223 for deer hunting

**longrangehunter** · 02-17-2012, 11:59 AM

for every person that says they shoot big game and kill them all day with a 10/22/ 223 there is on average 10 that miss and or wound the animal where is dies and is never found. A lot of people think they are better shots than the actually are and if you don't believe me just watch any of those hunting shows on the outdoor channel. some of them miss all the time or end up shooting the animal 2 or 3 times. I would like to see someone shoot an elk or moose with a 10/22 so I can see what happens( moose gets angry and runs you down)
Do me a favor as well as all the other sportsmen and sportswomen,If you want to push the limit do it on the range not when you are hunting.

**jhass515** · 02-18-2012, 07:07 AM

How do you know what kind of shot anyone else is? Who shoots deer all day long anyway? I've. Heard 2 much crybabyin on this board. Peace I'm out

**RICHFL** · 02-18-2012, 10:57 AM

I have hunted animals for over 40 years now. Aboveyou does not understand what harvesting an animal does for nature.

1. It cuts down the population of specific types of animals (Deer, Geese, Duck, etc.). Overpopulation can cause disease spreading outside local areas! There is more deer in the US now then the mid 1700's! They are in better health do to hunting.

2. Most hunters leave very little left over that is not used by himself and family.

3. Specific animals are hunted due to their damaging effect on farms (PIGS), or ranches (Coyote), They cost millions of dollars to the individual farmers and ranchers. I give the Wild Pig meat to the local food bank and they make pork sausage to feed the poor!

4. The states keep a good record on the hunted species to ensure that the herds do not become over hunted so that their numbers are were nature can support and replenish them.

5. Cost of licenses and gear provides JOBS to the local community!!!

6. If gun hunting is no challenge for you then use a bow and arrows. Now you have to get within 40 yards to get a hit!! Or try black powder guns like in the 1900's. You have to get within 100 yards to get a good hit!. My favorite is the 12 ga black powder shotgun 50 yards max and can take any animal in North American!

So what is so wrong with hunting?

**RICHFL** · 02-18-2012, 11:06 AM

While in the military I attend a survival school at 9000 feet in the Rockies. We were given a knife and snare wire and told to survive for 2 weeks. Well we had one guy (My partner) who I still feel was touched in the head!, climb a tree and wait until a deer came under it to lay down. he killed it with the knife and we ate very will for the 2 weeks. We traded for fish and other game from the other teams as we saw them.

The instructors wanted to know how we gained weight while everyone else lost over 25 pounds each!!! They still tell this story at the beginning of class every year.

**longrangehunter** · 02-19-2012, 12:52 AM

seriously 200 yards with a 22,do you know how much your 40 grain bullet drops at that range? 14-15 inches and you are able to take head shots or hit the spine. you need to go teach sniper school at fort benning. i in no way think hunting is wrong and i hunt with muzzleloader and bow as well. my question asked about hunting with a 223. i dont care what happened in the 1800s or that you jumped out of a tree and killed a deer. no offence intended just want to stay on track.

**stairman** · 02-19-2012, 07:01 AM

If all I had was a 223 in hand and starving, Id take a headshot I suppose. Otherwise Id use the proper weapon for the proper animal. Wounding and not recovering sucks!

**westy** · 02-19-2012, 02:27 PM

The best shooters in the world miss some times and that is under the best conditions on the range shooting paper. Nobody hits exactly where they want every time without fail, let alone in the woods where anything can happen.

**longrangehunter** · 02-21-2012, 03:42 PM

@ Westy; that is my point and the fact that people on here are saying that a 10/22 is reliable and accurate enough to shoot deer at 200 plus yards with head and neck shots because they think they can is what I have a problem with. It will never change though and people will continue to try and do it and never think twice.

**Johnny73** · 02-21-2012, 06:47 PM

Most of this debate, stems from guys that buy an AR or M4 and customise it....They get it dialed in and get good with it and they want to shoot something other than paper and water jugs....I recommend using it to shoot coyotes....It a great type of hunt and most of the time the coyotes are moving pretty quick and rarely stop moving....

**westy** · 02-25-2012, 12:54 PM

@ longrangehunter Head shots are marginal at best under the best conditions in my oppinion, same with neck shots. The highest percentage shot in my oppinion is center line just behind the shoulder as it leaves room for error. Naturally that shot requires sufficiant power to ensure quick clean kills. .22 or .223 don't cut the mustard in fact I quit useing a 30-30 many nyears ago because it lacked the power to kill quickly every time. I switched to a .444 and have found it to work great. Farmers that I know who shoot deer with a .22 don't head shoot them they shoot them in the rib cage so as the deer will get out of the field where it is out of the way before it dies. They don't like to tell that story to the public though because they know how wrong it is to do so.