.223 Remington Premier Accutip for deer

[Nick29]

I didn't think I would, but found out this past weekend that I'll have a place to hunt this season. My normal deer gun (Ruger M77 mk II in .270win) is out of commission and I've been curious about its performance so I decided to use my 16" midlength AR-15.

I bought some 55gr Remington Premier Accutip ammo at Bass Pro (after the expert on the phone informed me that .243 is the minimum caliber for deer in MD) thinking that it was the same bullets they sell in their larger calibers sold under the same name.

Well, I realized today that the bullets are actually Accutip V which is a varmint load (supposedly similar to the Vmax). Would these be acceptable to use on deer ~125lbs and less at ranges of under 100 yards? The area I'll be hunting is pretty densely wooded with a few relatively small clearings.

Should I stick with these, or just accept that I bought some very expensive plinking ammo, suck it up, and buy some Win Power Points or regular Core Lokts?

I guess using my .50 muzzle loader would also be an option but it's been a very long time since I've fired it and don't really feel comfortable using it to hunt on such short notice (I haven't been shooting as much as I'd like, but I'm relatively comfortable out to ~150 yards with the AR with 55gr S&B M193). I also have an old 30-30 that's available, but I've never hunted with it, and only put 1 or 2 rounds through it 5+ years ago.

 

[bean93x]

They will most likley work o.k. but i picked up a box of federal fusion .223 for like 20 some bucks and blasted a spike yesterday with them. One decently placed shot out of my AR it only ran 30 yards and dropped.

but if you can even find the 64gr power points pick them up or the federal fusions.


if your stuck using those, just be sure to place the shot well.

 

[joppaj]

Nick, I may be wrong, hell, I'm probably wrong, but I don't believe that .223 is legal for deer in MD. Let me look for the DNR links...

 

[bigjohn]

legal but just barely. i have used it with good results. i used a 55 grain balistic tip georgia arms load. my ex brother in law also uses his with good results. he uses a handload, not sure of the specs.

 

[Nick29]

Nick, I may be wrong, hell, I'm probably wrong, but I don't believe that .223 is legal for deer in MD. Let me look for the DNR links...

it is. I was certain it wasn't for a long time until JimSr posted the exact section of the regs that cover it. Rifles just have to be centerfire and have a muzzle energy of <1200ft-lbs. There's no minimum caliber.

here it is:
http://www.dnr.state.md.us/huntersguide/weapon.asp

Rifles used for deer and bear hunting must use ammunition developing a muzzle energy of at least 1,200 foot pounds.

Firearms used for deer and bear hunting may not have an ammunition clip loaded with more than 8 cartridges or bullets. If a clip has the capacity to hold more than 8 rounds, the clip does not have to be physically blocked, but no more than 8 cartridges or bullets may be loaded.

Rifles may be used to hunt forest game (except turkey during the spring season), upland game (except dove and woodcock), crow, nutria, woodchuck and certain furbearing species.

It is only lawful to hunt with ammunition of soft point (expanding) construction. All military, full metal jacketed, incendiary or tracer bullets are prohibited.

The round limit is actually kinda nice. All I have are 30 and 20 round mags, so I can just stick 8 rounds in one of the 20 rounders.

 

[joppaj]

it is. I was certain it wasn't for a long time until JimSr posted the exact section of the regs that cover it. Rifles just have to be centerfire and have a muzzle energy of <1200ft-lbs. There's no minimum caliber.

Good deal. I knew he'd posted it, just couldn't find it. My two cents, good luck with the .223, then get some time with that .30-30 for next season.

 

[Nick29]

Good deal. I knew he'd posted it, just couldn't find it. My two cents, good luck with the .223, then get some time with that .30-30 for next season.

I think I will give it a try.

I plan on having my Ruger ready for next season. It's actually a little embarrassing how long it's been inoperable for. I originally ordered an HS Precision stock for it about three years ago. I made the mistake of trying to use a cheap torque wrench to tighten the action screws. It was so tight that I ended up stripping the head of the rear action screw (all the screws are slotted). My dad, who is a dentist, tried to help me by cutting the screw out with a dental handpiece. In the process, he put a few nasty gouges in the trigger guard where the screw seats. I tried to find the parts online and even bought a trigger guard from Brownells that I thought would work (it was for a short action, mine's long). Fixing the gun just ended up getting put on the back burner for a while.

The following hunting season, my dad (who is my main hunting buddy) had just torn his rotator cuff, so I didn't really think about hunting or fixing the gun. Last year, my mom was in the middle of chemotherapy, so we weren't really thinking of hunting. This year, I still wasn't thinking I'd have time or a place to hunt, so I hadn't really thought about fixing it (a .270 hunting rifle isn't exactly the first thing you reach for when you're just going to the range to plink).

I finally called Ruger to order the parts this year and was told that the trigger guard on my gun is a factory fitted part and that I'll have to send them the gun for them to give me an estimate then fix it. They said the typical turnaround is 4-6 weeks. I figure it will be a big PITA, so I've been putting it off, but I'm going to get my crap together and get the thing fixed. It's really annoying to think that I have a three year old custom stock that I've never used.

 

[alucard0822]

I would use a bonded core, or better yet a partition style bullet as heavy as your rifle will stabilize(and stay above 1200FPE) just in case you have to shoot close, the bullet won't come apart, and fail to penetrate. A varmint bullet that fragments might leave you tracking a blood trail for a really long time. Larger and slower calibers aren't as picky, or as tough on the bullets.

