Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Center shoulder shot on whitetails with a .223- any issues?

I am new at taking deer with a .223 I always go for shoulder shots, but I am wondering if that has to change when hunting with a .223

Bullet is a Nosler Partition.

Will handload TSX's when I get a chance, but suspect that will be a non-issue.

Look at my kids photo under the thread you started "little girls and AR 15's". Worked for our application, end result was a dead 238# buck drilled through both shoulders. I should send the bullet into barnes, it would make a great story/advertisement.

I'd avoid em personally, as you just never know, better safe than sorry. I've seen larger bucks stop the 223 on a neck shot. Dead deer, but dead bullet too.

I'd think it would just make sense anyway. They are as dead by a double lung shot just behind teh shoulder as through the shoulder so shouldn't be an issue.

You just have to be careful with smaller rounds.

What he said.

Under 100 I'd have no problem with a bonded bullet or tsx in the shoulder. Any further or if shooting amaxes I'd go for heart/lung every time.
I've punched a 75 amax through bucks over 200 lbs at close to 300 yards with no problems. Didn't run far with both lungs busted up bad.

Good stuff. Thanks.

I shoot a lot of deer with the 222 Rem and 220 Swift and it's no secret that I like fragile bullets. I won't take anything but neck shots with the 222. I have shot a couple of bucks in the shoulder/lungs with the 220 Swift but prefer a neck shot if possible.

The harder .22 caliber bullets like the Nosler Partition and such might possibly change my mind about this but I don't recommend the .22 center-fire cartridges for deer unless the shooter is capable and willing to put that bullet in the neck.

Hmmmm. My opinion is if you feel like you HAVE to shoot them in the neck, use a different cartridge.

To the original question...no problemo...

I'm with Ingwe, no problemo. Done it for a long time pre/22/preme's ala 55 Horn, 63 Sierra and 60 Horn sp. The Preme's do it as well.

Light the torch and you won't be dissapointed.

Dober

I"ll agree with this, if it has the caveat of using TSX bullets. Beyond that, I"ve still seen necks stop the cup and core bullets on the neck bone without penetrating it, but actually breaking it in the process. Thats enough to say stay away with other than tsx. Partitions do not make me much happier than any cup and core does.

I've never seen a bullet stop inside a deer's neck. I often see this;

It'll work fine. Have at it!

I've never understood the logic behind the head/neck shot unless it is a last resort. The way deer - and especially does - bob and weave and jerk their heads up and down with regularity makes me think a lung or shoulder shot is always a better option even at the expense of a little meat regarless of what bullet/caliber is being used.

Stop right there! You might be on to something...

I've shot a half dozen with .223 caliber bullets out of the .22-250 and .223. Shot 1/2 in the neck (close shots, good rest, trying to save meat) and they almost ripped the head off with 55 grain vmax's. The other 1/2 were right behind the shoulder with 55 grain ballistic tips and they all died just fine too. I'd feel even more comfortable with nosler partitions or barnes tsx. Right through the shoulder should be money. They're deer after all - as long as they aren't wearing those new kevlar deer vests, you'll be just fine.

I shot a large doe yesterday evening at 170 yards. It was late and I was not in the mood to trail a lung shot deer, so I aimed for the shoulder and let it fly.

I was shooting the Sierra Gameking 65 grain SPBT. The bullet left the rifle at 2,900 fps. It struck the deer at 2,400 fps center on the shoulder.

Standing in a food plot she bolted 10 yards into the swamp/thicket. I found her 50 yards away.

It was completely dark buy the time I made it to the place of the shot. Several deer still standing around waiting to jump me

No blood trail. I had to do the semi-circle walk to find her.

After gutting her there was a nice quarter size entrance and exit wound with the off side shoulder completely destroyed.

Not to pleased, but I've had the same thing happen with the 25-06, 7mm-08, 338 Federal, .358 Win, .350 Rem Mag, 30-06 and so on......

I guess 50 yards is not far at all.

I always bunch shoulders.

Here's one that a 62TSX hit at 100 yards.





Another humped up at 70




First deer didn't so much as twitch, no bullet caught, second deer went 5 yards.

Yes, I am dropping down to the 53 grain TSX, based on a recent experience there is no need for the 62 with 160-180 pound deer and as Steelhead says "deer are more impressed by velocity"

If you don't shoot much at distance that should work.

I like 62's cuzz I don't know anyone who has caught one, we have caught a few 53's.