.223 for deer?
- Thread starter stanmanplan
- Start date
hillbillyshooter
New member
WV
As long as it is a centerfire rifle, it is legal here.
As long as it is a centerfire rifle, it is legal here.
Dr. Strangelove
New member
GA
From the GA regulation book:
Interesting, as this technically means a Raven Arms .25acp is now a legal deer pistol as long as you use expanding bullets....I guess they're just hoping people will use good sense.
By the way, Topthis, .243 Win used to be the effective minimum here in GA. There was a formula of a certain amount foot pounds of energy at such & such a distance, but they did away with all that sometime while I was living out of state and now pretty much anything except rimfire is legal for deer. Crossbows used to be only for the handicapped but now are also legal. It makes things easier on everbody but the deer, I guess.
From the GA regulation book:
Interesting, as this technically means a Raven Arms .25acp is now a legal deer pistol as long as you use expanding bullets....I guess they're just hoping people will use good sense.
By the way, Topthis, .243 Win used to be the effective minimum here in GA. There was a formula of a certain amount foot pounds of energy at such & such a distance, but they did away with all that sometime while I was living out of state and now pretty much anything except rimfire is legal for deer. Crossbows used to be only for the handicapped but now are also legal. It makes things easier on everbody but the deer, I guess.
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Yep, we all know that. And we all hunt in the real world, too. A deer often doesn't just stand there, perfectly still, perfectly broadside, with a perfect neon bullseye floating right between it's ribs, waiting for you to shoot right there, perfectly on the spot. Newsflash: sometimes the deer will be angled a little bit away or towards you, or facing you, or it'll have a big rib or shoulder bone that you just happen to hit, or it'll move right at the instant that you shoot, or you'll hiccup/cough right when you pull the trigger, or a gust of wind will suddenly blow when you take the shot and move your muzzle/treestand, or your trigger finger will be numb from the -20 degree temp that day, or, or, or, or...a million reasons that you might not take a perfect (or even excellent shot) at a deer. And when that happens, it is nice to shoot a caliber that propels a heavier bullet almost as fast as the .223. Like a .243, or a .270, or a .308 Winchester (which is what the really smart hunters use
), or even a .30-'06. So that you can smash through bone, penetrate through a thick part, put a hurtin' on the non-vitals, almost every time.Why does this question keep coming up? If you want an increased chance of wounding a deer, then use the .223. Have fun tracking it for miles, and good luck finding it.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
But, Fremmer! If you shoot 'em in the white spot with a .223, you don't have to track! (My first deer, a patient old doe, was killed that way via a .222. I still recall my uncle's instruction as I aimed--and aimed--and aimed: "Dammit! Shoot the ol' bitch!")
(My first deer, a patient old doe, was killed that way via a .222. I still recall my uncle's instruction as I aimed--and aimed--and aimed: "Dammit! Shoot the ol' bitch!")Necks are A great Place
Art, don't you read the posts? Surely after killing all those deer with A 223 cal. you should realize that's not near enough gun, or is it? Seriously it is A thrill to drop them in their Tracks with A 222,223 or 22-250 cal. isn't it? I'm glad I finally learn to do that after all those years using the Big Bangers.
Art, don't you read the posts? Surely after killing all those deer with A 223 cal. you should realize that's not near enough gun, or is it? Seriously it is A thrill to drop them in their Tracks with A 222,223 or 22-250 cal. isn't it? I'm glad I finally learn to do that after all those years using the Big Bangers.
USE IT
I use 65gr steel hollow points.
I shot a deer with one and it absolutely TORE IT APART. I could not believe the internal damage it did to the deer. The shot was in the ribs, SHATTERED them and oblitterated the lungs. It fell over and tried to get up, so I shot it 2 more times to put it out of its misery and it just croaked.
I shot it with an AR-15, 16" barrel. I have a fixed 6x scope. with open sights under the scope.
Every single shot was amazing...the exit wounds were over an inch wide.
It isnt my PRIMARY rifle, but it is all I had at the time and it worked.
I use 65gr steel hollow points.
I shot a deer with one and it absolutely TORE IT APART. I could not believe the internal damage it did to the deer. The shot was in the ribs, SHATTERED them and oblitterated the lungs. It fell over and tried to get up, so I shot it 2 more times to put it out of its misery and it just croaked.
I shot it with an AR-15, 16" barrel. I have a fixed 6x scope. with open sights under the scope.
Every single shot was amazing...the exit wounds were over an inch wide.
It isnt my PRIMARY rifle, but it is all I had at the time and it worked.
fisherman66
New member
I'm not sure I'd find that amazing when compared to more energetic rounds that leave 3-4" exit. I guess for a .223 that's much better than one that grenades in the first inch or so.
Swampghost
New member
The 5.65/.223 round was originally designed to kill a man out to 400m with FMJ's. Men tend to be about the same weight as deer. With an expanding bullet that is allowed or required when hunting there is more energy absorbed.
The only problems that we had with it down here were that a blade of sawgrass would deflect the small projectile and the exit wounds/shocked tissue would ruin a lot of good eating meat. Head shots became the order of the day.
The only problems that we had with it down here were that a blade of sawgrass would deflect the small projectile and the exit wounds/shocked tissue would ruin a lot of good eating meat. Head shots became the order of the day.
