.223 for hunting deer?
- Thread starter sweet09
- Start date
It will work just as well as something bigger if you hit the deer in the right spot. I know they have been used for seal that is bigger. I was just reading a story in the hunting section about 2 polar bears killed with the .223. So if it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for deer.
I think the .223 is just fine for deer provided you use an appropriate bullet weight. You have to use your head regardless what calibre you're using. To use a 45 grain in .223 is just as stupid as trying to use a 110 grain in .30 calibre. Use the heavier .223 bullets(if your gun will stabilize these) and pick your shots(heart/lung or neck NOT trying to break shoulders). Would I use a .223 for deer if that's what I had,Hell yes, but I wouldn"t use 45-55 grain bullets and I wouldn"t use a rifle that didn't decently group the heavier bullets.
This is always a fun thread.
Have a look at this thread. It talks about bonded bullets but veers off and shows pictures of a guy that shoots truck loads of elk each year and he posts a picture of recovered bullets. Have a look at that picture and notice the 223ai and tsx recovered. If he kills elk with them, and he does. Lots of them. I see no reason not to use them on deer. If I find a deal on a savage in 223 sub 300 bucks I will buy one this year and document performance on black bear and deer. With mono bullets.
I also have seen rangers kill bull caribou with plain Jane 223 crappy power point. Some people do and others need wizbangs to kill a 150 pound deer.
Cheers
h ttp://24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/5510029/3
Have a look at this thread. It talks about bonded bullets but veers off and shows pictures of a guy that shoots truck loads of elk each year and he posts a picture of recovered bullets. Have a look at that picture and notice the 223ai and tsx recovered. If he kills elk with them, and he does. Lots of them. I see no reason not to use them on deer. If I find a deal on a savage in 223 sub 300 bucks I will buy one this year and document performance on black bear and deer. With mono bullets.
I also have seen rangers kill bull caribou with plain Jane 223 crappy power point. Some people do and others need wizbangs to kill a 150 pound deer.
Cheers
h ttp://24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/5510029/3
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
In my opinion even the .243 is a poor excuse as a big game cartridge, never mind a .223, a proper big game cartridge begins with the mild 6.5s. But I've become more relaxed over the issue in recent years; first because nobody cares what I think anyway, and secondly, because better bullets are now available making small bores somewhat more effective on game over 100 pounds. Around here moose, bears, and caribou are routinely killed with .223s, .22-250s, and .243s.
SC said these discussions always fall short of mentioning the appropriate bullet for the job at hand, and he's correct. While any expanding bullets loaded in any .375 H&H factory load will be suitable for any North American big game, you can choose .30 caliber bullets that are more likely to wound game than kill cleanly, never mind high velocity small bore bullets. So when a seasonal deer hunter walks into Canadian Tire to pick up a box of .223s, what bullet do you think it would have, and is this fellow likely to know the difference between a 45 gr HP and a 45 gr TSX, and is he likely to pay for the TSX when the HP is cheaper . . . a lot cheaper!
SC said these discussions always fall short of mentioning the appropriate bullet for the job at hand, and he's correct. While any expanding bullets loaded in any .375 H&H factory load will be suitable for any North American big game, you can choose .30 caliber bullets that are more likely to wound game than kill cleanly, never mind high velocity small bore bullets. So when a seasonal deer hunter walks into Canadian Tire to pick up a box of .223s, what bullet do you think it would have, and is this fellow likely to know the difference between a 45 gr HP and a 45 gr TSX, and is he likely to pay for the TSX when the HP is cheaper . . . a lot cheaper!
I used my .223 this year. I got sick of carrying around my M14 every day so I switched it up and took the .223 out. Lots of pratice with the rifle, good ammo and knowing when to NOT shoot is key. know your limitations, work within them.
I had this discussion with two guys who come to our camp. I think skill and common sense are more important then equipment.
I had this discussion with two guys who come to our camp. I think skill and common sense are more important then equipment.
