.223 Effective and humane on white tail deer?

Justabuyer said:
Not really none of that relates to hunting at all. He is a shooter for sure. No mention of being a hunter.
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No. But, the question wasnt 'Are you a hunter?'. The question was 'What makes you a firearms expert?'. I think he pretty much answered that one.
 
Total of 35 deer (estimate), 2 elk, uncountable number of varmints including woodchucks, coyotes (over 1200), prairie dogs, raccoons, possoms, rats at the local dump (great practice for hunting using a 22) and that doesn't include upland game and waterfowl. I have hunted a bit in the past as you can see and was taught to use enough gun to insure a clean kill. I agree with other here that the .270 is about the minimum for whitetail. The .243 is still a bit light I think, more suitable for antelope. I have been told in the past I use overkill on some things but I have never seen anything overdead. I have had to help other track wounded animals that their underpowered rounds didn't anchor. Yes I have screwed up and wounded an animal occasionally but when that has happened I have used enough gun to insure they don't get far. If I screw up with a .223 and place a shot a bit in front of the heart and lungs I am going to be tracking a long time, doing the same with a heavier caliber means the shoulders are going to be broken down and while a finishing shot will be required it will not be a long track to find the animal. No one is perfect and is going to muff a shot at times, why make the animal suffer?
 
I've been using a .223 since TN went to any rimfire cartridge. I've probably taken 6 or more with my AR15 with no problems. Mind you I usually won't take a shot at over 100 yards no do I go for large deer. I simply shoot for the meat I need at the time. Nice having a nursery that I can hunt on year round legally.
 
Nope. No typo. The energy of a .270 (depending on bullet weight) at 100 yards is not something I'm comfortable with. The last thing I want is to have to track one down. I want a clean one shot kill.

As Absintheur said, with a higher caliber, if I'm off for whatever reason, I know it won't leave. Perhaps a .44 for a finish, but that's it.
 
IF you use the right bullets, and are responsible enough not to try the up the butt shot when the biggest buck of your life walks by, then maybe.

The biggest problem with the 223 is getting loads designed for big game or deep penetration. The heavier loads from some manufacturers are simply match bullets not designed to expand, while some are good sound hunting bullets. I like the 62 grain nosler partition as you can drive it hard enough to get expansion, while still getting penetration.

While the chambering is not great for hunting deer, it can be used. The m4 is not a great platform either for shooting deer, as it tends to be clanky and cold to hang on to. Wood is much nicer to hold with cold hands than aluminum

Just force yourself to be patient and responsible and you should be oK, with the right ammo.

Go here, click on .223 and track down some of the Nosler partition ammo. its really the only suitable big game bullet in the .22's http://www.black-hills.com/reman.htm
 
my cousin hunts in the davis mountains in west TX, has for the last 30 yrs, ranges are long(250 to 300 yards is fairly common) and mule deer are pretty tough, tougher than your std whitetail anyway, he uses a .300 H&H with a big scope FWIW, but he told me the most common calibre folks he knows use is the .243, which suprised me, followed by .270's with a few .280's and .30-'06's thrown in, i can see all but the .243 go figure wouldnt be my choice.

as far as # of deer i have shot i couldnt begin to remember lol, certainly in the 100's, really dont hunt deer much nowadays, i enjoy going with my buds(actually its my place), enjoying the great american outdoors and such, & would like to maybe get a really big one someday, but i rarely hunt deer anymore, but i was plenty boodthirsty when i was younger, and was lucky enough to always have access to places to deer hunt,

i do enjoy hog hunting nowadays, i consider killing them a public service lol.
 
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