Heckler & Koch SL8 for big game hunting?

[CristianM]

Thanks all for your replies (sorry, a little late, I'm travelling on vacation).

Based on this info and additional studies I found that there is .223 hunting ammo (expanding). Winchester and Federal clearly point what to use it for. Besides varmint deer is there as well.

However for bear or moose I couldn't find anything recommended.

So, I might harvest a white tail in the fall with my .223 SL-8, of course with proper expanding ammo.

 

[JamesM]

Nothing worse than losing game, and while I'm a supporter of the .223 for deer hunting it is not what I'd recomend for someone new to hunting like you seem to be.
If you have the money to travel you have the option to get a rifle better suited for a inexperienced hunter.
Take your SL-8 after coyotes some and get a deer or 2 under your belt with another gun, then decide if you want to use your SL-8 on a deer.

 

[USP]

Have you tried soft points or hunting ammo in your gun? Alot of the Semis dont feed the stuff to well and like fmjs instead.

I think .223 is to light for a large Black Bear. I think if you have to ask about it, it probably means that you lack enough experience to be able to use it properly to hunt with. There are some on this board that use .223 for all sorts of stuff, that said they have hunted alot and for them maybe they like the challenge of the smaller stuff.

For you as a new guy, why start off with a handicap? BTW, when your out in the swamp or hiding in the stand nobody will see your cool SL-8 anyways...

 

[7mmlefty]

I have a very nice Heckler & Koch SL8 (cal .223). I love it, it's a superb assault rifle, very accurate, smooth auto-loader, feels very good in hand, you name it!

What about using it for hunting? I believe for varmint it's pretty much intuitive, yes.

But for deer, bear, even moose?

First, I am not aware of any regulations not allowing it there. Does anybody know any legal restrictions?

Second, would it be OK from efficiency and ethical points of view?

Thanks![/QUOTE

Youve obviously used it on varmints including coyote!... and liked its performance and accuracy on smaller game and its stoping power, with a short tracking job. So far so good...

Deer through the ribs broadside, penetrating both lungs at close range and only if you can honestly call youre shot, is where the rifle caliber stops for bigger game.

 

[CNADNSL8-5]

My personal choice for the 223 would not to go any bigger than deer. I have an SL8 and do have ammo for deer for it. I have not tried it for deer yet, but where I hunt it is close range and very possible. That being said, my current deer rifle is 30-06.

If you decide to take it out for deer, winchester supper X power point comes in a deer round. 64 grain. You could try it out at the range and see how it performs. And decide if it will work for you in the field.

http://www.winchester.com/Products/rifle-ammunition/super-x/power-point/Pages/X223R2.aspx