Thread: 223 on deer

Originally Posted by turtleSO

I don't have a lot of experience with hunting an animal with a.223. BUT have gone OFF the idea. Surely a calibre needs shot placement to be successful is a failure for ethical hunting of large animals. I recently was involved in wallaby shooting with thermals as it was the only way you were going to see enough and my partner had a .223 and needed 3 shots sometimes before we could confirm whether it was worth the effort of recovery. I was using a .308 and it was one shot one kill. I know it was overkill and expensive but just what I took away with the observations I made over the weekend. NOT a fan anymore. Good for introducing young shooters into hunting maybe. BUT .223 in my opinion only for those with experience

Shot placement is a key part of ethical hunting irrespective of calibre ...

Hopefully I am Replying to "turtleSO' , new to forum. I have shot hundreds of deer with my .222 shooting 55gn HORNADY SPs . Everything up to sambar. Never neck shots on roaring stags. I used to cull roos in Australia legally with tags with the same setup.
If you hit them anywhere from the shoulder up they will go down . If your mate was taking 3 shots then he probably should also be using a .308 . ALL calibres need shot placement for ethical hunting of any animals.

Have lost count of the number of deer neck-shot with either 222 or 223 over the years. As others have stated, you need to be reasonably competent to pull off a good neck shot, doesn’t matter what caliber. One observation I’ll make is that a lot of hunters don’t actually know the correct aiming points to connect with spinal column and associated major blood vessels. A bit of anatomy study doesn’t go astray. I’ll be out goat culling over the roar period, not targeting deer but if I come across them I’ll shoot them with 223. Having said that, if I do go out looking for a decent head a 308 will be in my hand in all probability. A bit of authority doesn’t go astray at times, maybe added peace of mind.

Originally Posted by gimp

I'm not so sure about the validity of the position.

I will admit that the likes of barnes and heavier projectiles have upped the effectiveness of the 224s but will stick to the thought you still got to put that pill in with more precise placement than with a bigger heavier round...
and looking at what type of heavier projectiles you fellas are using even those two are somewhat chaulk n cheese LOL.

It just keeps working. 380m



280m

Originally Posted by gimp

It just keeps working. 380m

Attachment 247139

280m

Attachment 247142

Great stuff do you ever use the .260 any more

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by 25/08 IMP

Great stuff do you ever use the .260 any more

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

I haven't found a reason to take it out hunting since I got this .223

Originally Posted by gimp

It just keeps working. 380m

Attachment 247139

280m

Attachment 247142

Nice shooting.

Did the stag make it far?

Originally Posted by charliehorse

Did the stag make it far?

Dropped on the spot and kicked a bit. Shot placement centre through the shoulder, lungs soup.

Good shit, assuming the 80g eldm.

Originally Posted by charliehorse

Good shit, assuming the 80g eldm.

Correct

Good shooting gimp,those back wheels and porker will fill the freezer a bit.Enjoy.

223. so much easier to carry further being light cartridge and light rifles. Like anything you stick it in the right spot itl stop it

The .223 has done a wonderful job at keeping my freezer full. As said above, Shot placement is critical for a fast kill. If that means i have to be patient and wait for a better opportunity or stalk in closer. It's what i have to do as part of being an ethical hunter.