 

[Nick29]

I would use a bonded core, or better yet a partition style bullet as heavy as your rifle will stabilize(and stay above 1200FPE) just in case you have to shoot close, the bullet won't come apart, and fail to penetrate. A varmint bullet that fragments might leave you tracking a blood trail for a really long time. Larger and slower calibers aren't as picky, or as tough on the bullets.

That's actually why I bought the premier brand instead of the regular express. I didn't realize it was a varmint load and figured it would be a better bullet than the plain old core lokt or a power point. if they had something in a partition or comparable bullet, I'd have bought it instead.

I completely understand that the accutip v isn't ideal for deer. I'm just trying to figure out if it's completely unacceptable for the ranges I'll be shooting.

 

[alucard0822]

That's actually why I bought the premier brand instead of the regular express. I didn't realize it was a varmint load and figured it would be a better bullet than the plain old core lokt or a power point. if they had something in a partition or comparable bullet, I'd have bought it instead.

I completely understand that the accutip v isn't ideal for deer. I'm just trying to figure out if it's completely unacceptable for the ranges I'll be shooting.

Pinpoint Detonation. Expect dynamite results. In varmint calibers, AccuTip-V™ combines superb flight characteristics and match-grade accuracy with a design optimized for explosive on-game results. At impact, AccuTip’s gold polymer tip is driven rearward causing the thin jacket and soft lead core to fragment violently. First and foremost, though, it gets there precisely shot after shot – it’s the most accurate varmint bullet you can shoot.

not what you want to shoot a deer with, likely to give it a nasty and shallow wound, but not put it down.

A 62gr rem core lokt ultra bonded would be the best Rem ammo to use. When in doubt (and assuming you have a place to do this) you can line up a few gallon jugs of water and fire a round into them from 25 yards away, hopefully you can recover and weight the bullet, and make sure it expands and doesn't fragment.

 

[Russ D]

Those bullets will likely blow up and fail to penetrate. Same thing with the Ballistic Silvertips. Using varmint ammo on deer isn't a very humane way to hunt IMHO. At minimum I'd use a bonded core or partition like Alucard suggested but really in such a small caliber I think a solid copper bullet like a Barnes to be even better.

 

[Nick29]

Those bullets will likely blow up and fail to penetrate. Same thing with the Ballistic Silvertips. Using varmint ammo on deer isn't a very humane way to hunt IMHO. At minimum I'd use a bonded core or partition like Alucard suggested but really in such a small caliber I think a solid copper bullet like a Barnes to be even better.

Isn't a solid basically an FMJ? I have a ton of S&B's M193 clone, but bought the Remington because the book says you have to use some type of expanding bullet in MD.

What loads are available in .223 with a bonded core or partition? Any ideas of where to get them? Bass pro doesn't have them and the Gun Rack and On Target both don't have any hunting ammo in .223.

 

[alucard0822]

Isn't a solid basically an FMJ? I have a ton of S&B's M193 clone, but bought the Remington because the book says you have to use some type of expanding bullet in MD.

What loads are available in .223 with a bonded core or partition? Any ideas of where to get them? Bass pro doesn't have them and the Gun Rack and On Target both don't have any hunting ammo in .223.

by "copper solid", he probably meant a barnes X-bullet, or Hornady GMX, all guilding metal expanding bullet, they are tough bullets that hold up well in fast calibers like 30 cal mags, and the like, should work for .223 although they are expensive, tey are not solids, but do not contain lead, they are basically hollow point in design.

Remington makes the core lokt ultra bonded in 62gr 223, and that is probably the best "common" load. Being there are few people who use .223 for deer, suitable loads are probably hard to find outside of handloads.

 

[Diesel Kinevel]

I would use what has been said above, just double tap

Happy Hunting

-Z

 

[Nick29]

After some searching last night, Federal sells the Vital Shok (what do ammo companies have against C's anyway?) in .223 loaded with Nosler Partitions (60gr) or Barnes Triple Shock X (55gr).

Atlantic Guns and The Gun Rack are the closest shops that Federal lists on their site. The Gun Rack said they don't have any .223 hunting ammo, but hopefully Atlantic Guns can help me. I guess I'll be calling them first thing tomorrow morning.

eta: I also sent a PM to Dan at Gun Connection since he seems to be the go-to guy for a lot of people here. Hopefully someone in the state sells ammo I can use.

 

[Diesel Kinevel]

After some searching last night, Federal sells the Vital Shok (what do ammo companies have against C's anyway?) in .223 loaded with Nosler Partitions (60gr) or Barnes Triple Shock X (55gr).

Atlantic Guns and The Gun Rack are the closest shops that Federal lists on their site. The Gun Rack said they don't have any .223 hunting ammo, but hopefully Atlantic Guns can help me. I guess I'll be calling them first thing tomorrow morning.

I feel for ya. This is the first year I haven't been scrambling last minute for ammo before opening day.

-Z

 

[Russ D]

Thanks Alucard you got what I meant. I meant they are all copper not solid copper. The will hold together and penetrate totally.

 

[mr phil]

So Hornady 55 gr v max would be iffy or ok . I'm confused.
Say between 20 yrds to 100 yrds

 

[smokey]

BOOM! HEAD SHOT!

 

[smokey]

..oh, and just get a mosin for like 90 bucks and hunt with that this season