In most cases I'd say the .223 is barely enough to make a clean kill on an averageadultdeer.

However, I hunt with a guy who has taken half a dozen (andone lost) with his Mini-14 and SL8-1, most of which droppedin its tracks or took a dive a few dozen yards away just insidethe tree line. The issue, again, is shot placement. The .223 witha good HP/SP bullet can shred the lungs orheart if you hit them, but there is not muchmargin for error, in my opinion.

I'd rather have a little more power at my disposal (.30-06 or 12 ga. slug) just to be on the safe side, but I admit I can't help butthing about trying my BM M4A3 with its EOTech 511 and BUIS out for size. Maybe one dayif I'm after whitetail deeper south in a .223-legal hunting area.