I don't disagree with you overall, but saying "Anywhere you would hit a deer with a .243, 270, etc. it will do the same." is simply wrong.

You shoot a deer with a .243 or .270 and the same bullet, you will have much different results than shooting it with a .223.

I realize I am not near as smart as most on here so I have to ask.Folks on here say a 223 is no good for shooting Deer. If that is the case then why is a 30-06 a good choice for Elk? An average Texas Deer weighs probably 130 or so pounds on the hoof. An Elk what probably 4 times that? Does a 30-06 have more than 4 times more energy? Does it go more than 4 times faster?

I can't believe we're actually having this discussion .........

243 is a much better choice. When my boy was 6 he killed his first deer with a 243. She could handle a 243 just fine. I'd use core locks or fusions.

223 will work but it's not forgiving if she doesn't hit the deer perfect. 243 doesn't kick and will be sufficient. It's a no brainier

What about a .222?

Where is the love for that? How about the .221 fireball?

A .22 hornet is a deer killing machine for sure, it's just about where you hit'rm

What about a .222?

Where is the love for that? How about the .221 fireball?

A .22 hornet is a deer killing machine for sure, it's just about where you hit'rm

Shot placement is not the answer to everything. If it were, there would be only one or two calibers.

The biggest point though is that about 90% of the folks hunting deer couldn't place a shot if their lives depended on it. So it's a pipe dream for most to assume they are going to place a shot perfectly every time on every deer. Mostly just talk.

This goes quadruple for kids (through no fault of their own). They are kids. They need all the margin for error they can handle. Why set them up for trouble?

.222 has probably killed more deer in Texas than any rounds except 30-30 and 30-06. It was THE ranch truck gun for decades in the high deer population counties.

Getting my grandson one for Christmas.

I don't know when kids became incapable of shooting .243's (I'm not a fan of them, but it's better than a .223)?

When I was a boy kids shot 30-30's and .243s. A few shot .22-250's but they really were more for adults to use as culling weapons.

I bought my 10 year old a 7mm-08 and with reduced recoil ammo it's a deer killing machine well past 200 yards.

Me, my wife and my 9 year old use a .22-250 quite a bit on deer but you have to be aware of its limitations and imo is best suited for adults who can shoot well. Even with federal fusion bullets they still leave little to no blood trail.

I was being sarcastic. I wouldn't use a .22 hornet to shoot a crippled coon

Its not ethical to use anything less than a .243 in my opinion. Lots of hot shots around here talking like they are american sniper. Get real. Why risk wounding an animal for the sake of your pride? If you're a grown man you have no excuse, if your a woman or child I could understand. But if they can't handle the recoil of a .243 then they shouldn't be shooting deer.

We had one a few years ago, a straight through the paunch of the gut hit. Full pass thru. Got out of the blind saw gut at the hit, ate breakfast drank a cup of coffee and tracked it to a dead deer a few hours later.

Have had the bullet hit almost anywhere in the head/neck/shoulder/behind shoulder/spine/ hi shoulder/ and gut and gotten similar results. Haven't shot one in the "rear" shoulders and don't intend to.

I prefer a bigger bullet and that is why I started my wife shooting reduced loads out of my 270 and she moved up to full power loads over time. That said my SIL shot her first buck this year with the tried and true 223 behind the shoulder. Her buck ran 20 yards and piled. My wife shot her buck with full power 150 grain nosler partitions out of the same blind same shot placement and hers ran over 50 yards. Shot a doe with my 243 and it ran further than the 223 also. Is that the way it always works? No. When you quit putting good bullets in the 223 I stop supporting its use on deer unless head or neck shots are used.

The wussification of kids/men has made its way down to the hunting world and its readily apparent.

People are hunting deer with marginally powered rounds in record numbers. .300 blackouts, .223's, 6.8 spc. Etc.


I'm not advocation hunting deer with .338's or .300 ultras but gosh dang, there is a happy middle ground.

If your an adult or teenage kid in good health and you can't handle a 7mm-08, .25-06 or .270 in a sporter weight rifle, maybe you need to stop hunting for a few years and find your big girl panties.












There, I said it.

The wussification of kids/men has made its way down to the hunting world and its readily apparent.

People are hunting deer with marginally powered rounds in record numbers. .300 blackouts, .223's, 6.8 spc. Etc.


I'm not advocation hunting deer with .338's or .300 ultras but gosh dang, there is a happy middle ground.

If your an adult or teenage kid in good health and you can't handle a 7mm-08, .25-06 or .270 in a sporter weight rifle, maybe you need to stop hunting for a few years and find your big girl panties.












There, I said it.

Everyone has stories. Every deer acts differently. Every deer is shot differently. All else being equal, a larger projectile going the same speed is more effective. Physics.

Why not? We have it every month at least.

The gutshot doe was just one example, there have been many less than desirables. You think of it as a one in a million that we found that one. I know first hand that she has been using and hunting with it 100% body shooting for over 10 years and it performs well. I have killed many deer with it myself as has my brother.

Your "I think/I feel like" is no match for my I have been doing it with my own two hands and seen it with my own eyes for a decade. You are flat out wrong if you think it cant do it and cant do it well. Even without exacting shot placement it has never failed to return a dead deer for us.

Like txtrophy I feel like people should be able to handle at least a 243 etc. I shot my first buck with a Rem 700 bdl 270. But it is what it is. I would much prefer a decent shot with a 223(good bullets) than a piss poor one with a 270.