Thread: 223 for deer hunting?

I've shot Muntjac, Roe, Fallow and a few Reds with the .223. On the smaller species such as Roe it would usually put them down as quickly as my .270 with which ever bullets I used. On the larger species they would often run quite a way with heart/lung shots and there would rarely be an exit wound so often very little blood trail.
As others have said, with good bullets and shot placement it will kill them OK but may increase the chances of having to search for them and this will increase the likelihood of loosing them in cover or fading light.
Also consider you will limit the shots you can take as penetration isn't as good. This might mean passing up shots that you may have been able to take with a larger caliber such as quartering away shots as the bullet may not reach the vitals.
The .243 or 6.5x55 are both relatively light recoiling and would be a better choice on deer in most circumstances.
However if you already have the .223 there's no reason not to use it as long as you know it's limitations.