.223 For Deer Hunting

[DDawg]

I've got a beautiful Ruger #1 .223 that I would love to deer hunt with.. I'm not looking to kill any monster bucks; I need to thin out some does on our property.
It likes 60 grain bullets, and my buddy who's a much better shot than me can cover a 5 shot group with a dime at 100 yds with it.
I traditionally hunt with a higher caliber but I'm dyin to hunt with this Ruger.
What do ya'll think about hunting with this caliber? Should I aim for the traditional heart lung shot? Some people have said to aim for the head or neck, but I would rather not make such a high risk shot.
Any opinions are appreciated.

 

[GunTech]

What's your twist rate? If you only take reasonable shots, the 223 will get it done. I like the Barnes TSX for 223.

 

[W.E.G.]

Check your post.

I think you just said your .223 likes 160 grain bullets.

 

[baz]

160 grain bullets in .223? Must be darts.

 

[GunTech]

Naw. Depleted uranium.

 

[ndolson]

I was told by the guy that I bought my Savage 10FP in .223 from that using 64 GR softpoint handloads, deer would be well within reason. Whether or not that's true, I don't know. I just pole holes in paper.

 

[W.E.G.]

Folks hunt deer with .223 all the time. Some states prohibit it. A well-placed shot from a reasonable distance with a good .223 hunting bullet will leave an ordinary deer DRT.

Make good shots, because you won't want to track a deer shot with a .223.
No exit wound. Very little EXTERNAL bleeding.

 

[mod700]

i agree with W.E.G. as long as you dont get crazy and try to take long shots, and place them well you should be fine shooting them. as far as the neck and head shots.........hmm its all up to how good you feel about putting the bullet where you want it. i usually only shoot head and neck shots to finish them off if its needed. sometimes i spine them.

 

[TehK1w1]

Previous posts have said it for me, but I will reiterate-if you know your limits and shoot accordingly, a .223 should be fine.

 

[H&Hhunter]

The .223 is not a suitable deer round. PERIOD!

It can be pressed into service and it is capable of killing deer sized game with perfect shot placement. But it is not a good choice and you are begging for trouble using any .22 caliber rifle on big game.

I've killed deer with a .223 I've even killed cow elk with one but it isn't a wise choice.

 

[learningman]

I've hunted deer with 55grn ballistic tip bullets for nine years now and have yet to not bring an animal home. Shot placement and knowing when to pass for a better oportunity is the key in my book. I use a Smith and Wesson model 1500 I bought off an old rancher near my folks place. Been a great gun and a fun round to shoot. I've taken some pretty "long" shots but the animals were broadside and in perfect position for the kill. I've never lost a deer I hit with it. Good luck hunting.

 

[glockman19]

The .223 is not a suitable deer round. PERIOD!

I agree

Sounds like the same guy who posted on calguns.net,

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=66550

Here's my respose to that guy:

Deer hunting with a .223 IMHO is the wrong thing to do. Use the right tool for the job. I hunt with a Remington 700 CDL in .30-06.

I would consider the use of a .223 irresponsible and inhumane on a deer hunt

Your the kind of person (notice that I didn't say "Hunter") that gives hunters a bad name. Hopefully there won't be any wounded deer running around the woods after you leave

As others have stated...Good Hunting is doing the right thing when no one is watching.

Is it legal to use an AR15 type rifle - yes
Is the AR-15 an appropriate dear rifle - NO
Is it legal to use .223 caliber ammo - yes
Is the .223 caliber an appropriate Dear (Large Game) round - NO
Is it legal to use a semi auto rifle - yes
Is a magazine that holds 10 rounds legal - yes
A magazine holding 20 or 30 rounds is legal too.

Have you ever hunted deer? probably NOT based on your post.

 

[GunTech]

Cripes. The difference between a heavy 223 and a light 243 isn't that large, and yet the 243 is deemed an appropriate cartridge and the 223 isn't. As someone else observed when looking at this same debate, in days of yore, rounds like the 32-20 were employed to kill deer on a regualr basis. Have deer gotten that much tougher?

My neighbor, and elderly gentleman and quite the outdoorsman and character, routinely dispatched his deer with a 22 hornet.

It all comes down to understanding the limitation of the tool. a 223 at 100 yards has more energy than just about any handgun does at the muzzle, and yet I seldom hear compainst about handgun hunters using weapons of inadequate power.

I just donlt understand why some people feel they need a super-ultra-magnum to shoot a modest sized buck. Such a round won't make up for a badly bungles shot. Better to have an accurate rifle that you can use effectively, IMHO.

