Ever shot a deer with a 223?

BadAsMo

BadAsMo

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I’ve used a 223 for deer for many years with great success using a 1:7 twist barrel and heavy bullets, and never understood why so many people thought the 223 was not suitable for deer size animals. Then I found this web site where the author explains the various bullet performance differences very well. Check it out, it’s a good read and I think explains the controversy fairly well.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.223+Remington.html

So I’d like to hear from anyone out there who has actually shot deer with a 223 and what you have found… good or bad.

What bullet did you use? What was your barrel twist rate? How far was the shot? Did you hand load or use factory ammo? How far did the deer go after you shot it? Where was the deer hit?
 
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I know that this gets discussed to death, but it is still fun. I have shot big game with the .223 and was once in a position where I had to shoot what turned out to be a decent black bear with the .223. The load was a Nosler 69 grain BTHP bullet over a steep charge of BLC2 if I remember correctly. The firearm was a stainless 580 series mini. The range was a bit under 100 yards. The bear was facing me and I shot it square in the chest. DRT. Didn't even take a step. Bullet mushroomed perfectly and penetrated right to the bears hind quarters.
 
With a good bullet (partition, gmx) I don't see why not as long as you keep the distances close enough. Normally my blind set ups to the trail/bait pile is 20-40 yards. A 223 would do nicely there but its not allowed here so oh well.
 
Been there done that, will never do it again.
Only picture I got with 223 is this one.
If you can afford a custom 223 with the special twist;
you can afford a real hunting rifle too.
in my case, going at the range with my 223, saw this huge thing.
cant let it go, season (ok) (tag) (caliber legal).
you only have one place to shoot its about the size of your toe nail.
if you miss, its over.
fortunately, I can do this kinda of shot.
will I say its OK to hunt big game with a 223 : NEVER
Yes you can kill anything with a 22 lr, but is it appropriate ? NOT AT ALL.
BUT, everybody's different; intelligence, judgment, experience,ethics, values, respect of your game...
If you think you can do it, good for you.
If you are sure 100% to properly recovered your venison, that's another question?
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used to use a mini-14 for black tail deer (pretty small animals) when I was posted on the Queen Charlotte Islands, NW BC. Usually within 40-60 meters using 55gr commercial ammo.... However, I've never tried anything that small on white tail or muleys... Some provinces i've been in won't allow that caliber anyway...
 
5pt whitetail about 200 lbs on the hoof,175-ish yards, running (the deer, not me), 223AI Kimber Montana, 53gr tsx, 1 in 9 twist. Quartering angle, hit two ribs ahead of the last one, recovered the bullet in his neck after it broke several ribs and vertebrae, 53gr retained weight
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Muley buck, 250ish on the hoof, 163 yards, Sako Vixen 223AI, 1 in 12", 45 grain tsx, onside shoulder broken, offside shoulder broken, bullet caught under hide. 45gr retained weight. Bang flop roll roll tumble roll roll tumble crash(it was STEEP).

Small muley buck, Sako Vixen, 1 in 12, 70 yards, texas heart shot (accidentally, meant to shoot him in the back of the head but dropped the shot a little), bang flop. 53 gr tsx, 53 gr retained weight, bullet caught about forward lung deep just under the spine. Got up and started to run crossing to me, just behind onside leg, broke offside shoulder, lung soup at 100 ish yards. Exit.

Muley doe, 150 yards, quartering in, Sako/53 tsx, shot in front edge of onside shoulder, broke offside shoulder, bang flop, exit.

Whitetail doe, 100 yards, lungs, 64 gr power point, 223 Savage, 1 in 8(or 9?) twist. Jump, kick, 10 yard wobble and down.

Big 4 pt whitetail, 223 Savage, 1 in 8(or 9?) twist, 64 gr power point, 185 yards, shot in the neck when all he would do is stick his head out of the field edge. Spine broken, exit. Bang flop (if only obviously).

All hand loads.
All myself, my gf, and my hunting pard.

What about bears? Got some of those as well.........
 
shot one in the ass once with a 223..........had to finish him off with a shovel, I'd likely do it again though, just so I can post the story and pictures on the internet..............
 
yodave said:
shot one in the ass once with a 223..........had to finish him off with a shovel, I'd likely do it again though, just so I can post the story and pictures on the internet..............
Click to expand...

You sound a lot like an uncle of mine. There's always a lot of excitement and drama when he tries to kill things too..........
 
while im on a Canadian forum il say, yeah I have shot a fallow with a .222rem and also killed a fallow with a 22 WMR, whilst we were on a fishin campin trip, opportunity arose, backstraps grilled.
 
The thing I take from this discussion isn't whether the .223 can take game or not. Give the examples given it clearly can altho it may not be the best choice. However, one unavoidable conclusion is that most N. American game doesn't require the magums that many young guys seem to think they have to use to bust a buck.
 
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