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

.223/5.56mm might also work fine on mulies.

While I still prefer something .257 caliber or above for general purpose deer hunting, the .223 can obviously get the job done in many scenarios. 100yd deer from yesterday, broadside lung hit, good blood trail, 35yd death run, no problems on this 125lb+ whitetail. I'd do it again. Always cool to watch everything unfold through the scope, especially when it sounds like a 10/22.

Not necessarily

It really makes it fun.

Very cool JPro. Looks like it worked well.

Sounds like that bullet has garnered a good reputation on game in recent years and I hope to keep testing it. The Kid said it works alright and I think he might indeed be correct. I certainly hope more test subjects present themselves in the coming months.

If you keep placing bullets like that, I don't know of any thin-skinned animal you aren't quickly killing with that setup. Well done.

I haven't used them, but I've heard that at closer ranges those Nosler BSB just wreck shiit.

I imagine that the distance shooting the deer might have something to do with the yes or no answer.

I knew a rancher (deceased) in western South Dakota that used a Savage 222 to shoot deer most of his live, he would be in his upper 90's if still living. From what I hear he only used one bullet each, to kill his deer. He used ammo off the dealers' shelves, so I suspect he didn't worry about bullet construction.

Now, imagine you have a 223 and you wanted to use the following:

Muzzle velocity 3,350 FPS, 55 caliber TSX bullet, sighted in at 100 meters 2 inches high. 10 MPH cross wind, 3,200 fps.

My phone ap says at 350 yards the energy level is 330-foot pounds, velocity is 1,644 fps, wind drift is 12 inches, and the bullet strike would be 15" low.

So, if you were to shoot a nice Mule Deer Buck at 350 yards, would your choice be a 223 with a maximum load using 55 grain TSX bullets?

On the other hand, at 100 yards the energy is 882 FP, the drift is .8", and the bullet is 2.0" high.

(I looked at a couple of other bullet choices and thought this might be as good as any for energy, velocity, wind drift etc.)

My point is that shooting a deer with whatever you choose will have a lot to do with how far you shoot and size of the deer. Therefore, you will get an unending argument from people some in the mountains and some in the swamps. Some saying absolutely yes and others saying no f---ing way.

The argument is similar to, "What is the perfect deer rifle?" or "What is the perfect bullet to use on deer?"

It's like adult diapers, it "Depends".

What’s the average distance a whitetail or Mule Deer gets harvested? Hint, it’s way under 350 yards.

I have hunted deer with the 223 for 7 years now and haven't had any trouble at all. Where I hunt everything has been 100 yds or less. If I'm stretching out to 250 the 223 would likely get it done but I don't do it. I have a 6.5 creedmoor for that

Trystan

Shot one at 80 yards . She jumped a few steps, turned around confused. Shot her again. She just ran off. Went away for an hour then found her a hundred yards farther away. Shot a little one at similar range. It dropped. 55 soft point, 25g H335, not too impressive. Could say the same about bigger rifles though. In fact I've chased and hunted more than a few with solid hits to the chest, lungs, heart with 140 grain bullets. Lost one. On the other hand a 22 mag to the neck was pretty impressive on a big buck at 75 yards or so. 55 grain V Max seems to work really well, which is weird because 140 A Max was horrible for me. Guy in Texas on You Tube has racked up over a hundred. Sorry this is so technical and scientific.

Pissing point. I do believe he preferred the 6.5x54 Mannlicher. But has the original Mauser smokeless powder cartridge really been surpassed for general game?

He preferred it but the ammo wasn't reliable

You shouldn't be impressed when you use the wrong bullet for the job.

Back in the 1960's and 70's Jack O'Connor was my favorite hunting writer. He stated that bullet performance and penetration are the hallmarks of killing power. The diameter of the bullet BEFORE impact is largely irrelevant. Shoot a big game bullet from a .223 within reasonable distance and it will result in a kill. I started my oldest daughter shooting mule deer with a .223 and she was successful. She hunted with Winchester's 64 grain Power Point ammo. - Sherwood

I killed a pronghorn at 175yrds with a 55gr Rem PSP out of a 223AI fireform load. Went 10yds. Quarter sized exit hole.

No, not for any Buck or Doe that I'm interested in shooting. I've seen some of the photos posted on this thread with small does taken with .223. Why would anyone shoot does that small? 250 yard head or neck shot doesn't seem like ethical hunting to me either. Reads like a potential tracking nightmare.

The wrong tool for the job CAN get the job done, that doesn't make it the right tool for the job.

Which is your 223 deer bullet preference?