223 WSSM for Antelope

[bdan68]

Wondering if anyone knows the legality of the 223 WSSM for antelope in Wyoming. I read the rule and know it's legal with a 60 grain or heavier bullet. But what if I want to use a 50 or 55 grain? If I'm reading the rule correctly, it would still be legal because it meets the 500 foot pounds of energy requirement. But does anybody know for sure?

 

[Hilltop]

Yes the 223WSSM is legal. It is significantly over the needed foot pounds of energy at 100 yards. It would not be my first selection to take on an antelope hunt but I'm sure it would work. If you do decide to take it, practice in the wind so you understand how much bullet drift you will have. I would also limit your shots to 250 yards due to the loss in energy beyond that range. Just my 2 cents... .243 is my personal minimum for antelope.

 

[libidilatimmy]

The way I interpret it, the round has to meet all of the requirements for rifle. I think the energy requirement is geared towards pistol rounds.

 

[bdan68]

I'm also bringing my 270 but with 4 doe tags for antelope, I thought it might be fun to try to take at least one animal with the 223.

 

[Hilltop]

The way I interpret it, the round has to meet all of the requirements for rifle. I think the energy requirement is geared towards pistol rounds.

They changed their description to allow for different calibers. Since it now say "or", instead of "and", at the start of each phrase, you just have to meet one of the criteria to be legal.

 

[libidilatimmy]

They changed their description to allow for different calibers. Since it now say "or", instead of "and", at the start of each phrase, you just have to meet one of the criteria to be legal.

I would definitely call a warden to make sure on this so you don't get a ticket. It was my understanding that the cartridge had to be at least 22 cal AND have a 60 grain soft point expandable projectile (no FMJ rounds) for the new "AR" rule, but I could be mistaken

 

[Musket Man]

IMO it is somewhat unclear the way it is worded and could be interpreted a few different ways. There was a thread a while back that we debated it a bit and Im not sure we all ever agreed on how to interpret the regs.

 

[bdan68]

Okay, I guess I need to call a game warden to be sure.

But even then, what if that particular game warden gives me the wrong answer?


Does everyone agree that it definitely would be legal with a 60 grain or heavier bullet?

 

[Musket Man]

Okay, I guess I need to call a game warden to be sure.

But even then, what if that particular game warden gives me the wrong answer?


Does everyone agree that it definitely would be legal with a 60 grain or heavier bullet?

Im sure it is legal with a 60gr + bullet. To me it reads aslong as it has 500 pounds of energy its legal, but I would feel alot better meeting the cal and bullet weight minimum too.

 

[birdhunter]

Asked a game warden about this and he said its in the gray area. Meaning it kinda depends on the wardens discretion!!!

 

[Hilltop]

How would a warden know what gain of bullet you are using? I sure cant visibly see the difference between 55 and 60 grains.

 

[Montana]

For what its worth.. I watched someone roll an antelope buck on a dead run with a standard 223. I was kind of tough on the guy until then and "I told you so" didnt even have to be discussed.

 

[Musket Man]

How would a warden know what gain of bullet you are using? I sure cant visibly see the difference between 55 and 60 grains.

They pull a bullet and weigh it on the spot anytime they come across anyone using a .224 cal of any variety.

 

[libidilatimmy]

There's several bullet choices out there 60 gr or over that would work for hunting, so it's not that hard to just make sure you're in compliance no matter the game wardens stance on the issue. I'm currently working up a 223 load with 62 gr. TTSX just for this purpose.

 

[Kentucky hunter]

I would hand load a heaver sold copper like barnes with a higher bc to cut down on wind drift I only load test 55 gr because it matches my turret on my scope but it shoots great shot a doe at 247yds went 50yds an down with standard 223 compelet pass though

 

[woodtick]

Dang I was in hopes my red ryder would be legal!! I guess I'll have to use my 378 WBY now

 

[WY ME]

Leave the 223 varmint gun at home. I've witnessed how a 22-250 performs on antelope and it's pathetic. It's sad and definitely not fun to watch an animal die very slowly even with 2 bullets to the chest, one taken from 75 yards and the other from a distance of 6 inches. There's no such thing as overkill but there is definitely "underkill".

 

[Hilltop]

They pull a bullet and weigh it on the spot anytime they come across anyone using a .224 cal of any variety.

Reason enough to stick with the .24 and up calibers! I would be upset at the wasted cartridge....

 

[bdan68]

I sure wouldn't be happy if a warden destroyed one of my cartridges! This is a new gun, it's a Browning A bolt and I just got a scope mounted on it. Will be sighting it in soon and testing some different cartridges. What I've read on it is that this gun may not stabilize the heavier bullets very well, so therefor they won't be accurate.

If it will shoot the heavier bullets accurately, then great, I'll use them. But if it does better with 50 or 55 grain, I'd rather use the lighter bullets. A few grains in weight isn't going to make any difference in lethality anyway.

If I'm interpreting the rule correctly, there should be no need for a warden to weigh the bullet from a 223 WSSM cartridge. It has more than enough foot pounds of energy at 100 yards, regardless of the bullet weight.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Many, many years ago I shot several deer in California with a .22 K Hornet and a 22-250 that I built as a wildcat before it was a factory. In Cal it is legal to shoot deer with a centerfire .22. There are a lot of factors that make me unwilling to use that small a caliber for antelope/deer. The light bullets are effected more by wind and tend to not get good penetration, especially when hitting bone. I know there are bullets that are a lot heavier now in .224 dia and are made with heavier jackets. The only reason this question keeps coming up IMHO, is the popularity of the AR platform in .224. I guess I'm old school, I'll stick with .24 and larger.