Hunting Deer With A .223?

*sigh*

45 gr tsx from a 223AI, as it's twisted too slow to spin 53's to the accuracy level it's capable of....
163 yards, both shoulders, ticker, and lungs. Caught after it the hide on the offside of a muley that was pushing 300lbs on the hoof.



Would have been a bang flop, but instead it was a bang flop, tumble tumble tumble.

Have killed a *few* big game animals personally with 3 different 224" rifles, and have buddies and my gf with another couple dozen or so at this point. Have used the 45/53 tsx, the 55gr Hornady, 64gr Power Point, a couple with 40gr vmax's (black bears, through necessity of circumstance).

Smacked a good whitetail this fall in my field with a 223AI and a 53tsx, broke a bunch of ribs and vertebrae on a hard quartering shot while he was running. Hit ahead of the last rib, found it in his neck. Use a properly constructed bullet, that is intended for the job, and you'll do fine on blacktails.

10 of thousands of hunters across North America use 22cf's for deer sized game (and up to be honest, search 24hr Campfire for any 22 and big game thread, you'll see monster black bears and big bull elk killed with 223 and 22/250's) without any fuss or drama involved.

As with ANY cartridge, it is ALWAYS about the bullet, and not the headstamp on the case. Put good bullets in good places, and go forth and fill arks.
 
This topic should really be a sticky.

Wholesale Sports sells 64 grain Winchester Ammo with a picture of a deer on it. I think they also sell Federal ammo with a 60 grain partition. Get one or the other of these loads, and if they shoot well, use them, it will work just fine.

Guys always want to talk about poor shot angles on big deer.... not all areas have big deer.
 
I bow hunted blacktails a long time and found more than one laying wasted with a bad head shot as you have to hit the brain the size of a hardball .Here is my pick 35 rem. thew the lungs slow moving and eat right to and around the hole as Elmer Kieth used to tell Jack Oconner as blood splater is dogfood
 
I love shooting the 223. I wish I got into it sooner.

There is no way I would hunt deer with it. Coyotes, wolf, gophers, so be it. Deer, why bother. There are so many other rounds that are so much better. Regardless if you think the 223 is powerful enough, if you stumble into a overly friendly black bear, you will be wishing you had brought something else. That old boring 30-30 or 303 sure looks good right about now. Trust me.
 
Ranger Dave said:
I love shooting the 223. I wish I got into it sooner.

There is no way I would hunt deer with it. Coyotes, wolf, gophers, so be it. Deer, why bother. There are so many other rounds that are so much better. Regardless if you think the 223 is powerful enough, if you stumble into a overly friendly black bear, you will be wishing you had brought something else. That old boring 30-30 or 303 sure looks good right about now. Trust me.
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Why is the 223 adequate for wolves but not deer that are often the size of a German Shepard?
 
Ranger Dave said:
I love shooting the 223. I wish I got into it sooner.

There is no way I would hunt deer with it. Coyotes, wolf, gophers, so be it. Deer, why bother. There are so many other rounds that are so much better. Regardless if you think the 223 is powerful enough, if you stumble into a overly friendly black bear, you will be wishing you had brought something else. That old boring 30-30 or 303 sure looks good right about now. Trust me.
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Posts like this always make me giggle. Guess we better arm all the bunny hugger hikers out there with 458's for their own protection in case they run into an overly friendly black bear.

If bears scare you while you are hunting carry some pepper spray.

And if by chance you do get jumped by a bear unawares, it won't matter if it's a 223, a 30-30, or a 338 if you can't get it into play while a bear is on your back eating the back of your skull.
 
MiG25 said:
This topic should really be a sticky.
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Hunted lots on west coast of VanIsle. Average buck is ~100-120 lbs. Animal size isn't the issue. Here you can have shots from muzzle distance in thick berry thickets to opportunities across large open slashes. Often torrential rain, strong winds and steep angles. If you have the discipline to limit yourself to the 223's capabilities, great! Otherwise it's a stunt. Why handicap yourself?
 
MiG25 said:
Why is the 223 adequate for wolves but not deer that are often the size of a German Shepard?
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Methinks that's a rather complex question with several possible answers that would all be correct in their own way.

I suspect it's simply the fact that some generally don't give a rats ass if a wolf suffers or not.

Personally I wouldn't use a .223 on a wolf or yote either.
 
Surprised it hasn't come up unless I missed it. What bullet did you use with your 270? Start with the cheapest answer first. Upgrading ammo is cheaper than a new rifle.

And to anyone that thinks 223 is small, ALOT of deer taken on this island are by 22LR, mags (22mag, I hate when people call it just a mag), or cals like 22 hornet. They even get shot with 17hmr. At least the hornet is legal. I don't agree with this but by those standards 223 is plenty fine.

Really man I would address the bullets used in your 270 first. Then probably if you still want to go smaller use a 6mm cartridge. 6.5 x55 has some class, try that.
 
KodiakHntr said:
Posts like this always make me giggle. Guess we better arm all the bunny hugger hikers out there with 458's for their own protection in case they run into an overly friendly black bear.

If bears scare you while you are hunting carry some pepper spray.

And if by chance you do get jumped by a bear unawares, it won't matter if it's a 223, a 30-30, or a 338 if you can't get it into play while a bear is on your back eating the back of your skull.
Click to expand...

Shoot a 223. I don't care.

I can tell you 7.5 shot isn't ideal but no bear chewed on my head... but I can tell you I wish I had slugs with me that day.
 
Calum said:
Methinks that's a rather complex question with several possible answers that would all be correct in their own way.

I suspect it's simply the fact that some generally don't give a rats ass if a wolf suffers or not.

Personally I wouldn't use a .223 on a wolf or yote either.
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Pretty much sums it up. I shoot coyotes with a 300 Win Mag too. They are more of a rodent in my books.
 
Ha ha this is always a funny topic. I shot a medium sized black bear with a .223 and a 53gr TSX. Bear took a step and rolled down the hill. I've often considered taking my .223 blacktail hunting but every now and then I get a 300-400 yard shot and I feel better with something a bit bigger for longer ranges, although I'm sure the deer would still die if I used the .223 :)
 
now lets keep in mind that everyone has an opinion before I say anything

223 for dear no prob 22 250 ok
shot placement will be a million times more important the size and weight of your bullet
around my parts depending on where you hunt we shoot short range and on small deer I have no prob using it on a wolf that is easily bigger than lots of deer we see
so be responsible shoot what you feel is accurate and you are comfortable with and shoot straight

I use a 270 on mountain deer that are much bigger and at distance but in the low areas 223 no problem
many people take large game with small rounds by being patient getting close and taking good shots

happy hunting
 
I'm sure you could kill a deer with a 22LR. I've shot a few coyotes with one. Shoot him in the head, thud. I just don't think its ideal. Each their own. I love the 223. I reloaded a pile last weekend. If I was going deer hunting, it would stay at home.

My ex-gf was real good at killing deer with her car... each their own.
 
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