.223 for deer

[Brad6639]

My sis is going to hunt with me and my dad this weekend during the t zone hunt, and all I have that wouldnt kick her to the ground is a rossi .223. I bought some of the 55 grain remington core loks based on a gunsmiths recomendation, and Im going to make sure she keeps the shots within 50 yards max. What I want to know is what foot pounds will this load generate at 50 yards. I couldnt find it anywhere but my gunsmith said line up to milk jugs and if you get penetration past the second one its enough to bring down a deer. I personally use a 30-06 so Ive never had to worry about this problem. I know its light so I really dont care to hear the "its too small for a deer" type posts, just some info on this load before she shoots it tonight. Also, anyone else ever shoot a deer with a .223 or know anyone that has? Im wondering how much damage was done and if the bullet went all the way through. Im also limiting her to a broadside shot behind the shoulder and she has the patiance to wait for the shot.

[OJR]

It will work, but the shot placement has to be perfect!

I would not take it out and use it on deer. Too light of a bullet! Maximum range would be 50 yards and she has to put the bullet in the right place!

[popgun]

Although I wouldn't use a .223 for deer, I have several friends who have, and sad to say they tell mostly horror stories about their use.

To answer your question however;

You will have a muzzle velocity of 3240 fps and 2747 fps at 100yd.

You will have 1282 ft.lb. energy at the muzzle and 921 ft. lb. energy at 100 yds.

You will have 1092 Ft. lb. energy at 50 yds. with a velocity of 2991 fps.

These figures are with the factory charge and with a 24" barrel. (55 grain pointed soft point)

....popgun

[huntinguide]

this is our little rig, a remington model 7 223 with a burris 4X, works just fine taken deer with no problem. My sis shoots this thing great no recoil and very accurate.

I grew up shooting my deer with a 22-250 still no prblemss

But we hand load our deer loads with 2230 and a 70 grain sp little slower and more penetration, not so much fragmentation on impact.

[scrubhunter]

They are illegal here in Virginia. The caliber has to be .23 or above so that should say something about it's use for deer hunting.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

I normally hunt with a 7 mag, but I'll pull out a 220 Swift almost every year to kill a doe or two, and it's always lethal. But I'm also shooting a handloaded 70 gr spitzer and it's going mucho fast.

Be very selective with your shot placement and you'll be OK. Drift off a little and you're in for a nice tracking job.

[wtnhunt]

Just made legal here a few years ago, and I now have a .223 varmint rifle, but I will not use it for deer. Too light in my honest opinion. Young small shooters can shoot a .243.

[Strut10]

Can a .223 cleanly take a deer?? Yes.

Should you do it?? No.

[Brad6639]

I m a firm Believer that shot placement is way more critical than the bullet or caliber. Id rather shoot a deer good with a .223 rather than bad with a .300. Shes going to be using the gun because its what we have, and it is legal, so like I said earlier Im not interested in hearing its light because I already know that. I just wanted to hear what others have found. I guess the true test will be on a deer, but I figure a compound bow generates less than a 100 fot pounds of energy and kills very efficiaently, granted thats with a broadhead but a bullet hits harder and should expand to soemthing similar to an arrow hole.

[Jeramie]

There is a lot of controversy over using a .223 for deer, which is pretty obvious.

A lot of people in Oklahoma use them. Its completely legal. Although they are far from choice cals for deer they are adequate. Corelokts are a great factory round. Their claim to fame is the weight retention which is very important when talking about 55grn rounds.

Keep the shot close, broadside, and not rushed. It will get the job done. Its not ideal but effective.

[Washi]

My niece shot a deer last year with a .223 and it did a pretty good job. It didn't make an exit hole but the buck didn't go very far. She used Winchester 64gr Power Points. 55gr seems too light to me.

[johnf]

I know lots of people who do use them with succes. My advice would be to use the biggest bullet you can find and pretend she's shooting a crossbow when deciding how long the shots should be and where to place the bullet. Make sure she is good with the gun and has a solid rest. Up there where the big deer live I might have her harvest a young deer 130lbs or less. I would hate for her to have a bad experience wounding a monster buck and never getting to harvest it.

[Adjam5]

Shot placement is important. Use whatevers legal and she can shoot accurately. In NY, there is no minimum caliber. I just has to be a centerfire.

[7th]

Brad, the big thing like you said, is ware she puts the bullet. I know that a 55 gr will do it, I have seen a few deer put down with 1 shot of 55 FMJ's (not something I would sujest) and out to and maby past 100yds. I have a friend that will only use his M-4 with 62 gr military and has killed 7 deer and only one took 2 shots, all was pass throughs and in the chest.

Like said, I do not like this round for deer but I have killed 2 with head shots at 30/40 yds. I like the .300's myself but have 3 young son's and like you, if I had to, would be using a .223 to get the baby out there when he is ready...

I will say this, I got a Rossi for my 12 year old a few years ago in .410 and I do not even like the recoil from it, now my 12, 9 and 8 year old have the NEF Handy Rifles and the extra heft of 1 or 2 lbs really help a lot. My 12 and 9 year old will be going to WV this weekend with their .243 I know it will be a great time...

You & your Dad are the one that have to make the call on if she is ready for this with this gun, best of luck.