Buzzard Bait
New member
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SavageSniper
New member
Must be deer season again. I can tell by the "is the .223 enough to kill a deer post". Yes it will, seen it myself. Did it last year and I will add that I have never seen as large of a blood trail in my life. No there is not as much margin for error but if we are talkin ethics, there sould be no margin. I am proud to say that I can hit quarters at 200 yards with mine consistantly. It took me a while to get a rifle like that. It is more the shooter than the round. Dont use something you are not comfortable with.
Ethics
I always thought Ethics were for Doctors,Lawyers and such. After all we kill these animals. Why does it matter what caliber we use if it does the job in an orderly, humane fashion. I can kill deer with 223cal. and 22-250cal. just as dead as with my 30-06cal. If its legal where you hunt, than I consider it to also be ethical.
I always thought Ethics were for Doctors,Lawyers and such. After all we kill these animals. Why does it matter what caliber we use if it does the job in an orderly, humane fashion. I can kill deer with 223cal. and 22-250cal. just as dead as with my 30-06cal. If its legal where you hunt, than I consider it to also be ethical.
Have not killed a deer with a .223 in decades. Would not deer hunt with one now because the ammo I prefer to hunt with is not legal for use on deer in most states.
I hunt hogs with the .223 and the military 5.56mm M193 ball round. Have killed a few dozen of hogs with that round. Have seldom had to shoot a hog more than once and have never lost one. The bullet penetrates about 5-6" yaws and comes apart. It shreds the heart, lungs and, quite often, the diaphram. Sometimes the liver is also damaged by bullet fragments.
These are two boars that i killed earlier this year with the .223 using the 5.56mm M193 round. The red one ran about 50 yards after being hit. The black one bang flopped.
I hunt hogs with the .223 and the military 5.56mm M193 ball round. Have killed a few dozen of hogs with that round. Have seldom had to shoot a hog more than once and have never lost one. The bullet penetrates about 5-6" yaws and comes apart. It shreds the heart, lungs and, quite often, the diaphram. Sometimes the liver is also damaged by bullet fragments.
These are two boars that i killed earlier this year with the .223 using the 5.56mm M193 round. The red one ran about 50 yards after being hit. The black one bang flopped.
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SavageSniper
New member
Ethics apply to all, by contract or not.
O.K. guys, I've thought about my last post for a few days now.
I'm just an average shot. And the deer in Nebraska can get to be fairly big (you Northerner/Canadian guys, pipe down!!!), so be kind and let me say....perhaps the .223 is fine for those who are good shots on the appropriate-sized deer, especially in the South where they don't get so big. Fair enough?!?
I'm just an average shot. And the deer in Nebraska can get to be fairly big (you Northerner/Canadian guys, pipe down!!!
), so be kind and let me say....perhaps the .223 is fine for those who are good shots on the appropriate-sized deer, especially in the South where they don't get so big. Fair enough?!? armedtotheteeth
New member
Ive killed lots of deer with my Ar15 using Vmaxs to the ear. The beauty of the AR is its accuracy. Havent had a runner yet. The deer always fall on the spot. I wont take a chest shot, cuz i know it wont do it. Wait until the deer turns away for you and clock him in the back of the head, or ear. Dont use FMJ or Match ammo. I killed a really nice 8 point.. over 160 pounds with one shot, to the ear. I usually limit myself to shots under 150 yards with the Ar 15 on deer. Pigs.. out to 300 no big deal. I have a 300 Win, and a 30-30, and numerous 30-06s and a 338 Federal. i prefer the 223. Cheaper ammo, Im handy with it, Its very durn accurate, and it doesnt destroy 8 pounds of meat. Oh, its also legal here.
Shot placement is everything
If you shoot enough deer, sooner or later you will wind up loosing one or having to trail it for hours and that is regardless of the caliber. A .458 win mag will wound a 120 pound deer if you make a poor shot. Is a .223 enough gun? Yep, if you are enough of a hunter.
The most successful whitetail hunter I know, used a .223/20 ga. Savage Mod. 24 and took dozens of Georgia whitetails and rarely (if ever) lost one. In my own personal experience, I shot a nice 10 point eastern whitetail with a 165 gr. Sierra PH out of my .30-06 at 60 yards. I found pieces of bone 4 inches long along with a lot of blood at the site. I followed the blood trail for nearly 1/2 mile before finally loosing it. A week later my neighbor found the deer at his pond. It seems the round hit in the front shoulder joint and fragmented and did not penetrate. Bad, but hardly an indication that the old '06 is not adequate for the job.
If you shoot enough deer, sooner or later you will wind up loosing one or having to trail it for hours and that is regardless of the caliber. A .458 win mag will wound a 120 pound deer if you make a poor shot. Is a .223 enough gun? Yep, if you are enough of a hunter.
The most successful whitetail hunter I know, used a .223/20 ga. Savage Mod. 24 and took dozens of Georgia whitetails and rarely (if ever) lost one. In my own personal experience, I shot a nice 10 point eastern whitetail with a 165 gr. Sierra PH out of my .30-06 at 60 yards. I found pieces of bone 4 inches long along with a lot of blood at the site. I followed the blood trail for nearly 1/2 mile before finally loosing it. A week later my neighbor found the deer at his pond. It seems the round hit in the front shoulder joint and fragmented and did not penetrate. Bad, but hardly an indication that the old '06 is not adequate for the job.