Is The .223 Remington Legal for Deer Hunting in BC?
- Thread starter purple
- Start date
You sir, are an astute observer of human behaviour and psyche...
However, without tongue in cheek, closer to my personal belief, is that .22 cal CF can most definitely kill and prove lethal on any NA game, but that does not mean that it should be employed or promoted as a regular practice. If the OP is talking about sub-100 pound Blacktail deer, then sure, use a stout bullet in your .223. As the target mass increases, so should the mass (energy) of the projectile. A few days ago a friend shot and killed a 350 pound black bear with a .223 and a 55 SP... shot at a distance of 50 yards, it went 40 yards and died, no exit wound, lungs were jello... but does this mean we should all head afield with our coyote rifles after big bears? It makes me cringe to hear stories of small cartridges used on big animals, because of how it shifts the thinking of the readers of those stories. I don't think we should narrow the margins for a clean, lethal kill that much, to the point where, after squeezing the trigger, we start saying "Hail Mary's" that the bullet hits between the ribs rather than splashes on a rib.
At any rate... there are always plenty of voices saying "go for it." There should be a few less enthusiastic voice expressing caution.
The OPs thread asked if it was legal for deer, which in BC it is. No where did he mention bear in his post and even goes on to say that he himself would not use a 223 for deer.
As the 223 is legal for big game in MB as well, I can tell him that it is quite effective at humanely taking a deer with the proper bullet and shot placement. I have used 22 CFs to take at least one deer for the last 25yrs and have never had to look for a wounded deer after I pulled the trigger. When I thought the 22-250 was far superior to the 223 I use to carry one. Now from actual use I have found that when you take your time and place the bullet where you want it to go it still adds up to a dead deer.
Now that my kids have started to sit in the blind with me I carry a 223 or 204 in case a coyote comes by but they do not have the experience or practise to take a shot with a 22 CF so they use a 6mm or 25 cal rifle.
As the 223 is legal for big game in MB as well, I can tell him that it is quite effective at humanely taking a deer with the proper bullet and shot placement. I have used 22 CFs to take at least one deer for the last 25yrs and have never had to look for a wounded deer after I pulled the trigger. When I thought the 22-250 was far superior to the 223 I use to carry one. Now from actual use I have found that when you take your time and place the bullet where you want it to go it still adds up to a dead deer.
Now that my kids have started to sit in the blind with me I carry a 223 or 204 in case a coyote comes by but they do not have the experience or practise to take a shot with a 22 CF so they use a 6mm or 25 cal rifle.
I have my Grandfather's Deer gun from the 1960's. A Savage 219 in 22 Hornet; he'd have said a lot of the same things.
And yeah; OK...I'm trolling. It's been a long isolation with too many 'Fudd' / 'Tactifool' threads...no good clean debates about stopping power or lack of...it's quite refreshing to see one again.
And I hear all the arguments and for the most part they seem valid. They sort of skip the 'Lowest Common Denominator' issue...not everyone is going to 'Splurge' for the good ammunition. Or spend the time to ensure that they and their rifle can make a clean hit.
That cannot be argued though; because we all have an elevated opinion of our judgement and skill level, "Not me by God, I'm a tackdriver at 400 yards!"
And that is where I have issues with the 223. I do have a couple 22/250 that seem to work well on 'yotes...but 223 ( or 22/250) isn't a Big Game cartridge in AB last I checked. So I cannot opine as to their effectiveness on Big Game.
But I always take my 32-20 when I go onto the creek...lest I see a cougar...
And thanks all for a refreshing post, I mean that too. Hey: I admitted in being a Troll, albeit a friendly one, lol. Nice to not tread so carefully lest someone take offence.
There are deer and then there are deer... there is a sizable difference between an 80 pound blacktail and a 250+ Muley/WT buck.
Question; Your kids are using a 6mm or .25 cal, so you have those rifles available... why do you choose the .223? It can't be a meat damage thing, there would be little difference on a lung shot... so why reduce the margins to that extent? Serious question, not trolling.
The deer are very large where we hunt, and I have bailed on using or recommending the 6mm cartridges for hunting them. We start at the 6.5mm group with 120 grain and up bullets... not because the lesser cartridges can't do the job, simply because it gives you a little more margin to make a clean kill when things don't unfold perfectly.
There are deer and then there are deer... there is a sizable difference between an 80 pound blacktail and a 250+ Muley/WT buck.
Question; Your kids are using a 6mm or .25 cal, so you have those rifles available... why do you choose the .223? It can't be a meat damage thing, there would be little difference on a lung shot... so why reduce the margins to that extent? Serious question, not trolling.
The deer are very large where we hunt, and I have bailed on using or recommending the 6mm cartridges for hunting them. We start at the 6.5mm group with 120 grain and up bullets... not because the lesser cartridges can't do the job, simply because it gives you a little more margin to make a clean kill when things don't unfold perfectly, particularly important on the big bodies Northern timber bucks that are in excess of 300 pounds.
