hollow points or soft points?

I was wondering if I should use 55gr hollow points or 55g soft points for my .223 on deer.
I shoot a CZ 527 American with a 1 in 12 barrel.

I'd use soft point.

I wouldn't use either, personally.

Winchester , I believe, offers a 64 gr 223 factory round that was designed for deer hunting. If you handload, I would suggest the Barnes X or Nosler Partition.

I load the 55gr sp for my boys 11-7 years old, all though my oldets has moved up to the 223WSSM w/(60 gr partition). Many hogs & deer end up in the freezer with this bullet.

We could start up the whole shot placement/ small caliber debate... I've killed more deer than I can count with 22 Hornet. ( head shots) but that's me..

Keep in mind with a chest shot there will be little to no blood trail.. My boys shot everything in the head or neck..

Just my 2cents..

Soft Points get my vote

If you think you have to shoot a varmint gun at deer then Nosler 60 gr partition at least.I am a big fan of minimum caliber limits in Texas.Not to start stirring the pot but if Jr. can't handle .243 recoil maybe he should wait another year,and sometime that is still too small a bullet! Not saying a Hornet or AR(223) won't kill deer but I could kill a moose with framing hammer if I'm close enough just not quick and humane as I would desire.

SP.

Use a bullet designed for deer, not varmints. Yes a varmint bullet will kill a deer under the right conditions. But why not use a bullet designed to do the job when conditions aren't perfect (since we don't always have control over the conditions).

federal loads barnes tsx bullets now. midway usa has them in stock.

I would use the S.P., but why not let your child try a 243, my 8 y.o. shoots one with no problem and he never notices the recoil especially when shoot at a game animal, To me is all about not being afraid of the gun with the more IMPORTANT aspects being placed on SAFETY and SHOT PLACEMENT.

Roger on the .243, I have one also, It's just I've never seen a deer take a step missing his rocker joint or a cup low on grey matter. I've done cull hunts on hill country rances for more than a decade. When you shoot 30-40 deer a weekend you don't want to track anything.

My oldest shoots competive shotgun sports w/ 12ga. O/U, so recoil is not the issue. He likes the gun, it's "fast" and he shoots it well. I've seen my 11 y.o. drop a pig in the ear hole @ 165 yards.

I beleive in shoot placement.. but I understand other people don't.

That's sig worthy! And, good points.

Unless I understand incorrectly, a HP bullet pushed at the speed a .223 will reach will explode if it hits any solid object (like bone). Does not penetrate much or leave a wound channel worth a hoot. As others have mentioned, the 55gr is more suited for varmints and smaller animals (prairie dogs, squirrels, rabbits, etc).

In my opinon the .22 has no place in deer hunting. There I said it! Yes I belive in shot placement, yes I can place the shot myself, no I won't use my .22-250 on small Central Texas deer. The .243 is the smallest one to use.

But to your original question. Spire Point is the way to go. Better retained weight, better penetrating abiltity, better ballistic coefficent (more slipery through the air). I loaded HPs and SPs for prarie dogs that I shot last month. I found out that I won't buy another box of HPs again because the SPs shot more accurately and the two cost exactly the same per box of bullets.

0.224 HP bullets are not all designed for "varmints"..the Sierra 55gr BTHP is in their Gameking lineup, right next to 55gr SP.

Barnes TSX's are a HP, but sure can't confuse them with a varmint bullet. Outstanding weight retention and penetration...just a shock at the sticker price. Always hoping the load recipe does not require much testing!

HP's absolutely dominate the target applications, so a well made HP is an accuracy plus.

When I first started hunting as a kid I used remington 55gr HP corelock. Last doe I shot with that round kicked straight up in the air and landed dead. I never hit one in the shoulder but all the deer died within less then 30yds. I now use 60gr partition .223 bullets. Great penetration and great on hogs and deer. I am going to try the 62gr barnes triple shock this year. I have heard great things about it and yes it is a little pricey but how many rounds do you go through in each season? Quality bullet makes a big difference in .223 in my opinion.

Thanks for all the info.

the gameking 55 grain .224 is a varmint bullet

You know this how? Opinion?

well,

if you look the ammo, the gameking is listed in federals V-shok line, with a picture of a coyote on it, as opposed to a deer.

Next to the caliber on the box it has a little picture of a prarie dog, again, when loaded with the 60 grain partition,which is the VITAL-SHOK line, it has a picture of a deer.

Here it is directly from the website:

Sizzling velocity and explosive disruption make V-Shok the ultimate choice for your favorite varmint. It's available in your favorite prairie doggin' calibers and features the best bullets available for any varmint: from Nosler Ballistic Tip to Sierra GameKing, MatchKing, and Varminter. Take V-Shok along for the hunt—you'll be glad you did.

Couple of thoughts here.

1. .223 is too light for deer. Yes.....you can use it. Yes....some people do. But just because you can, doesn't mean you should. And if you do, a head or neck shot would seem to be in order.

2. You mentioned that your rifle has a 1:12 rate of twist. I believe you may have some difficulty stabilizing heavier bullets. 55gr. might be at the outer range of what that barrel will shoot accurately. It may vary from rifle to rifle, but I don't think I'd expect good accuracy from anything heavier than 55 gr. Maybe 62gr.

Just my opinion, and I know everyone has one. But there are lots of fine rifles out there in calibers that are intended for taking larger game. The .223 isn't it.

And here is the word from the manufacturer of the bullet:

Sierra Reloading Manual #4, pg 75:

Sierra HPBT GameKing bullets for big game are available in 257, 277, 284 and 308 diameters. We also produce 224 diameter 55gr, 243 diameter 85gr and 257 diameter 90gr HPBT's which , despite their GameKing nomenclature, are intended for varminting.

If that dosen't cover it, I can throw in my opinion as well, I've taken alot of game with a 55 grain sierra gameking

Thanks for the Sierra insite. Interesting that they do not list them in their Varminter series of bullets.

Ferderal mentioning the Matchking bullet in a "V-Shock" varmint blurb indicates someone is clueless.

And I should add I do not endorse the Sierra 55gr anything as a good choice for game animals, considering the better options available (.224 and beyond).

always seemed odd, and confusing to me, too, that Sierra would put the GameKing moniker on bullets they designed for varminting.

BTW, see you're from Snook...enjoying some Slovacek jalapeno/cheese venison sausage for lunch! good stuff!

Hollow Point, but only a 50 or 53 grain Barnes TSX. If you use soft point, pick a Winchester 64 grain Power Point or 60 Grain Nosler Partition. Save the exploding varmint bullets for varmints.

Your 1 in 12" twist limits you a bit, but it's better than the Remington 1 in 14" twist..

I've killed and seen alot of game killed with a .22 caliber centerfire with ballistic tips, remmy softpoints, gamekings and v-max......gameking is the best imo.

anything from turkeys, to deer and one aoudad (i do not recommend that one

Game Kings are deadly in a 22-250 if you can place the shot correctly. Dropped several DRT at less than 150 yds.

Did not know they were considered varmint in those caliber. HPMK in larger caliber are a killer also and never had a problem.