RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

we kill bucks that big up here but i wouldnt want to use a 223 on them. yea they could work but the chances of wounding one or killing it and not finding it are much higher. small holes and often no exit w/ the 223 mean tough blood trail. i prefer the 06 whelen and 350 mag. the shots are never text book and i wouldnt want to take a shot at a buck runnin away w/ a 223 myslef. food for thought though, a friend of the family has killed several over 200 w/ his 222. all one shot kills......

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

FL minimum is .243...............I can kill Deer effectively all day long with .22LR at under 75 yards.

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

lol cuz up here you seldom get to tuck one in the lungs RR. re-read my post,

"shots are never text book and i wouldnt want to take a shot at a buck running away w/ a 223 myself"

a good exit hole DOES help w/ a good blood trail.

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

I never said a 223 couldn't make a shoulder shot, it's just not one I'm going to take. Just personal taste. Kind of like hunting deer with a 223.

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

I know this is off topic, but I for one just want to say "thank you" for serving your country and putting your life on the line while we sit at home and try to live our lives.

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

We hunt just across the Minnesota border in Ontario Canada....big woods and big bucks...we use .30-06.....223 could work with proper placement but running big bucks and thick bush would make me feel undergunned with a .223....Yeah, big northern bucks are tough....we all know correct shot placement (in the eye) with a .22 would bring down a grizzly.

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

Sorry nchawkeye,I did go back to your previous postandyou did address the shoulder shot question. Thanks.

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Go back and read my post...I believe I mentioned my niece taking high shoulder shots...
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RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

I vote no for using a 223 on the big northern whitetails that we have around here. I did an experiment a few years back shooting 60gr Nosler Partitions pushed to max velocity out of my 223, I shot large does (160-180lb). At the shot, there was no sign of a hit or the solid ThhhWack that I'm acustomed to hearing, the deer all ran 100+ yards before getting jittery and tipping over. These were all double lung shots, on standing deer, no farther than 175 yards. I only anchored one doe in its tracks with the 223, that was a headshot.

Like Skybuster said, how often does everyone get text book shots. I know where I hunt you'd have an empty freezer the majority of the time if you weren't taking a running shot, or long range shots.

As for whoever said the bow comment an being stranded, I'll take my bow over my 223. ;)

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

well i cant hel;p that but up here you wouldnt be killin much of anyhting if you didnt shoot at runnin bucks and just tuck one in him somewheres. heck, if we can track them down and shoot them im sure i can track him if hes bleedin. also i will say that w/ my whelens and 350's the heavy bullet most always penitrate deep enough to get some of the goodies.

RE: .223 for whitetails?
 

Careful. I stated that I did not agree with the 223 and got compared to gun control liberals