Hunting deer with a 223 cal AR?

[Swamphunter]

So, whats everyones opinion on shooting a deer with a .223 cal rifle?

[mikewink]

All though it is capable of killing a deer. The round is light and fast moving. Unless it is put through the heart or the skull, a majority of the time it will only wound the deer if not placed perfect.

I say this not only as an opinion, but as someone who has litterally sent thousands of .223 down range. Some in some life or death situations. I personally, prefer something with a little more knock down.

Like many other rounds the .223 or 5.56 mm is a very accurate and a very good round in the hands of a skilled shooter. It is a very good round for smaller game. Just not a round intended for deer in my opinion. We owe it to the animals we hunt to be ethical in how we harvest them.

Just my .02

Mike

[JimT]

Bad idea unless your an expert shot.......

[redkneck]

Believe it or not when I was young and dumb I killed a buck with a .22 short, so any round will kill a deer. That being said you'd better be on a firm rest and a good shot if you want a high percentage of your game recovered with a .223

That's my .02

[Washi]

I have seen a few deer shot with with the Winchester 64 grain soft point made specifically for deer and the deer didn't go far at all. I wouldn't try it with any other bullet I've seen for the .223 though.

[wtnhunt]

I wouldn't, nor would I let my kids use my .223 for deer.

[wyohunter]

first i would check your states minimum caliber requirements, in wyoming its .240 and up.

if its legal there, you just have to do some soal searching, if you wound a deer, and dont recover it, will you be able to sleep at night...lol

[scottb]

Go for it, as long as you make shot placement paramount. Regardless of calibur shot placement should be top on the list just so you get a clean, humane kill.

[redkneck]

After my dad's spinal cord injury I borrowed a 223 single shot for him to hunt with because I was so paranoid about recoil to his shoulder. He never shot it (pop only pulls the trigger once every 4-5 years on a good buck) but I had no doubt he would have put the deer down if he chose too. Problem is that marginal shots, like a high-lung, or lower shot just doesn't provide enough bullet mass for a quick kill. Not much of a forgiveness factor when you take a chest shot on a nice buck that comes running by you.

[HUNTINGMAN]

A few months ago I was looking I to buying an ar for deer hunting in the 223 cal. I had money in pocket and went to get one,after looking and researching I decided to not get one. I kept my 270,it's up to each individual as to what they want but ask yourself a question,if a buck of a lifetime offered you a shot would you rather have a bullet that is small and the shot has to be perfect or a larger one that if something went wrong and the shot was marginal,you still have a good chance of recovery. I ask myself this and decided I wanted a bigger pei e of lead.

[dbHunterNY]

if the shots are really close with no brush and you have a controlled expansion bullets that's at least 60 grains, then yea you could. 95% of all the deer within the past 10 years i've shot could've been easily taken with a .223 cal. given the general consensus, i too would sleep much better knowing in the morning i'd be carrying something that will help me in less than ideal conditions.

[mikewink]

If you are looking at getting a tactical rifle for hunting look at the new rifles that Remington makes. The Remington Model R-25. They have it chambered in a .243, 7mm -08, and .308

.

http://www.remington.com/product-families/firearms/centerfire-families/autoloading-model-r-25.aspx

[redkneck]

I really like the 7-08 for kids esp.

[Strut10]

Bad idea unless your an expert shot.......

Bad idea, period.

If a feller can't afford a proper deer rifle, he should borrow one or don't go hunting.

Even young kids can handle rifles chambered in way better, more suitable deer rounds.

Using a .223 for deer is nothing more than a dumb stunt.

[toddyboman]

Bad idea, period.

Even young kids can handle rifles chambered in way better, more suitable deer rounds.

.

I agree

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

Marginal caliber, although I've used one before and never lost an animal.

If I were going to use one I'd opt for either the 62 gr Corbon DPX (Barnes X Bullet) or the 60 gr Federal Nosler Partition.

[muzzy1]

NO,your asking for problems if you try it.. just my 2cents !!!

[Jeramie]

Not my first choice but countless deer have fallen to the .223. Its actually a popular round in Oklahoma. Keep in mind a 300lb deer here is out of the question. Most of our deer do good to top 100lbs.

The .223 is used a lot for young hunters in our area. I believe they should be packing more like a .243 but to each his own. Still, that doesnt detract from the fact that a .223 is a flat shooting, deadly round. With the right bullet and a smart shooter it can be very efficent at closer ranges.

The .223 has to be as effective as a 70lb compound bow or a 40lb recurve. Granted youre looking for a wound channel with a bow but you cant tell me a .223 with a premium round would do any less damage or inflict any less trauma on an animal.

[Strut10]

The .223 has to be as effective as a 70lb compound bow or a 40lb recurve. Granted youre looking for a wound channel with a bow but you cant tell me a .223 with a premium round would do any less damage or inflict any less trauma on an animal.

Not so sure.

I believe the bow shooting a sharp broadhead would have better success hitting a rib or paddlebone than the .223 would.

[ChrisSeb53]

why risk it? simply step up to a .243... i have killed the majority of the deer in my hunting career with that caliber

[NC8point]

I agree with alot above a .223 isn't a good deer round it has more to do with the weight of the bullet than the size just too small grain of a bullet

[NBomb500]

Well, out here in Montana I would say go for it. Open enough country where you can watch where the deer goes after you shoot it. And really its more about shot placement than anything else. Good luck!

[Jeramie]

Not so sure.

I believe the bow shooting a sharp broadhead would have better success hitting a rib or paddlebone than the .223 would.

Good debatable points.

But I’m still not convinced. The .223, even though it is a light projectile, will still be packing quite a bit of energy (at fairly close ranges). Granted some of the northern deer may be built a bit heavier but i would be willing to bet a rib bone wouldn’t stand a chance here. If you did manage to clip a rib bone the shrapnel would do some serious damage.

Also, keep in mind that I have completely spined a doe with a 100grn muzzy (70lb bow). It turned at the spine and came out her back leg. You would think she would have folded on the spot but she went about 80 - 100 yards and lived most of the night. I had to recover her the next morning. I cant help but believe in that situation a .223 would have been more effective. The blades made a clean cut into the spine but never cut the cord (how I have no idea). In my mind a .223 round would have turned that spine into shrapnel and more than likely would have broke the spine severing the cord....

Image brought to you curtousy of Muzzy.

[TN Bucknasty]

The military adopted the cartridge to be less lethal than the previous rounds they used like the 30-06 which would remove body parts. The logic behind this- If you wound a man, you take 2 or 3 people out of a battle because someone has to carry him back. It is also more aligned with today's "humane warfare" standards which is an idiotic notion.

That being said, it is a poor round for killing humans which are a comparable size to deer, therefore it is a poor round for deer hunting even here in the South where the deer are smaller. I have trailed too many deer for people who have started shooting this round since it was legalized a couple of years ago in TN.

As far as women and children go, a .243 or 25-06 would be more appropriate. Most new hunters, especially those who are scared of recoil aren't going to be able to shoot their first deer accurately enough to rely on the .223.

[Jeramie]

As far as women and children go, a .243 or 25-06 would be more appropriate.

I agree 100%. It isnt the best round for the job but can be effective.

Young or new hunters should go to a cal that offers a sort of margin for error without question. The .243 is a fine choice and is what I carry personally about 99% of the time.