What are the pros and cons of the .223 for deer? Any experiences good or bad? Any tips? Both bolt action and on a AR platform

Only pro is that you may already own one, and I guess low-recoil. Pretty much everything else is a con.

We have been down this road before many times....use the search button and you find a lot of old threads and many of them locked down.

here we go again ...

Nope, nope, nope NO

Oh man! Not this again.

Shoot em' in the neck and it's a done deal.

According to the THF, this is an unethical shot. You will see at least 2 pictures to prove it. It matters not what your personal experience is. Don�t do it. It�s frowned upon by the real hunters that have killed at least 30 deer over a lifetime. Don�t even consider a head shot, that is the most unethical and can�t possibly put down a Wily Whitetail.

Why again?

223 blows too big of a hole in a deer I prefer my game .17.

A .223 is not a viable deer cartridge.

1. Several times of the years I've been on leases and heard guys bragging about "with a .223 just shoot them in the head or the neck, that's what I do" and I've seen and heard stories from them and their hunting buddies about deer running around missing ears, the sides of their faces, or lower jaws. Most of these deer die in a few days, they all suffer.

2. IMO an experience shooter can shoot deer in the neck, but really only under 150 yards AND with a much higher caliber than a .223 like a .270 or bigger. They should take the shot from a good rest only with a rifle they know is sighted in very well. Even then it's risky and many don't recommend it.

3. I've shot several deer with one of my .223 AR-15's and once with a Browning single shot with an elongated octagon long range barrel. A couple of them I shot out of bow stands during rifle season so I was at close range < 40 yards. The little does with a good lung shot don't go far, unless you are using FMJ's, which you shouldn't. Use hunting ammo. I've dropped a cull buck with an AR, but only cause I caught his spine. I feel lucky not to have wounded any deer with a .223, but spend a day hunting with me and my friends will explain to you why they have called me the "sniper" of the group for years, which they admit they are not.

4. It's just too risky in most scenarios imo for most people. A big bodied buck will run too far almost regardless of where you hit him. A .223 won't produce much of a blood trail either. I no longer shoot deer with a .223 due to the risk/reward. I don't want to wound a deer.

4. Just go with a bigger caliber rifle. Sure a .223 can take down a man, as our military uses .223's. But as you may understand, a wounded enemy taxes their resources far more than a dead one. So that may be part of their reasoning.

5. I'm sure some others can offer up pros and cons, those are just mine. And I recommend starting youths with a .243.

And a .223/5.56 won't ethically kill pigs either, but don't tell that to the dozens I have laid down with one shot. They must have fallen asleep or something due to the lack of noise from the rifle...

A .223 will kill a deer, you just have to know its limitations. Is it the best tool to kill a deer for a stand hunter? no.

But if that is all you can afford and you "need" to hunt with a .223, it can do the job if you do yours. Get proper hunting rounds, not FMJ as has been said earlier, and make sure the rifle is sighted spot on. The margin of error gets smaller with the smaller caliber bullets, so make sure it is precise and you can make the shot. Don't take a shot longer than about 125 yards as the energy bleeds off quickly due to the lower weights, but inside that you should be fine with a properly placed shot.

If you can, get a larger caliber rifle. Makes your job easier for sure.

I don�t need nothin bigger than my trusty .218 Bee

For your 12th post, you picked a good topic to stir up a reaction.
Good luck, get you some and welcome to the forum!

Yea that subject hasn't come up this month, but we did the Hi-Fence and low fence covered. Now we have to wait until next month to do it again.

If you have a custom AR 15 that�s really cool looking, they kill much better. Drop everything dead in their tracks.

Yep, considering his other posts he's just stirring the pot.

Wow its been a while since we strolled down this trail.

I think its not the best option available but is plenty adequate and have chose it to carry to the hunting woods many times when I had other options such as a 270.

I believe you can do a few things to make it a better option.
1. practice makes perfect, practice shooting
2. Shoot a bullet designed for hunting, not a 45 grain HP (my favorite is a 60 grain nosler partition)
3. Keep your ranges short, I like less than 150 yards.

My brother, sister in law, and myself have collected quite a pile of deer with our 223.

Yuup!!
Learned a lot of this forum and one lesson was -Shoot what you want deer and gun wise, don�t worry about other�s opinions.-

And fence line hunting. Need a spike debate!!

Your AR is your best bet for using the .223 on deer. That way you can keep shooting after the first wound. I recommend 30 rnd mag.

Fixed it for ya...

Another "attack" mode when the O.P. asks a simple question. If a .223 will kill a hog, it WILL kill a deer. Arguments on the BEST caliber to hunt deer with will go on for days.