I often carry a .223 for work and recreation and end up shooting a few pigs & fallow deer. As the other guys said it's all about shot placement and having the discipline to pick your shots.
A suitable projectile sure helps. @Max Headroom
my fave affordable factory loads are
Winchester Super X 64 gr Power Point
Federal Power Shok 64 gr SP
Speer Gold Dot 64 gr SP
Hornady Frontier 5.56 62 gr Spire Point
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