saskgunowner101
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- middle of Sask
I'll also throw a vote out for the 243, especially for the recoil conscious. Mind your ear protection though, the 243 seems to bark pretty good.
Is a .223 enough for deer???
- Thread starter Outcast
- Start date
We sure have had a lot of threads on, "Is a 37 Nightingale good enough for deer and moose?"
It sort of started with a 30-30, worked down, with no end of postings, good and bad, on the 243, now to the 223.
This is just to let you know that when it gets down to, "Is a 22 rimfire, using shorts, enough for deer," I have some pertinent information to add.
Answer. It will kill a large whittail buck, but you have to be careful where you hit him.
Question. Will the large deer suffer?
Answer. I know one that didn't. He kept on eating alfalfa, while he was being shot in the ribs with the 22 rimfire shorts. He slightly flinched when a bullet hit him, like he would flinch from a fly bite. Then, his legs wobbled and he fell over, dead.
Butchering him showed that if the tiny bullet hit a rib on the way in, it didn't get any further. But if it went between the ribs, it went through the lungs and in at least one case, broke a rib on the other side.
But damn, I forgot. This was in sustanance hunting and animals didn't know any better than to just die when hit. The present variety of animals come with armour plate hides, that require a huge rifle and bullets with names that one never heard of and can't even pronounce, before the experts on here agree the rifle is satisfactory for hunting.
It sort of started with a 30-30, worked down, with no end of postings, good and bad, on the 243, now to the 223.
This is just to let you know that when it gets down to, "Is a 22 rimfire, using shorts, enough for deer," I have some pertinent information to add.
Answer. It will kill a large whittail buck, but you have to be careful where you hit him.
Question. Will the large deer suffer?
Answer. I know one that didn't. He kept on eating alfalfa, while he was being shot in the ribs with the 22 rimfire shorts. He slightly flinched when a bullet hit him, like he would flinch from a fly bite. Then, his legs wobbled and he fell over, dead.
Butchering him showed that if the tiny bullet hit a rib on the way in, it didn't get any further. But if it went between the ribs, it went through the lungs and in at least one case, broke a rib on the other side.
But damn, I forgot. This was in sustanance hunting and animals didn't know any better than to just die when hit. The present variety of animals come with armour plate hides, that require a huge rifle and bullets with names that one never heard of and can't even pronounce, before the experts on here agree the rifle is satisfactory for hunting.
Outcast
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I LOVE threads like this and the answers ... HAHAHA ... some of you are just dandy to read about ...
Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
p.s. yes go shoot your deer with your 223 as it's plenty!
So what size of bullet would you recommend?
In New Brunswick, it is legal to hunt any big game (deer, moose, bears) with any .22 center fire, so apparently those in the know (ones who make the laws) think it is big enough even for moose.
Now in the varmint season, you can only hunt with nothing larger than .224 center fire, apparently to stop poaching of larger game.
So the answer is, the .223 is big enough to shoot a deer legally, but not big enough to poach a deer.
Sorry if this doesn't answer your question, as I guess you're not likely to be hunting in NB.
deadeyes40
CGN Regular
- Location
- nova scotia
not what i would use,but if you live where they are legal to hunt deer with.have at er.a lot of places any rifle under 23-24 caliber are not legal for big game.will they kill a deer ,for sure.but not most peoples first choice of deer caliber.
At the risk of feeding a troll, that is one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while. My wife has killed several deer with her 243 win using 85gr tsx and my 257 wby with 100gr tsx drops them on the spot.
On the subject of using 223 for deer, it's been talked about lots and if you use a good bullet like a barnes and pick your shots it will do the job.
Take a look at this thread:
http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php?t=278294&highlight=fireballed
Keep in mind that the .221 Fireball is a shortened/weaker version of the .223 and take a gander at the pictures:
entrance wound:
exit wound:
Also:
http://www.gsgroup.co.za/22x64.html
There are many pictures of entrance/exit wounds created by a .22x64 using 40gr GS bullets:
http://www.gsgroup.co.za/22x64.html
Consider getting a true medium game rifle (if you can)
I would never shot a deer with a 223 Rem because:
If only had a 223 Rem and was it legal to hunt deer with 223 Rem in Quebec, I would certainly use it but limit myself to 100 yards shots.
