Can a 223

[FallRutSpringStrut]

Be a effective deer cartridge

 

[infoman jr.]

You can kill a deer with a pellet gun, but as you go smaller in caliber, your insurance policy against wounding goes way down.

 

[cecil30-30]

Sure can,as long as you use the right bullet.I'd recommend the 64gr powerpoint or the 60gr nosler partition.

 

[beancounter]

partition all the way

 

[varminthunter123]

75 gr hollowpoint

 

[pressfit]

I cannot tell you how many deer my family has killed with a .223.. several.. but.. the longer I use one.. I personally would not recommend it... IMO it just doesnt have the knock down power

 

[Sako]

70gr TSXs.... or 60 partions.... work great on deer.... had a friends daughter shoot one that was standing facing her this year with 60gr partions.... dropped in it tracks.... never even moved...

 

[megalomaniac]

Sure it can be effective.

Are there more effective rounds out there- not just yes, but heck yes.

 

[KPH]

I have friend who uses one, but I can't bring myself to use one for deer.

 

[knightrider]

choose your bullet not the caliber!!!! the one behind the gun and bullet matters way more than caliber.

 

[stik]

i have been wanting to kill a deer with my AR but i am afraid of the 223. has anybody tried the new winchester razorback XT's? supposed to be designed for hogs. i figure if it's good for hogs it should be good for deer.
i would not allow an inexperienced shooter/hunter to hunt with a 223.

 

[DIRTTRAX]

Not saying you should but I have killed several using 55 grain winchester supreme ballistic tips. Havent lost one yet. I let both of my girls kill deer with it this year. My eight year old dropped a 5 point in his tracks and my 9 year old shot a doe that ran about 50 yards.

 

[ratsnakeboogy]

My Model 7 .223 has a 1 in 12" twist and will not stabilize the heavier bullets, but I had some 53gr. Barnes TSXs loaded for it and this bullet honestly turns a varmint cartridge into a very acceptable deer round, in the right hands.

 

[TheLBLman]

You can kill a deer with a pellet gun, but as you go smaller in caliber, your insurance policy against wounding goes way down.

Truly the bottom line.

Just me personally, I'd rather have a little too much gun than a little not enough.

 

[bobthebowhunter]

yes. got this one with 55grn v-max. She fell dead in her trax. Just have to place your shot.

 

[meat hunter]

I killed 11 deer with my bicentennial Ruger mini 14 with factory iron sights.a little over 30 years ago. All were shot with plain old 55 grain softpoint Remington bullets. All were one shot kills. I had to track a couple but I have also done that with deer shot with a 30-06. I don't use a .223 now but I would in a heartbeat if that is all I had.