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Thread: Which .223 loads for small game?

  1. #1
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    Which .223 loads for small game?

    Hey dudes,

    I have like zero hunting experience, and want to go get some meat with an AR. Is there any bullet I should look for shooting rabbits and other small game? Will .223 even do this, or do I need something like 22 LR to avoid destroying the animal?
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    Quote Originally Posted by turnburglar View Post
    Hey dudes,

    I have like zero hunting experience, and want to go get some meat with an AR. Is there any bullet I should look for shooting rabbits and other small game? Will .223 even do this, or do I need something like 22 LR to avoid destroying the animal?
    .223 is not a small game round and will destroy things like rabbits, squirrel, etc with any load.


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    It kind of depends on the barrel/yaw, but fmjs dont seem to frag quick enough to destroy much meat.
    Or use a light varmint round and go for the head.

    I would use 22lr if I had the choice for squirrel/rabbit.

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    Quote Originally Posted by MegademiC View Post
    It kind of depends on the barrel/yaw, but fmjs dont seem to frag quick enough to destroy much meat.
    Or use a light varmint round and go for the head.

    I would use 22lr if I had the choice for squirrel/rabbit.
    Have you killed much small game with a 5.56?


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  5. #5
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    Welcome to the world of hunting! With your zero experience, you will enjoy all of the adventures that await so get out there and explore. My first recommendation is to seek out a friend with hunting experience to help you with the basics. Focus on safe, fun, and ethical. Specific to your question; I would avoid the 5.56 for small game but for different reasons than mentioned thus far. My rationale is safety. Squirrels in trees, rabbits at close range on the ground, etc... all represent safety risk with a 5.56 and a .22 is much more suitable and adequately lethal. Even with a .22lr, the type of bullet design and velocity will matter regarding lethality. I would recommend using Hollowpoint ammo above 1070fps until you get more time under your belt. Have fun hunting and as you gain experience - help introduce a new person to hunting.
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  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by lsllc View Post
    Have you killed much small game with a 5.56?


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    Not “much”, since - as stated, I prefer 22lr. Assuming I use a gun at all.
    Last edited by MegademiC; 12-16-19 at 21:13.

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by MegademiC View Post
    Not “much”, since - as stated, I prefer 22lr. Assuming I use a gun at all.
    If you do at some point, you’ll realize a .223, with any load, will cause too much damage to have any reasonable expectation of meat recovery.


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    Small game are relatively easy to kill. Heck, as a pre-teen I hunted them with an old air rifle. My son squirrel hunts with a .22 Cricket and CCI subsonic HP's and it knocks them dead every time with very little meat loss.
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    Quote Originally Posted by lsllc View Post
    If you do at some point, you’ll realize a .223, with any load, will cause too much damage to have any reasonable expectation of meat recovery.


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    Vis a vis the OPs goal of harvesting an animal for edible meat, this is the best advice offered.
    The .223 will take small game, but in all likelihood will destroy a good portion of edible meat. Add to that Flying Hunter’s safety advice.

    If you want to fill a freezer with a .223, small to medium deer and similar sized game are where it’s at.

    To your point though. If gun hunting for rabbit or squirrel, a rimfire or shotgun are your best options, though I’m going after rabbits with bow this year. (I expect to lose some arrows)
    The advice above is worth exactly what you paid for it.

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    Quote Originally Posted by flenna View Post
    Small game are relatively easy to kill. Heck, as a pre-teen I hunted them with an old air rifle. My son squirrel hunts with a .22 Cricket and CCI subsonic HP's and it knocks them dead every time with very little meat loss.
    I hunted south TX jackrabbits with a .22 550fps air rifle. Got 1 shot kills out to 50 yards. Headshots didnt work. Thick skulls. COM/lungs worked.

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