SPORTING ANSWERS
What is best load for CWD?
RIFLES
Q Can you please recommend a .223 Remington factory load that I can use during the new Chinese water deer (CWD) season?
A If you use your .223 Remington for foxes and are then using it for CWD, I would recommend you use a heavier load and a more controlled expanding bullet.
The Sako Gamehead softpoint 55-gr load is 5-gr heavier than the standard Gamehead and has a more conventional softpoint (lead) meplat and flat-base bullet. It is designed for slower, more controlled expansion, so ideal for use on small species deer. It is shorter than the tipped version, which has a more rounded tip and is listed at 3,170fps.
An alternative is the RWS T-Mantel 55g-r factory load. This uses the famous T-Mantel design with a flat base, soft lead meplat and tombak-plated steel jacket.
Designed for a more controlled expansion and deep penetration, it is another round that is good for small deer species. Its listed velocity is 3,281fps and, from my experience, it is always an accurate load.
Finally, there is the Norma Tipstrike 54-gr propelled by 24.4 grains of extruded powder for a list velocity of 3,215fps. It utilises a Norma’s Tipstrike technology with a large orange polymer tip and flat base. It is designated as a varmint round, but does
