[thatdewd]

I don't know if this is significant, but its been my experience that the .223 actually drops when first exiting the barrell, then rises to begin the normal path shown in the charts. Thats why I switched to 6.5mm for scoped shooting. The charts usually begin at 100 yds and don't tell you whats going on in the first 50. It may have just been the ammo, but it always did this. Weird ballistics.

[The Red Zone]

So... a close-in shot would tend to be low. But low as this last victim was?

[Senator_Blutarski]

TOL, I've heard other people say the same thing. However, physics suggests that is impossible unless areodynamics are involved. Bullets start to drop when they leave the barrel and continue to drop throughout their trajectory.

If a gun is sighted in at 100 yards and you aim at a target closer than 100 yards the bullet will hit high. Beyond 100 yards it will hit low. That's just the practical implication of living in a universe with gravity.

A .223 has a muzzle velocity around 3300 fps. That provides a very flat trajectory. It shoots "like a frozen rope" out to 150 to 200 yards. That why gopher hunters love it.