we've killed a couple with the .223, but several with the .357.

others may swear by the .223, but I'm not that impressed. we used good bullets and hit the deer perfectly (broadside, armpit) with a 65gr softpoint. it worked, but not near as well as our 185 gr hardcast leads from the .357.

given my druthers, I'd pick the .357 every time and not look back. it works great and recoil is pretty mild in our heavier (octagon) barrelled lever gun.

First teach a child to love God, second teach him to love family, third teach him to fish and hunt and by the time he is in his teens no dope dealer under the sun can teach him anything. Cotton Cordell