Does anyone Hunt Deer with .223 Caliber Rifle?

Question

I live in Michigan below the rifle line which means we have to use shotgun. We are planning a hunting trip in Wisconsin where rifles are allowed. I was thinking about using my AR-15 with a scope and a 5 round hunting clip I bought. Is .223 strong enough to kill deer? Have anyone used it with success? I figure if the military uses it against people it should probably be good enought to get deer too, or is this logic flawed? Bonus for personal expierence.

I know there are other better rounds to use, but I dont want to buy another rifle to go hunting in rifle country once every couple years.

Answer 1

Martin..If you check on line with the DNR or Wisconsin Game Commission, you will find that it's legal to hunt Deer with a .223 caliber rifle. ANY "center fire" Rifle or pistol can be used with the exception of .22 long rifle (rim fire). Wisconsin is a very liberal hunting state and their regulations are unique and not heard of or followed in most other states. You do have restrictions as to the number of rounds you can carry. I believe it is limited to (6) rounds. But you have that covered also with the 5 shot magazine you mentioned. And Finally..YES the .223 bullet will be enough to kill a Deer with a well placed shot.Good Luck! I have personally killed several Whitetail Deer in states that allow the .223 caliber to be used to hunt......NOTE ### Your logic isn't flawed, it's just a logical conclusion that's debateable (especially here on this forum)

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Does anyone Hunt Deer with .223 Caliber Rifle?
I live in Michigan below the rifle line which means we have to use shotgun. We are planning a hunting trip in Wisconsin where rifles are allowed. I was thinking about using my AR-15 with a scope and a 5 round hunting clip I bought. Is .223 strong enough to kill deer? Have anyone used it with...

Answer 3

223 Caliber Rifle

Answer 4

I live in Illinois, so i can only use shotguns, but i use rifles often. I hunt coyotes with a .243, which is the minimum in most of the rifle states (a few states allow the use of .223's) and it kills them with ease, but they are much smaller than deer. I can tell you that a .243 is all you ever need for deer, and it will kill it with a good shot. I dont know why people like using calibers that are suited for bear to shoot deer, they are much smaller and not as dangerous. With a good shot, the .223 will kill a deer, but chck the laws in Wisconsin to see if the .223 is legal. If not, find something else.

Answer 5

The .223 is a varmint gun. In many States it is not legal to use anything smaller than a .243 Winchester on deer. Practically speaking the .243 is the minimum deer gun.

Back to your question. When I was young and foolish I shot two deer with a .223 and they had to be shot twice. Not pretty. Not something I'll do again. Problem with small caliber bullets like the .223 for deer hunting is that even though they eventually do kill the deer they do it too slow. Often the deer is condemned to a slow lingering death and the hunter will not bring his venison home.

Best.

H

Answer 6

Usually under 100 yards you should have no problem. I have killed many deer with this caliber with 55 grain too. One shot will kill a wide range of animals and people. This is an impressive caliber with todays ammo. I have trusted my life on it many many times and have never been let down. I only hunt deer now with .223/5.56. My old deer rifles sit at home.

Answer 7

The legal issues have been answered above. The only other thing to look at is if a semi-automatic rifle is permitted.

I live in PA and hunt with 222, 30-30, and 30-06. I have killed deer with one shot from each of these guns. If you are comfortable with your gun, you are confident in your accuracy, and have put in adequate time at the range with this rifle, then you are by far better off with it than a rifle you borrowed from a buddy. You won't feel comfortable with that, be sure of its accuracy, or have put enough rounds through it to know what to expect.

A 52 grain hollow point through the lungs and heart will kill a deer as fast as a 180 grain.

Good luck and have fun.

Answer 8

I have watched deer be shot by the .223 Remington, but with extremely precise shot placement on the hunters part. It's little 55 grain bullet is far too small. Also, most bullets made for the .223 are for varmints, and fragment upon impact, something you do not want for deer. I will never use anything smaller than a .270 Winchester. Please try to borrow something else my friend. Best of luck.

Answer 9

i live in texas and i live on a ranch and do all of my hunting on it, a perfect shot to the heart might do the trick but you are going to be tracking for a while, if there is any way you can get your hands on a .243 or what i use a 30-06 would be your best bet, and with that .223 you are going to have to be pretty close to shoot it...unless you dont care about mounts and you go for the head...dont throat shot it...at least i wouldnt...smaller caliber means more tracking and more likley the deer will survive

Answer 10

I would say no because of Ethical reasons, either buy a larger caliber weapon or stick with your shot gun.
To use too small of weapon because you wont to save money, is not right.
What’s the next guy going to wont to use his 22 LR because center fire ammo is too high.
Either be an Ethical hunter or save even more money and just stay home.

If your going to hunt you owe it to the wildlife to use enough weapon to insure a humane one shot kill.
Are you that good with this 223, that you can guarantee a one shot kill.

Is the 223 able to kill a deer?
Yes , but in the hands of a true marksman only, and if you had to ask the question, then your not up to speed enough to attempt that shot.
Why take a chance at being inhumane to any game animal, just to save a buck.

I’ve had to clean up after too many lousy shooters with too small of caliber.
2 years ago I had to call the game warden on my cell phone to get permission to put down a nice young 6 point buck that some @ss hole blew it’s lower jaw completely off and it was starving to death and dehydrated because it could not drink either.
That was the very worst I’ve seen so far, most of the ones I call in on have shattered legs flopping in the wind.

Do it right and get a larger caliber or stay at home.

Every state should outlay the use of the 223 for deer, not because it’s not capable.
But because most hunters are not capable of that kind of precision shooting.



D58


Hunting with Rifle, Pistol, Muzzle loader and Bow for over 3 decades.
Reloading Rifle, Pistol and shotgun for over 3 decades.