[WOL]

243 for me. Deer come in different sizes and shot angles vary as well. The 22s will get it done on broadside shots, but you don't always get the perfect shot angle.

 

[BuckFever101]

Back in the 50-60s I know of some guys that kill TONs of deer with a .22 to keep their families feed. I know a few that have killed a good many of deer using a .222 and .223. I personally have shot one with a .223 and dropped the doe in her tracks. I feel a .222/.223 is about as small as one should go, but I'd feel better about using a .243.

 

[mfuff]

A centerfire .224 cartridge can, has, and will kill deer just as well or as poorly as every other cartridge. Bullet placement is #1, even with less than ideal bullets.
Typically, the majority of .224 HP, SP, and Tipped bullets are lightly constructed and are made to expand and disintegrate quickly on varmints and predators. It is unfortunate that many people use such bullets for deer, but, it is also proof that under ideal circumstances, and when placed in the perfect spots...those bullets will kill deer.
Luckily now more than ever, there are a variety of bullets in .224 that are specifically made to be used on deer sized animals. They offer better penetration when less than ideal shot angles are available.
I have ZERO reservations about using 50gr or 55gr Copper bullets in .223 for deer. And have some loaded, range tested, and sent through some woodchucks in preparation for the time when my AR is legal to use for deer.

 

[triggercreep]

243 for me. Deer come in different sizes and shot angles vary as well. The 22s will get it done on broadside shots, but you don't always get the perfect shot angle.

53 grain TSX

 

[dce]

My son and I have killed a bunch with 52gr TTSX out of a .223.I don't believe any made it past 30 yards or so.Finding an exit or entry can be a challenge though.

 

[Hunter8319]

Deer come in different sizes and shot angles vary as well. The 22s will get it done on broadside shots, but you don't always get the perfect shot angle.

Have you shot deer with a .223 (or similar) at a "bad" angle?

 

[Bigbrownie]

I have caught beavers in a #1 longspring while trapping muskrat. But that doesn’t make a #1 a beaver trap. For beaver, I use an #4 on a drowning slider. No one I would never set a #1 for beaver. Same thing goes with small calibers for deer.

Many of the calibers being discussed here were designed as varmint calibers, not big game. They will kill deer, but have limitations. I just don't get the mindset of operating at the margins ( Whether that be energy or distance) when it comes to live game, when we have the luxury of so many other better options.

 

[dce]

My son's mindset was simple.I bought him a Kimber Montana in .223,which matched his .308.I bought it mainly so he could burn through 100's of rounds off hand without costing me a fortune.He wanted to kill a deer with it so I loaded some 52gr TTSX and said,have at it.Adimittedly,I was shocked at how effective it was.

 

[WOL]

Have you shot deer with a .223 (or similar) at a "bad" angle?

No. I have managed to avoid this situation so far by not hunting with a 22 caliber rifle. We also have concurrent bear season so I like to be prepared for that possibility.

 

[rbaney]

I see no problem with using a good centerfire 22. I used my 222 for my first deer and two years ago used my 223 on a nice doe. Both went down quickly and were easily retrieved with no drama. The 224 bullets are the limiting factor for whitetail. A good clean hit to the vitals with pretty much any rifle will do the job. An I for one am glad I can use my choice of caliber and not be dictated by some-one who feels it is not enough. You do you and let other do their thing, to each their own.

 

[triggercreep]

No. I have managed to avoid this situation so far by not hunting with a 22 caliber rifle. We also have concurrent bear season so I like to be prepared for that possibility.

That's the problem right there. I mostly carried a 223 for rifle season last year but I was nervous I'd run into a Bear. Only reason I trusted to carry the 223 was we had snow on the ground from mid November on and there was no bear tracks. So I figured they weren't up here anymore. Then I made it down into that Bear swamp and saw the biggest black bear tracks I ever saw in my life. But I had the 6.5 Creedmoor that day

 

[Hunter8319]

No. I have managed to avoid this situation so far by not hunting with a 22 caliber rifle.

Seems odd to have such a strong opinion when you have no experience shooting deer with 22 calibers. I understand that old wives tales and common misconceptions die hard. With the right bullet, you have nothing to worry about. I keep posting a link to a 500+ page thread of info that would blow a lot of people minds, not sure if anyone looks at it.



.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

 

[triggercreep]

Seems odd to have such a strong opinion when you have no experience shooting deer with 22 calibers. I understand that old wives tales and common misconceptions die hard. With the right bullet, you have nothing to worry about. I keep posting a link to a 500+ page thread of info that would blow a lot of people minds, not sure if anyone looks at it.



.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

I've read that thread before

 

[1Birddog]

I normally tote my 7-08 for deer but I have a couple different loads worked up for my 223 that I may carry. I think with the 223 you need to be a little more patient and wait for broadside shots. No different than archery hunting.
I have seen too many people that think they need a 300WM to kill a 150 pound deer and commence to having to shoot them 3-4 times. Shot placement is #1 no matter the caliber.

 

[triggercreep]

Oh I know of a lot of deer that have been lost with 300 magnums

 

[WOL]

Seems odd to have such a strong opinion when you have no experience shooting deer with 22 calibers. I understand that old wives tales and common misconceptions die hard. With the right bullet, you have nothing to worry about. I keep posting a link to a 500+ page thread of info that would blow a lot of people minds, not sure if anyone looks at it.



.223 for bear, mountain goat, deer, elk, and moose.

That's it. That is just my opinion. I would rather have a little more gun when hunting big game. It doesn't mean that people can't cleanly take big game with 22 calibers. It just means that I prefer something a little bigger.

 

[limbhnger10]

Heres a few.. from a .223

This doe was shot with another copper bullet i was testing. Deer didn't run but 50 yards. This was the second doe I shot with the bullet and didn't care for performance. Bohunr saw this deer.

This one was from a while ago(the bullets i currently use)- this is the exit of a 60gr bullet from a deer 75 yards away- straight on.

This one was from a couple years ago- bohunr "witnessed" the 25 yard blood trail ..with the same bullet.

..I know people are saying- they're only doe, but in reality, bucks really aren't much bigger.
IMO..Why people put down a smaller caliber - really don't have faith in their shooting so they feel the need to fling the biggest caliber to make up for bad shot choices- obstructed vitals...running deer...bad angle shot choices.
But to each their own...all one can do is make smart bullet choices and smart shot choices. If that mean not taking a shot...so be it.
I have more respect for someone that passes a shot opportunity than one that drops some hail mary shots praying that they just might connect(generally just wound the deer). There are actually people on here that say they woudnt think twice about taking bad shots with a "magnum " caliber...and it just isn't responsible.

 

[Bigbrownie]

There are actually people on here that say they woudnt think twice about taking bad shots with a "magnum " caliber...and it just isn't responsible.

To address this statement, what are you calling a “ bad shot”?

A head shot? A frontal shot? A shot to the hind end? A midsection gut shot? A quartering to you shot?

Frontal and quartering to you shots are easy slam dunks with a magnum caliber. Nothing unethical or irresponsible. Shoot one mid brisket or into its shoulder coming at you with a .300 WM, it’ll be laying where you shot it. Killed four bull moose with frontal shots with belted magnums, watched them fall. Same shot with a light bullet from a small caliber, no where near the same results. Thats where a magnum caliber shines.

I don’t know anyone who would deliberately aim at an animals gut or hind quarter, with any caliber. And head shots…. I’ll pass.

 

[Wingatchtochwilsit]

14 page, decade spanning thread on the effectiveness of .223 on deer with plenty of loads to choose from.

 

[limbhnger10]

...I thought the topic was smallest caliber for whitetail deer...not moose