Mumbles Marble Mouth
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lower Mainland
I remember one of the Cabela’s hunting games your rifle was a Ruger Mini-14 and you brought that #### to Africa to takedown a rhino.
It's just flesh .
I'm in alberta where some uneducated bureaucrat decided we can not use .223 for big game hunting.
22lr was my grandfather's deer gun of choice way back in the day.
Also I remember reading a journal entry from the turn of the century where the author noted he had met a group of natives and they used 22shorts as they considered 22lr to be overkill and a waste for deer hunting.
I'm in alberta where some uneducated bureaucrat decided we can not use .223 for big game hunting.
22lr was my grandfather's deer gun of choice way back in the day.
Also I remember reading a journal entry from the turn of the century where the author noted he had met a group of natives and they used 22shorts as they considered 22lr to be overkill and a waste for deer hunting.
You could, but nobody really does. The hunters using the .223 for deer and bear are using bullets designed for hunting animals of that size, not gophers. Although the 22 WM rimfire seems to be a very popular choice of some natives for hunting animals up to moose in some parts of BC.
I know that you can kill a 300 lb black bear cleanly with a .223 and one Barnes bullet, but I have no experience with a 22 magnum on moose!
It’s not just flesh it’s a wild animal that deserves a quick clean death. Just cause grandpa used a 22 doesn’t make it a good idea.
I am however probably going to try and whack a blacktail with a .224 accubond this fall
I never said I don’t use my 6mms or 25cals to hunt deer with. I hunt three permanent stands mostly as walking is an issue the last couple years. My one stand is on land that I have exclusive rights to with a healthy population. It is however only one mile from town limits so I chose the 223 for the noise factor and shots are always less than 150 yds from that stand. The land owner insists that I shoot him a young buck for meat every year. I use the 223 and shoot for the head or base of the neck. I never shoot more than one shot and he gets a deer every year. My other stands have a better chance at bigger bucks but shots are longer so unless my kids are along to shoot I leave the smaller rifles at home. The only deer I shot twice with a 22 CF was a 170 class buck shot in the ribs and after field dressing it turned out the second shot wasn’t needed as he was running dead but still went 50yds before piling up.
I don’t say everyone should be using a 223 for deer but that in my case they are legal and have been very effective so I don’t hesitate to use one. If I have any doubts about the shot I will pass on it.
Obviously my 32-20 is good for Cougar defence... by olden day rules anyhow.
And be leary of every old timer story that you've heard...they could be more FOS than anyone. No way to prove or disprove their claims.
Kinda like Head shots will do...that is gonna light up the thread. If you have to ask why...you'll know in an hour or two. People who claim to headshoot deer either don't have a clue...or...just don't have clue period.
And be leary of every old timer story that you've heard...they could be more FOS than anyone. No way to prove or disprove their claims.
Kinda like Head shots will do...that is gonna light up the thread. If you have to ask why...you'll know in an hour or two. People who claim to headshoot deer either don't have a clue...or...just don't have clue period.
Last edited:
In the past I have not taken well to Hoytcannon's sarcasm and bumped heads in a few threads over the years hehehe
But in this case I'd have to agree with his point of view in this thread.
I hunt coastal blacktails where the geographic line between blacktails and interior mulies intermingles and the deer interbreed.
This gives us the possibility of hybrids which are much larger than the usual 80pound average. These deer run in the 120 to 140lbs class.
I use a .303 british 180gr as it puts them down fast in that steep mountain terrain where I do not want them to run anywhere LOL
I intended to build a .338fed stag-10 as my new blacktail rifle as bears are common and good size, not to mention the wolves I encountered a couple or so years back and my partner and I had to shoot our way out of there LOL
223 would be fine for the coastal sitka deer ,the smallest of the coastal "mule deer" subspecies folks often refered to as blacktails and I'd even say appropriate with a good bullet.
But in this case I'd have to agree with his point of view in this thread.
I hunt coastal blacktails where the geographic line between blacktails and interior mulies intermingles and the deer interbreed.
This gives us the possibility of hybrids which are much larger than the usual 80pound average. These deer run in the 120 to 140lbs class.
I use a .303 british 180gr as it puts them down fast in that steep mountain terrain where I do not want them to run anywhere LOL
I intended to build a .338fed stag-10 as my new blacktail rifle as bears are common and good size, not to mention the wolves I encountered a couple or so years back and my partner and I had to shoot our way out of there LOL
223 would be fine for the coastal sitka deer ,the smallest of the coastal "mule deer" subspecies folks often refered to as blacktails and I'd even say appropriate with a good bullet.
Last edited:
no good for big deer, read it online
Shot placement and bullet construction are the key when filling freezers with the .224. I have shot a pile of animals with 5.56 with nary a problem. A number of bears have been on that list as well and all were one shot dirt-naps. Heavy for caliber, well constructed bullets fit the bill though.
