I stand clear of 22 centerfire and deer discussions, always a long
and highly debated topic.....at 45yr's old I'm ready to be judged...
I grew up in CT/MA, long before mandatory hunter safety in my
teens, before minimum load size I took my first four deer with
a hand me down .222, unknown over the counter loads from
Zayers (like k-mart now). The 4 deer I killed were the only deer
I had ever seen hunting, all died quickly and pic's look pretty
good size....memory said they were huge but that's a long time
ago!
Years later I'm not sure but I believe 8 of my own deer and a
few friends tags have been filled with various .223 rounds from
my own guns. I own several large center fires but growing up
knowing where (and when) to put a bullet I feel totally at ease
dropping WI deer (ya they get decent up here) with a 64gr
Nosler/partitioned or other game load. I used to get flack from
long time hunting buddies but they sit at the bar now very quiet
when some local hunter says a 222 is a squirrel gun, I don't pipe
up and my buddies smile knowing if I see it (50-150yrd areas
we hunt) I will drop it if the shot presents itself.
To me (bias) shooting a deer with a 223 is like shooting a rabbit
with my 10/22, I "know" I'm not going to miss and I "know" he
is gonna die. No flinching on my part, its very calming to me holding
a small center fire knowing I can place the 55-64gr bullet any
place I choose even if my whole body is froze and weak from hrs
of being in the woods. The comment earlier about the Bull, may be
true but If you put a standard Wolf cheapo 55 grainer thru the
head of a 150# dressed doe it will fall like a rock! I don't get in the
habit of trick shots but a neck shot is a huge target for a Weatherby
1500, 24",223 resting on your treestand at 100yards.
Lurked on/off here for years, sorry about the novel