.223 for deer

[CPTKILLER]

I lost a deer that I hit at least 4 times with an AR180 in Texas. That was using the available 223 soft point ammo available than in 1970. After that, I quit using it for deer hunting.

[Darryl]

I am old school. Get a nice bolt rifle in 270, 308 or 30-06, Mount a decent 3x to 9x scope. It'll last you a life time and it will take down just about all game animal in North America. I have had my Rem. 700 308W since the late 1970s. Can't count how many animals it has taken.

Be the guy they talk about: "beware of the man with one hunting rifle" and the one about the old geezer that bought a box of "30 ought six" ammo and really "bought" 19 deer.

[carltonb]

fusion 223 loads are all that i trust, and seen it drop deer DRT(dead right there), + they are bonded and the skived tip will send shock wave threw game and just destroy everything from what ive seen in FL, but maybe not the best for full size MW corn fed bucks, but thats 223 in general for dear, w.e. you do dont shoot anything that isnt bonded, seen some my friends litterally chasing deer threw the woulds shooting Win SPs at fleeing deer from my stand lol

[YoopermikeXDM]

I have always used a 30.06 and a 44mag rifle, both have had great success..... never saw a valid reason to try anything else, if it isn't broke don't fix it!

[griz11]

What was used before 30:06 and 270 small cal. rounds some pistol rounds used in the old model 92 it dosent take a cannon to kill a deer just a well placed shot.

[wreckerman5357]

Bottom line is .223 is a terrible choice for hunting deer. The only way I would use one is if it was a survival situation and that was all I had. If a .223 is all you have to hunt deer and you cannot afford an actual deer rifle, sell the .223 and get a rifle chambered in a proper deer rifle caliber. No .22 caliber centerfires are legal for deer hunting in my state and that's the way it should be. The minimum here is a .24 caliber centerfire to hunt deer. If you want to hunt deer get the proper rifle: .243, 7mm-08, .270, .30-30, .308, .30-06, etc. The list of good calibers for deer goes on for days.

[Bultx1215]

Your opinion..not bottom line.

[TheCsh89]

Thats what I use, i think thats all you need

[Charles B]

The 223 would not be my first choice, but if I did hunt wih one I would consider the range and penetration limitations of this cartridge.

[wreckerman5357]

Originally Posted by Bultx1215

Your opinion..not bottom line.

You are correct, so I will rephrase. Bottom line is there are many calibers to choose that are superior to the .223 for deer.