I have been seeing mix reviews on if a 223 will kill a deer. What are ya'll think about it?

Yep, but not your best choice...

Placement placement critical. What twist? 1:9 65 gr. Max 1:7 or 1:8 heavier bullets up to 75 gr.

Yes for Texas whitetail it is fine this comes from 42 years exp my kids and grandkids have made at least 15 clean kills.amazing lights out shots at up to175 yards. Recomend 50 to 65 grain hollow point bt.good shot placement no prob. Believe me not the nay Sayers.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

a .22 will kill a deer as far as that goes.
as said up there ^ ^ there are way better choices.

I think more deer are poached with a 22lr than any other bullet so of coarse a 223 will kill a deer but it's not my first choice and prob not even in my top 10 choices

Stick with 65 1-9 twist biger than that go larger cal.

No, not even close

I shot a 30-06 but the gf says it kicks to hard for her so I was looking at 223.

In that case look into a 243. Much more versatile cartridge and a far better choice for medium sized game animals. Recoil is not much more than a 223.

When I figure out how to post pics. I will show you pics of deer harvested with .223 and just because I can't post pics. Doesn't mean I don't know my bullets.

Started my daughter (at age 9) deer hunting with a .223 (62 gr. Core-Lokt)

5 Deer killed, none over 75 yds. away, all shot tight behind the shoulder about 1/3 to 1/2 way up from the belly line (classic thoracic shot). ALL deer ran a minimum of 100 yds. some twice that distance with little to no blood trail.

Will it kill deer yes.

At age 11 we moved her up to a .243, most deer dropped right in their tracks or ran only a very short distance. Good blood trail every time.

At age 14 we went to a 7mm-08 (because Feral Hogs were also on the menu). With rare exceptions...nothing has taken a step after this.

If buying new riffle yes .243 would be perfect . If you already have .223 and on budget IT WILL WORK !!!

I kill my doe with 223 unless I'm hunting a place that wants something bigger. 99% of them have ran 20yds or less. The one I shot two weeks ago went about 40-50yds, that was a first.

I've become a real fan of the 243 with 90-100gr bullets. If you are buying something new I'd look at a rifle chambered in that.

I was looking over some stuff yesterday and most of my deer are split between 223, 243 and 308 with a couple taken with 6.8. They all died about the same. I hardly use anything bigger than 243 anymore unless shots will be over 200yds.

.223 works just fine

Kill plenty of Deer with that little Howa Ranch Hand


All about placement...

I've killed a few with 64 Winchester power points

Why do people mention how far a deer runs after the shot? If you shoot high shoulder on a Texas whitetail, it's dropping in its tracks whether you shoot .223 or .300 win mag

You cannot Educate Uneducated People...


On a side bar..Got some good Rain in Edwards County last night JMalin

I've killed several, and finished several with 223.

I'd also look at 308, with the Hornady light load... not much more recoil than 223, about like 243, and way more bullet in 125 gr. Also the ones we've done this with, same point of aim at 100 yards with factory 150 grain like Federal Classic...

Also might be a good time to get an AR10/Sig 716, and a suppressor, and tell her you are doing it for her...

It will. But throw a 6.8 upper on there for insurance. Hornady 120 sst

^^^^^^^


I like this Direction

My son's first deer hunt was last year. He wasn't managing his older brother's 7mm08 well, so I got him a 223. He hit the buck at 75 yards and it ran for about 40 yards. Dropped the doe at 100 yards on the spot.