Can You Use A .223 For Deer Hunting?
| Can You Use A .223 For Deer Hunting? | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Bullets travel fast and have a flat trajectory, making them ideal for long-range shots. | .223 Remington is a popular caliber for deer hunting because it is affordable, accurate, and has enough power to take down a deer. | .223 Remington is a varmint round, not a deer round. It is not powerful enough to reliably take down a deer. |
The .223 Remington Cartridge
History and development
The .223 Remington cartridge was developed in the early 1950s by Remington Arms Company as a military round for the M16 rifle. The cartridge is based on the .222 Remington Magnum, but with a shorter case and a slightly heavier bullet. The .223 Remington was adopted by the United States military in 1957 and has been used in a variety of rifles and carbines ever since.
Specifications
The .223 Remington cartridge has a .224-inch diameter bullet and a case length of 1.57 inches. The cartridge is loaded with a variety of bullet weights, from 40 to 70 grains. The most common bullet weight for deer hunting is 55 grains. The .223 Remington has a muzzle velocity of around 3,000 feet per second and a muzzle energy of around 1,200 foot-pounds.
Performance
The .223 Remington is a very accurate cartridge and is capable of taking deer-sized game at ranges of up to 200 yards. The cartridge has a flat trajectory and low recoil, making it a good choice for hunters who are new to shooting. However, the .223 Remington is not as powerful as some other cartridges that are commonly used for deer hunting, such as the .30-06 Springfield or the .308 Winchester. This means that it is important to make sure that you are using a bullet that is heavy enough to penetrate the deer’s vital organs.
Pros and cons of using a .223 for deer hunting
There are a number of pros and cons to using a .223 for deer hunting. Some of the pros include:
- The .223 Remington is a very accurate cartridge and is capable of taking deer-sized game at ranges of up to 200 yards.
- The .223 Remington has a flat trajectory and low recoil, making it a good choice for hunters who are new to shooting.
- The .223 Remington is a relatively inexpensive cartridge, making it a good option for hunters on a budget.
Some of the cons of using a .223 for deer hunting include:
- The .223 Remington is not as powerful as some other cartridges that are commonly used for deer hunting, such as the .30-06 Springfield or the .308 Winchester. This means that it is important to make sure that you are using a bullet that is heavy enough to penetrate the deer’s vital organs.
- The .223 Remington is a small cartridge and does not produce a lot of energy, which can make it difficult to take down a deer with a single shot.
- The .223 Remington is not as effective at long range as some other cartridges that are commonly used for deer hunting.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use a .223 for deer hunting is a personal one. Hunters should weigh the pros and cons of the cartridge and decide what is best for them.
Deer Hunting with a .223
Choosing the right load
When choosing a load for deer hunting with a .223, it is important to select a bullet that is heavy enough to penetrate the deer’s vital organs. A good rule of thumb is to use a bullet that is at least 55 grains. Bullets that are lighter than 55 grains may not have enough energy to penetrate the deer’s hide and bone.
It is also important to choose a bullet that has a good ballistic coefficient. A bullet with a good ballistic coefficient will retain its velocity and energy over a longer distance, making it more likely to hit the deer where you want it.
Some of the most popular bullets for deer hunting with a .223 include:
- The Hornady 55-grain TAP FP (Tactical Application Police)
- The Federal Premium 55-grain Trophy Bonded Tip
- The Nosler 55-grain Ballistic Tip
Shot placement
When shooting a deer with a .223, it is important to make sure that you place the shot correctly. The best place to shoot a deer is in the heart/lung