Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting .223 for whitetail - yes or no?

This subject has probably been beat to death on various forums, but what say the 'Fire? Is the .223 Remington an adequate cartridge for deer out to a distance of 250 yards?
Let the schit-slinging begin.

No! memtb

Yes. With a proper bullet. I like a 62gr Barnes.

Why use something barely adequate (if That) when a 243 or other 6mm will do it better?

You bet in fact some will say there is no better 400 yard Mule deer rifle in existance.

No so many better choices out thier.

Adequate, yes. Ideal, no.

It's adequate for little people, but one can be better served with something larger.

I have cleanly killed truck loads of deer with 222,223 and 220 swift.
All loaded with a 53gr Barnes. All were inside of 200 yds. As stated in above posts it may not be ideal. But dammit it works well.

One of the biggest grizzlies ever killed was shot by an Indian woman using a 22 LR. Just because a cartridge will kill an animal doesn't mean that it's ideal. I've killed deer with the 223, but why use it when there are far better choices.

Yes.

There isn't a whitetail alive that cannot be killed with a .223/5.56. But that doesn't make it a good deer round. Will it work? Yes, if you have a calm animal standing perfectly broadside. For many people that only hunt out of blinds or stands that is the sort of shot they get but I am a still hunter and walk my deer down. I can't plan of a perfect shot at a known range. My deer might be 30 yards away or he may be 300 yards away and he could be broadside, facing away, facing towards me or moving and there may be a canyon between us. For my money's worth I want a heavier bullet at 2900 fps at the muzzle.

I remember when the 243 was new and considered "barely adequate".

I have two Valmet 12ga/rifle combos, one in 222 and one in 308. I carry the 308 when after deer and birds together. There is no substitute for some knockdown power.

62 Barnes or 62 grain Bear Claw will kill cshit out of pigs. I’m sure they will kill deer just as well.

Yes

Probably? Are we bored?

Whitetails like grizzlies have evolved over time. To take down an adult whitetail buck you will have to have at minimum a 150 grain bullet traveling at 3550fps at impact. Yea I know so and so has killed them with the ole 06 for years and never had any trouble. Times are changing men , get you a fire breathing magnum dragon.

Or further with a soft bullet.

Now let the schitt slinging begin.

Half the problem w small calibers is railroad spike tough bullets.

Another yes. Easily.

( You guys KNEW I would chime in...)

It will blow a hole in your basic woodchuck you can stick your fist into. Put that same hole in the vitals of a deer, and start field dressing!

I know this isn't exactly what the OP asked about ( a .223 at 250 yards)
but its a .222 at 247 yards ( lasered)





And yes...I have more than " a sample of one"...

Yes.

@ingwe. Load and bullet used in the .222? A friend just picked one up. Thanks.