I have taken lots of whitetails with 223's, mostly with 65 sierra GK handloads, some with plain ole Hornady 55 sp's
They all worked better than people give them credit for. No problems with any of the shots i have taken. I passed up some long range shots
That i would have pulled the trigger on with my 08's

I would have got him too but a Dad Blam snow flake hit me in da eye....