OUTDOORS TV. on Direc Tv ch.606 will air a Hunting show again Sat. May12 . I saw it today; .223 Tapco stocked Ranch in SS. A Sitka deer hunt on Prince William Island. Years ago I was dead against anything smaller than a .243 shot at a deer. But you gotta' admit these Sitka on the show are DOG-SIZED. Would I use a .223 NOW? MAYBE Dino
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Ideal Hunting sceanarios are not the norm.( for me anyway) For this , and the the idea of preparedness; I'd have to vote for mini-30 or newly touted ... 6.8 spc. Dino
I have killed deer with my mini-14 and 65gr sierra handloads. A couple were through and through DRT. It actually does a pretty good job. I have never not recovered one that was shot with my mini-14. Im gonna have some reloads before next hunting season with the tac-x bullet. They seem like they would be a very good bullet.
That would be interesting, if it could be verified.
Bill
If it is, the picture evidence hasn't hit google yet. I remember reading a few years ago about the ..223 being a preferred CALIBER, but even that was on a forum and i don't see any real confirmation of it.
There's a project for someone in retirement or otherwise looking for another hobby...confirm the mini 14 with picture proof and interviews as the preferred rifle of the eskimos!
That would be awesome.
(googel...eskimo and his rifle..or some other variant...pretty sketchy at best.)
Most notably, there is a poster on the milsurp forums, Caribou, a subsistence hunter in Alaska. Shoots grizzlies ( and everything else, even Polar's ) with his Finn M39 and FMJ. He has said more than once his relatives and neighbors use Mini-14's all the time. Ar's just don't like the cold.
This tells a lot..if you read deeply...they eventually come to a hunter survey (not eskimos, granted) and say the .30-06 is first. The mini 14 DOES get front page mention as a popular firearm, however. The .22 caliber debate rages on in a very intellectual way in the article, but both sides are presented.
Personally I shot a deer once at a little over 175 yards directly in the heart with a .223 super x power point bullet. It worked fine, but autopsy revealed that i was probably right about at the reliable limit of the round. Maybe 220 yards would have had similar result..maybe not. The bullet disintegrated on the inside of the ribcage opposite the exit of the heart, leaving a thumb diameter hole in the heart itself and lead scrapnel in the ribs. The deer went 30 FEET, not yards. That was after I walked up on it having not waited long enough. Before i walked up on it it was lying right where i shot it.
Under 150 yards, If I knew that was the max shot, i would definitely do it again. Since that is not guaranteed here, I prefer the .308.
I would take a mini 30 or 6.8 just in case something big tries to make sport of me.
I ....... 2 ND That" unless MAYBE , you good enough , And Fast Enough to make a Head shot , on a big critter ... Like a Big Ole Grizzly . I`d agree , I`d sure want my 45~70 hangin on my back , huntin anywhere up younder , just incase ole Grizz was lookin @ me up there some place .
I've read several times that the rifle of choice in the wild among the Eskimos is the Mini 14.
well Good luck with them ole 14`s , Eskimo brother`s ..... I`d STILL want my ole lever 45~70 in Hand.... ESP: if one of them Big Ole White Bears" was a lookin @ my 250 lb. body
here in the SE Appalachians the mini30 is good for the 'bush' hunting and such of the relatively small whitetails. I would hesitate to take a shot at a larger buck at over 150yds unless a standing profile in the clear. moveing and quartering away beyond that I feel is risky although a good placement at out to 200 or so will definitely do the job.
I've develpoed loads with the Speer 150gr sp that are considerably more suited to deer than the Winny, Rem, Fed and etc 123gr sp's. 2 does I shot w/winny at around 50 and 60 yds the core seperated from the jacket. dead is dead of course but the Speer won't seperate - better for tougher whitetail or even larger western type, and/or shooting in brushy area
no doubt the .223 would do the job with good placement but I'd be apprehensive on anything but smaller deer fairly close shot not over 100 or so yds. just IMO
I follow along with your train of belief, "marlin45"; 6.8 & 30 cal. give you the extra ballistic results. How much luck do you have finding those heavier .311 bullets?
I've read several times that the rifle of choice in the wild among the Eskimos is the Mini 14.
I've read the same thing. For decades the Eskimo's hunted Polar Bear with the 25-20 or some other pip squeak cartridge because they are experts when it comes to anatomy. The 30-06 is also a favorite up there.
In Alaska, not only the Eskimo's, the kids are taught from when they are young about shot placement and anatomy. I came across an article a few years ago where an 11 year old boy killed a Grizzly that stuck it's nose into their tent with a mini/.223. point blank range, but still.
Dont underestimate a .223 caliber bullet and quality shot placement. Especially the right kind of bullet, and these days there are better and more options than we have ever had. Ive killed deer and hogs with mine and never felt undergunned.
I think of living in Alaska as constant state of bug out, carry only what you need and be effective with what you carry. Good article! We can choose easily what gun or caliber to buy for a hunt. Limited access to shooting supplies will be a deciding factor of survival gun. They will live off the land and sell furs and fish to make money for guns and ammo.
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" If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would send an entertainer..... our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent a Savior."
I produce and film the TV series Alaska Outdoors Television mentioned here. We're strictly a self guided DIY outdoor series on air since 2005. On this hunt we filmed 3 hunters and the hunter you see with the .223 also carried a pistol with bear loads, as we always do on all Alaska hunts. The .223 works excellent on these Sitka black tailed deer. Puts them down fast with no blood shot meat. Sitka black tail are typically smaller than white tail or mule and are excellent eating.
Hope this helps. The series can be seen every week on Outdoor Channel for 2013.
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" If our greatest need had been pleasure, God would send an entertainer..... our greatest need was forgiveness, so God sent a Savior."
I've read several times that the rifle of choice in the wild among the Eskimos is the Mini 14.
A lot of the Inuit up here use a 223 for taking Polar bear, etc. But I havent noticed a favorite brand of weapon yet.
And they prefer head shots with the 223. Only a fool would go for the heart lungs area with a 223.
was a lookin @ my 250 lb. body
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