223 WSSM for Antelope

[libidilatimmy]

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.

As stated before, I'd be extremely cautious of banking on the energy requirement stated in the regulation as this has always been geared towards pistol rounds and has been in the regulation for years. It is the same language that is in the requirements for trophy game and elk where .224 rounds aren't legal.

Personally, I have always and will continue to use my 25-06 for deer and antelope because of past performance. The only reason I'm building a load for my AR is to carry it along as a backup rifle in case something happens to my primary rifle. Can your round get the job done on an antelope? Sure it can with proper placement and bullet choice. Is it ideal for this purpose? Not really, in my opinion for whatever that is worth.

 

[bdan68]

I agree the 223 WSSM isn't the "ideal" antelope cartridge, and as I said, my 270 will be my primary rifle on this hunt. Heck I may not even bring it, as I don't know how accurate it is, being that I have not shot it yet.

It could also be said that a bow and arrow is not ideal for antelope. But, people do hunt antelope with archery gear.

My guess is at 200 yards or less, no antelope will be able to tell if I shot it with the 223 or the 270.

 

[Againstthewind]

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.

I am also old school I guess. Regardless of the regulations interpretation, I wouldn't use a .223 anything for antelope, deer, anything. I am sure it is capable of doing the job, but there is enough doubt in how it would perform in less than ideal conditions, hitting bone, etc. that I don't think it should be used. Because it might be fun is not a good enough reason. Land owners that see wounded animals running around tend to take back their walk-in area access. I guess I don't see the point if you are taking a .270 anyway. Like the other posts said, its not that hard to be in compliance with the regulations, so what is the point in trying to push them to the boundaries.

 

[HuskyMusky]

I forget what state it is... but requires .23 cal or larger... etc... so I remember thinking .22-250 wouldn't qualify, .243 was the standard min round I believe in certain states...

also agree it had to meet ALL the requirements, not just 1 of them...

 

[AKaviator]

The .223 is used in Alaska quite often for caribou. It's seems to be the caliber of choice in lots of areas, probably due to the availability
of ammo in bulk. Unfortunately, many many caribou are just wounded and run off. I imagine that lots are shot with bullets that aren't designed for hunting.
With well constructed bullets and within optimum range and conditions, the .223 should be fine if the shot is placed correctly. Unfortunately, I seldom have all those factors working together when I hunt.
I vote to leave the .223 for varmints and wolves and stick with .243 for deer/antelope/caribou.

 

[swampokie]

I have taken several goats with my 220 swift and in light winds is my favorite antelope caliber. I shoot 60 gr hornady and marvel at the efficiency that it kills. The 223 wssm is the only FACTORY chambering that out speeds the swift so why not use the speediest round to take the speediest animal? I don't c why a well constructed bullet wouldn't outperform the 243 or even the 6mm rem when its being pushed with more powder. I wish I had a 223 wssm myself...hell I just might get me one!!

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?

 

[Againstthewind]

I am probably beating a dead horse, but windless days in Wyoming are pretty few and far between. That might be part of the reasoning for the heavier bullet requirements. Those 60+ mph gust are no joke and not that infrequent, as the trucks lying on their sides along the road will attest. There are days when the whole east side of the state is a 300 mile long F0 tornado. Not the best shooting conditions. 10-15 mph steady wind is pretty typical, so whatever you end up using, keep that in mind.

 

[Musket Man]

I have no idea if or when they would actually pull and weigh a bullet or how they would go about checking if you were violating this reg or not if this is the reg. I imagine if you had a box in your pack that said 60gr on it and they looked like the correct bullets for the box and matched what was in your gun that would be as far as it would go. The warden I talked to last year when I was packing my antelope out did not ask what I shot it with and my gun was already in my truck when I saw him.

 

[swampokie]

If a 243 is the consensus min then why is a 223 wssm taboo? Its 1000fps faster and provides more ft lbs with comparable drift. I think it deserves consideration as serious lope medicine. 25 wssm is another that we should consider...

 

[Musket Man]

The 223 cant shoot 100 grain bullets like the 243. IMO a bigger slower bullet hits harder and does more damage then a smaller faster bullet even though the smaller faster bullet may look better on paper. But this is also coming from a guy that chose to go antelope hunting with a 30-30 Winchester

 

[bdan68]

Well, you guys are really making me want to use my 223 now, with all this talk of how it won't do the job!

