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.223 for deer in Tn?

Remi said:
I'm usually in thick and steep, I consider tracking overrated, lol


I like short, quick handling rifles that are accurate so I can plop one through a hole in the brush, if there is one.
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I hunt the mountains and would stay home if 223 was all I had to hunt with. It's not about will it kill the animal. I could be wrong about it all. So depending what terrain you hunt would be whether or not I would consider using a 223. Big fields or flat or rolling hills or shooting house maybe. But in the mountains not a chance. But that's why I own a 30/30 and a 270. So the 223 can be for home defense.
 
killingtime 41 said:
I hunt the mountains and would stay home if 223 was all I had to hunt with. It's not about will it kill the animal. I could be wrong about it all. So depending what terrain you hunt would be whether or not I would consider using a 223. Big fields or flat or rolling hills or shooting house maybe. But in the mountains not a chance. But that's why I own a 30/30 and a 270. So the 223 can be for home defense.
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What about the guys killing elk in the Rocky Mountains with a 223. Or bears. Moose.
 
killingtime 41 said:
I hunt the mountains and would stay home if 223 was all I had to hunt with. It's not about will it kill the animal. I could be wrong about it all. So depending what terrain you hunt would be whether or not I would consider using a 223. Big fields or flat or rolling hills or shooting house maybe. But in the mountains not a chance. But that's why I own a 30/30 and a 270. So the 223 can be for home defense.
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223 with the right bullets wouldn't hamper me at all. The right bullets is the key.


21" from a 308




19-20" from a 75gr





I hunt with a lot of different stuff. Once I started killing wild hogs, some bigger than deer with the 223 it reinforced where you hit them matters more than what you hit them with.


When a 55gr Hornady sp breaks both shoulders and the spine on a 250lb boar and folds him like a cheap towel no deer hit in the front half can handle that.


Do I use a 223 all the time, absolutely not, I have too many nice rifles that I enjoy packing around. Would I pass a shot with my 223 that I would take with anything bigger, no. If I didn't have confidence in it I wouldn't use it.


It comes down to confidence, if you're not confident in what you're using then dont pack it.
 
I think people get confidence differently with cartridges.


I shoot quite a bit, I'm a bullet nerd and I've got to shoot quite a few critters with quite a few different cartridges. The more I shot and the more I got to autopsy the more I realized from a damage standpoint when they're hit in a similar spot I couldn't tell any difference between any non mag cartridge. I've only ever killed 1 coyote with a magnum, I've shot them up through a .458 win but rare was the day one went to the woods.

Other guys get confidence from horsepower, a whole bunch of them hope that it will make up for poor shooting.


A real good friend of mine shoots 2-3 shots a year, zero practice. He listens to guys that say a bunch but they just don't know a lot about guns. He got a 243 last year and bought a box of 95gr fusions. He asked and I said shoot them like you would anything else, hug the shoulder.


The guys told him absolutely not, a 243 can not break a deers shoulder.


So, the day comes and an 8pt steps out, he shoots, it runs. We track and find it about 200yds away. He knew he hit it right behind the shoulder and the bullet just didn't penetrate. He declared the 243 had no "knockdown power"


His shot was deep on the ribs, so liver and guts. He could have swore he hit it in the shoulder but he obviously didn't. He refuses to use that rifle again because he has no confidence. I also can't convince him that poor shooting is poor shooting.
 
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killingtime 41 said:
I hunt the mountains and would stay home if 223 was all I had to hunt with. It's not about will it kill the animal. I could be wrong about it all. So depending what terrain you hunt would be whether or not I would consider using a 223. Big fields or flat or rolling hills or shooting house maybe. But in the mountains not a chance. But that's why I own a 30/30 and a 270. So the 223 can be for home defense.
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Once again terrain has zero effect on a bullet killing a deer.
 
I haven't read through all the thread but ever since I started reloading, I shoot a lot. I've moved to lighter cartridges because for me they are easier to shoot with accuracy and precision.

The main reason I like cartridges like 6mm ARC and 6.5 Creedmoor for deer hunting, is the ability to watch the hit and stay on target. Long action and magnum cartridges upon recoil throw the optic off target. For me I've got to get back on target and watch the animal. Deer don't require much to kill. I might try a fast twist .223 and heavy for caliber handloads at some point, but I really like my Howa Mini 6mm ARC.


IMG_1636.webp
 
.30-06 on left, 6mm ARC on right.

.30-06 approximately 55 grains of powder, 6mm ARC 27.5 grains of powder.

178 grain .30 caliber ELD-X bullet vs 108 grain 6mm ELD Match bullet.

The 6mm ARC will kill a deer deader than snot with very very light recoil. At 5x in the scope, I can watch the deer's reaction and follow where he goes all through the scope without any change in shooting form. That's a big bonus to me.

IMG_1751.webp
 
Wow, this thread has lasted awhile. I've not used the .223 in a long time. But, with the right loads it will work. I've been reading about a lot of y'all shooting behind shoulder, through shoulder, etc. Most of the places I hunt are ridge tops with very steep hills. The hollers will kill most older men. Dragging a deer up one is bad. I shoot them in the neck a lot. I make sure they are standing still. Usually a grunt will stop them, then bang.
 
UTGrad said:
.30-06 on left, 6mm ARC on right.

.30-06 approximately 55 grains of powder, 6mm ARC 27.5 grains of powder.

