Hunting deer with 223?

[ljones]

That'd be overkill for the deer in the yard here that let you walk to within ten feet - a .22 between the ear and eye would do the job.

You can kill a deer with anything. Some have more limitations than others. That's all the "debate" boils down to. Asking "can I shoot x with y" is really a meaningless question unless you specify under what conditions.

A .223 on deer? Yes and no. Yes for frontal, broadside, rear raking and head/neck shots at under 200 yards. No frontal raking shots or shoulder shots. Are there other choices that have fewer limitations and are better suited to more shot opportunities? Yes. Simple as that.

Will a .22 Hornet kill a deer? Of course. Of course it will. I'd it limited in range and shot placement? Of course.

No joke, the ideal deer calibre for my yard here would be a .22 short. Neighbours won't hear it and it'll do the job at the ranges you can get within. Only half jokingly I said my plan B this season was to train them to eat out of my hand, then shank one with a kitchen knife. Can you kill a deer with a kitchen knife? Sure, under certain conditions and with a lot of carrots.

Yeah on the show Life Below Zero they do subsistence hunts where they shoot caribou in the head from a boat while they are swimming with what looks like .22lr. Lights out most of the time but you can see they need some follow ups sometimes. I am just messing around, stirring the pot. Of course you can kill large animals with a small caliber but not suggested for most to do it. Proper bullet placement and proper bullet construction are key.

 

[gallen270]

I've done it couple times on deer and NB black bears. Worked fine.

 

[southernman]

I made a living meat hunting, and culling in New Zealand, my rifle was a Sako .222, preferred European ammo, Sako 53gr and Norma 55 g, were stand outs.
Really shot much further than 150m, and preferred half that.

 

[xdmer]

I've never used it, but I wouldn't hesitate with the right bullet, distance / velocity considered.

 

[rral22]

Very few here would put down the idea of using a 6.5 Swede, .270 or 7mm-08 for game like elk or moose, these all launch a bullet that is 1-2 millimeters wider and only 2-3x as heavy at very similar velocities so why are they acceptable for game 3x as large as a whitetail when a .223 is unacceptable for whitetail deer?

That question would come from only someone who has not shot very many big game animals with different cartridges.

 

[mudgunner49]

My issue is not with the caliber/cartridge but with the experience (or lack of same) level of the hunter. As stated many times "It's not the arrow, it's the Indian..."

 

[Eagleye]

I have shot a number of big game animals with 22 Centerfires. Not the 223, but the 222, the 22-250 and the 220 Swift.
They kill like lightning when placed exactly right, but also have the greatest potential to wound/fail to penetrate with many bullets.
After my experimental time with the 22 CF's, I decided to join the "There are better choices for big game" camp.
I see no reason to use a 22 CF anything on deer when there are so many more suitable rounds available.
If a 223 is all you own, then I reluctantly say, "use it", but be very, very careful. D.

 

[nw mb]

^^^

and

...something inside of me also wants to say something about the rifle, too

...my 223 weighs 11# and i shoot it off my porch to control yotes on my farm...it's very accurate out to 400 yards and i'd shoot a standing deer in the head with it any day of the week...but the bush is another thing...and it would be a pain to haul, let alone shoot in the bush

...and i know there are a lot of accurate mini-14's, but a friend has the most inaccurate one i've ever seen...barely hits an 8.5x11 at 50 yards...while it's a light-weight option ya gotta know if your gun is up to being accurate or not

...the round is capable, but the conditions, rifle, and hunter all play more of a role in my book...i'd certainly never use a 223 for a lung shot...although i do have a 22 hornet with a 65 grain GameKing ready for this deer season...head shot close range in the bush only

 

[daveyn]

I've done it couple times on deer and NB black bears. Worked fine.

"Very few here would put down the idea of using a 6.5 Swede, .270 or 7mm-08 for game like elk or moose, these all launch a bullet that is 1-2 millimeters wider and only 2-3x as heavy at very similar velocities so why are they acceptable for game 3x as large as a whitetail when a .223 is unacceptable for whitetail deer? I suspect the advice given there applies to shooting deer with a high velocity .22, pick a tough bullet, keep shots close and avoid large bones. Actually I know it does I've shot a few deer with my .223 and a bullet through the heart and lungs very quickly dispatches deer, often travelling only straight down.

If work allows I will be carrying one for deer this fall."


New Brunswickers with their 22cf's use them for everything, its like some kind of a cult in that province. Deer, bear , moose doesn't matter it's a one size fits all cartridge

 

[Uplandguy]

The critical difference though is hunters take carefully aimed shots at vitals. Soldiers make hasty or snap shots against centre of visible mass, and often not even that. As has been said over and over and over, placement is key. I guarantee you no one will be running any distance after taking a .223 through the centre of their chest.

And yes, sometimes you definitely do care if buddy runs 100 yards, like when you're engaging a suicide bomber at a checkpoint. You most certainly want him dropping on the spot.

Fair point, but if all hunters took carefully aimed shots... How many times do we see someone just jump out of a truck and wing a round off at a running deer? Discipline is key. And if you remember, I said that the 223 is adequate for deer, just not my choice. But don't think a human's bone structure and physiology is the same as a mule deer.

We see these posts all the time, is 44 mag good for dear, how about 357 or 7.62 x 39? There are guys on this forum that swear a 30-30 can't kill a mule deer... Within range and good aiming practically any calibre is lethal.