The possible legal use of .223 caliber

[NullMac]

You hear the odd report of muntjac,

generally around the beginning of April

 

[Heym SR20]

In England and Wales, it is the requirements in terms of muzzle velocity and muzzle energy. This tends to then limit the calibres that can meet the requirements. All bullets must be expanding.

.240 is the minimum legal calibre for Red, Roe, Sika and Fallow. Muzzle energy of not less than 1700ft lbs. No minimum bullet weight.

.220 is the minimum legal calibre for CWD and muntjac. Muzzle energy of not less than 1000ft lbs, and a minimum bullet weight of 50 grains

As above, for all deer species except Roe, Scotland also has minimum bullet weights of 100 grains to consider and a muzzle energy of 1750 ft lbs and a muzzle velocity of at least 2450ft/sec.
For roe deer ONLY, bullet weight of 50 grains, ME of 1000 ft lbs, and MV of 2450 ft/sec.

If I have got any of that wrong, someone please shout - copied from the DSC1 manual, but may have been amended since then?

A very good summation of the legal use of a 222 or 223 on deer in the UK.

You can also use the 223 for vermin and foxes and it is widely used for such purposes. There is no minimum bullet weight.

Technically if you had a fast twist barrel that would stabilise an 80gn bullet and a powder that would propel that propell that 80gn bullet to 3,200 fps thus achieving 1,750 ft lbs of energy you could use it on bigger deer in Scotland as there is no min cal. Not sure if there are any powders with energy density to achieve such velocities in a 223 and 80gn bullet.

The 223 is widely used for target shooting as its cheap to run.

 

[Foxyboy43]

Fine example of the utter nonsense of the UK’s firearms legislation where in one part it is perfectly legal to shoot something with your .223 but just down the road it is illegal and will cost you your FAC.
Then of course there are the different seasons. United Kingdom - huh?

 

[Heym SR20]

Fine example of the utter nonsense of the UK’s firearms legislation where in one part it is perfectly legal to shoot something with your .223 but just down the road it is illegal and will cost you your FAC.
Then of course there are the different seasons. United Kingdom - huh?

And in Northern Ireland you legitimately hold handguns for sport shooting.

 

[zerovarm]

And in Northern Ireland you legitimately hold handguns for sport shooting.

One of the saving graces I remind myself of everytime I get frustrated I can't get 2 .223's on one for day one for night.

 

[Apthorpe]

I`m worried how many people on here are just guessing about the use of a .223 in the UK,

I'm not. People only need to know if their own gun is legal to use on deer.

 

[Foxyboy43]

And in Northern Ireland you legitimately hold handguns for sport shooting.

Of course - how did I possibly forget that!

 

[Foxyboy43]

One of the saving graces I remind myself of everytime I get frustrated I can't get 2 .223's on one for day one for night.

You can - if you put up a strong enough case - dedicated nightsight permanently attached and zeroed. Just don’t mention Zulus, Pards etc….

 

[n3al]

Technically if you had a fast twist barrel that would stabilise an 80gn bullet and a powder that would propel that propell that 80gn bullet to 3,200 fps thus achieving 1,750 ft lbs of energy you could use it on bigger deer in Scotland as there is no min cal. Not sure if there are any powders with energy density to achieve such velocities in a 223 and 80gn bullet.

A 22 creedmoor would fit the bill

 

[zerovarm]

You can - if you put up a strong enough case - dedicated nightsight permanently attached and zeroed. Just don’t mention Zulus, Pards etc….

For Vermin? Have my "good reason" water tight and still 4 Rfd's here say nah don't bother. Assumed in NI it was a blanket no across the board. Interesting

 

[20ppc]

You cannot use it for deer as the minimum calibre is .240 in England and Wales.
Other legal quarry such as fox, rabbit etc would be fine.

Yes you can: completely legal to shoot Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer with a .223 in England and Wales.

 

[kenbro]

Hi,
What is the definition of 223 in this thread.
Thanks, Kb.

 

[JLad]

Hi, I am aware that there is a lot of information out there on the net for the various possible hunting applications of .223. I am looking for a brief summary here of the possible applications of .223 in the UK (England and Scotland). As a longer shot, if someone can comemnt on the rules of .223 use in Scandinavia, I will be very interested too. Thanks in advance!

Well, Finland is not part of scandinavia but close enough.
Here regulation is following:

Category 1: fox, badger, hare, goose, grouse
Bullet ≥ 2,5g Energy at 100m ≥ 200J or with any bullet weight 300J at muzzle.

Category 2: roe, seal, wolf, wolverine, beaver, muflon.
A) Bullet ≥ 3,2g Energy at 100m ≥ 800J
B) Lead free ≥ 2,9g Energy at 100m ≥ 800J

Category 3: whitetail, (red deer, fallow, sika)
A) Bullet ≥ 6g Energy at 100m ≥ 2000J
B) Bullet ≥ 8g Energy at 100m ≥ 1700J
C) Lead free ≥ 5,1g Energy at 100m ≥ 1700J

Category 4: moose, wildboar, bear
A) Bullet ≥ 9g Energy at 100m ≥ 2700J
B) Bullet ≥ 10g Energy at 100m ≥ 2000J
C) Lead free ≥ 7,5g Energy at 100m ≥ 1900J

At category 3-4 bullet must be expanding.
So .223 falls in category 2.

 

[Stalker62]

You cannot use it for deer as the minimum calibre is .240 in England and Wales.

