Anyone using .223 / 5.56 cal for deer hunting?

[feldmutze]

Anyone?

 

[Hunter 257W]

If so, they should be ashamed. :) I'm partly joking - partly serious. I love 22 centerfires as groundhog shooting was my main hunting interest for years and still would be if we still had groundhogs. But that's what the 22 centerfires excel at and should be limited to. Shooting a deer with such a cartridge is pushing the limits too far. You have to use the very best controlled expansion bullets and limit shots to broadside only and even then you barely have enough of everything to make a clean kill. In other words you have a rifle that should only be used by the most experienced hunters who are very good shots. But most of these guns are going to be used by inexperienced shooters because they are easier to shoot because of their light recoil.

I know they are legal in TN but I think it was an irresponsible decision that our lawmakers made when they took away the 24 caliber minimum for deer.

 

[pressfit]

I have killed several with a 223.. so have my kids.. its like every other caliber.... shot placement is the key to any humane kill...

 

[Redfred16]

I tried but wasn't offered the shot in WI. I was hunting in a cedar swamp, long shot was 50 yards and I figure that round would do more damage than a broadhead.

I know several people that have used them in Texas.

 

[mathews338]

No way! Yes it will kill and I'm sure lots have been but it is too small and everything would have to be perfect. I guess most people think my .338 is overkill but I hunt hard to only have a few encounters with mature bucks each year and I want to put the odds in my favor as much as I can.

 

[-DRM-]

.223 has killed plenty of deer. If you aren't comfortable and competent with your shot, you could always over-compensate with a larger caliber.

 

[EastTNHunter]

Inuits in the arctic use them to hunt Polar Bears because of their "incredible knock-down power." Many people use .223s for much larger game than deer.

 

[mathews338]

.223 has killed plenty of deer. If you aren't comfortable and competent with your shot, you could always over-compensate with a larger caliber.

yep and you can you sit in your treestand and watch the biggest buck of your life just walk off because it didn't offer the perfect shot angle!

 

[BlountArrow]

.223 has killed plenty of deer. If you aren't comfortable and competent with your shot, you could always over-compensate with a larger caliber.

Bingo - love it.

 

[BlountArrow]

...watch the biggest buck of your life just walk off because it didn't offer the perfect shot angle!

Personally, if shot angle is a factor then I won't shoot any deer regardless of what caliber I might be toting. That's just me. I've never shot a deer with a .223 but have a friend whose young son and daughter shoot one. They have killed deer with it, and so far have had no issue.

 

[Bayou Buck]

I shot a small deer this year with my AR. Aimed for neck and dropped it in its tracts. I've also killed 200+ lb hogs with my .22 mag. Its all about shot placement. As with all calibers, you shouldn't shoot if you dont have a good kill shot.

 

[BlountArrow]

...you shouldn't shoot if you dont have a good kill shot.

A very basic principle that should be in the top 3 when it comes to the "rules afield", yet I hear about or see people veering away from this all the time. Personally, respect for the animal and respect for my responsibility to kill an animal in the most humane way possible excludes me from doing anything different.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Yes a 223 can kill a deer. When the 220 Swift 1st came out people were shooting Elk, Moose and even Grizzlies. Sure you'll have some success. A 22 short is a puny little cartridge but you wouldn't shoot your favorite dog with it because there's a good chance the dog will die but that hardly means it's the best cartridge for the job. I'm not one of those guys that thinks you need a 300 Magnum either. Heck, I think a large 30 caliber for deer is a waste unless you just want one but on the other end of the spectrum the 22 centerfires are just too small. If you are looking for something with minimal recoil the 24's or reduced loads in something like the 7mm-08 or 260 Remington are a lot more responsible than a 22.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Regarding head shots with any cartridge, I used to agree that they would either be a kill or clean miss but I disagree now. It would be very easy to hit a jaw or nose and leave a deer with a horrible wound to slowly die. I just don't think head shots are a good idea unless the deer is really close and you KNOw you can make it and how do you ever know 100%. A behind the shoulder has a lot more margin for error if you wobble or the deer moves just as you pull the trigger.

 

[Redfred16]

If you plan on using a .223/5.56 on deer, please don't use standard ball ammo. There are manufacturers out there that make hunting rounds in this caliber, designed to do more damage and help kill large game.

A .223/5.56 can drop a human, a hog or a deer, but ball ammo is not made to kill quickly.

 

[mathews338]

...watch the biggest buck of your life just walk off because it didn't offer the perfect shot angle!

Personally, if shot angle is a factor then I won't shoot any deer regardless of what caliber I might be toting. That's just me. I've never shot a deer with a .223 but have a friend whose young son and daughter shoot one. They have killed deer with it, and so far have had no issue.

don't get me wrong, I don't just throw the gun to my shoulder, find hair in the scope and pull the trigger. I have as much respect for game as anyone and I am as ethical as anyone. but stuff happens regardless of how good a shot you are. bullet placement is key but anyone who has hunted knows that you are not always gonna put it exactly where it needs to be. IMO the percentage of deer that run off wounded to never be found is much higer with the smaller calibers. people can say i'm over compensating for something all they want but I ain't lost one yet and my .338 has killed near 50. again, this is just my opinion so shoot what you want.

 

[feldmutze]

If you plan on using a .223/5.56 on deer, please don't use standard ball ammo. There are manufacturers out there that make hunting rounds in this caliber, designed to do more damage and help kill large game.

A .223/5.56 can drop a human, a hog or a deer, but ball ammo is not made to kill quickly.

