If you HAD to use .223 for deer?

[Grumulkin]

A 223 is a bit of overkill for deer. A deer taken at a bit over 250 yards with a 45 gr. Hornady Spire Point out of a 204 Ruger.



Twist isn't everything. Here's a target shot with 77 gr. BTHP match bullets out of a 1:10 twist barrel.

If you wish to shoot 70 grain bullets out of a 1:12 twist barrel, consider Speer 70 gr. Semi-Spitzers. One MOA groups out of 1:12 twist barrels is what I've gotten with them in several .224 caliber rifles and I've taken 2 deer with them.

 

[M1key]

70 grainers out of a 1:12 ?

M

 

[HGUNHNTR]

thousands of poachers cant be wrong, the .22 long rifle works, why not a .223, in my .223s I usually shoot 55 grain soft points, most .223 rifles do not shoot heavier loads too good.

-Well yes, they can. I do use the .223 for deer, but it is unlikely that your local poacher settled onthe .22lr because of it's superior terminal performance. The .22lr will work, but after how many shots.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

if you are a good accomplished shot, one .22 lr thru the ear or eye drops em dead, like I said good poachers know what they are doing, some people just are not good shots.

 

[crestoncowboy]

I use 40gr vmax molys because they go exactly where I tell them too every time. I have never had a deer not die quickly from a single shot.
A good friend and lifelong hunting and shooting partner has hunted with a savage 222 for the last 15 years since he bought it at an estate auction and has killed several 160-170 class whitetails with it all clean with one shot, the longest at 280 yards (a 10 point buck hit in the neck and went about 10 yards, the shot was questionable but the bullet still done its job, very well).
His brother has wounded deer with many very large caliber rifles, including one last year he shot 4 times with a 450 marlin.
If you do your part even a 40 gr bullet from a 222 or 223 can ethically kill a whitetail around here. I have seen and done it too many times to be told different. Find what your gun shoots best and use that if its heavy go with that if its a light bullet put it where it goes and dont worry about it.

 

[Sam Cade]

The .22lr will work, but after how many shots.

One usually. One of my grandfathers has killed literally hundreds of eastern whitetails with a .22lr.



Pop.

Flop.


He thought I was crazy when I bought a .243 for a deer rifle as a teenager.

 

[Mike1234567]

"Good poacher" is an oxymoron.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

To those proponents of the .22lr on deer, how many deer do you think were not killed for every story of one that was killed immediately. Folks don't like to brag on those stories.

 

[Nicky Santoro]

Saw only one deer taken with .223 Power Point. Was down in 10 yards or so. That being said, shot was under 50 yards and placement was perfect.

 

[thunder173]

If I HAD to?? I would,...and wouldn't look back,...nor hesitate. Some would argue the point,...but many a midwestern whitetail has fallen to less. It isn't my FIRST choice,..but it could be made to do.....

 

[ac6916170]

62 gr. Federal Fusions, 7 point, field dressed at 177 lbs. Complete pass through both shoulders, took out the heart and ripped the liver to shreds, 95 yrds.

 

[NYH1]

Here in New Yorkistan rifles can be used in about 3/4 of the counties in the state for deer hunting now, "any center fire rifle" may be used to take deer where rifles are allowed. Although my Remington 700 BDL 223 Rem. is my most accurate rifle, I wouldn't use it to hunt deer unless I absolutely had to. I consider the 243 Win. and 6mm Rem. to be the smallest cartridge I'd use for deer hunting. Just my $.02, YMMV.

NYH1!

 

[Virg461]

I don't think anyone is a "proponent" of the .22 for deer. The point of stories like that is that bullet placement > bullet choice. If 40 grains at 800fps through the eye does the job, a .223 will surely do the job when put in the right place. I mean good grief, my grandfather killed 300 lb hogs with a .22 at hog killin' time.

 

[W.E.G.]

Any .223 Remington or 5.56 NATO load will kill deer DRT.

The .23 caliber or larger rule is a Fudd-perpetuated relic from the days before the M16, and cemented in the law until they can die-off, because the Fudds just can't stand seeing sportsmen hunting with "that damn assault rifle."

Simple as that.

Same fools think a lever gun in .357 is just fine for deer.
Which it is - but I'd rather have an AR15.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

good poacher=oxymoron....in your eyes, in the eyes of a guy that is out to do it and get away with it, a better shot, (not necessarily) good person, but he can out shoot most people with no feelings, morals, guilt etc. maybe if you practice, practice, practice you can accomplish what these guys are so good at. so keep practicing.

 

[RevGeo]

Back in the early '70s my only rifle was a Rem. 788 in .22-250. I loaded it with Speer 55gr soft points over 39gr of H380 using a Lee Loader. I shot many whitetails with it and every one was a near instantaneous kill. I always shot them through the ribs right behind the shoulder. I doubt that I shot any of them beyond 200 yards or so. I never had a bullet blow up on a rib and the destruction of the heart-lung area was tremendous.
One of my best friends shoots all of his deer with a Mini 14 in .223 and has never had a failure due to caliber.
It's all about where the bullet goes. BTW in my state the rule is 'any centerfire'. Considering how many deer have been killed with one shot from a muzzle loader of maybe .36 cal with the energy of a .25-20, the larger capacity .22 centerfires can be good deer medicine.

I no longer shoot deer with a .22-250 but I would feel quite comfortable doing so if that (or a .223) was the only rifle available.

George

 

[Art Eatman]

W.E.G., it's not a Fud thing. The R&D of the bullet makers in this recent dozen or so years has made a significant change from the old days of basically varmint-only bullets in 22-caliber. Bullets are now available which are excellent at controlled expansion, compared to the deliberate blow-up design of varmint bullets.