That is no longer the case.

Firearms legislation is 'convoluted'...




It is even more so, when 'devolution' is taken into consideration.




The following may help.

It may not...




Deer legislation across the UK is not uniform. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland the legislation is different from that in England & Wales. For both residents of the UK and for the international hunter this is an important point to recognise.

The following are just some of the more important legal points to remember.

Although the Deer Act allow occupiers to protect their crops from excessive damage, and to permit the killing of an animal to prevent suffering, the stalker must not:

A) Use anything except legal firearms to kill deer
B) Shoot out of season unless authorised to do so
C) Shoot at night (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise) except under licence
D) Shoot from a moving vehicle, or use a vehicle to drive deer.
E) Sell venison in Scotland, except to a licensed venison dealer.
(Please note a Game Licence is no longer needed to kill or take deer, anywhere in the UK).

Firearms & Ammunition​

The stalker may only use a rifle and ammunition which is legal for the species of deer being shot. In addition to adherence with the law, the stalker should be guided by knowledge, experience and personal preference in their choice of a rifle and calibre. The legal requirements are laid down in the Deer Acts.

ENGLAND & WALES

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .240 and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

NORTHERN IRELAND

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .236 inches, a minimum bullet weight of 100 grains and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

SCOTLAND

For roe deer, where the bullet must weigh at least 50 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second and a minimum muzzle energy of 1,000 foot pounds may be used.

For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 80 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second and a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds. It must be stressed that all these figures are the minimum legal requirement.

(For more on Rifle Calibres suitable for deer stalking in the UK follow this link: rifle-calibres)https://www.countydeerstalking.co.uk/rifle-calibres.html

For all deer stalking the bullet must be of a type designed to expand/deform on impact. For example soft nose or ballistic tip.

 

[Border]

In Norway 223 Rem with the correct weight bullets is legal for roedeer, beaver, fox, badger, racoon dog and smaller animals and birds on the quarry list like hares, grouse, geese and corvids.

 

[mikreez]

In Norway 223 Rem with the correct weight bullets is legal for roedeer, beaver, fox, badger, racoon dog and smaller animals and birds on the quarry list like hares, grouse, geese and corvids.

Thanks a lot for this info! I am particularly interested in the regulation in Norway as I will be going there in the fall. I think a lighter rifle as in .223 has a lot of advantages in hunting.

 

[Ratel]

Cat amongst the pigeons. Fallow pricket on fields with back leg smashed and only able to trot slowly
.22 Hornet in hand deer 50 yds crossing. To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question?
I know my thoughts, but it's not an obvious RTA so .......

 

[Stalker62]

To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question?

Shoot - all day long.

No doubt in my mind.

 

[wytonpjs]

Cat amongst the pigeons. Fallow pricket on fields with back leg smashed and only able to trot slowly
.22 Hornet in hand deer 50 yds crossing. To shoot or not to shoot, that is the question?
I know my thoughts, but it's not an obvious RTA so .......

Shoot on welfare grounds. Had something similar - when I got to the animal the lower leg was virtually severed and it was the end of the bone that was making contact with the ground

 

[mikreez]

That is no longer the case.

Firearms legislation is 'convoluted'...


View attachment 371950

It is even more so, when 'devolution' is taken into consideration.


View attachment 371951

The following may help.

It may not...




Deer legislation across the UK is not uniform. In both Scotland and Northern Ireland the legislation is different from that in England & Wales. For both residents of the UK and for the international hunter this is an important point to recognise.

The following are just some of the more important legal points to remember.

Although the Deer Act allow occupiers to protect their crops from excessive damage, and to permit the killing of an animal to prevent suffering, the stalker must not:

A) Use anything except legal firearms to kill deer
B) Shoot out of season unless authorised to do so
C) Shoot at night (one hour after sunset to one hour before sunrise) except under licence
D) Shoot from a moving vehicle, or use a vehicle to drive deer.
E) Sell venison in Scotland, except to a licensed venison dealer.
(Please note a Game Licence is no longer needed to kill or take deer, anywhere in the UK).

Firearms & Ammunition​

The stalker may only use a rifle and ammunition which is legal for the species of deer being shot. In addition to adherence with the law, the stalker should be guided by knowledge, experience and personal preference in their choice of a rifle and calibre. The legal requirements are laid down in the Deer Acts.

ENGLAND & WALES

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .240 and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

NORTHERN IRELAND

For Muntjac and Chinese Water deer only- a rifle with a minimum calibre of not less than .220 inches and muzzle energy of not less than 1000 foot pounds and a bullet weight of not less than 50 grains may be used.

For all deer of any species - a minimum calibre of .236 inches, a minimum bullet weight of 100 grains and minimum muzzle energy of 1,700 foot pounds is the legal requirement.

SCOTLAND

For roe deer, where the bullet must weigh at least 50 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second and a minimum muzzle energy of 1,000 foot pounds may be used.

For all deer of any species - the bullet must weigh at least 80 grains AND have a minimum muzzle velocity of 2,450 feet per second and a minimum muzzle energy of 1,750 foot pounds. It must be stressed that all these figures are the minimum legal requirement.

(For more on Rifle Calibres suitable for deer stalking in the UK follow this link: rifle-calibres)Rifle Calibres

For all deer stalking the bullet must be of a type designed to expand/deform on impact. For example soft nose or ballistic tip.

Thank you very much for the very useful information!