Page 22 of the 2010 regs. (ontario) state any centre fire rifle for deer. I am not familiar with the mini-14, but as long as it can be made to hold a max of 5 shot, you should be good to go. Best to verify with the conservation officers (1-800-667-1940).
Ruger Mini 14 for deer @100 yards
- Thread starter blueflash
- Start date
- Location
- Gulfport, Mississipi
I picked up a bolt savage 11, in .223 with an included 3-9 scope for $429.00
I can easiliy do 2 inch groups with whitebox winchester. Great economy .223 low on weight too.
I can easiliy do 2 inch groups with whitebox winchester. Great economy .223 low on weight too.
Poster already stated he owned a 30-06
The mini 14 is plenty accurate for deer hunting and normal hunting conditions. If one is limiting their range (as most of us do when hunting with our .30-30's) then the .223 will hammer the deer. Just like any other caliber, use appropriate ammo (controlled expansion that is heavy for caliber) and you will not have problems. I have used it and never lost an animal. I have also shot animals much bigger than deer with a mini without issue too. .223 got a poor rep as a killer when used with FMJ or with varmint ammo. Many good hunting bullets out there in .224 caliber for handloading and some good factory ammo too.
"...for a shot at a running deer..." Can you hit a moving target, every time? If you haven't practiced on moving targets, don't take the shot.
Wrong time of year, but varmint hunting is great practice for deer. Ground hogs will run to their holes. Coyotes have been known to run too. A .223 deer bullet will do nicely for either. Just remember that you are responsible for where every bullet you fire ends up. Pay very close attention to what is behind any running game you shoot at.
"...thought the smallest bullet you could..." Depends on the Province.
"...223 is NOT legal for deer in Ontario..." Any centre fire is legal, in Ontario. As daft as that is. Pinned mag, of course.
"...not much different then .243..." Do some research into the ballistics. Pay attention to the energy, not the velocity. Trick is finding data for like deer bullet weights.
The important part of using a .223 for deer is the bullet. Most, but not all, factory ammo is loaded with varmint bullets. Varmint bullets are not suitable for deer sized game. Varmint bullets are designed to expand rapidly upon impact with little penetration. Deer require controlled expansion with sufficient penetration.
Personally, I wouldn't use a standard Mini-14. Not accurate enough. Rifling is 1 in 9 on current rifles(same in a Target), but the accuracy just isn't there in a standard rifle. Certainly not for shots at running game.
Think about a rifled barrel shotgun with slugs and 'Ghost' sights. You still have to be able to hit what you shoot at though.
Wrong time of year, but varmint hunting is great practice for deer. Ground hogs will run to their holes. Coyotes have been known to run too. A .223 deer bullet will do nicely for either. Just remember that you are responsible for where every bullet you fire ends up. Pay very close attention to what is behind any running game you shoot at.
"...thought the smallest bullet you could..." Depends on the Province.
"...223 is NOT legal for deer in Ontario..." Any centre fire is legal, in Ontario. As daft as that is. Pinned mag, of course.
"...not much different then .243..." Do some research into the ballistics. Pay attention to the energy, not the velocity. Trick is finding data for like deer bullet weights.
The important part of using a .223 for deer is the bullet. Most, but not all, factory ammo is loaded with varmint bullets. Varmint bullets are not suitable for deer sized game. Varmint bullets are designed to expand rapidly upon impact with little penetration. Deer require controlled expansion with sufficient penetration.
Personally, I wouldn't use a standard Mini-14. Not accurate enough. Rifling is 1 in 9 on current rifles(same in a Target), but the accuracy just isn't there in a standard rifle. Certainly not for shots at running game.
Think about a rifled barrel shotgun with slugs and 'Ghost' sights. You still have to be able to hit what you shoot at though.
CreamySmooth
CGN frequent flyer
Get a mini in 7.62x39 to satisfy all the naysayers, or better yet, one of the new ones in 6.8 SPC. I happen to know they work very well on deer, at last out of an XCR.
Personally, I don't see the problem with .223 for deer, use a hunting round and you will be fine. The Inuit here where I am use .223 on everything from seal to caribou to polar bear. I'd use it in Saskabush if we could. Just not out past 200 or so. That's my personal opinion though. And I do prefer something bigger, like .308, which we all know is the greatest calibre, like, ever.
