223 for deer hunting

[longrangehuntr]

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I thought I would post this on here to see if the opinions were the same. Do you think the 223 is a good deer hunting round?

[countryboy6685]

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YES
Robert W

[Curdog]

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All deer are niot the same, even if we are talking just white tails. In the south, body size is much less than in cold weather country. Plenty of 300# bruisers with thick fat layers in the northern plains and Great Lakes areas. Those are NOT .223 deer. I have never shot a deer with a .223, but have helped track several that were. There is a clue right there. I have used a .22 hornet, but only took brain shots, and got lucky. With a .223, even with dedicated deer bullets, you have very little room for error or unforseen circumstances. You can kill deer all day with them in perfect conditions...

[countryboy6685]

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All deer are niot the same, even if we are talking just white tails. In the south, body size is much less than in cold weather country. Plenty of 300# bruisers with thick fat layers in the northern plains and Great Lakes areas. Those are NOT .223 deer. I have never shot a deer with a .223, but have helped track several that were. There is a clue right there. I have used a .22 hornet, but only took brain shots, and got lucky. With a .223, even with dedicated deer bullets, you have very little room for error or unforseen circumstances. You can kill deer all day with them in perfect conditions...

Im from NC in the south and can kill deer easly with my 22 LR out to 200 yards . Yes i ahve to pick my shot and hit what I am aiming at but I do do it on a reguler basis . I did not know you were wanting something that could take down a deer by hitting him in the leg or tail .
Robert W

[RICHFL]

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NO NO NO!

The .223 is too light for deer hunting it's weight is 55-72 grams.

If you want a Military rifle then get one of the WWII weapons. USA used 30-06 with weight of the round from 147-180 grams. The British used the .303 which weighted in at 145-170 grams. The Germany's used 8mm with a weight of 180-210 grams. The Japanese used a 7.5 or 7.7 round, weights are well over the 135 grams.

If you want an Ex-Military rifle then get one from WW-II, they have been used for deer hunting since before the war was over 60 years + ago. A problem is using military round today is they are FMJ (Full Metal Jacketed) bullets, that will pass right through a deer and not expand for the quick kill any hunter wants.

[ricky63]

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Round weight and velocity are to be considered, but also the area your hunting in, the smaller white tail here in the south do not need or require the heavy round of a 30-06, 303, 8mm, or larger...the 5.56mm is more prevalent, than these other rounds as well, so if you come upon trouble...come out on top, there are the rounds ( most likley ) to replace those that you have expended.

[TacSKS]

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Could you kill a deer cleanly with a 223.....Sure, people do it all the time.
Should you use a 223.....Wouldn't be my first choice. 223 will definitely do the job, but a pellet through the eye socket would do the job too.

Shot placement is what really matters. A .30cal won't do you a bit of good if you can't put that bullet where it needs to go. If 223 is all you have, or it's the only rifle you can hit with, then use it. But I wouldn't go out and buy a 223 for the sole purpose of hunting deer. There are better choices.

Plus it's illegal to hunt with 223 in many States (check your laws)

[Aboveyou]

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I personally think hunting deer with guns is unethical. I don't think its fair. This is why we have war. To defend convenience and those who refuse to live without it. Killing a deer with a gun islike stealing food from a woman because you can.

[PalmettoNative]

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I personally think hunting deer with guns is unethical. I don't think its fair. This is why we have war. To defend convenience and those who refuse to live without it. Killing a deer with a gun islike stealing food from a woman because you can.

please elaborate this comment. Especially "This is why we have war".

[Echo2]

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please elaborate this comment. Especially "This is why we have war".

Deer need to defend them selves......

Don't sweat the troll Palmetto...