kmunny19

yeah, if everything is right and good shot placement is used, a 223 will kill a deer. however, it leaves a WHOLE LOT less room for error than a bigger cal. I'd go 243 on up. Also, for the range, check a ballistics table or program and see the range that it still carries more than 1000-1100 ftlb of energy. This is widely considered the minimum needed to kill a deer. BUT WHY USE THE MINIMUM?

BigTiny

In Louisiana, any centerfire larger than .22 caliber is legal. So a .223 is a legal deer round. I took a 6 point with mine last year. I didn't take it out for deer this year, but I did get a coyote with it. I like to use all the weapons in my locker if I can, I don't like "safe queen" rifles. If it's in there, I'm putting it to work. Other than that, I don't really have a reason to take the .223 out for deer. Didn't think I needed one.

Pioneer2

A .223 will kill deer if A]you can shoot B]know your game anatomy C] know your range limitations.With the Ruger Mini-14 the rifling twist is 1-10 or maybe faster now so you can use 60gr+ bullets.I've shot several deer with .223's and my dad with a .222 all deer dead one shot out to 150 yards.And three black bears one shot each.Again Canadian Inuit have been shooting walrus,caribou,seals,muskox and polar bear with .22 Hornets and 222's for decades now.Old news ,I'm afraid....................Harold

buckmastr229

A 223 will kill deer for sure. I have seen it done many times and it works perfect. Shop placement is KEY though!

zrexpilot

I have killed 6 axis deer with a .222, its the ranch gun at a game ranch I visit. Sometimes when I am over ther visiting the ranch manager, hewill get a wild hair and offer me a deer and I use his .222.4 of those axis were bang flops (2 neck shot, 1head shot) on theother one it was a body shot that hit the spine, bang flop, the other 2 were boiler room shots, tracking these 2 deer was a little scary, no blood trail, but they only went about a 100 yds. In this area its pretty clean terrain so finding them was not toobad. But in say a real brushy condition, like south texas it would have been a nightmare..

glockman55

So what your saying is that a .223 will kill a Deer?

RobertKansas

You can use a .223 inMissouri andI have taken two deer, one shot each right thru the lungs. The bullets passed clear thrueach deer. You need to use common sense about the distancebefore the shot. I don`t like making long shots with any size gun but thats just me.

MarquetteMagnum

BANG,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, BANG,,,,,,,,,,BANG,BANG,BANG,BANG,,,,,,,BANG,BANG, BANG,,,,,,,,,BANG,BANG,BANG,,,,,,,,,,,BANG,,,,BANG ,BANG,

THERE, I JUST KILLED THIS TOPIC WITH A 223.

RobertKansas

I was trying to be friendly and chip in being a new member but did not look at the old date of the last reply on this topic, I will be more careful about posting next time.

HOGHUNTINGUNLIMITED

no it's a little to small go with a 243 it would be much better!