Possible .223 round thats Good for whitetail Deer.

[nasem]

Hey guys, I have never used a .223 on any deer like game.  But I have read alot of feedback on the Federal .223 60 grain Nosler Partitions being used on Deer.  From just about everywhere I have read, those Nosler's go completly through the deer leaving with an exit hole the size of a nickle.  Whats everybody's thoughts on this ?  I underestand some folks here are totally against using anything smaller than .243 on deer, but this might be revolutionary for the ar-15 folks

[MI VHNTR]

The Winchester 64 gr Power Point load in 223 is designed for deer hunting use. Don't forget the Federal Premuim 55 gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claw load either. The better bullet design/construction changes things for people that want to use smaller calibers for more than varmints. YMMV  MI VHNTR

[Chuck White]

There's nothing wrong with a 55 grain Hornady Spire Point!

Far as I'm concerned, they work just as well as the premium bullets!

[Lone Star]

..I underestand some folks here are totally against using anything smaller than .243 on deer, but this might be revolutionary for the ar-15 folks

There is absolutely nothing "revolutionary" about the new Nosler bullets.  In the late 1980s I shot five deer with six shots during a hunt on Kodiak Island with the Nosler 60-grain Solid Base bullet in my CAR-15.  All were perfectly placed.  All but one had complete penetration.  All killed the deer.  None were adequate IMO to be reliable except on near-perfect shots.  I have never repeated that stunt since.  

Use enough gun for the unforseen circumstances.   Amateurs plan for that perfect shot - experienced hunters plan for the unexpected.

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[nasem]

..I underestand some folks here are totally against using anything smaller than .243 on deer, but this might be revolutionary for the ar-15 folks

There is absolutely nothing "revolutionary" about the new Nosler bullets.  In the late 1980s I shot five deer with six shots during a hunt on Kodiak Island with the Nosler 60-grain Solid Base bullet in my CAR-15.  All were perfectly placed.  All but one had complete penetration.  All killed the deer.  None were adequate IMO to be reliable except on near-perfect shots.  I have never repeated that stunt since.  

Use enough gun for the unforseen circumstances.   Amateurs plan for that perfect shot - experienced hunters plan for the unexpected.

.

I don't underestand what you mean by "none were adequate".... You shot 6 bullets and droped 5 deers, I think thats sums it all up.  No body is arguing with you about bullet placement.  Even a poor bullet placement from a 375 h&h would not drop a deer.  The whole point I was trying to make was that the .223 has ENOUGH power to drop a deer in its tracks as long as the hunter does his part.

[Don Fischer]

The whole point I was trying to make was that the .223 has ENOUGH power to drop a deer in its tracks as long as the hunter does his part

That can be said about all cartridge's, bigger and smaller than the 223. The 223 was designed to shoot people called "enemy combatants" in times of military conflict's, it also happens to make a good varmit cartridge. If the 22LR were made legal for deer hunting, there would be people making a case for it. Go to the quote above and remove 223 and add 22LR. the quote will still be right!

[nasem]

Don--

I underestand what your saying, but I highly doubt a .17 or a 22LR will drop a deer if you hit it in the lung / shoulder area (atleast not right away).  However, a .223 with the right bullets can get the job done and Im not talking about headshots.

[james]

A .223 will take a deer with a heart or lung shot and so will a .22 rimfire.  A neck or spine shot is better with whatever bullet you are using.   I have used the .223 to take a small does for eating but  then shot large bucks that happened by. They all  dropped in their tracks with a neck shot.   I would prefer to use a caliber a little too large than one too small.  Anyone who has lost a trophy buck knows what I am talking about.  Thats why we use the best guns, scopes and ammo we can afford.  My daughter lost her first deer using a 223 and making a good 125 yard lung shot.  At 13 she now uses a 6.5 x 55 with mild handloads, which we hope to try out on antelope this fall.  I say"use what you got" but I hope you got a big caliber when that monster buck gives you a quartering shot or shows up at 300 yards.
james

[Lone Star]

I don't underestand what you mean by "none were adequate".... You shot 6 bullets and droped 5 deers, I think thats sums it all up.  No body is arguing with you about bullet placement.  Even a poor bullet placement from a 375 h&h would not drop a deer.  The whole point I was trying to make was that the .223 has ENOUGH power to drop a deer in its tracks as long as the hunter does his part.

A hunter who has shot much game would never make such comments.  While others have done an excellent job answering your post, since it was directed to me I'll respond too.

The actions of the animals after being shot, along with the size of the wound channels, clearly indicated that had I shot the deer under less ideal circumstances I could have lost a few in thick brush, etc. while they suffered.  Simply killing an animal is not the goal of the hunter - it is to quickly and humanely kill while minimizing the risk of loss of the animal.  Many less-experienced hunters do not seem to understand this concept.

Obviously you have not shot a deer with a .375 H&H.  A hit which would have only pained a deer with the .223 bullet would have profoundly effected him with the .375.  I've seen this often on Kodiak, where my hunting partners often carried heavy rifles in case of brownie encounters.  The urban legend that a .22RF is no worse than a .458 in the gut is just that - legend.  You have a much better chance of animal recovery with the big gun.

Obtain enough experience actually killing game, rather than just reading about it, and you may change your outlook.  Good luck on your next hunt.  

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[nasem]

I never said anything about shooting a deer today and spending the next 2-3 hours searching for the deer because “my bullet is not adequate enough to kill the deer”.  It seems like you can’t stick to the truth here lol….. First you say you fired 6 rounds and droped 5 deer (hmmm, yes .223 is not adequate, something sounds fishy here)

A person who is a believer that a .223 is not adequate round for deer size game WOULD NOT FIRE 6 ROUNDS @ 5 DEER.  Your story is just……..I don’t know what to make of it.

Please do not include experience into this conversation, its obvious your trying to tell a story that contradicts itself…”.223 is not adequate, but I have shot 6 rounds and dropped 5 deer”
Oh, one more thing, your right, I have not fired a 375 or a .223 on deer.

[kyote]

another post headed south..hmmmm.

You can wound anything with anything.you can not kill humanely any thing with everything.
I have shot a lot of deer with a .22RF.and .22 mag.head shots between the eyes and behind the shoulder in the lungs.these were smaller white tails and cous deer.and all were shot at short range.the lung shots ran less then 100 yards and pilled up.the head shots dropped on the spot.these deer were all at peace before they were harvested.no pressure on them.they never saw are heard me.
out hunting when the pressure is on, the animals have, I believe more adrenaline in them just waiting to take off at being hit by a bullet are seeing a hunter.
any way.ya a .223 will kill them.But I feel it is not the right caliber ARE the Correct rifle for the field to hunt deer with.I used to feel differently about hunting with the AR15.but why make the antis more hatefull of us.it should be the rifle the protects your hunting firearm from confiscation.

[nasem]

another post headed south..hmmmm.

You can wound anything with anything.you can not kill humanely any thing with everything.

Right on the button.  We all know a 375 h&h can cause greater shock / more damage / better blood trail.  there is no reason to even state that.  But I ask which caliber CAN YOU COMFORTABLY shoot better ? a .223 or a 375 H&H.  Personally, since hunting is a sport that DOES REQUIRE SKILLS and not "shoot a bi-o magnum and hope for the best" typa sport, I would personally pick a .223 with some premium ammo.  Am I ever going to pick a .223 in deer hunting here in michigan ? probebly never becuase I have many other choices to pick from.  Will I let my brother (who hates heavy recoil guns) hunt deer with it this coming november ? you betcha.