Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles RIFLE CHOICE IN .223 FOR DEER?

Use the 45 XLC's... they still make them for the time being.. if they shoot in your rifle i'd stock up on them..

Just my .02

I agree with you big guy, why a .223 rem when there are so many practicle choices?................547.

Why not a 223?

I would love to hear more about that whitetail! I have a feral goat hunt coming up soon. (We also have turkey).

Apparently, cast bullets of 56gr run at around 2800fps from a standard 16-inch twist hornet with 3/4 MOA. (Maybe that was the best of a string of three shot groups?)

303Guy

There is a good reason alot of states including mine do not allow .22cal rifles for deer hunting. Yes it will kill a deer with proper bullet placement as will a .17 MACH 2 but I wouldnt recommend that caliber either. Your in ALASKA would you recommend a 22-250 for moose? My point? there are too many cartridges out there that have the bullet size and energy too do the job much more efficiently. Why shoot a whitetail with a .223cal and risk a long tracking job or even a lost deer when you can use your precious 7mm08 and make a clean kill even with a less than perfect shot?...............547.

Drill the shoulders with a good bullet and critter dies, that simple.

I'd not turn from a fight with the my 223AI...

I agree with that statement but sometimes you gotta take a less than perfect shot....and not everybodys the expert shooter that you are..................547.

Ain't an expert at anything.

Watched a 223 bullet sail through a quartering towards buck (180lbs) and saw one go through a going away deer and exit between the eyes. The bullets we have today make things easy.

Is .223 your favorite deer caliber?...............547.

Please tell me about the 'shoulder' shot? Articles I read only show the heart lung, spinal chord and brain as "vitals". I know about the shoulder shot from listening to my father and late uncle but not the details. And I have seen a Wilde Bees (Blue Gnu) shot this way and saw the recovered bullet against the far side skin during skinning. I was too young then to note shot placement and wound channel and the like. I do remember there being little meat damage and no bruising of surrounding tissue.

Thanks
303Guy

Don't have a favorite anymore, use to but I realized they all kill deer with the correct placement and good bullet.

The 223AI is one of may favorite rifles, so by default it is one I carry often. The lads around me consider it one wicked bastard.

Shoulder, not behind the leg (ribs). Try to take out as much bone as you can, will also take out the good stuff inside. No front wheels coupled with lack of air bags and stuff dies quickly.

547,
May I ask what rifle and/or caliber you use? What are your hunting conditions and what do you hunt? I do feel more confident with heavier calibers but I prefer smaller rifles now that youth is no longer on my side.

After 2 minutes and 27 seconds of thought, if I had to pick one to hunt all deer it would be my 250AI, shooting 85 grain bullets.

I totally agree with you on the smaller (lighter rifles) When I hunt with a rifle its mostly for whitetails in the remote rugged terrain of southwest Virginia this terrain is very steep so I do apreciate a rifle thats on the lighter side, My favorite is a project rifle I built out of a REMINGTON 700 LVSF .308cal, but lately I do covet the new REMINGTON ALASKAN TI, 30.06 would be nice.( But the $1700.00 pricetag is a huge drawback) This rifle would be at home in any terrain and after any game in North America. I also use rifles to hunt varmints (Coyotes) and small game such as squirrels. I own several 22lrs I guess these are my main weakness. I love a good .22lr. I own several WEATHERBY MK Vs and REMINGTON 700s in various calibers (Even 7mm08) My favorite calibers for Mr. Whitetail include .308, 30.06, .270,7mm08 and .280REM............547.

Thanks for that, 547.
You obviously have a lot of field experience.
The 22lr rifle is my main fair. Only opportunity I have really - indoor club shooting with my 1948 512 Sportmaster

303Guy

Thankyou all again for your help.The thing that concerns me with the .223 is the fact that it works when conditions are ideal,trying to be a realist,conditions aren't ideal most of the time.I don't want to hurt the deer,i just want to kill it,as quick and humane as possible,also the thought of running into something bigger(black bear)that might want to eat me.I'm also trying to buy one rifle.I'm going to post another question on the Hunting Rifles forum if you all don't mind.I thought I had my mind made up but after reading the respones,.223 might not be my best choice.

Thank you for the great thread! We did kinda highjack it 'though.

303Guy

No you don't. If that's what you do however, then by all means carry more horsepower.

My non-argumentative perspective.

I think your making a wise decision we owe it to the game to make the kill as clean and humane as possible. If you want a "DO ALL" easy on the shoulder rifle and Black bear is on the menu Id suggest a rifle in the .308 or 7mm08 neighborhood....Good luck.............................547.

I also enjoy indoor club shooting during the winter time its great fun!. I like the Mod 512 but Ive not seen one in some time they are rare in my neck of the woods. A gentleman I once knew owned a nice Mod 512, he has since passed away but his was very accurate................547.