Scotty88 said:

---

All three of my boys plus my nephews plus friend's kids have killed deer (Hill Country bucks and does) like crazy with my little H&R break action .223 with a 3-9x tasco scope shooting 55 gr soft point Monarch (cheap Academy) ammo.

My boys have killed on average 5 to 6 deer per season for 12 plus years, not including the other kiddos.

Biggest animal taken (mature Axis buck at 80 yards). Also blackbuck does and several turkey.

All deer center punched. I don't think we have lost one. All shots inside 100 yards. Usually DRT.

---

Years ago a group of us had a lease in Llano. Three of us had boys aging from 5 to 9 years old when we first got the place and all of the boys used a .223 for several years. Most of the shots were 50 to 80 yards or so, nothing over 100 yards. Had no issues with clean kills. My son killed 4 before he graduated up to a bigger rifle and all 4 dropped right where they were.

I hunted deer with a .223 as a kid. You better break bone, because it is a long blood trail.

JSKolache said:

---

5.56 was designed to hunt people, so it should do fine on deer.

---

This is why it can be a bad round to deer hunt with. It was designed to tumble on impact and do as much damage as possible.

JSKolache said:

---

5.56 was designed to hunt people, so it should do fine on deer.

---

People are giant pusses compared to a deer. You ever seen a man run 300 yards in 2.7 seconds when you blow its leg or bottom jaw off?

I believe when a supersonic projectile enters their neck, both species are equally pusses.

sigh...

Whitetail said:

---

sigh...

---

Username checks out.

Hunted with a Model 7 .223 all the way up until High School. I just never body shot a deer until then either. All neck shots. Dunno why anyone would teach their kid to do otherwise, when ya miss it's a clean miss and when you hit it's a clean kill. I didn't do much missing. Used a 55gr soft point rucker reload the whole time.

I use it as our MLD permit cartridge. Use it for harvesting deer to hit our numbers.
It is all about shot placement. We do upper neck shots and don't use it for heart lung much but on occasion on black buck. . Never have lost a deer.
As was said. Shot placement and know your limitations.
Use a heavier expanding bullet.

Took a mature doe last season with my AR in .223. Used a 62 or 64 (can't remember) grain round - Winchester White Tail I think is what it was. Lung shot, she ran about 30 yards and folded like a lawn chair. Shot was only about 60 yards. No issues.

22-250, but yes have been taking deer with it for years. Almost exclusively neck shots < 100yds with 55gr PSPs.

*twist rate won't stabilize heavier loads unfortunately.

I've shot multiple white tail and axis with a .222. Mostly neck shots. Every kid in my family starting with my dad in the 60's shot their first deer with the same Sako .222. I still carry it when my nephews aren't hunting because it's a tack driver. Best gun I've ever shot. Mucho deadly.

I love hunting with little Kimber 223. It has a 1:9 twist. I use 60gr Nosler Partitions or 62 gr Sierra Matchking. Both over Varget.

Usually neck shots. Plugged a hog or two as well. Most shots are 120-ish

Agreed. I think DaHouse just got it right with a Nosler Partition for smaller diameter bullets for whitetail.^^^

I've killed them with 60 gr. Nosler Partitions and 65 Sierra BTSP, both over TAC, IIRC. Maybe the Partition was over Varget. I've also used the 65 Sierra on a decent sized hog at about 100 yards. Dropped from a high shoulder shot.

Have the 55 TTSX loaded up this year. 25.5 Grains of TAC, CCI 450, Lapua Brass. Tikka T3 1:8 twist.

I've never killed a deer with my .223, but many a hog has met his demise with it. Drops 'em in their tracks. Of course, a shot in the ear will drop almost anything.

I have shot quite a few management bucks and does with Hornady 55 gr GMX and VMax bullets. I am typically taking shots at less than 150 yards on deer. With this same ammo I have consistently killed pigs with neck/head and lung/heart shots at ranges out to 200 yards. There is a feeder that is 178 yards away from the fence post I use as a rest in front of the main house at the ranch, I have shot nearly 20 pigs from that post in the last three years.

CS78 said:

---

JSKolache said:

---

5.56 was designed to hunt people, so it should do fine on deer.

---

People are giant pusses compared to a deer. You ever seen a man run 300 yards in 2.7 seconds when you blow its leg or bottom jaw off?

---

I've never seen a deer run 300 yards in 2.7 seconds with a jaw and 4 legs either and neither has anybody else.

Killed several, one was a Panhandle buck thru the shoulders with a 60 Grain Nosler partition. Dropped like a rock.

mpl35 said:

---

CS78 said:

---

People are giant pusses compared to a deer. You ever seen a man run 300 yards in 2.7 seconds when you blow its leg or bottom jaw off?

---

I've never seen a deer run 300 yards in 2.7 seconds with a jaw and 4 legs either and neither has anybody else.

---

I think you missed the point, literal Laurie.

I got it. But I was like damn your deer are fast.


Wrong emoji

My son killed his first 4 or 5 with a 223 62 gr. Finally shot a nice 11 pt hill cntry buck. Hit him perfect. He went down about 50 yds away. Got up and walked away 10 mins later. Was not able to get a 2nd shot in him. I could see blood just behind shoulder. Waited 4 hrs. Lost blood trail 100 yds away. Neck/head shots only now with that gun.

The 223 round comes up about two or three times a year here. It is a super round, fast, flat and cheap. If you are looking for a hunting round it can bite you in the buttocks with numerous different issues all posted above. Know your weapon know your skill and go from there. I could really say this with all calibers I guess, but the question at hand is really about using a small round for hunting midsize game which most will balk at and call you out for using it. If there is one round that I fire more than any other it is the 223-5.56. I have a 223 dedicated bolt action that has ended up being one of the most accurate rifles I have ever shot not just owned. So you will never hear me talk bad about using it on deer because I have taken tens of deer with it at up to 170 yrds all head shots. No waste, no tracking, DRT. Should just copy this and save it for next time. But it is fun to brag on your favorite weapon!