Please excuse me this is probably a repost, but it is leagl and practical to use .223 for hunting deer in Canada? I know they do make big game hunting bullets for .223 and the best shooting rifle I own is in .223 (Steyr Scout). I would preffer to use it for hunting as it is a dream to handle; light weight, good balance, superb accuracy. I am a believer in shot placement over large bullets myself. I have seen people lose entire limbs overseas and survive so my theory is use a smaller caliber and put it exactly where you want it.
.223 for deer?
- Thread starter 9Guns
- Start date
Not in Alberta.
I remember reading an article by Jim Carmichel some years back.
He was returning from an Africa hunt and stopped in Scotland to visit a friend. The fellow had a "cull hunt" lined up on a private shooting preserve. Jim didn't have a rifle along but the hunting club had two loners. The game was fallow deer which are somewhat smaller than white-tails. The guns were a .300 win Mag. and a nice little Sako in .222. Carmichel shot the .222 and it was very accurate and pleasant to shoot so he used it and killed a few fallow does with careful moderate range shots.
I reckon if there had been a .243 available he would have chosen it.
I remember reading an article by Jim Carmichel some years back.
He was returning from an Africa hunt and stopped in Scotland to visit a friend. The fellow had a "cull hunt" lined up on a private shooting preserve. Jim didn't have a rifle along but the hunting club had two loners. The game was fallow deer which are somewhat smaller than white-tails. The guns were a .300 win Mag. and a nice little Sako in .222. Carmichel shot the .222 and it was very accurate and pleasant to shoot so he used it and killed a few fallow does with careful moderate range shots.
I reckon if there had been a .243 available he would have chosen it.
Here we go again. Punch in "223 deer" in the search feature for the last two years and you'll have a weekends worth of reading, mostly the same thing over and over and over . . . .
Here is one: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...3-Is-a-223-enough-for-deer&highlight=223+deer
Here is one: http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...3-Is-a-223-enough-for-deer&highlight=223+deer
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
Not all provinces allow the use of 223. If it's legal where you hunt, and you have confidence in your gun, go for it. Like others have said use a deer bullit, TSX, CoreLokt, PowerPoint, NoslerPartition, etc., not a varmint bullit. There's countless hunting video's to be seen of Elk, Moose and Black bear being harvestest with a 243 win., and deer with 223 for deer, leaving no doubt over their ability. I'm sure many will disagree, but I'm sure more wounded animals are from people with hard kicking guns that can't handle them and or don't often shoot enough to be proficient with. These are the same guys that crowd out the gun range a week or two before hunt week, fire a couple shots to make sure their "on", and won't be seen till next year the same time, the same guys laughing at "junior" over there, telling him his little gun is no good for deer. Truth be told "junior" is usually the guy with a freezer full of meat. To the OP good luck hunting, and give us some update pics when you harvest one.
It'll do the job, shot placement being key and I would keep within 100 yards.
As outlined provincial regs are going to be the deciding factor. In BC it's used for Deer and Bear with success. I have heard some stories from Cougar hunters using it so they don't get the cat to instantly flop out of the tree and mauling the first dog that rushes in, it allows the cat to bleed out better in the tree so when it falls it's either dead or near enough that it has less of a chance of killing a hound.
As outlined provincial regs are going to be the deciding factor. In BC it's used for Deer and Bear with success. I have heard some stories from Cougar hunters using it so they don't get the cat to instantly flop out of the tree and mauling the first dog that rushes in, it allows the cat to bleed out better in the tree so when it falls it's either dead or near enough that it has less of a chance of killing a hound.
Applefarmer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lime Stone City
They take away our high cap. clips, and still expect us to kill deer with a .223!
Proper bullet with one shot will easily take a deer. Happy hunting. Don't take an Ontario heart shot through the butt, or try and put the .223 through the front chest plate and you'll be fine.
- Location
- Niagara Region, Ontario. For now
Ontario Heart Shot. LOL
We push bush here, no sitting in open fields with 300m shots over open fields.
I would not use a .223 for pushing bush. Lol
12 guage slugs and shot placement isn't a huge concern.
We push bush here, no sitting in open fields with 300m shots over open fields.
I would not use a .223 for pushing bush. Lol
12 guage slugs and shot placement isn't a huge concern.
Ontario Heart Shot. LOL
We push bush here, no sitting in open fields with 300m shots over open fields.
I would not use a .223 for pushing bush. Lol
12 guage slugs and shot placement isn't a huge concern.
Shot placement should be a concern no matter what caliber.
Spray and pray isn't fair to your game.
Respect your game no matter the species.
Low magnification power with wider FOV. Like I said keep it within 100 yards so high magnification isn't necessary.
