Which to use..

[ironglow]

  I have four potential deer rifles that I can use this season..a Marlin 336C in 30/30, an H&R "Shikari" in .44 mag, a Savage 11G in .223 and a bull barreled NEF .223 ..
    I do plan on carrying the .223s at least part of the time, relying on good bullet placement .
     Some folks seem to doubt the .223 Rem as a deer round...but I never figured a heavier caliber was a good answer to poor shooting..   Anyone here used .223 with success ?
   What is a good factory deer round for the .44 mag ?

 In the 30/30..150 or 170 grain ?

[quickdtoo]

Here's a thread on .223 for deer that may be of help....can't help you with the other calibers other than they all will work.

Tim

http://www.graybeardoutdoors.com/smf/index.php/topic,95338.30.html

[darat100]

I sure hate to see someone use the 223 to deer hunt with.  Not that it won't do the job, but we all make bad shots from time to time.  I lost a deer a couple of years ago because he took a step just as I pulled the trigger.  (And I was using plenty of gun).  If you truly love hunting, this will get to you.  I hope you don't have to deal with this at some point using the 223.

However, good luck with all of the above.  I have taken several deer with my marlin 336.  They never go far.

[single action]

I bought a nef .223 3 years ago for my wife and son. my son was11 years old at the time and he was able to take his first 2 deer with it, both one shot kills at 75 and 110 yards respectively. My wife loves shooting this rifle because of little or no recoil. She is 5'5" and about 105 lbs,so just about any recoil is too much. Year before last she killed a good sized doe with it and last year she killed an BIG 8 point ( bigger than any deer I have ever seen in the woods, let alone killed!) Both of these were also one shot kills both about 50 yards away. A friend of mine borrowed my .223 so his stepdaughter could use it last youth season and she also killed a 8 point.I had to work opening weekend so my buddy used the .223 and killed a 11 point sat, and a doe sunday. Oh, by the way all 3 of these were one shot kills though I dont remember the distances. We are still using the same box of winchester soft point hunting ammo that the dealer gave me when I bought the rifle though we have shot several boxes of  the cheap winchester white box fmj's in target practice. The gun is very light ,short and easy to carry, easy to maneuver in a tree stand or blind, and ammo is so cheap even a poor paramedic can afford to buy plenty and practice alot.Oh, did I mention it a heck of a coyote gun? Though I will admit if more than one shows up, getting that second shot is difficult! LOL Many people dont like the .223 for deer but I think if you keep the range moderate, NEVER shoot at running animals, try not to take unsupported shots, ( we like collapsable shooting sticks ) , use proper ammo ( stay away from hollowpoints They tend to break up upon impact while soft points seem to hold together better ) And practice as much as possible you should do O.K.  All of the above is just my opinion and my familys experience. Good luck to you this season whatever you choose to hunt with.

[myarmor]

Here in VA it's illegal to use a 223, as in many states. Personally I have the fullest confidence that I could take one with one of my 223's as they are among the best shooting Handis I own. I personally would just opt for my 243 If I were going small bore. If you do decide to go with a 223 for deer, make sure you get a good strong constructed bullet. Here are a few of the better choices:
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=161368
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=891153
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=520900
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=402682

Just remember that with the most common and older twist rate(1-12) of the 223 Handis they will have a hard time stabilizing the heavier varities. Though they should work in your Savage with a 1-9 fairly well.

As for the 44Mag, I have yet to actually work up a load for mine, though it's with in measurements..thankfully. The concern I have in mine is the possibility of pushing the bullet, that is intended for use in a Revolver, out of a 22" rifle barrel and getting shallow wounds due to the added velocity. So, I plan on using a little heavier built bullet like some 200gr and 240gr varities, such as Hornadys XTP. Fortunately there are lots of options here:
http://www.midwayusa.com/ebrowse.exe/browse?TabID=3&Categoryid=7513&categorystring=653*
**691***
30-30? Take your pick of what yours likes. The .30cals are pretty efficient on deer sized animals

-Aaron

[ironglow]

  I have built some confidence in the .223 as a stopper because of what my grandson has done with his.
  My grandson is back now from Al Anbar province for a couple months (Marine Spec Ops).
  ..Besides being his unit armorer and other regular Spec Ops "hunting duties", he was his unit's "designated sniper", with a self-modified M-16..
 
    He said the .223 was effective on 200 pound varmints, even with the required ball ammo.
   
    I do understand that people often drop faster than game animals (because they KNOW they have been shot)...but some of those terrorists in the big sandbox are buzzed up on hashish..
     
   BTW: He and most Marines do not consider the 9mm a good stopper..Marines will be going back to the .45.
  While kicking in doors near Ramadi, he preferred his M-16 or his Mossy 500..

