I'll tell you what you can add to this. This is the first time I've seen the 223 discussed as a viable deer round without rancor. I started one of these threads in about 2002, just asking for suggestions, and it was like the whole world caved in on me. I ended up trying a couple of loadings and didn't like where I was heading and gave up-- I had a lot of .30-something deer rifles that seemed better at the time.
I'm just glad to see folks have opened up to the possibilities. This forum has come a long way.
Well, as I'm sure MikeNZ can confirm, down our way the .222 was one of the default deer rifles (along with the sporterised Lee Enfield .303) for decades so no reason the .223 won't work - just takes a bit of care.
...which is not to say that I have anything against bigger holes in animals either.
