[bubbat]

Anybody deer hunt with a .223? I have a couple of friends that hunted with.222 and .223 bolt guns when we were kids. They never had a problem putting deer down.
Here is a link to an article in AR Guns and Hunting magazine on deer hunting with a .223 http://www.arshunt.com/arshunt/201009#pg21 Think I might have to give it a try this year with my AR at my brother in laws place, longest shot would be less than 100 yards.

 

[nonnieselman]

I killed more deer this summer on the farm (legally with a permit) than most would in their whole life. All with my AR or stevens 223.
My buddy has taken shots out to 350yds and every single one is DRT. He was using 55gr fmj. I was using 64gr tracers and sometimes 55gr fmj or 60gr sp.
I wouldnt hesitate taking a 223 deer hunting.
Shot placement is key!
Already cant wait to try out the 6.8 AR now.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Last time I hunted I used my AR. Like he said, shot placement. Ive had them drop right there and nt move a muscle and ive had em run for a little while. JHP's cause damage.

 

[smoffett]

Thanks for this thread guys. I've got a 5.56 that likes the heavier bullets, and I've been thinking about developing a load for the Barnes 62-grain TSX bullet. Guess I need to get busy!

 

[ree_countrygirl]

i hunt with a .243 wssm, not a lot of difference, and i've never lost a deer. can say it does more damage at 180 yrds than at 60 yrds tho

 

[Doug Bowser]

Sierra and Speer make a 63 gr semi-spitzer bullet that would work well in a .223. Also, Hornady makes a 60 gr HP flat based bullet for larger game as well. I would not hesitate to use either on Virginia Whitetails.

Doug

 

[smoffett]

Anybody ever try the Sierra 65-grain Gameking on deer? They shoot well in my rifle. Would be nice to be able to use that load versus working up a new one.

 

[csa 357]

i have killed a few with 55gr fmj dead on the spot didnt even kick! i lost a few with the 22-250 it didnt penatrate very well, but my lord what a hole it made!

 

[nonnieselman]

Here lately ive been using 75gr bthp match bullets from PPU. Loaded with H322. They do extremely well on deer and hogs.

That last hog i shot was a 225# sow, my buddy got pictures of when we cleaned it. Soft tissue damage was quite amazing from that little bullet. 125yds shot high above the shoulder, severed the spine. Wasnt quite sure exactly where it hit cause it was raining pretty hard and only had the light from my rifle.
Got up to it and it had a spasm right before we got up to it or something so on reaction i pressed the trigger and put one in the head.

I plan on deering hunting with that load this year. Or use my 6.8 AR.

Taking some youngens hunting this year and gonna let them practice with my stevens 223 since its the lightest and i know it works. Hopefully they get confident enough with it. Very little recoil with the 69gr PPU match bullets and works good on deer too.


Some reason or another i havent had good luck at all with 55 or 60gr softpoints. So i stick with what i know works.

 

[cwink]

I have loaded up 223 with the Barnes 52 Grain TSX.. Haven't shot a deer with it yet, but plan to this year.. When I lived in TX we used lots of 22 caliber for deer out there.. 222, 223, 22-250 and 220 Swift.. We considered anything over 243 overkill for deer.. :lol3:

 

[nonnieselman]

i have killed a few with 55gr fmj dead on the spot didnt even kick! i lost a few with the 22-250 it didnt penatrate very well, but my lord what a hole it made!

I load 80gr bergers in my 22-250. Its quite nasty on deer. I shot a doe years ago with a winchester 45gr hp, the white box from walmart. Shot her in the neck facing me and DRT.

 

[Jarhead5811]

My stepdad kills more deer on his place than I do in five years, every year and he uses a Sako .223 with a Leupold VariX-II 3x9x40mm and whatever softnose ammo WalMart happens to have in stock.

 

[Stryker6]

I've had good results using Federal's 60gr Nosler Partition and Winchester's 64gr power points.

 

[glocksrus]

I hunted with a 22 hornet for several years, It did a good job.

 

[cottonmouth]

I don't have a problem with shooting deer with .223, it's shot placement as they say. Heck I shot a 6pt. one time with my .458 WM and it ran off! Just ran 40 yards but it was through a hell raunching thicket.

J.B.

 

[csa 357]

:rotflmao: cotton, he didnt run off, it knocked him that far!