Hunter's Perspective

As many of you know, the .223 Remington is considered one of the best cartridges for varmint hunting – taking down a squirrel, rabbit, feral cat, or coyote with it is pretty easy. However, when it comes to the most desirable game animal in the US – whitetail deer – we see hot debates on the internet and in real life. Some say .223 rifles can absolutely do as deer weapons, while others advise against them. So, who’s right and can you use the .223 to hunt deer and other big game animals? We’ve asked experts from this trusted gun store to provide a comprehensive answer.

Controversy Around the .223 Rem

Actually, the .223 ballistics is inferior in many aspects when it comes to delivering a clean, ethical kill. First, it has an insufficient bullet diameter to inflict enough tissue damage on impact. By the way, it’s the main reason some states ban all cartridges with a bullet diameter of .22 inches from hunting deer-sized animals, including other long-established designs, such as .22-250 Remington. These states are Colorado, Illinois, Iowa, Washington, Ohio, Virginia, and West Virginia, so if you live in one of these states, you can already abandon the idea of .223 deer hunting. The only option left for those states would be a larger caliber or a shotgun with legal magazine capacity.  Be sure to check your local state laws before heading out.

Now, even if your state allows .223 for hunting deer, it’s still not a good option for those who prefer to keep a longer distance from the prey. The thing is in insufficient propellant amount and, hence, less energy.

Generally, 1,000 ft-lbs on impact is considered enough to take a big game animal down. Now, let’s consider a couple of .223 ammo choices. A 55-grain Winchester’s Varmint X bullet leaves the muzzle at 1,282 ft-lbs but drops to 995 ft-lbs at 100 yards. On the other hand, a 62-grain Federal Fusion bullet, starting at 1,239 ft-lbs, retains 1,000 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards. Finally, a 70-grain Nosler projectile exits the muzzle at 1,352 ft-lbs, reaches 100 yards with 1,127 ft-lbs, and drops below 1,000 ft-lbs around 150 yards. As you can see, ideally, you need to be within 100 yards. 

So, let’s make a summary of all problems the .223 Rem has in terms of deer hunting:

• Small bullet diameter results in less tissue damage;
• Less bullet mass results in less kinetic energy;
• An insufficient amount of powder results in less downrange energy;
• Banned from deer hunting in several states.

Looking at all these points, you may feel like the .223 is actually a terrible deer killer. Well, it definitely is in the hands of an inexperienced hunter or a bad marksman. However, by taking a reasonable approach to selecting ammo and hunting methods as well as being honest with yourself and conscious about your limitations, you can be a successful and, most importantly, ethical .223 deer hunter.

What Do You Need for Ethical Deer Hunting With the .223

Choosing the Right .223 Bullets for Deer

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From our summary, it’s clear that you need a heavier bullet that inflicts more tissue damage. So, your best ammo pick is a .223 bullet having a mass of 62-77 grains and an expanding design.

Expanding bullets, such as hollow points and polymer-tip designs, mushroom on impact and, thus, create a larger wound cavity. Moreover, it makes them stuck in the body and delivers maximum kinetic energy. Actually, this is why you can’t use non-expanding FMJ rounds, which can zip right through the deer’s body and fail to deliver the needed effect. You may know that roughly speaking, the .223 Rem is the same round as the military 5.56 NATO, but almost all 5.56 ammo you’ll see is FMJ (it’s called 5.56 ball ammo). It’s because FMJs are easier and cheaper to manufacture and because it has a significantly lower risk of jamming when cycled by the AR-15/M16 rifle’s action.

The best .223 ammo for deer hunting – .223 (not 5.56) 62-77 grain HP/SP/Polymer-tip ammo.

Maximum Range for Hunting Deer with a .223

At this point, we should touch on the hunting method, the distance, in particular. For consistent results, you must be at a maximum of 100 yards from your prey. It won’t be a problem with many hunters since many methods imply short range. You must always check the distance using a rangefinder.

Also, pay attention to the specification of the particular ammo. Search for information regarding the changes in velocity and energy. Remember, you need rounds that retain 1,000 ft-lbs downrange to kill a deer humanely.

Proper Shop Placement

Hitting vitals with one shot is the definition of an ethical kill, which is your prime responsibility as a hunter. So, you shouldn’t consider the .223 for deer hunting in the first place if you can’t deliver your bullet where it belongs because, as we’ve known, the cartridge isn’t foolproof, and there’re many aspects to take into account.

When we talk about killing a deer, an ethical shot would be one placed right behind the shoulder, as it will damage the aorta and hit the heart. In most cases, a deer shot in this area will drop right at the spot and die quickly.

The Best .223 Rifle for Deer Hunting

If your state allows big game hunting with a .223, you will be choosing between semi-auto AR15-pattern rifles and bolt- or lever-action rifles. At this point, pay attention that there are states that ban all AR-15s from hunting, regardless of the caliber. So check this as well.

.223 bolt-action rifles are the most popular weapons. The main perk is the remarkable accuracy they provide with each shot. Additionally, they are built with a less complicated system with fewer moving parts, making them more trustworthy even when they get dirty. .223 lever-action rifles, such as Henry rifles, are also popular with hunters. Their most valued benefit is that you can cycle the rifle without using your dominant hand.

Conclusion

To be an ethical .223 deer hunter, you need the following:

• Good marksmanship skills for the proper shot placement;
• A distance not greater than 100 yards (in some cases, 150 yards);
• Heavy and expanding .223 bullets.