Ball ammo is not legal per the hunting regulations

 

[Football Hunter]

Seems a bit small to me,but do whatever you like.

 

[Redfred16]

If you plan on using a .223/5.56 on deer, please don't use standard ball ammo. There are manufacturers out there that make hunting rounds in this caliber, designed to do more damage and help kill large game.

A .223/5.56 can drop a human, a hog or a deer, but ball ammo is not made to kill quickly.

Ball ammo is not legal per the hunting regulations

Even better but I just hate for people to buy M885 and think its okay.

 

[-DRM-]

IMO the percentage of deer that run off wounded to never be found is much higer with the smaller calibers.

I'd be interested in how the researcher accounted for shot placement in their data collection for that report you're quoting. That is a research report, right? ;)

 

[TheLBLman]

Regarding head shots with any cartridge, I used to agree that they would either be a kill or clean miss but I disagree now. It would be very easy to hit a jaw or nose and leave a deer with a horrible wound to slowly die. I just don't think head shots are a good idea . . . . .

I've personally seen this happen twice now, and in both cases, the shooter did not recover the deer, which in both cases died a lingering death several days after someone took an "easy" head-shot.

In the two above cases, the hunters were using larger calibers than a .223, but I'd hate to limit myself to a gun that's more limited to just certain shots to have high probability. Besides that, if I planned to do a shoulder mount on a buck, sure wouldn't want to shoot him in the head. Actually, good chance you just might hit the antlers, too.

My take on the .22 centerfires recently become legal in TN was that "the powers that be" figured it would have only a tiny effect on anything related to the deer harvest, while it ended the vocal few complaining that they couldn't use a .22 centerfire. Very few hunters have any desire to use a less effective weapon.

 

[mathews338]

IMO the percentage of deer that run off wounded to never be found is much higer with the smaller calibers.

I'd be interested in how the researcher accounted for shot placement in their data collection for that report you're quoting. That is a research report, right? ;)

do you not know what IMO stands for. even though it is only my opinion I still believe it is the truth. ;)

 

[W.Seay]

Nope, my dang pellet gun will kill a deer "with good shot placement" there are way too many much more ethical calibers for deer!

 

[Vermin93]

This will probably stir up further discussion -

Deer Cartridges from Bad to Good

"The point is, you don't want a minimum deer cartridge unless, due to extreme recoil sensitivity, you simply cannot handle anything better. You certainly do not want a sub-minimum deer cartridge under any circumstances! Looking at factory ammunition loading lists from Federal, Remington and Winchester, here are some examples of cartridges that I would regard as poor to inadequate for deer hunting:

All centerfire .22's, specifically including, but not limited to, the .223 Rem. and .223 WSSM. Regardless of their legality and anybody's advertising hype, these are varmint cartridges; they are NOT deer cartridges."

 

[Barnes Ridge Rambler]

I wouldn't hunt deer with a .22 cal. Like its been said earlier in this thread, why limit yourself? Why not set yourself up more for succes than failure? Granted, even with the largest calibers, its never a guaranteed kill everytime you pull the trigger. But id sure feel a lot more confident shooting that big buck with my .308 than any .22 cal ever made. And if you're just using a .22 cal on deer just to feel that youre superior to other hunters or to feel that youre "elite" and a better shot than the rest of us, please dont kid yourself. Too many variables to hunting a mature whitetail. And i dont plan on adding another one by limiting myself.

 

[mike243]

I would hazard a guess that 10x or more deer are lost with bows than guns every year.where's the ethical calibur with them? :)

 

[-DRM-]

I would hazard a guess that 10x or more deer are lost with bows than guns every year.where's the ethical calibur with them? :)

I've lost one with a bow, and one with my 300BLK. I recovered every deer I have ever shot with a .223

 

[mike243]

Lack of Ability & Judgement get renamed as unethical ,Knowing the gun ,bow or your own ability is the hunters responsibility,sometimes we forget the limits & loose a animal & other times its a hunting thing & cant be helped.If a pattern develops of loosing game changing bows broadheads or guns wont do anything other than cost you $.Correcting problems on big game hunts are hard to do as most hunt alone with no 1 there to critique or mentor them .

 

[GOODWIN]

Shot a buck a few years ago with one and will never do it again. He was slightly quartering away and the bullet (I believe it was a 70gr Win power point) hit rib and then just tunneled under the skin all the way to in front of the shoulder. My dad shot this buck a week later and my bullet was recovered. I believe a bigger caliber would have punched on through to vitals with ease. Why do so many marines, seals, rangers, etc. say they would prefer a larger round than the 5.56? Yes they may be shooting fmj rounds but more than one shot is often needed.

On a side note...I don't believe any shot that you can take is a "hit or miss". Their is margin for error and potential for injuring a deer anywhere you take aim.

 

[feldmutze]

I started the thread just off of curiosity since the caliber is now legal and I note there are pretty good rounds made for hunting, 78 gr, Rem Corelock or Nosler Partition.

I've used a .270 for about 25 years now, before that it was a 30-06. I love the .270 for whitetail, probably if I had to do it all over again I might go .243 with the standard 100 gr.

Where I hunt in Loudon it's overrun with yotes & I take 1 or 2 per year with the .270. Often a pair of area beagles will run one by at 150/200 yards. I've got a sweet Colt AR w/Trijicon ACOG scope that would be the ticket for those situations so was just wanting opinions for those that had used it on whitetails. I've always thought 100 grain bullets would be about the minimum I'd want for whitetails....