178 grain .30 caliber ELD-X bullet vs 108 grain 6mm ELD Match bullet.

The 6mm ARC will kill a deer deader than snot with very very light recoil. At 5x in the scope, I can watch the deer's reaction and follow where he goes all through the scope without any change in shooting form. That's a big bonus to me.

View attachment 244900
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I got my 30-06 out the other day and sighted it in since I got the barrel threaded for a suppressor. It may just find a new home.
 
Jcalder said:
I got my 30-06 out the other day and sighted it in since I got the barrel threaded for a suppressor. It may just find a new home.
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I'd keep it. 30-06 is a classic and one of my all time favorites. It was my dad's favorite (WWII vet). Although I'll primarily hunt with one of the newer, small case high bullet BC cartridges I'll still take a 30-06 on occasion.
 
UTGrad said:
I'd keep it. 30-06 is a classic and one of my all time favorites. It was my dad's favorite (WWII vet). Although I'll primarily hunt with one of the newer, small case high bullet BC cartridges I'll still take a 30-06 on occasion.
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I'll probably save the action and build another creedmoor
 
Remi said:
I think people get confidence differently with cartridges.


I shoot quite a bit, I'm a bullet nerd and I've got to shoot quite a few critters with quite a few different cartridges. The more I shot and the more I got to autopsy the more I realized from a damage standpoint when they're hit in a similar spot I couldn't tell any difference between any non mag cartridge. I've only ever killed 1 coyote with a magnum, I've shot them up through a .458 win but rare was the day one went to the woods.

Other guys get confidence from horsepower, a whole bunch of them hope that it will make up for poor shooting.


A real good friend of mine shoots 2-3 shots a year, zero practice. He listens to guys that say a bunch but they just don't know a lot about guns. He got a 243 last year and bought a box of 95gr fusions. He asked and I said shoot them like you would anything else, hug the shoulder.


The guys told him absolutely not, a 243 can not break a deers shoulder.


So, the day comes and an 8pt steps out, he shoots, it runs. We track and find it about 200yds away. He knew he hit it right behind the shoulder and the bullet just didn't penetrate. He declared the 243 had no "knockdown power"


His shot was deep on the ribs, so liver and guts. He could have swore he hit it in the shoulder but he obviously didn't. He refuses to use that rifle again because he has no confidence. I also can't convince him that poor shooting is poor shooting.
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Tell him I'll give him 100 bucks for that pos .243
 
UTGrad said:
I'd keep it. 30-06 is a classic and one of my all time favorites. It was my dad's favorite (WWII vet). Although I'll primarily hunt with one of the newer, small case high bullet BC cartridges I'll still take a 30-06 on occasion.
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The .30-06 is a classic for sure and nothing at all wrong with one. A lot of people think it's too much for deer. But, I've used it from 25 yards to over 300. It works.
 
Jcalder said:
What about the guys killing elk in the Rocky Mountains with a 223. Or bears. Moose.
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Again it will not do the damage a 30/06 or a 30/30 or a 270 will do. 223 will kill a deer. But again in the mountains where big elevation changes and very thick woods are a common theme. Unlike Colorado where you sit on one hill and glass to another one to get the shot. Is not practical here cause you can't. Cause it's far too thick to get a shot that far. I want something that causes massive wound channels cause a perfect shot is few and far in between. But that's just me if it don't bother you rock on.
 
killingtime 41 said:
Again it will not do the damage a 30/06 or a 30/30 or a 270 will do. 223 will kill a deer. But again in the mountains where big elevation changes and very thick woods are a common theme. Unlike Colorado where you sit on one hill and glass to another one to get the shot. Is not practical here cause you can't. Cause it's far too thick to get a shot that far. I want something that causes massive wound channels cause a perfect shot is few and far in between. But that's just me if it don't bother you rock on.
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Not my pictures but it's hard to argue with these results. How much more damage would you want. And yes, at one time I would have agreed with you, but it's hard to argue with the evidence.
IMG_9916.webp
IMG_9919.webp
IMG_9917.webp
 
killingtime 41 said:
Again it will not do the damage a 30/06 or a 30/30 or a 270 will do. 223 will kill a deer. But again in the mountains where big elevation changes and very thick woods are a common theme. Unlike Colorado where you sit on one hill and glass to another one to get the shot. Is not practical here cause you can't. Cause it's far too thick to get a shot that far. I want something that causes massive wound channels cause a perfect shot is few and far in between. But that's just me if it don't bother you rock on.
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Its obvious google isnt your friend😂 10 yards 500 yards a 223 with right bullet will do the same thing a 270 3006 3030 will do, elevation,thick, wide open has zero bearing on what a bullet does!!!!
 
Jcalder said:
Not my pictures but it's hard to argue with these results. How much more damage would you want. And yes, at one time I would have agreed with you, but it's hard to argue with the evidence. View attachment 244997View attachment 244998View attachment 244999
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Looks like a big hole to me. Never said it wouldn't kill a deer. I can see in the pic that is a perfect heart shot. In thick woods how many times do you have a perfect heart shot hardly ever. Most of the time you have to shoot through the brush trying to at least catch a double lung. And I do not trust a 223 to do that. That's the point I was making. In the right area to hunt a 223 would probably be fine. Not in the terrain I hunt. Of course in general a 223 deer round will be fine. Depending on your situation.
 

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