Personally, I don't see the problem with .223 for deer, use a hunting round and you will be fine. The Inuit here where I am use .223 on everything from seal to caribou to polar bear. I'd use it in Saskabush if we could. Just not out past 200 or so. That's my personal opinion though. And I do prefer something bigger, like .308, which we all know is the greatest calibre, like, ever.
...and Bella Twin took a world record grizzly with a single-shot .22 near Lesser Slave Lake in northern Alberta,
I'm confident she only used premium hunting bullets in her .22 rimfire handloads
CreamySmooth
CGN frequent flyer
...and Bella Twin took a world record grizzly with a single-shot .22 near Lesser Slave Lake in northern Alberta,
I wonder if she did? Probably a partition.
Seriously, equating a .22 rimfire and a .223 is a pretty massive jump.... however, I'm not surprised someone did it...
This is the only thing that I could find in the Ontario hunting regulations about hunting Deer with a .22 caliber rifle. It clearly says, that no Rimfire is allowed, and thats a no brainer, but Centerfire is different.
Below, it says PENDING....so I am taking it as its not a law yet, but maybe I am wrong. It does say something about 400ft lbs of muzzle energy, so according to that, federal makes .223 ammunition with 400ft lbs of muzzle energy to legally shoot a Deer up to 300 yards.
This is a quote from page #4 of the Ontario Hunting Regulations from online.
PENDING – Firearms
Presently, several regulations refer to firearms of greater “projectile power” than a .22 calibre cartridge. Because the term projectile power is not standardized within the firearms industry, proposed changes will replace this terminology by “muzzle energy”, which is an industry standard term and the standard is proposed to be set at
55.3 m-kg (400 ft-lb).
w w w .federalpremium.com/products/compare/rifle_compare.aspx
For some reason, many American websites and forums talk about Whitetail hunting with AR-15 rifles shooting, oh yes .223.....and they are dropping Whitetails after Whitetails....
Below, it says PENDING....so I am taking it as its not a law yet, but maybe I am wrong. It does say something about 400ft lbs of muzzle energy, so according to that, federal makes .223 ammunition with 400ft lbs of muzzle energy to legally shoot a Deer up to 300 yards.
This is a quote from page #4 of the Ontario Hunting Regulations from online.
PENDING – Firearms
Presently, several regulations refer to firearms of greater “projectile power” than a .22 calibre cartridge. Because the term projectile power is not standardized within the firearms industry, proposed changes will replace this terminology by “muzzle energy”, which is an industry standard term and the standard is proposed to be set at
55.3 m-kg (400 ft-lb).
w w w .federalpremium.com/products/compare/rifle_compare.aspx
For some reason, many American websites and forums talk about Whitetail hunting with AR-15 rifles shooting, oh yes .223.....and they are dropping Whitetails after Whitetails....
Do you think that a Whitetail would just shake it off, if he was hit by a 65 gr bullet through the lungs with 1000 ft lbs of energy at 100 yards away........YIKES indeed.....Im not trying to start a poop storm, but back in the 70's and 80's bullet technology was'nt what it was like today.
Now a days I don't think its ridiculous with the proper ammunition, to cleanly and humanely shoot Deer with a .223 from a realistic distance like 100-150 yards max. How could someone say that a .270 is fine for Moose, but a .223 is'nt fine for a Deer?
I may be missing something, but as far as I can tell, its 100% legal to hunt deer, in Central Ontario with a Centerfire .223 cartridge. Everyone has there right to there own opinion though, so its not a big deal if we don't all agree. And just for the record, I probably won't buy a Ruger Mini 14 and use it for Deer. I have been thinking about it though, after all of the Positive stuff that has been said about Whitetail hunting in the States with .223.
For all I know, he might have ten other guns. My point was one new one for pushing bush and another new one for varmints. One always needs an excuse to buy more guns. So what's your opinion ?
Deltasilver
Regular
- Location
- Right behind you...
The trick would be in getting that nice clean broadside heart/lung shot. I know I have taken shots with the deer quartering away with larger calibers because I know I have the penetration - a .308 or 30-06 (I like the Federal Vital-shok in a 180gr) is going to give you bone shattering punch you simply can't get with a .223.
