• The SH Membership has gone live. Only SH Members have access to post in the classifieds. All members can view the classifieds. Starting in 2020 only SH Members will be admitted to the annual hunting contest. Current members will need to follow these steps to upgrade: 1. Click on your username 2. Click on Account upgrades 3. Choose SH Member and purchase.
  • We've been working hard the past few weeks to come up with some big changes to our vendor policies to meet the changing needs of our community. Please see the new vendor rules here: Vendor Access Area Rules

.223 for deer hunting

Jmarzey

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 18, 2019
Messages
228
Location
Georgia
Well, I told myself that I was going to bow hunt all year, because I spent a mortgage payment (or 2) on a new Matthew’s. But......

Today I got permission on 33 acres about 5 minutes from the house, and it is slap tore up with sign. Can’t go 3 steps without seeing a fresh rub, scrape, acorns, yada yada yada you get the point.

I’m gonna hunt it in the morning for the first time and Im thinking about taking a gun. The visibility and not really knowing what the deer are more than likely to be doing, has me wanting to be able to take that 75 yard shot if needed.

My dilemma is, my 7 mag isn’t sighted in. It was off at the end of last year after a clumsy little stumble. However, my AR is putting 1 inch groups together at 100 yards with government loads. It’s a .223 and I absolutely love it, but I’m just concerned because I have never personally killed a deer with one.

What is everybody’s opinion on taking the .223? I know it will get the job done if the lead finds its mark, but I’m curious as to what the experts have to say.

Should I just take the bow and hope for a good opportunity?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I myself, and my buddy both killed our bucks last year with my AR shooting federal fusion 62gr. Double lung and they didn’t go far. Get you some good loads and send it. Just be mindful of shot placement and shooting distance. I personally like them under 100yards. After that you start to lose a bit of energy if I remember correctly.
 
Take bow type shot angles inside 200 yards through the longs and the run a little ways and fall over. Probably wouldn’t use it closer than 70 yards from a property line. I usually shoot the 64 grain Winchester deer season load. Any soft point will do on broadside lung shots.
I wouldn’t use FMJ 62 grain green tip or any other FMJ. I also wouldn’t use a varmint bullet.
 
Sure a .223 will kill a deer but it can also easily wound a deer where a heavier caliber might be more lethal. A .22 caliber bullet will come apart easily on a heavier animal like a deer. The bullets are great for varmints but not so much for larger game. Here in Michigan I believe it's even illegal to use a .22 (rim fire or center fire) for deer. I'm just saying there are better choices for big game than the .223.
 
VA makes any .22 caliber illegal for big game. Don’t take that as my conclusion to what I think, because I have seen a many 22-250 smoke a deer at some long ranges in my 31 year life span. With that said, I would not go out with my .223 for deer hunting even if it were legal here. I think a large caliber (or hotter round such as the 250) is the better choice.
 
A hollow point .223 designed for hunting is plenty for most southern deer if you put it through their chest, but I wouldn't use FMJ rounds unless you're going for head shots only (even then, not preferred). So, unless you've sighted in your AR with hollow points, you probably can't be confident in where a good hunting bullet will hit, putting that gun in roughly the same boat as your 7 mag. Do you have a muzzleloader or other rifle you could use? If not, I'd probably stick with the bow in the morning and get one or both of your rifles sighted in with hunting ammo ASAP.
 
A hollow point .223 designed for hunting is plenty for most southern deer if you put it through their chest, but I wouldn't use FMJ rounds unless you're going for head shots only (even then, not preferred). So, unless you've sighted in your AR with hollow points, you probably can't be confident in where a good hunting bullet will hit, putting that gun in roughly the same boat as your 7 mag. Do you have a muzzleloader or other rifle you could use? If not, I'd probably stick with the bow in the morning and get one or both of your rifles sighted in with hunting ammo ASAP.
That is my thought. Assuming when said it is dialed in with government loads that meant green tip, FMJ rounds. I would not hunt with those and in some states it is illegal to hunt with FMJ, as it is not considered an expanding round. A good hunting round would work fine, but the weapon is not zeroed with that round.
 
I’ve killed 15-20 deer with a 223. Most from a 16” barrel. My favorite load is the 64 grain fusion. They hold together plenty good to bust through a shoulder. BUT. I moved from Arkansas to northern Missouri 3 years ago, and the first doe I shot with my 223 up here left like she wasn’t even hit and died about 100 yards away. I thought my gun was off and just happened to see her fall down or I wouldn’t have believed she was hit double lungs...... Also bought a 30-06 after that season....
 
If legal, take it. I know many people who have taken deer with the .223, triple duece, etc. I agree don't use the military ammo though. My question is simply, is are you already in a firearms season for deer? Ours opens on November 21st.
 
I've used my .223 for deer before, no problems. A lot of the real old timers and poachers used to use regular .22 rounds for deer
 
It always kills me that everyone accepts the .223 for killing humans(longest standing military round) but not ok for animals!! I mean yes there are better rounds available but a good bullet and the right shot placement and it will do just fine just don't be stupid with it!!!!
 
I used the Barnes 55 grain TSX for chest shots on deer in GA and SC (usually 110-150lb), and they tended to drop on the spot.
 
It always kills me that everyone accepts the .223 for killing humans(longest standing military round) but not ok for animals!! I mean yes there are better rounds available but a good bullet and the right shot placement and it will do just fine just don't be stupid with it!!!!
The intention in warfare is not necessarily killing the enemy, a wounded soldier ties up 2 or 3 while a dead soldier only eliminates the threat of 1
 
My personal opinion is the caliber is not all that important. The most important thing is to shoot the proper bullet. This means you must pick a bullet that’s construction gives the results you’re looking for at the impact velocity you can expect from the gun. A 300 blackout and a 300 RUM both are more than capable of taking whitetails with no problems. They’re both .308 diameter bullets but I would not expect the same bullet to work well in both guns for deer hunting. I’ve personally witnessed a yearling whitetail shot behind the shoulder broadside with a 300 RUM with 180 grain bullet that was knocked down and layed there bellering for a couple minutes until this person could get into position to take a finishing shot. This is a perfect example of poor bullet choice.
With that said I’d have no problem hunting whitetails with a 223. However, if you choose to do this you really need to choose your bullet carefully. Most 223 ammo is geared towards predators or plinking.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Well the plan is to sight the cannon in. But I’ve got the plinker with me this morning.

We will see what happens, maybe that buck making all the sign will give me a good 50 yard shot. Then we will see what happens


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Back
Top