Hunting with AR15 and Sidearm

[JaxJim]

I'm in Florida, but have done a fair amount of hunting in southern GA. I have hunted hogs a BUNCH with an AR-15 using 50gr Remington PSP bullets. I've honestly lost count how many one shot kills on hogs at 100 Yds or less I've taken. Most of the time they drop where they stand, at worst, I've had them go 30 or so Yds and I lost one in a swamp. These hogs range in size from 80-200 lbs.

I've also taken a few southern deer with the same load. Probably 4 or 5 and they were all one shot kills too. The deer here in the south are kinda small so this cartridge combo is enough if you do your part. I will say, my favorite rifle for southern deer is a .243 with 95 Gr Nosler SSTs.

I'd recommend the .357 because I've had experience with it hunting. Never used a .45 ACP for hunting (have shot a hog with a .40 Glock 27 once). When I was younger I carried a S&W Mod 65 4" .357 with 158 Gr lead SWC handloads pushed pretty hard with H110. These rounds really thumped the southern deer and hogs.

So my opinion is, you'll be fine with what you got. Shot placement and keeping range to target in mind and you'll do fine.

 

[PT1911]

is a human bigger than a "yote"? I dunno.. but I would have no reservation whatsoever with taking a deer with my .223. Do I have more capable rifles, absolutely, but that is completely dependent on the circumstances of the hunt and the likely shots I will be encountering...

 

[AgentAdam]

.357

Hot 158-180grain SJHP / FMJ, WC ,or SWC for better penetration

.45

P+ 230grain HP or HPSWC / FMJ or SWC for better penitration

.223

+1 on Winchester power point 64grain or any soft point 55 grains or heavier
On bigger deer you might want to try a Nolser Partition ,Bonded bullet, or something like the Barnes Triple Shock all copper bullet.

For Factory loaded pistol HP's i would probably go with a good bonded bullet like GolDot for better penetration, or Winchester Ranger-Talon for better expansion.

 

[blackops]

Yeah, go with the rifle. Better probability of a good hit and more Oomph! for a clean kill.For me, a shot inside of 25 yards or so just means that a neck shot is very, very easy. That makes for instant drop-dead, and much cleaner field dressing.

I couldn't of said it better myself. Except bring the .45 for a sidearm. Never know what could happen.

 

[trigga]

anyone use hornady tap in .223 for deer? box says for home defense but wondering if they will take down a deer? (can't find any of the federal ones that i've read about) they're almost if not exactly like the v-max which is more of a varmint round. i'm currently using 55 gr tap but have not got the chance to shoot a deer with it yet. (the vmax is a quick expanding bullet, but wondering if it will penetrate before expanding or if it will expand as it hits cause if it does i don't think the round will be very successful)

 

[HammerG26]

I think the interesting item is that I trust similar rounds to bring down a person - not sure why they would not bring down a deer - given the proper shot placement...
Many others have echoed that point... I just don't want to "learn the hard way"... not fair to the deer.

Hammer

 

[Specialized]

Cor-Bon makes a .223 hunting load with a Barnes Triple-Shock bullet specifically for hunting. It doesn't fragment, doesn't lose any projectile weight, and opens into a nice bloom that leaves a very good blood channel. All plenty good enough for a whitetail.

I've used them in the North Woods of Wisconsin, and they kill big deer just fine. The heavy match bullets will work too, and the Nosler Partitions work great. But I'll be using the Triple-Shock from my Remington R-15 VTR this fall.

 

[Tacbandit]

A long time ago, but with the .357, I seem to remember something about a minimum amount of foot pounds of energy...I don't remember what is was(sorry)...Check it out, though...

 

[ChCx2744]

As long as you use loads that are accurate in the gun, I think any .223 round to the head will drop any deer....I don't know how legal "head shots" are when deer hunting, but if they are allowed, I think a head shot with .223 will definitely net success.

 

[Art Eatman]

Today is not the day for necrothreadia...