RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

Armor piercing ammo is not a good choice for any game. I'm sure he didn't buy them over the counter, and I wouldn't want to get caught using them and explaining where I got them. They are made for shooting through cars and trucks and bullet proof vest,not game, it would leave a small hole with no expantion. If your buying a rifle just for Deer go bigger.

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

Are you trying to stir up a pissing match? Seriously, I see you have posted almost 400 times on this forum. Surely you have seen this debate OVER AND OVER AND OVER again ;)

If not, then to answer your question....YES! A 223 is plenty adequate for deer with proper bullet placement and the right bullet.

Unless of course you are hunting those armor plated deer I hear so much about on this forum. ;)

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

Get out the popcorn!

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

Last year I killed a 6 point with a .223, and he ran about 35 yards and fell over. I have heard more than a few Mini-14 owners gripe about the accuracy of their weapon, so you might want to look at other firearms in this caliber. My .223 is a Saiga(AK variant) and they are not famous for their pinpoint accuracy. I got lucky, mine shoots 1.5-2MOA depending on my ammo, so I'm not going to shoot much further than 100 yards at anything except a coyote. Shooting out to 250, 1.5MOA gets to be a pretty big difference, so I wouldn't do it, but that's just me. The 7.62x39 round has dismal ballistics out past 200 yards. I have a single-shot in that caliber that I use as a brush gun, where my shots are all within 50 yards or so. If most of your shots are around 70, it is a good round in the right weapon.

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

I've never shot a deer with a rifle, so maybe I'll talking "out of school", but... as devistating as a .223 is on a large woodchuck (turns the 1/2 of the inside of a woodchuck into jelly) why would that same principal work for a lung shot?There is someone I know in my town that helps a rancher up north in the fall calving.. he says theyhead-shot dozens of deer with varmint bullets and hasn't had one get away yet.He said they drop like a sack of potatoes. I've watched some u-tube videos of professional deer shooters (thinning heards out of urban areas) and they all drop immediately too? Just my 2c

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

It is fine for deer.. So was my little 222.. My nephew is still mad at me for selling it.. But He was ok after I bought him a 243. :D.

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

I grew up in Texas and my first deer rifle was a remington mohawk 600 .222
I killed and recovered all of the deer I shot with it ( probably 5). But I wouldn't recommend it either.
243 would be the smallest I would use.....happens to be the second rifle I used.....great rifle

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

I've seen whitetails go down with the little ole 22 hornet. I wouldn't use anything much smaller than 260 but that's my opinion.

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

I guess a .22 would be good under the right conditions but why?
Stick to ethical hunting. Right weapon for the right game.

RE: Is a 223 to small for deer?
 

My girlfriend shoots a Mini-14 .223 and she has killed 2 deer each year the last 5 years. I sight it in for her at 100 yards and it is very accurate to that distance. I doubt she would ever take a shot that long though. Most of the time they go down on the spot or just a short run. This year we had to track one maybe 50 yards into the brush, but I've had to do that using my .270. It is a fine gun for deer with proper shot placement and short to mid range shots.

I saw a thread a while back about using .410 slugs and there were those who were about ready to fight to defend the .410 for deer hunting. If a .410 is OK, a .223 is better.