I ouldn't take a shot at a deer with a 223 past 200 yards (and better still, under 100). But I wouldn't try a 300 yard shot with a 30-30 either.

 

[marksman13]

guntech is on the money. Use the right tool for the job. A properly placed 223 will do the job every time. A poorly place 300 WSM will rarely get the job done. Pay no mind to those who reccomend against a 223. They do not know your situation or your skill level. That is why I hate blanket statements about what will or will not work to effectively kill a deer.

In the future, try using the search function. It will save some time and hard feelings. Good luck with whatever you decide is best for you.

 

[Dos]

Use 243 and larger.

 

[Big Daddy K]

nevermind

 

[Grumulkin]

I think 160 grain bullets in a 223 are too light. You need at least 220 grain bullets to kill anything with it other than maybe a rat.

 

[Kimber1911_06238]

possible, yes....ideal, no. 160 grain bullets? i'm not sure that they exist.

 

[jmorris]

“The difference between a heavy 223 and a light 243 isn't that large”.

A 68gr 223 is going to be at 2900fps (1270ft/lb) where a 70gr 243 is running a 3500fps (1904 ft/lb) 30% is IMO a large gap. FWIW I don’t really like 243 either, not because it lacks sufficient energy, but I like to use heaver projectiles (140gr and up) and that moves you to 6.5mm +. Can you kill one with a 223, sure. Was it designed to be used as a deer hunting cartage, no. This topic reminds me of the photo below.

 

[phantomak47]

When it comes to handguns, "friends don't let friends shoot mouse guns"....I think that this applies to hunting calibers and hunting rifles .............


These threads pop up every 3 weeks with out fail, its like people want to see how little they can get away with in terms of caliber. I still believe , use enough gun.....................................

 

[learningman]

Caliber debates are always a subjective topic. One person see's things one way while another see's a different way. It dosen't matter if it's a 223 or a 375 H&H. There always someone who will dissagree with the topic in one form or another. Thats what makes a good debate, differing opinions. Is the 223 to small for deer, I don't think so if one takes the time and makes a quality shot for a good clean kill. I can honestly say that for the eight to nine years I've used a 223 I have never lost a deer that I've hit. I'm not saying I'm some supreme marksman, but my shots where on targets that gave the best chance for sucess. I didn't shoot at a deer otherwise. But regardless the size of caliber all shots should be taken that way. If your not comfortable with the size of caliber, then find one you are comfortable and use it. I've seen a deer dropped in it's tracks with a 22lr. Not the most idealic round for sure but for that application it worked. But then in my opinion a the 300 win. mag. I use for elk is to big for deer. To each his own. Good luck and happy hunting to all.

 

[Art Eatman]

If you're mostly just thinning out does, and doing the usual Georgia short-range shooting, the last factor is your own emotional thing. If you don't get all excited and have a big adrenalin rush, it's easy to bust the neck or wait for that perfect cross-body shot.

While I'm generally down on cartridges with less "oomph" than something like a .243 with an 85-grain bullet or heavier, modern bullets in a .223 will do the job within the described parameters.

I dunno. It's the usual deal, I guess, about skill and control. A really skilled shooter for whom thinning is just another day at the office isn't the same deal as an excited Joe Average.

Art

 

[Harley Quinn]

Yes it has been done. But the 100 grain out of 243 or 6mm is where most are starting I'd think. That was the problem with the 244, it could not stabilize that 100 grain bullet.

Must be a reason, many locations want you to use a bullet larger than 22

 

[Sunray]

"...a heavy 223 and a light 243..." It's not so much the weight as it is the construction of the bullet. Most .223 bullets used in factory ammo are made for varmints. Varmint bullets designed for rapid expansion upon impact without much penetration. These are NOT suitable for deer.
.243 bullets under 85 grains are usually varmint bullets too. They're not suitable for deer either.
Use the right bullet.
Up here, any centre fire is legal for deer. I still wouldn't use a .223 though. A small Ontario deer is the size of a large Texas deer. 300 pounds live weight isn't unusual. The deer get fed well on the miles and miles of soy bean and corn fields with no natural predators.

 

[GunTech]

You can use a 100gn bullet out of an original 244 if you don't use a spitzer. It's the length of the bullet that determines the stability for a given twist, not the weight.

RE 223 hunting bullets, I opt for well designed modern ones, which have very much changes the game. I've seen more than a few 62gn BNarnes TSX go in one side of a deer and out the other. A 223 has very little recoil, and is easy to shoot accurately, even for someone of small stature, like a child. Better an accuracte shot than a flinch and a miss or bad shot.

The shooter is what makes the difference. Bell dispatched over 1100 elephants, most with nothing more than a 7x57.