Will a .223 cal. rifle "drop" a deer at 100 yds?

Answer 1

It will if you are lucky or extremely good at shooting. It would take a spine shot, which is tricky with any gun really. the states that allow rifles consider a .243 minimum but a few make the .223 the bottom caliber. I think it will work at a100 yards but any more would be pushing it and making it non-reliable.

Answer 2

Over hear in england it is ilegal to shoot anything larger than muntjack by such caliber, though not when you cross the border into Scotland.
In England the minumin requierment for dipatching any deer larger than a muntjack is a 240.
The 223 (5.56mm) is deemed not to have the stoping power of its much larger rivals
However hit a deer in its vital organs and at range no greater than 100 yards with a 223 then it will come down

Answer 3

Very few Deer will drop and expire on the spot regardless what caliber Rifle you are using, however I have harvested Whitetail Deer with 22 Hornet, 218 Bee, 222, 22-250 with no problem.* I believe you could do the same using a 223.* The kill shot placement is what determines if and how far they will go before expiring.* Never have had one go further than 75 yards using the above calibers. Some have dropped right where they were standing when hit.*

Answer 4

Most deer do not "drop" when shot, unless it is shot in spine. A .223 Rem loaded with a 70 - 75 grain bullet will kill a deer with the right shot placement. But there is very little room for error.

Answer 5

The .223 is a poor cartridge for hunting deer, sure with proper shot placement, it'll lay em out all day long, but i certainly wouldn't make a habit of shooting deer with it. There are so many other cartridges better suited for hunting deer, like the .243, .270, or 30-06.

Answer 6

Yes is the answer.Although not a good choice of gun.But The bullet is traveling to fast to shoot the deer in the normal double lung or heart area.this will leave a very small exit and lil blood .The drop shot should be the neck to spine area.meaning the front and upper third of the shoulder ,this is where the neck meets the shoulder.this area has the largest spot to bust the spine.the spine makes a dip and comes back up to the back bone.

Answer 7

It would most of the time, but it isn't legal in most states, and there are very few bullets in 22 caliber designed for medium game. There are people who just have to see how small a rifle they can use, but there's no sense in it. The risk of bullet failure is too high, and there are too many alternatives.

Answer 8

Yes, but it is not legal for deer everywhere. The .243 is considered the minimum deer caliber. Any .22 caliber rifle (even the .22-250) is too light to humanely take deer size game.

H

Answer 9

Whats the problem guys? I`ve shot deer with 22mag on up to 338win mag. I tell you dead is dead. Now try it with a bow, I have fourteen to count, lost one. I have killed a 330lb Russian boar on the ground, again bow. Now what about a 223? Dead is dead. Joe 61 years young.

Answer 10

The .223 Remington round is more of a varmint round and is too light for deer. You best choices would be the .30 calibers, like the .30-.30, and .308 Winchester.