.223 on muntjac

pete evans · Apr 4, 2026

I’ve used 50 and 55 grain soft points in my .222 for muntjac also used v max. Not sure there is a big difference regarding damage and all have killed well. I head shoot mostly but of the chest shot I would expect to lose most of the front end regardless off bullet (or calibre for that matter)

shakey jake · Apr 4, 2026

6mmAI said:
Sako 55gr soft point put fallow and reds down just fine if it’s put behind the front shoulder out to 150 yards, so will work fine for muntjac or cwd.

Where is the back shoulder?

Will the chippy · Apr 4, 2026

maximus otter said:
l’ve just started reloading .223 with - coincidentally - 55 grain V-Max and a charge of N133 that gives me 3388 fps.

I always prefer to take 90⁰ boiler room shots; with munties and CWD I just mentally write off one or both forelegs. It’s not as if there’s much of a meal on them anyway, and l like the massive damage and virtually guaranteed instant drop.

maximus otter

Sounds ideal. I'm just starting to reload with n133. What charge did you settle on. Obviously I'll work up.

Ratel · Apr 4, 2026

maximus otter said:
l’ve just started reloading .223 with - coincidentally - 55 grain V-Max and a charge of N133 that gives me 3388 fps.

I always prefer to take 90⁰ boiler room shots; with munties and CWD I just mentally write off one or both forelegs. It’s not as if there’s much of a meal on them anyway, and l like the massive damage and virtually guaranteed instant drop.

maximus otter

I find a whole munty shoulder in a slow cooker provides more than enough for two of us, and I'm a meatatarian. Waste not want .... 50 gr Rifleline are perfect for Munties in my 22/250.

Bowland blades · Apr 4, 2026

Both the Muntjac and also the CWD are legal to shoot with 223 + 222 . However both can soak up some crazy punishment for their size before they drop and both can and can do fight back and can seriously damage the stalkers dog with their outsized fangs I personally keep my dog on the tracking line with either of this pair

Taff · Apr 4, 2026

Should be no problem if you can kill goats at upto 400 a munty should be no problem.

Mr Tree · Apr 4, 2026

Norma 50gr sp in a .222. never had one move more than 2ft vertical, More damage on the exit side if you hit a shoulder blade.

ColinBr · Apr 4, 2026

Tim.243 said:
My plan going fwd to the lead ban for >6mm is a .223 for muntjac and we have a copper .270 load developed for when it is needed.
So the .243 will get swapped for a .223 and what ever round I find that works in the .223

Go for a 1:8 twist barrel mate
Sierra 69gr TMKs are the best I have ever used on deer and target.

I also wouldn't discount a 22-250.

maximus otter · Apr 5, 2026

Will the chippy said:
Sounds ideal. I'm just starting to reload with n133. What charge did you settle on. Obviously I'll work up.

24.3 grains of N133, 20 thou off the lands in a Tikka T3 Supervarmint.

maximus otter

Ratel · Apr 5, 2026

ColinBr said:
Go for a 1:8 twist barrel mate
Sierra 69gr TMKs are the best I have ever used on deer and target.

I also wouldn't discount a 22-250.

As I said Rifleline 50gr in mine does a nice job with chest shots,especially at distance.

Sash · Apr 5, 2026

I am shooting 50gr TSX over N120 in my .222, and it works excellently!
I shoot at the shoulder, and have not had any recent runners - all bang flops.

tsuobi · Apr 5, 2026

55g Sierra 1345 is my go to fox bullet but certainly puts Muntjac down with no fuss. Provided you do your bit.

Very expansive round. Sierra state with faster twist rates these can spin apart. Have no experience of this

Mines a 1:12 twist barrel.

If you want a thicker copper jacket, if your barrel has a faster twist then Sierra 1360 has the same BC and I found with my powder loading it groups the same as the 1345 and just as dead at the receiving end.

Sandy25 · Apr 5, 2026

I use Norma Tipstrike small game 55gr on Munties. All bang flop so far..............

not massive meat damage either with chest/shoulder shooting - only have to write off the one quarter really.

crimson · Apr 5, 2026

55gr Hornady Soft Point. Shot plenty Munties and Chinese without an issue.

Chris Richardson · Apr 5, 2026

I’ve shot a lot in the past with .50 gr sako game heads and 50 gr ppu in my .222 work just fine

Old Pultney · Apr 5, 2026

I’ve found it a cracking round for Muntjac and Chinese Water Deer and have been able to shoot pinpoint accurate HILAR shots at sensible distances with Norma v max 50 grain.

Donkey Basher · Apr 5, 2026

Bo Diddley said:
Well, at £2.50p for a muntjac at the dealers, who in their right mind will bother to drop them off?
The buck I shot tonight I'm giving away to a Liverpudlian pensioner... thankfully, he lives a few miles away, and is happy to collect... bit of a trek for me to Liverpool.

We’ve been lucky then - been getting £0.50/kg for them, but still butchered pretty nearly all of the ones we’ve shot.

Chris Richardson · Apr 5, 2026

Donkey Basher said:
We’ve been lucky then - been getting £0.50/kg for them, but still butchered pretty nearly all of the ones we’ve shot.

Same here the vast majority of munties I shoot I butcher myself or give away in the skin

Bo Diddley · Apr 5, 2026

Donkey Basher said:
We’ve been lucky then - been getting £0.50/kg for them, but still butchered pretty nearly all of the ones we’ve shot.

You're lucky DB, I think MJ all goes into dog food with our dealer. Not that I'm bothered, all MJ goes into the freezer with me, the dogs get a lot of what would normally go into mince.

Thunderstick · Apr 5, 2026

222/223 is perfect for munty, I've used all sorts of factory ammo (currently Sako Game head and hornady 55gr spire point- Factory) don't seem to smash them up too much.

.223 on muntjac

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