.20 prac vs .223

mtwood24

mtwood24

Member
what are the advantages of the .20 practical over the .223? how about advantages of the .223 over the .20 prac? I hunt mostly coyotes and deer. most people on here think it is unethical to shoot a deer with a .223, but I have done it a few times and won't hesitate to do it again. I have never had any problems recovering a deer shot with a .223. so if you think it ethical to hunt deer with a .223, would you hesitate to use a .20 prac?
 
The 20 practical is based on getting .204 performance out of a round using .223 brass, which is cheap, plentiful and chambers better than the .204

The 20 is based on light fast projectiles, while a .223 will allow you to use heavier bullets up to 69-73 grains.

The 20 practical is a varmint round and I wouldn't even consider shooting deer with it, but I wouldn't use a .223 on deer either. Not only is it not legal for big game here, but I am a proponent of using enough bullet for the game. A .223 can take a deer, but it is based on a lot of variables to make a great shot. Too many things happen in the field to allow for that perfect shot every time.
 
If your choice is only between the .223 and .20 for coyote and deer choose the .223 every time. An even better double duty choice would be .243 or .25.

If I could find a solid enough bullet in .20 I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer dead with it if that's what I had to use. I wouldn't suggest it to anyone else because I'd have no idea of their knowledge of a deer's anatomy, their own abilities and patience.
 
Thanks for the link Utah! very interesting for sure! I wish their graph had ft. lbs on it out to 400-500 yards too though.
 
As its legal here in AZ to shoot deer with a 223, i wouldn't do it just because there are too many variables. Shot placement is critical, which for some this isnt a big deal.

The 20 practical is getting 204 type performance with cheap 223 brass. i just loaded some 26gr hp for Snowman Mo to take out this weekend and shoot something with it. I would have to say that i wouldn't hesitate to use this on coyotes, fox or bobcats with minimal fur damage.
 
We have some pretty hefty corn fed deer here. I personally wouldn't shoot a deer with anything smaller than a .243. We can't use them here anyway. This is just from my experience from killing coyotes with a .223.
 
I was hunting with my buddy one time and I watched shoot a cow elk with a .223 at 150 yards and dropped in her tracks. I am sure this is frowned upon by most of you, but if you have the confidence with your gun to put the bullet where it needs to be, I wouldn't hesitate...
 
My brothers and I all started out hunting deer with Dad's .222 Rem in the '70s and it worked just fine.


To the OP, my vote would go to the .223 in a landslide. The .223 is just so dang practical and for so many reasons it's almost comical to even talk about. lol
 
I have both the 20 Tac and the .204 Ruger and for what you mentioned ZI would also choose the .223 without a doubt. The .20 calibers have limited bullet selection and I have yet to find one that is what I would consider always dependable even on coyotes but some of that may have to do with trying not to blow big holes in Bobcats with my criteria as well.
In the .223 the selection is broad.
 
I have both 20pr and 223 and would like others have said not use the 20pr on anything bigger than a yote. The last couple of yotes that I eshot with the 20pr when I skinned them out there was alot of tissue damage just under the skin on the side that I shot them on but not much on the other side. I would be scared that if you hit bone on a deer that you would not get to where you need to. My feeling are that use the right toool for the right job. 20cal varmints only.
 
Originally Posted By: mtwood24would you use a .223 on a deer?

I would if I had too but here in CO the smallest is 243. I'm a firm believer in only taking shots you know you can make. So yes if I could I would use a 223 at least once on a deer.
 
Originally Posted By: dmpowderOriginally Posted By: mtwood24would you use a .223 on a deer?

I would if I had too but here in CO the smallest is 243. I'm a firm believer in only taking shots you know you can make. So yes if I could I would use a 223 at least once on a deer.

That's why I 6x45's and not .223's...;)
 
MT it would not be my first choice. But it can be done with the right bullet. At the right distance with the right gun/shooter.
 
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I agree i wouldn't shot a MT. Dear with anything smaller than a .243.
That said if i was hunting in Texas were the dear are smaller bodied a .223 could be used.
Having said that the dear in WY. And MT. Are lot bigger bodied aand well take a lot more bullet to put down quickly and humanely.
It is or duty as hunters to do or best at making sure we kill the intended animals swiftly and with as little pain as possible.
 


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