What say you OB, behind the shoulder or in the neck? Taking my wife deer hunting for her first time this weekend and she will be shooting the AR with 62 grain Federal Fusion (thanks to whoever recommended them on here, they are incredibly accurate out of the gun). Does your opinion change if it is a deer you want to shoulder mount?

Told her to put it right behind the pigs ear and this is what she did, so I'm not too worried about her missing.

For a shoulder mount I wouldn't take a neck shot, I'd go right behind the shoulder. Any other deer I'll take a neck shot if it presents itself.

just tell her behind the ear again

Shoulder, for me. I don't understand the neck shot idea. Less room for error in my opinion. More likelihood of them moving their neck during the shot than taking a step. Just my $.02. Whatever floats your boat

I would definitely prefer behind the shoulder, less meat wasted, more room for error, but didn't want to stretch the capabilities of the smaller bullet.

My 7 year old son has cleanly taken deer with his granddad's .222 under 100 yards. Shoulder shots placed pretty well and the deer don't make it more than 25 yards before dropping. Sure, he tore up the meat on one shoulder, but in my opinion that is way better than having a wounded deer run off.

Behind shoulder you'll be fine.

Anywhere around the 1st 2 ribs just behind the shoulder works. Killed countless deer with a 22-250 with 55 grain sierras with that placement.

I was leary the first few times with .22-250 shooting 55gr. I nearly always shoot behind the shoulder. Out the 150 yard range, its worked as well as my .243 or .308.

.223 is supersonic and capable of substantial damage/penetration out to 150 yards or so. I'd aim shoulder. You hit heart/lung, and that deer will go down. Bigger target, surer kill.

I'd be leery about taking a shot with a .223 on a mature wt buck, no matter whether you plan on shooting in the neck or shoulder. I'm sure a lot of people have stories of how they've taken numerous deer with the round, but the round simply doesn't have a large amount of energy transferred to the deer. There is very little room for error if you are trying to take down a mature buck with a varmint round (.223 is recommended for varmints). I shoot wt does and spikes in the neck with the .223 but won't shoot a mature wt buck or mature axis doe with the round. Just my personal preference.

Check the ballistics on the sportsmansguide and it shows the .223 doesn't transfer much energy compared to the 22-250 and other popular rounds.

http://www.sportsmansguide.com/Outdoors/resource/ballistics.aspx

I used to think that way, also. Since I started using 64gr bullets designed for larger game, I took all 5 of my deer last year with my AR-15. One was a mature buck I hit just behind the shoulder, took out a rib going In and a rib going out while tearing up the lungs.

I know it's ballistics are not that of a 22-250, but sometimes slower projectiles can result in better transfer of energy to the target.

That being said, I would never use a FMJ or varment style bullet on a deer of any size.

Behind the shoulder. The only dear I've ever had get away was a neck shot. He raised his head just as I pulled the trigger. The bullet hit low and blew a chunk out of the neck. We tracked him for over an hour before losing the trail.

I have seen an irresponsible hunter kill 2 deer with a 55 gr when it passed through. The bullet shattered in the first animal, and one of the 3 pieces of shrapnel took down the yearling behind. (That shooter was never welcomed back to the ranch.)

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never use a FMJ or varment style bullet on a deer of any size.

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This is the key point. Using the heaver projectiles designed for light to medium game out of a .223 at reasonable distances and with good shot placement is no different than any other round.

The Federal Fusion bonded rounds we're using should be perfect for the job, thanks for the input. Good to hear confirmation.

I shot all my deer and pigs in the neck. I shoot a 7 MM rem mag and 140gr accubonds. I don't shoot great but I can hold 1 MOA.

I got countless pics of neck shot deer that drop in their tracks. Also the don't require as much time bleeding out in a cooler and they are less messy to clean.

My best was dropping 3 does in 5 min all with neck shots.

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I shot all my deer and pigs in the neck. I shoot a 7 MM rem mag and 140gr accubonds. I don't shoot great but I can hold 1 MOA.

I got countless pics of neck shot deer that drop in their tracks. Also the don't require as much time bleeding out in a cooler and they are less messy to clean.

My best was dropping 3 does in 5 min all with neck shots.

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I'd imagine they would drop. Maybe it's just me but 7mm rem mag sounds like overkill for deer and hogs w/i 300yrds. I've always taken my .308 with me deer hunting since it was the first rifle my grandfather passed down to me. However, this year I thinking of taking something smaller like my .250 savage because I just don't need the .308 for the wooded hunting in TN.

shoulder or neck, either should work. by the pic you posted, would prob be fine hitting the neck... cleaner that way, but smaller target. behind shoulder might run a little and mess a little meat up, but will still get er done

2" behind the crease at the back of the front leg...DRT

I normally use a 7Mag or my 45-70 for deer and hogs. It's just when I know there will be a lot of hogs and I'm with others, I use the AR-15.

And believe it or not, the 45-70 does less damage to the meat than a 243 cartridge will, but with a keck of a lot more knockdown.

Not going to get into this argument, but my shoulder never hurts and I don't close my eyes right as I pull the trigger!!

I've shot deer in the neck, but now prefer front shoulder for shot placement (it's really hard for a four legged animal to run with two broken legs). I had to put a doe down years ago that one of our neighbors had attempted to shoot in the neck (they wound up shooting her in the jaw and I know she was walking around like that for at least two days before I got a shot at her).

For neck shots it just seems that deer rarely keep their head still long enough to consistently and cleanly hit such a narrow target (unless you get their attention and they engage in a staring contest with you while you line up the shot).

I took 2 deer last year, one mature, one younger with the ar15 shooting 55gr FMJ. Shot dead center neck with them looking at me. Both dropped on the spot

May your luck continue. One of these days you will be cursing those fmj's.

My $.02

I used to shoot deer behind the shoulder. Switched to the neck about 10yrs ago. Never had any problems with either location. Only reason I switched is to save some shoulder meat.

A well placed shot in either with a 223 should be fine. I used to should shoot with a 32-20 back in the day and had zero issues.

Bow hunters rely on shot placement, not kinetic energy and knock down power. If you hit vitals it's going to die.

Is FMJ on big game ethical? I suppose we all have our own code of ethics...

Edit: make that North American big game.

[This message has been edited by Sanantoneag (edited 10/26/2013 12:14p).]

The FMJ will break the shoulders and tumble but leaves little room for error and can make tracking a nightmare. You split two ribs and it will be a bad deal for all involved...


[This message has been edited by Deats (edited 10/26/2013 1:04p).]

Well she did her job and the bullet performed excellently. Probably didn't really matter because she shredded the heart. Dropped right on the spot, couldn't be happier with the shot, especially for her first deer.

Great work OP's wife!!

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There is very little room for error if you are trying to take down a mature buck with a varmint round (.223 is recommended for varmints).

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So THAT'S what the military has been doing since they started using the M16 and M4- shooting varmints with .223!! I thought they were going to war against humans, which can weigh the same as a mature buck. Sneaky sneaky...


/facetious

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Well she did her job and the bullet performed excellently. Probably didn't really matter because she shredded the heart. Dropped right on the spot, couldn't be happier with the shot, especially for her first deer.

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Considering rifle season in Texas doesnt open til next weeendnd, I'm curious as to how your wife legally took a deer with a rifle? Unless your wife is a youth or yall aren't hunting in Texas?

MLD, best friends ranch has 30 doe to take out this year. Their season started early October.

Well, at least it wasn't youth.

Nice shot.

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MLD, best friends ranch has 30 doe to take out this year. Their season started early October.

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Gotcha. Did your best friend charge you $300 a doe????