The minis have a crappy reputation for accuracy that I don't really think they deserve, but to get the kind of precision you would want for hunting moving deer out of a stand with a light bullet where optimum shot placement is key - a quality bolt gun will do a better job.
If you want a semi - Ljungman in 6.5x55, SVT40 in 7.62x54r, Hakim in 8mm, Garand in 30-06, FN49 in 7mm/8mm/30-06... If you have Mini 14 $$$ to play with, there are lots of better options.
MY $0.02
The minis have a crappy reputation for accuracy that I don't really think they deserve, but to get the kind of precision you would want for hunting moving deer out of a stand with a light bullet where optimum shot placement is key - a quality bolt gun will do a better job.
If you want a semi - Ljungman in 6.5x55, SVT40 in 7.62x54r, Hakim in 8mm, Garand in 30-06, FN49 in 7mm/8mm/30-06... If you have Mini 14 $$$ to play with, there are lots of better options.
MY $0.02
Applefarmer
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Lime Stone City
.223 clean shot at 150yds or under works. You want the Ruger, buy it and have fun. Not all Mini 14's are the same as for accuracy and you'll have to trial and test to find out what yours likes and you'll probably end up loading your own for the right mix and bullet weight.
Shot placement is and always has been number one but remember the Ruger's are not known for exceptional accuracy. You might find you have a 50yd-75yd rifle as hitting it in the hind quarters would not be a first choice.
A guy I know has one that does 6" at 100yds in a vice. 30-30 looks reallllllly good after that.
Shot placement is and always has been number one but remember the Ruger's are not known for exceptional accuracy. You might find you have a 50yd-75yd rifle as hitting it in the hind quarters would not be a first choice.
A guy I know has one that does 6" at 100yds in a vice. 30-30 looks reallllllly good after that.
I would'nt say that I am trying to pull a mind job, I'm just curious to see what everyone says. I have helped guide Deer at a hunt camp for several years now, and I have scene pretty wierd things over the years. Hunting Deer with a .223 would'nt be one of them. I know that in the states, lots of guys use AR-15s for hunting wild bore, and they are alot harder to bring down than a Whitetail.
Now obviously they have alot more experience hunting with a .223 than us, since they CAN hunt with a AR-15. With that much more experience with a specific caliber, I take there word for it if they say that a .223 will work fine for Deer at less than 125 yards.
When guys are just answering NO it won't work, with very little experience hunting with a .223, I get the feeling that they are saying NO IT WON"T WORK because that's what they were told, so thats what they say without really knowing.
I am not trying to mess around with anyone, I just wanted to see if anyone has experience hunting Deer @ less than 125 yards with a .223 semi auto. I know that the Ruger Mini 14 has come along very well over the years. They used to have a bad reputation for accuracy when they first came out, but I know they are just as accurate now as a Browning, or Remington semi, so thats not a issue for me.
P.S. I have 2- 30/30 rifles (well 1 now because I just sold one yesterday) and I know they work well for deer at close range also, but I just want a semi auto, and a Ruger Mini-14 is as small and light as they come, so it would be perfect IMHO. But it is just a opinion. No offence to anyone.
Now obviously they have alot more experience hunting with a .223 than us, since they CAN hunt with a AR-15. With that much more experience with a specific caliber, I take there word for it if they say that a .223 will work fine for Deer at less than 125 yards.
When guys are just answering NO it won't work, with very little experience hunting with a .223, I get the feeling that they are saying NO IT WON"T WORK because that's what they were told, so thats what they say without really knowing.
I am not trying to mess around with anyone, I just wanted to see if anyone has experience hunting Deer @ less than 125 yards with a .223 semi auto. I know that the Ruger Mini 14 has come along very well over the years. They used to have a bad reputation for accuracy when they first came out, but I know they are just as accurate now as a Browning, or Remington semi, so thats not a issue for me.
P.S. I have 2- 30/30 rifles (well 1 now because I just sold one yesterday) and I know they work well for deer at close range also, but I just want a semi auto, and a Ruger Mini-14 is as small and light as they come, so it would be perfect IMHO. But it is just a opinion. No offence to anyone.