I am going to try to get out on Sunday to shoot it, sight it in, and see how it does. If it groups halfway decent, I promise I will try to shoot at least one antelope with it this fall, just to prove that it can be done.

I will have my 270 along as well for the longer shots and the windy days.

 

[Musket Man]

I dont think anyone is saying it wont get the job done, just that many prefer 243 and up. Im sure it will kill an antelope. A 22LR will kill an antelope as far as killing antelope goes.

 

[swampokie]

I think you guys r forgetting that we r not talking about the standard 223. The wssm version is a fire breathing beast of a cartridge. I'm not sure if you can load heavier than 68gr bullets in it but this case has a lot more horsepower than the standard round. Were not trying to kill a grizzly here!

 

[AKaviator]

I think you guys r forgetting that we r not talking about the standard 223. The wssm version is a fire breathing beast of a cartridge. I'm not sure if you can load heavier than 68gr bullets in it but this case has a lot more horsepower than the standard round. Were not trying to kill a grizzly here!

It's interesting that you say that we're not trying to kill a grizzly...I visited at length will a guy who was up here for a grizzly hunt. He hunted almost everything with a .220 swift. He felt it was the best killing cartridge on the planet and he did use it to kill his grizzly. Congratulations to him, I'm glad for him that it worked out.
I disagreed with his choice, but it worked for him. My point would be that there are many calibers that give better assurance for a clean humane kill. Why risk wounding a fine animal, antelope or grizzly, just to say you killed it with a little caliber.
Just my point of view, I know not everyone shares it.

 

[WY ME]

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.

Bdan

You need to re-read the legal caliber requirement from your first post carefully. I've read it and it's very clear in its definition, there is no ambiguity regarding the 223. It absolutely says nothing about a foot pounds requirement for the .223. The 35 cal./500 foot pounds are obviously for handgun shooters. Go out and shoot an antelope with a 52 grain bullet and then tell the local game warden all about it. I'm sure he can clear up any questions you might have about the definition of the law.

Nobody here is saying you can't kill an antelope with a 223. Roy Weatherby killed an elephant with a .257 WBY to prove his new caliber but advised others not to do the same. Poachers use .22 rimfires and air rifles to kill deer at night but that does not make a Gamo a deer rifle.

 

[shootbrownelk]

If a 243 is the consensus min then why is a 223 wssm taboo? Its 1000fps faster and provides more ft lbs with comparable drift. I think it deserves consideration as serious lope medicine. 25 wssm is another that we should consider...

Swampokie, that .25wssm is as dead as Julius Ceasar. I don't know if anyone even offers that chambering anymore. It's supposed to be a barrel eater. That's what I've heard.

 

[shootbrownelk]

It's interesting that you say that we're not trying to kill a grizzly...I visited at length will a guy who was up here for a grizzly hunt. He hunted almost everything with a .220 swift. He felt it was the best killing cartridge on the planet and he did use it to kill his grizzly. Congratulations to him, I'm glad for him that it worked out.
I disagreed with his choice, but it worked for him. My point would be that there are many calibers that give better assurance for a clean humane kill. Why risk wounding a fine animal, antelope or grizzly, just to say you killed it with a little caliber.
Just my point of view, I know not everyone shares it.

I do AK. I've seen Elk killed stone-cold dead with 1 shot from a .243....but I wouldn't try it.

 

[bdan68]

Nobody here is saying you can't kill an antelope with a 223. Roy Weatherby killed an elephant with a .257 WBY to prove his new caliber but advised others not to do the same. Poachers use .22 rimfires and air rifles to kill deer at night but that does not make a Gamo a deer rifle.

I understand what everyone is saying and mostly I agree with it. As I said, my 270 will be my primary rifle for this hunt. But with 4 doe tags to fill, I thought if the antelope are cooperating, the shots are relatively close, and the wind not too terrible, that it might be fun to try my new 223 WSSM on an antelope, using an appropriate bullet, of course. Lots of people hunt antelope with archery gear. Do you all argue against that as well?

Gee, all I really wanted to know is if it was legal or not.

Oh, and probably what I will do is call the WGFD and get their interpretation on it. If it truly is a 60 grain minimum for 223 caliber, then I will use the 64 grain Winchester Power Point bullets I have. Otherwise, I would like to use a 50 or 55 grain Barnes.

 

[swampokie]

doe antelope r not very large...

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Head shots on the does....no meat loss!