.223/5.56 For Deer

[clayton86]

Does any one use it I personally don't and never will but me and my father in law and nephew have been in a long debate for over a year on the subject. They think a 62gr bullet will drop a deer to the shoulder or neck. I'm sure it will but not efficiently or humanly the ballistics just arnt there. My father in law wants a do all barrel for his contender some thing for plinking, chucks, yotes, and deer. Originally he wanted the 7.62x39 because of all the ammo he has for the sks but we read alot of cases of the frame stretching/breaking on the old G2 contenders which he has he got it in the 70s I think he said. I told him get a .243 or .308 but he doesn't like the price of ammo and he's to lazy to reload even though we have everything to do it for .243 and .357 the barrel he currently is using. Idk I'm just wondering what your guys thoughts are on it I know it will drop a deer heck a .22lr will but placement has to be spot on there is no room for error.

[Hi Salenity]

In the State of Kansas nothing smaller than 24 caliber is even legal to use for Deer! In a perfect world a 223 would work fine BUT we don't live in that hypothetical world.

Tell him to suck it up & spend the cash on some shells in a suitable calliber...

You wouldn't fish for Flathead with an ultralight!

[clayton86]

I'm aware most states have a minimum caliber iv also explained this to them but he's old and very stubborn and has the mentality if it's only illegal if u get caught. We almost came to blows last year when I told him he couldn't put his stock on the gun making it a rifle with a 14" barrel a big no no on 2 levels no rifles in our county just shot gun or pistol and rifles can't be under 16". I told him i wouldent hunt with him if he took it out like that.

["BRB"]

I used a 223 as a kid all the time and now my little cousin is using the same gun. And I remember losing one deer that I shot with it. And my cousin two years ago shot one we didn't find until last year. Which could happen with any other gun with a bad shot. But for the most they never ran more then 50 yards. This year I watch my cousin drop one in his tracks at 200 yards. Plus I was in the marines and at the range we shot M16 at 500 yards. And I was able to hit 8 out of 10 shots. I don't know if I would shot at a deer at 500yards with one but I'm sure it could be done.

[clayton86]

I used a 223 as a kid all the time and now my little cousin is using the same gun. And I remember losing one deer that I shot with it. And my cousin two years ago shot one we didn't find until last year. Which could happen with any other gun with a bad shot. But for the most they never ran more then 50 yards. This year I watch my cousin drop one in his tracks at 200 yards. Plus I was in the marines and at the range we shot M16 at 500 yards. And I was able to hit 8 out of 10 shots. I don't know if I would shot at a deer at 500yards with one but I'm sure it could be done.

Yeah I'm a SDM in my squad and shoot my M4 out to 800m I know the round will reach out and touch some one I just don't see it for deer I think he's gonna lose deer maybe if he went up in bullet gr

[bigbill]

The smallest caliber i would use is a 7,62x39 with the 154gr soft point it has the power and range of a 30-30. If having the money is a problem you can grab a surplus military russian mosin nagant rifle in 7,62x54r for under $150 at most gun shops. The 7,62x54r round power wise is between a 308win and a 30-06. You can also purchase the russain imported ammo at under $10 a box for 203grsoft point. Or step up to the sellier & bellot ammo which is a better quality ammo too. Accuracy wise there's a guy on you tube making a 350yd shot at a hog with the orginal iron sights. Where i hunt the blackbear season overlaps the deer season for a few days and i don't like being out there under gunned. Bill