry, I forgot this in my earlier post. The reason I wept at home (holding the AR-15) is cause it was like holding a long lost lover! Something that had saved and carried me through some of the darkest and most dangerous times in my life! That is why I wept. It was so familiar and had been there when I really needed it. Can't say that about a lot of people! Anyway, just wanted to clear that up. Happy hunting and shooting! Stay safe and God Bless!

I’ve used the .223 successfully on whitetail and it absolutely does the trick. Bullet construction and shot placement is very important, as with other cartridges

All around great fun round !

I've never had an issue dropping Whitetails with the. 223. 55gr soft points (handloads) .... I love the cartridge, my training rifle is chambered in .223.... easily shoot 2in groups at 500yrds. Saves me a ton of money keeping my marksmanship in check without Using my much more expensive rounds out of my competition rifle.

I'm out to 800m with my 223 Remington bolt gun. My son killed a nice buck at 200m with it a couple years ago. He was about 275pownds.

@paulmoss7940

2 жыл бұрын

Have an old Win M70 lightweight and a TC Contender to sister up with AR's. They used to be one of the cheapest to shoot is the reason I kept them, glad I did .

In my province (Sk) the 223 is legal for big game which includes up to moose. Personally, not my cup of tea for anything bigger than a coyote but guys here get deer all the time with it. My “lightest” cartridge of choice for big game is really the 243 Winchester but I tend to use my 257 Weatherby for everything up to Elk. After that the 7mm REM Mag or 300 Weatherby comes out. Except for black bear, then it’s the lever 30/30 or my 1886 Winchester in 45/70. But to each his own!

@ryane6719

2 жыл бұрын

That 7mag is just a perfect big game round, my absolute favorite.

@prairiefalcon9494

2 жыл бұрын

Friend and I were shooting 800 yards with our 223s last weekend at Moosejaw. It is my target rifle. I am also a fan of the 257 WM. This year i got my deer with the 6.5 Swede.

@richardpowell1664

2 жыл бұрын

Hey Tac Man I've hunted black bear a lot with lever actions in the timber of the Smokies. I've used both 30-30 & 45-70. I ended up using a Marlin 336 in 35 Remington. The 30-30 is a bit light & the 45-70 is a bit much. The 35 is right in the Goldilocks zone for bear. I also used a semi auto 8 mm Mauser that my dad brought back from the Battle of the bulge whose prior owner had moved on too the happy hunting grounds, with great success until its value got to high too high too hunt with. I hunted with hounds so we got quite a few running shots, hence my preference for lever guns & semi-auto.

@ryane6719

2 жыл бұрын

@@prairiefalcon9494 at 800 yrds that .223 is dropping 27 feet.. that’s a lot of compensation…

@tacman2893

2 жыл бұрын

@@richardpowell1664 very cool! I haven’t had the pleasure of using a 35 Remington but I have heard great things. Other than my Weatherby’s I tend to use “standard” cartridges just because not a lot of different cartridges available in my parts. I do reload so maybe a new Marlin in 35 Remington would be a good investment 👍

Love listening to the knowledge you share brother

@RonSpomerOutdoors

2 жыл бұрын

I appreciate that. Thanks.

*After using the .223 (5566) in the army and watching the tissue damage this round caused I was hooked. I once shot a combatant in the arm and watched his bicep explode like an egg hitting a brick wall! In Alaska I also took down 2000 lb. Moose with no problems at 500 yards.*