Sweet: What twist is your 223 barrel? An older rifle would be 1;12. A newer one is 1:9.
I have a 222 Combo gun with 12 ga. The rifle is 1:12 and I used it on deer. I spoke to Sierra and they said their most popular 223 deer bullet is the 69gr match bullet. But it won't work in a 1:12.
For a 1:12 they suggested the 63gr semi spitzer and the 60gr HP. They said the 60HP would give more penetration, and I can confirm that.
I found the 223 works as well as anything else with a heart/lung shot. Here in Ontario deer shots are close range. For me, shots are 25 to 50 yards. The longest I ever took was 125 yards. I still hunt and pot the deer that walk by me.
I have a 222 Combo gun with 12 ga. The rifle is 1:12 and I used it on deer. I spoke to Sierra and they said their most popular 223 deer bullet is the 69gr match bullet. But it won't work in a 1:12.
For a 1:12 they suggested the 63gr semi spitzer and the 60gr HP. They said the 60HP would give more penetration, and I can confirm that.
I found the 223 works as well as anything else with a heart/lung shot. Here in Ontario deer shots are close range. For me, shots are 25 to 50 yards. The longest I ever took was 125 yards. I still hunt and pot the deer that walk by me.
why limit yourself to only broadside <100yd shot, using the minimum caliber and or marginal bullet weight? as a big game guide i know that shot of a lifetime probably won't be the the "ethical" shot. more often than not its a running animal at least quartering away, is anyone honestly willing to pass on that "book" buck because its not standing like bambis dad waiting to die? i'm not saying blast away at any range willy nilly (yeah i said willy nilly) wounding and losing animals. but use the largest caliber you can shoot confidently and the best bullet you can afford, and truthfully with the cost of licenses, fuel time, the cost of a couple boxes of "premium" bullets (accubond, partition, corelockt, sirroco, trophy bonded) is not going to break the bank. any of the higher quality ammo in a large enough caliber will pass thru a bucks "rear end" and reach the vitals with enough energy to destroy the vitals. Lets face it's about tearing sh*t up destroy the mechanism and the machine will stop.
if you're limited to 243 (because of size, age, recoil sensitvity, injury) know that you need a 100gr bonded and can't take that buck @ 500yds running dad away, but if you can shoot your 30-378 accurately that 200gr accubond will crush the animal as far as you can see it.
shoot what you have, shoot it straight, know your limits and that of your weapon
if you're limited to 243 (because of size, age, recoil sensitvity, injury) know that you need a 100gr bonded and can't take that buck @ 500yds running dad away, but if you can shoot your 30-378 accurately that 200gr accubond will crush the animal as far as you can see it.
shoot what you have, shoot it straight, know your limits and that of your weapon
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
Using controlled expansion bullits 4sure. I'm also damn sure if you took 10 guys with 300 mags and 10 with 223, sat them dowm on a 100yd range, the magnumitis owners would get 
Using controlled expansion bullits 4sure. I'm also damn sure if you took 10 guys with 300 mags and 10 with 223, sat them dowm on a 100yd range, the magnumitis owners would get
Why are you trying to turn this into a magnum bashing thread? Do you have a hard time focusing Sunday morning?
Like I said earlier, the best answer is no answer at all. A very wise professor told me once that the best educator is experience and passing your learned experience to others to learn from. You can choose to benefit what some of us (recommended go bigger cartridges) have already experienced, or you can choose to use whatever you want. Have fun!
If it is legal and you really believe the 223 is satisfactory, break a leg. Three out of five deer you shoot will be the perfect shot and will die relatively quickly. Experience will teach you how to deal with the not-so-perfect shots.
If it is legal and you really believe the 223 is satisfactory, break a leg. Three out of five deer you shoot will be the perfect shot and will die relatively quickly. Experience will teach you how to deal with the not-so-perfect shots.
Very well said, Sir. I really do feel sorry for those other 2 out of the 5, and even for the first 3 with that word "relatively" in there!
