Can a .223/AR kill a deer?

Nice shot.

Got pics of exit wound?

looks like good eating

Of course a 223 can kill a deer. So can a 22LR.

Certainly, but some state legislatures don't believe it.

Sure the 223 can do the trick, BUT it's lackluster penetration limits your shot angles, flush broadside quartering away, or neckshots are highly recommended when you are only talking 12-15" of punch. A bullet through the vitals kills period, but getting through the vitals on a raking shot requires a bit more. I am sure hunting with an AR is fun but me personally I am sticking with my 6.5x55, 30-06, 7mm-08, 7mm Rem Mag, 270 WSM and 308, all of which can easily get through the vitals at any angle I care to shoot.

My answer would be: Yes. My son's first. Also taken with a 65gr SGK, but using IMR 8208.

Yes, it can!

Federal Fusion 62 grain JSP at 30 yards, broadside, full run. It went straight through the heart, no broken ribs, the deer dropped dead.


Entry:

Exit:

Back around 1978 I killed a 4 point with a AR-15 SP-1....loved that rifle, anyway that deer dropped in its tracks dead. I was using a Remington %%gr PSP. I was lucky. I personally would not do it again with that bullet. With todays bullet combinations maybe. Tim

.223 (5.56) with the right bullet is adequate for most eastern white tail deer. Except for state law predicated on .22 centerfire being woodchuck guns.

It is my impression that U.S. state laws mandating centerfire calibers greater than .22 for deer are based on the premise that .22 centerfires are all "varmint" rounds and all use light, frangilble bullets in the 40 or 45 gr range that don't humanely kill deer.

.224" 5.6x57mm RWS designed in Germany for hunting red deer and Chamois, 60 gr bullets @ 3600 fps

.224" 5.6x50mm Magnum, in rimmed and rimless versions, designed by DWM specifical to kill European deer up to 200 meters, 60 gr bullet @ 3300 fps

.224" '220 Swift' 60 gr bullets @ 3500-3600 fps used for deer worldwide.

.227" .22 Savage High Power (5.6x52R in Europe) 70 grain bullet @ 3000 fps also used for deer hunting.

YA the 223 limits you, to proper shot placement, if you cant shoot (or wait for a good shot) by all means use a bigger round an shoot you dinner all to bits

I would think that most here know that poachers use 22 short in the eye at night at close range. One shot one kill.

22-rimfire said:

Of course a 223 can kill a deer. So can a 22LR.

Click to expand...

Yes we can talk about it now. The statute of limitations have passed.

I regurarly shoot some pretty big hogs with a .223 bolt gun with no issues.

My bullet of choice is a 50 grain TTSX which hasnt failed to exit on any broadside shot yet. I did manage to stop one that traveled legnthwise down the spine of a 150 lb sow.

With decent shot placement I would not hesitate to shoot a comparitively soft target like a deer with this combination.

Keep in mind that the longest shots available where I hunt are less than 100 yards in most cases so my experience is limited to this range.

If using a .223 is legal where you hunt go for it just avoid iffy shots and keep them close.

Did it...."tumble"? I heard it's better'n 50 cal 'cause it "tumbles".

Nice goin'...never mind my sarcasm.

Killed plenty of deer and hogs with a .223 - I prefer the Hornady 75 grain hollow point boat tail in my old Ruger Mini-14

courtgreene said:

Since everyone asks this, I figured (decided this last year but just got the chance to act) I'd answer. Yes, yes it can.
8:30 this morning, 65 grain Gameking over 26 grains Varget.

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Nice! I loaded up some 65 grain SGK's with 25.5 grains of varget. Shoots great in my ar. Just haven't gotten around to hunting with them yet.

Thanks for sharing

Nice. Anybody know a source for 5 round AR mags?

I've killed several hogs with .223 most People would probably be surprised that the farthest I've had one run is about 15 yards. I've shot all of them behind the shoulder. If you wait for a proper shot the .223 devastates them. If you take improper shots you won't find them with a .270 or a 300 win mag either.

Yes:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=681039
Very quickly with the right bullet in the right spot.

Congrats to you.

Yup.

Headshot a doe at 65yd yesterday with an 80gr A-Max @ 2890fps from my 223AI...placed crosshairs on the left eye and squeezed. No pictures of the exit wound, but literally everything from the inside of the right eye to the right ear was missing.

After seeing the terminal effects, I wouldn't hesitate to put the same bullet through the heart/lungs of a monster buck...

I have 2 grandsons that swear by the .223 reloaded with a Nosler bullet. Here once again, bullet placement matters much more than caliber size as discussed in this earlier thread.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=8503813#post8503813



Both of these 2 bucks were stopped in their tracks with a single lung/chest shot @125+ yds.
Thanks,
Rod van Pelt