im going to be buying a rifle with one of these calibers and i wanted to know. i live in maryland, so the muzzle energy of the bullet has to be at least 1,200 ft. lbs.
2007-01-31 10:22:52 · 23 answers · asked by notthenameiwanted 3 in Sports ➔ Outdoor Recreation ➔ Hunting
It is illegal to hunt deer with a "poodle shooter" in at least 20 states that I know of. If you're considering using a popgun, best check with your state Game & Fish before you get ticketed by a game warden.
Given the choice, the .308 is the only way to go between the two, it's got plenty of power and range, and is not nearly as succeptible to wind and brush deviation.
2007-02-04 03:45:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and no. A well placed bullet would probably kill a deer. Anything less then a well placed bullet and a shot fired at a longer distance would result in a wounded animal. The deer would most like get away, you would not find it " a deer can run a long, long way" and it would die a slow, miserable, painful, horrible, gut wrenching death. Do you get my drift?
A .308 id a completely different rifle capable of killing big game like Elk, Bear and Moose.
I like a 30:06 with a 150 grain bullet for Deer. I shoot a longer ranges and a lighter bullet has less drop at 200 to 300 yards. It kills an animal DEAD when you hit it. The 165 grain and 180 grain bullets are good the 180 grain especially at shorter ranges or in the woods.
My brother has killed Many deer with a .243. That is as light a caliber I would ever use on Deer. That gun is also worth taking a look at.
2007-01-31 10:39:47 · answer #2 · answered by lazyike 2 · 5⤊ 2⤋
If you must choose one of those two, for God's sake choose the 308. Muzzle energy is a poor predictor of performance, and while some 223 loads will make 1200, and some states allow deer hunting with 223's, it's still a very marginal cartridge even with the best bullets. I've had too many bullet failures even with 6mm 100 gr bullets to think of using the miniatures on deer. The quarter-bores, 6.5mm's, 277's and 7mm's are best for whitetails, and there's nothing wrong with being ever-so-slightly overgunned, but losing one to bullet failure in the miniatures is a sin.
2007-01-31 10:47:21 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
The 223 is a fine caliber I have 2 of them for Predators and Varmints.
But I would never recommend it for Deer, yes even a 22 long rifle rim-fire will kill a deer but it is not the best for Deer.
I use a 308 most of the time for deer and would recommend it all the way.
It is one of the finest of the 30 cal on the market.
2007-01-31 11:37:34 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 1⤋
Yes a .223 is powerful enough for whitetail,` IF' you hit it in the Vital organs. But I would use this as a Varmint gun and go with the .308 hands down for deer .Not even close., .308 all the way!
2007-01-31 10:52:58 · answer #5 · answered by goalaska 4 · 3⤊ 1⤋
In West Virginia it is illegal to hunt with a .223 but the .308 is a pretty good deer rifle. If you are going to be hunting in dense woods I would recomend a .30-30, but in more open country I would recomend the .30-06.
2007-02-02 13:52:08 · answer #6 · answered by shoot2kill 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The .223 will give you the 1,200 lb. ft. but not enough more than it to give you a reliable deer round. The .308 is definitely the better choice for deer and ammo prices will not be too much to prevent you from using it for target shooting, just buy bulk.
Basically the .223 can get it done, but you want a round which is guaranteed to get it done, i.e. the .308.
2007-02-01 03:30:37 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋
If you want to hunt deer with it, you had better go with the .308. The .223 will give you your 1200fps at the muzzle, but that's it. Even if it is legal in your state, it isn't in many, and is more likely leaving you trying to track a wounded deer than loading one into your pickup. .223's are fun rifles to shoot, and cheap to shoot also, but would be WAY down on my list of deer rifles.
2007-01-31 11:36:53 · answer #8 · answered by I fear my government 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Wow you have limited your gun choices to extremes. If you go with a heavy 70 grain soft nose bullet the .223 is probably o.k. The .308 on the other hand is more than enough. I am guessing you are choosing these calibers based on the cost of ammo. I think the .243 or .270 will make you happier than either the .223 or .308 without costing that much more.
You seem a little wet behind the ears with guns and hunting. Make sure you take a hunter education class.
2007-01-31 12:09:47 · answer #9 · answered by uncle frosty 4 · 1⤊ 5⤋
not,
The .223 Remington has velocity on its side, and will produce the muzzle energy you listed...if you really believe in the whole muzzle energy thing. The .223 wa actually designed to be a varminting round (for small animals).
For deer or anything larger...the .308 is the way to go, in my honest opinion...
2007-01-31 10:30:11 · answer #10 · answered by Wolfsburgh 6 · 6⤊ 1⤋