Nothing to think about our guys don't miss , no deer has ever gotten outside the shooting perimeters, 2nd year now about 240 taken last count that's good shooting. The residents take every deer not one was left looking for a freezer,I shot 2 today too warm.
Deer gun a 223?
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Do you think this hog would be more dead with a 300 wm?
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I think a .223 with some of the heavier, modern bullets we have (like Barnes TSX, TTSX, etc.) would be great for killing small/medium sized deer out to 200 yards, assuming good shot placement. But if I were loading the truck to go deer hunting - it would be the last rifle I'd take - even if it were legal to do so. Not because the .223 can't do the job - but just about every larger caliber is better suited for the job. So why take it unless it is your only gun? I'd certainly not buy a .223 for that intent.
Well, he thought he felt more dead when the 300 hit him. lol.
Saturday I shot a big donkey eared doe with a 16'' 5.56 with a 65gr Serria GK. Still looking for a nice buck.
Hope this weekend. I've taken many whitetails with my 223's. Mostly with the 65's. Took 2 real nice bucks in 16, same set up, both 1 shot. I don't know the number now but it's around 20 something with 223. I use a 30-30 a lot also, A 308 sees some time outdoors also. But my favorite is one of my 223/5.56's.
Hope this weekend. I've taken many whitetails with my 223's. Mostly with the 65's. Took 2 real nice bucks in 16, same set up, both 1 shot. I don't know the number now but it's around 20 something with 223. I use a 30-30 a lot also, A 308 sees some time outdoors also. But my favorite is one of my 223/5.56's.
I don't think 223rem is what people should be praising from the rooftops as a great medium game cartridge.
3Ackleys
Gold $$ Contributor
Based on what? Do you have any first hand experience with 70-90 grain bullets fired from a 223 into medium game?
The terminal results i have seen first hand on elk and deer are indistinguishable from terminal results of 130 grain bullets fired from a 270 Win.
Jonnyofalltrades
Silver $$ Contributor
My experience is limited to the 60 grain Partition on deer, elk, and black bear. However, my thoughts when doing the post-mortem is always that the wound channel looks more like that made by a conventional cup-and-core of at least 100 grains or more. Sometimes better, as I've seen conventional bullets disintegrate on bone.
A friend's wife has taken 2 deer with a 223, I agree it works with COMPETENT hunters.
I don't want idiots taking crap shots at elk or deer(period) with an underpowered cartridge.
Is 223 your threshold? Maybe 221 fireball, saves you 5 grains of powder...stuffs expensive....lol
A couple years ago two buddies and i were sitting on a wheat field watching the deer and just catching up on old times. A nice buck shows up and buddy 1 ask if either i or buddy 2 wants it. Buddy 2 declines and says you take it. He hands me his custom AR rifle after he dials the dope for the 350+- yd shot. I hold the back edge of the shoulder and squeeze the trigger. I see the deer take the hit because of the non existent recoil. A couple steps and the deer falls over. This guy and i have shot a lot of matches together and he always has good equipment including the ammo. I found out after the fact that the round i killed the deer with was a junk 55gr fmj factory milspec load. Had i known before hand i never would have taken the shot but if i Were able to choose the bullet and load, id take the shot all day long! Ive killed some big bucks and big hogs with the 223. My boys started hunting at 5 and 6 and killed many deer with the 223 without ever losing one, marginal shots and all.
I’m not going to promote what cartridge to use on deer. I do remember countless threads on coyote calling rifles here, and it was brought up time and time again that the .223 wouldn’t
anchor them reliably.
3Ackleys
Gold $$ Contributor
So you want idiots taking crap shots with overpowered cartridges?
Have you seen first hand, the results of heavy 223 rounds fired into animals? Actually cut them open? Look at the real world results?
If not you are basing your opinion on what? Imaginary results? Something someone told you to believe? Fuddlore?
You have no idea what you are talking about, and no one should be taking your advice.
A 223 with a heavy bullet will do way more damage than necessary to cleanly kill most any game in north america period.
Fact is everyone shoots a lower recoiling rifle way better than a heavy recoiling rifle. And a 223 is a very deadly killer, based on my first hand eye witness, non-imaginary experience.
3Ackleys
Gold $$ Contributor
Well this 223 has killed 2 brown bears THIS year- so you must know some tough coyotes!
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Yes.
If idoits are going to take shots they shouldn't, I would prefer they hit it with a 100gr 243w as opposed to a 22lr.
Do you agree or disagree with that?
That’s a pretty bear. I’m sure not arguing about the .223(have 4), it’s just odd the way different conversations lean on the subject.Well this 223 has killed 2 brown bears THIS year- so you must know some tough coyotes!
Plenty killed with 77 OTMs.
My father in law said when hunting deer here in AZ was way easier (no draw) he shot many deer with 223. They were always 100 yards or in. They were almost always a neck shot. Would i choose it? No, just cuz i wanna drop it asap. I just shot one 3 werks ago with a 6.5 pc at 75 yards. He ran about 70 yards before he stopped. Was a lung shot. With a 223 i bet he would have gone further.
searcher
Gold $$ Contributor
I doubt you are going to find many people who have such first-hand experience shooting deer and elk with a .223 and comparing it to the damage inflicted with a .270 using a 130-grain bullet. If there were, you would no doubt be humbled. When I see folks compare .223 killing power with that of "traditional" deer calibers such as a .270, I can't help but wonder under what conditions a hunter would shoot an elk with a .223. Would he feel comfortable taking a 350-yard shot on a large quartering bull elk and hope to break a shoulder to anchor him or at least get a pass thru into the vitals? That kind of shot is considered by more than some to be a marginal shot for a .270 for the average hunter. But a .223 is as good? If one felt that might be too much to ask of a .223, I think that is the case being made by those not liking the .223 for such hunting. If one felt a .223 will hang with a .270 at such yardage on large animals - they just haven't shot enough large animals to know what they don't know.
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