[darat100]

I do not doubt by any means that the 223 is capable of one shot kills.  It is definately enough bullet to do the job.  I just feel like we owe it to the deer to kill as quickly as possibly, and avoid possibly wounding one with a bad shot.  Everyone makes mistakes, even the pros.  Surely we owe our game more than taking any unnecessary chances.

[quickdtoo]

Game can be wounded with even the biggest of magnum calibers, it still boils down to good shot placement and waiting for the right opportunity, no matter what the caliber. Even the .243 which many sportsmen feel is inadequate for deer, has a lot of muzzle blast and enough recoil to not allow a young shooter or person of slight built to have confidence in the rifle and thus be able to make those shots, I'd rather see confidence and shooting ability built in these shooters with the .223, where it's legal, than to saddle them with a caliber that doesn't instill those qualities.

Tim

[holahead]

I have never used the .223 on deer but I do remember a little girl who took one the nicest bucks around a year or two ago.Now I do know what the 30-30 will do.It is one of my all time favorites.

[xhare]

Even with the last deer I shot, which was at only about 30 yards with a heavily loaded 45-70, I waited for a nice broadside shot. I did not want to face a long track, ruining meat, or making the field dress any messier than it has to be.

Shot placement is key. 

[cwlongshot]

I do not like the idea of 22's on deer sized game. IMHO its just not enough gun.

I read all the stories and wouldnt for a second tell you it will not work...but so will the ballpeen hammer thats in the toolbox.

If its all I had, yes I would use it, but Its not and its not legal here in the northeast so for me its a moot point anyhow.

I would HATE for someone to be introduced to hunting only to wound and loose a deer. Not the best way to begin a hunter.

 Just MHO.

CW

[ironglow]

  CW;
  Not all the northeast restricts.22 cal rifles..in NY, the rule book simply says " centerfire"..so I could (but wouldn't), try my hornet).

[Dillohide]

I'm going to stay out of the .223 discussion other than to say I don't like it on deer. However some of my Texas compadres here think it's quite acceptable as a deer round.

I'd use the 30-30 and between the 150 round nose and 170 grain flat point I'd opt for the 170 grain because it's got a little more knock down power plus was always a little more accurate in my Marlins. Every gun is different but my Marlin model 30 really likes the new 160 grain Hornady Levereloution ammo. Try a box. If your 336 likes it that'll give you more range (200 yards) and knock down power.

My Handi 30-30, by the way, does not like the Levereloution ammo. 

[knight0334]

If careful, a .223 is capable of safe deer harvesting.  I have a really small framed female cousin that uses a .222 for deer, and has done so for the last 12-14 years now.  I dont recall her ever having a "no-find", maybe because she practices all year on groundhog with same rifle, and maybe due to the ammo that her dad and I load for her.

And as somewhat mentioned above, deer have been just maimed by bigger/magnums.  I have seen the same uncle mentioned above blow the leg and shoulder off a buck with a 300 Win. and it run off to never be found.

Death is not an exact science...

As they say in self-defense/CCW discussions - shot placement is everything.

[Uncle Ji]

I haven't popped a deer yet with my 223 but plan to using Barnes solid copper X bullets in a handload.  There is no season nor limit on deer here so no pressure to fill a tag before closing, no pressure so can pick shots well.  A few years back I loaded up the SPEER 70 grain SPs and they performed very well on one several wild pigs all one shot kills using my (1 in 10" twist) RUGER Mini-14, and I let several friends try the load with same success stories.  As far as factory loads in 223 I have heard nothing but praise for the Winchester 64 grain loads. 
In 44 mag I have been using just plain old 240 grain SPs behind a healthy charge of H110 (25 grains HOT) for the past 30+ year with 100% success but have a box of Winchester Supreme Partition Golds (250 grains) I want to try just because.
In a 30-30 I always prefer the 170 grain loads since I use a 30/30 more for pigs than deer, but either should do you fine on deer.

[cwlongshot]

  CW;
  Not all the northeast restricts.22 cal rifles..in NY, the rule book simply says " centerfire"..so I could (but wouldn't), try my hornet).

Ironglow,
 Thats a new one on me!! I have hunted NY yearly since about 1977. My ol' man and I have property there.
We are 20miles or so above Elenville. Between the RONDOUT and SHOCAN Res's.

To the best of my knoledge, its been .243 as a min for ever...unless they just changed it?!?!?
 Is that new this /last year???

CW

[quickdtoo]

The NY state regs say ANY* centerfire is legal for deer. The only restriction I could find was .44 cal min for muzzleloaders.

Tim

http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/wildlife/guide/legalimp.html

Rifle* - any centerfire rifle.

* - It is illegal to hunt with:
a fully automatic firearm;
an autoloading firearm that holds more than 6 shells (except an autoloading pistol with a barrel length under 8 inches);
any firearm equipped with a silencer.