.223 For Deer???

[Muzzy100]

How many of yall have shot or experienced shooting deer behind the shoulder with a .223? Now I know that if you take out a deer’s central nervous system by shooting it in the head or neck it will drop, but that can be done with any caliber. I am having my girlfriend get into shooting deer and the big heavy calibers are making her not want to shoot. But she likes to shoot my .223. In addition she shoots it well. But I have been questioning the effectiveness of shooting a big buck behind the shoulder with it. Now I know that you need to pick a good expanding hunting round and I have done that.

So TBH what is yalls experience with shooting Texas Whitetail Deer behind the shoulder with a .223 cal gun?

If you have no experience with the cartridge and are just going to say “it’s too small” please refrain from posting. I mean I have shot many deer with a 22-250 behind the shoulder and its pushing the exact same piece of lead so I would think I would get similar results.

[noflyzone]

my experience is 4 deer shot, 4 deer dead

two of them were good bucks

[Garrett-TX]

it'll do the trick

[noflyzone]

62 grain federal fusion and 55 grain soft point

[QuietTime]

My grandfather has taken many of deer with his .222 in the neck or behind the shoulder. He has even dropped axis in the dirt with it. It's all about shot placement.

[RickH78]

It will work. I have shot many deer with a 223. Even the Axis in my avatar was shot with a 223.

[DirtNap]

I've shot many deer with a .223, never had any issues. Granted you'll have to a little tracking from time to time.

[jctex81]

It's perfectly fine....that round can take down a man then it can take down a deer...I'm going to use my AR-15 this weekend..

[GoneHuntinAgain]

62 grain fusion worked well for my daughters first buck this last weekend.

[Mac...]

I've been hunting with a .223 for the past 6 years.
My dad takes my 30.06 at the beginning of rifle season and I don't see it again until the end of the season.

I've only had to track one animal that I've shot with it and that was a pig.
It was a Ray Charles blood trail tho. Everyother animal died in sight.
All shots were taken behind the shoulder.

It's all about placement! Keeping the crosshairs where you want the bullet to go while squeezing the trigger.
It'll deff get the job done!

[TEXAS-PSE]

Sons and nephews have taking 6 deer behind the shoulder ..... All dead.

[WBA2000]

Killed my buck with 62gr soft point. Shot took out both lungs and he only ran 30 yards. I wouldn't take a heart shot. For some reason they seem to run further. You won't get much of a blood trail, so shot placement is very important.

[tgil]

Three, right off the top of my head, have been shot with my AR15. One was neck, the other two were behind the shoulder.

[Buck-N-Rut]

My son has killed three deer in the last two years and all have been with a 223 and all shot behind the shoulder. Two doe and one little buck. All three dropped in their tracks. They were hit perfect behind the shoulder. Not spine shots. Apparently a 223 will work cause its 3 for 3.

[Mac...]

Add: the buck in my avatar was shot with my .223