.223 reload for deer

Several bullets as menruined will work. The two I have first hand experience with are th 60 grain Nosler which may or may not exit and are very destructive inside a deer, the other is the Barnes TSX 55 grainer, it will exit and killed just fine.
 
I dont see an issue with hunting deer with a 223. I use a 357 magnum carbine and at close range id say they are pretty even with the 223 being better at longer ranges.
 
the 3030 deer rifle is lonley in the gun case

I think the mold is for ever broken for deer rifles and 3030 was undeniably the king and if not that, you needed a 30-06 or 308 minimum, some sort of magnum was better. Then people found 257s and 243s took deer just fine. Now people are using 223s on deer with good results,,,, the deer have lost their armor plate.
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I think the mold is for ever broken for deer rifles and 3030 was undeniably the king and if not that, you needed a 30-06 or 308 minimum, some sort of magnum was better. Then people found 257s and 243s took deer just fine. Now people are using 223s on deer with good results,,,, the deer have lost their armor plate.
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its like a pendulum. People go from deer need a 300WM to a 223 is ok for deer. When I was a teenager the more powerful the better. Now its swung the other way.
 
Deja vu said:
When I was a teenager the more powerful the better. Now its swung the other way.
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I don't think it's "swung" any where, except that (more) people have woken up to reality. I still know *plenty* of guys who think you need a magnum something to shoot deer. One group we've hunted with before smirks at our 7mm-08 and they make fun of one of their own guys who "only" uses a .30-06.

You'll find it every where. In archery, most guys still use a 70lb bow even though a 40lb from 2016 makes more energy than a 70 did in 2000. I know guys who still hunt in shotgun only areas for deer, and our whole southern part of the state was for decades, who tell you that you can't kill deer with 20ga slugs, you've got to have a 12ga and then 3" magnums.
 
wandering

We're likely wandering a bit, as the OP was bout loads and reloads. But...I think the interest in the .223 for deer is driven by the enormous upsurge in popularity of the AR. Yes, you can find AR's in other (and better deer) calibers, but .223 is the most prolific. Where legal, folks want to hunt with their AR, typically in .223/5.56
 
My cousin, who had Muscular Dystrophy, killed a dozen or so deer with a 223 bolt gun. Before he got to weak to hold aim well. The last one ran about a 1/4 of a mile. It was a bad shot. But, we found it dead The others ran 20-100 yards. Just like with bigger calibers. He did this with cheapo factory rounds starting 25 years ago up to about 8 years ago. It's like hunting with everything else. Shot placement is what counts.

FWIW, I intend to kill one or two this year with a 55 grain Hornady Soft point. Good luck and God Bless
 
I think Bamaranger is right. Lots of guys, and some that I know, bought AR's with no real reason to do so - other than the perceived cool factor. And now that they have one, what will they do with it. Shooting cans at the dump is fun. Now what? Well, we'll go hunting, and shoot a deer. So here we are.

A buddy of mine went through all of that. Finally bought a Ruger American in 308.

Still, I have shot a few deer with my 223 bolt gun. It works, but I have better options.
 
I use 55 gr. bulk jacketed soft point over 24.3 grains of H335 . After heart surgery my surgeon didn't want me using a big caliber . I took an 8 point buck and a doe 1 month after a 4 way bypass surgery . My grandson shot his first 3 deer using the same rounds . He shoots a 250-3000 now . One of his was a nice 9 point buck . It's all about practice and shot placement . All were one shot kills . I shot a 246 pound boar hog at 110 yards with the same cartridge . That was also a one shot kill .
 
Plenty of deer have been taken with 22LR and plenty have been lost with a 30-06. But, I believe in quick clean kills and I dont personally feel the 223.5.56 is enough for deer. If your set on using it then stick with heavier controlled expansion bullets.
 
R&D in bullet design has moved the .223 way up the utility ladder. That said, it's still on the marginal side. I'd be really picky about my shot, passing on an angling shot at a large deer.
 
I also have used 55 Grain Remington soft point. Sometimes Hornady V MAX. Depends on where I am hunting. The V MAX is for close up shots in the thicker stuff. I lung shoot them and all have gone down under 50 yards. Either bullet, I never had one go over 50 yards. Most about 15. If you are not the best of shots , or get rattled when you see a deer, think bigger bullet.
 
I'm a big fan of Hornady's GMX bullets, using them in .243 Win, .270 Win, and 30-06. (Don't care for Barnes, due to metal fouling.)

They now make them in .223 in 50, 55, and 70 grain weights. If I HAD to use the .223 Rem to hunt deer (I don't), I might use the 55 in bolt guns and 70s in ARs.

I don't recommend any varmint-type bullets for deer, regardless of cartridge!
 
I loaded up some 65 grain Sierra game kings over a charge of varget loaded to standard length and they have worked well on deer for my nephew. I just got some 60 gr partitions that I haven't had time to work up a load for but I have high hopes.
 
Sometimes varmit style bullets are just what you need. Everybody jumped on the "Heavy bullet-Deep penetration" bandwagon because, well, who knows why? I have had problems with .250 bullets opening up at close range when the hit is in a soft area. Some hunters told me they had the same problem with their .243's. Bigger and tougher does not mean better at close range. I never had a problem with Remington Corlokt bullets opening up at close range, but I have not used anything new from them either.
 
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