Alex
I would never shot a deer with a 223 Rem because:
- I can choose either 243Win or 270WSM in bolt action
- I can choose 6.8SPC or 308Win in semi-auto
If only had a 223 Rem and was it legal to hunt deer with 223 Rem in Quebec, I would certainly use it but limit myself to 100 yards shots.
Alex
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
Those pics PROVE that the smaller .224 centerfires are enough for deer.
But nobody can post the pics of the wounded ones that got away.
But nobody can post the pics of the wounded ones that got away.
- Location
- Eastern Edge of the Foothills
However, it is also important to note that the OP is from Vancouver Island. So his deer are about the size of a large german sheperd. So then maybe the .223 is enough.
Any of the Barnes TSX bullets will do ... I'm currently reloading TSX Barnes 70gr BT and they waack the hell out of a tuktu(caribou). Use what you have, be smart and get close and you'll be fine!
Otokiak
Rankin Inlet, NU
CANADA
p.s. if not, listen to all the others and get yourself a 300 winmag and shoot the wee deer from 400 yards away.
How about 7mm-08?
Low recoil nice for deer, but you can move up to moose without going through this again.
as usual with these types of questions, there is not enough information to give a definitive answer.
How far is the shot, is there a rest,what is the shooters ability, is deer moving, how big is the deer,all are factors that need to be taken into consideration before an informed answer can be given.
There's a heck of a diference between a 300 lb mule deer 250 yards away with the wind blowing and a little coastal blacktail weighing 100 lb standing 40 yards away and the hunter having a solid rest.The only thing they have in common is they both are deer.
But if you want a nice accurate low recoil rifle that will do the job for BOTH ,then pick a nice 6.5x55 swede and if you hold it straight it will do just fine
How far is the shot, is there a rest,what is the shooters ability, is deer moving, how big is the deer,all are factors that need to be taken into consideration before an informed answer can be given.
There's a heck of a diference between a 300 lb mule deer 250 yards away with the wind blowing and a little coastal blacktail weighing 100 lb standing 40 yards away and the hunter having a solid rest.The only thing they have in common is they both are deer.
But if you want a nice accurate low recoil rifle that will do the job for BOTH ,then pick a nice 6.5x55 swede and if you hold it straight it will do just fine
blasted_saber
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- A blue part of Ontario
Can it be done? Yes.
Would I recommend it? No. Definitely not for a beginner.
If one was absolutely confident in their skill with the rifle (including controlling "buck fever") , used a proper bullet, and only took shots under the perfect conditions, then I'd say go for it.
That situation is few and far between.
Would I recommend it? No. Definitely not for a beginner.
If one was absolutely confident in their skill with the rifle (including controlling "buck fever") , used a proper bullet, and only took shots under the perfect conditions, then I'd say go for it.
That situation is few and far between.
Realize the limitations of an intermediate powered rd and stay with-in these limits( and realize your own), sure why not? I've got a .22 hornet that was my Grandfather's prized deer rifle in the '60's. Seemed to kill deer on the Frenchman in SW Sask just dandy by accounts.
I guess they didn't know any better...the deer I mean.
I guess they didn't know any better...the deer I mean.
The OP did not inquire if it was legal he asked if it could get the job done. Deer are smaller than taliban so the answer is yes! I know of deer harvested with 22LR, shot placement is the key to any kill. Big holes do offset poor shot placement to some degree, but bottom line is good shooting is the key to good kills.
Here in the Republic of Alberta, use of a 223 is not allowed for big game.
That being said, as a varminter whom uses his 223 and 243...mostly 243 now, for deer, my preference would be to use the 243 in 95 gr. It's just me, no science...just experience in blowing holes in furry creatures.
GASP!....did I just write that...I'm now off PETA's Christmas Card list!!!
That being said, as a varminter whom uses his 223 and 243...mostly 243 now, for deer, my preference would be to use the 243 in 95 gr. It's just me, no science...just experience in blowing holes in furry creatures.
GASP!....did I just write that...I'm now off PETA's Christmas Card list!!!
Geez!! I guess the 30+ deer I have shot with the 6mm Remington and 85,95 & 100 Partitions didn't realize that!
Some people just spout off, without any real world experience to tap into.
The biggest deer taken with such, a 260 lb dressed brute, was shot at 130 yards with a 95 Partition, and dropped within 5 yards, deader than a doornail.
I think the 223 is a bit light, particularly for a new hunter, who is likely to be some excited, but it will do the job with a good bullet and precise placement.
Regards, Eagleye.
