.223???????

[Buckskins & Black Powder]

Ive seen both deer an antelope shot with a 223 and 243.  The young lady that shot the antelope with her 243  took 2 shots at it, We all figured she missed and about 30 minutes later she got one and it went a little ways.  On the ride back home we found the first antelope 3 miles down the road, dead. 2 shots right behind the shoulder.

Many years ago a guy that was hunting the same area as hunt has his 223 and he shot 2 deer from a little over 100 yards, Lost both of them and ended up going home empty.  The next year he brought a .50 muzzle loader with a 300g conical    The fool didnt stick around on the last evening and a beautiful 5x5 bull elk came walking out of the brush at 80 yards.

I never have an elk tag when i see the darn things 


Go with something bigger.  Group sizes dont mean crap if it doesnt pack a punch behind the bullet.

[yooper77]

All my shots at Antelope with my 243 Winchester you can hear the bullet hit even at 300 yards.  None of my Antelope travel more that 50 yards or fall on the spot.  I'll bet the Antelope you found wasn't the one she shot.  As you can see the 243 Winchester performed perfectly when she finally placed her shot on the second one 30 minutes later.

Now I believe the story on the deer shot with the 223 Remington, shooting deer with a varmint cartridge or any 22 center fire cartridge isn't something I would do or recommend.  Some people even use varmint bullets or FMJ bullets; these are illegal/unethical.

The key is to use an adequate/ethical cartridge with a correct bullet design/weight/size for the job, plus shot placement/accuracy.

yooper77

[tree rat]

If you feel you need to ask if a .223 is enough for deer, then you do not have confidence or the self control to use it. now for those who know what a .223 is capable of there is no need to ask because they know it is more than enough, even with a varmit balistic tip or full metal jacket. DEER ARE INCREADIBLY EASY TO KILL, even fast and humane, It is up to the shooter to do it right !!!

[rem700-3]

I have killed a good many deer with a 22-250 and 55gr psp you just have to put it in the right spot. A good shot with a small bullet is alot batter than a bad hit with a large one. I use the 22-250 when hunting green fields and usually to shoot does in the neck but I heve killed some goood bucks with it as well

[bronco73401]

Here in Oklahoma, there is no centerfire caliber restrictions just minimum bullet weight. Which is 55 grs. Personally I prefer my 45-70. It may be slow but it packs a punch upon arrival.

[blackhawk45]

On another forum,the same question was asked, and it became a very heated discussion ! I'm no ballistics expert,but if you would show up at my deer camp with a 223 Remmy and planned on hunting Whitetails, You had better brought another rifle rifle along,or you would be sitting in the cabin,and not Deer hunting.

[SingleShotShorty]

60 grain Nosler Partitions do a fantastic job on deer, I have taken several deer with my Ruger Varmiter in 223 .

[snood]

Winchester 64 grain soft point and shot placement.  You'll be fine.