Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting First deer with my 223!

I crapped out last season, never saw a deer with a rifle in my hand. This season is starting off better. My first time in the stand this year and I put meat on the ground. 160lb 7pt at 254yds. Used my 223Rem Ruger m77 Ultralight pushing a 50gr Barnes at 3200fps. He ran about 50-60yds across the field then collapsed. I've taken deer with my 22-250, 220 Swift, and 220 Wilson Arrow, but this is my first ever with a 223. I doubt it will be my last.

Is that a compact Ruger 77? I thought the ultra lights had black forends on the stock.

This one is an oddball. It's a first production year Mark II with regular LOP but no black tip but it is an Ultralight barreled action. It's the 20 inch pencil barrel with the cartridge stamped forward on the barrel, not on the shank.

Oh ok. You can count on Ruger to make oddballs .

Nice.

Gonna break out my new Hawkeye AW stuffed with 55gr TTSXs when the antlerless season opens next week. Need a change of luck.

Nice buck. like the Ruger, too.

Nice buck and rifle good work I like that load I need to do that w/ my .223!

Well done! Cool buck, looks like the Barnes did the trick. Those Ruger UL's are nice rifles.

I'm kind of limited bullet-wise in this rifle due to the 1-12 twist. I've got a couple of other 9 twist 223s that I can run heavier bullets in.

Great deer. I love hunting with my .223's - way more punch than they should have.

That will do.

Nice buck and a pretty far distance shot for a 223. Dig the rifle too.

Congrats!

I"ve used 223 on deer out to almost 600 yards before and never found it wanting as long as you place the bullet correctly, like with any gun.

Just FWIW.

Well done. Nice shooting!

Nice! It's on my bucket list to get my Rock River AR out and shoot one.

But but but but.... everybody knows a .22 cal won't kill deer.....
-Jake

Why? What would a heavier bullet do that that bullet did not. By the way, great shot!

That skinny little Barnes did the job. Might have to give that a try. Damage is impressive.

Nice!

We can't use anything smaller than a 243 up here for any *big game animal*. 223's and the like are only allowed to be used for varmint hunting. I love the 243 and 250 Savage for deer hunting. My better half uses a 243 and she's taken two Elk and a cow moose with it. Bullet placement is the only important thing IMO.