[TX Hog Hunter]

The 6.8 SPC is THE caliber to use for deer, 100 or 110gr Nosler Accubonds will put them down everytime. Shoots plenty flat enough for 250yd shots which will take in all but the most open country hunting.

I've now shot over 30 deer and 50+ hogs with a 6.8, I know it works!!!!!

[bigkat91]

Is it even legal to use .223? Here in Iowa you have to use anything over .24 caliber..

[MLN1963]

Quote:       Originally Posted by TX Hog Hunter

I've now shot over 30 deer and 50+ hogs with a 6.8, I know it works!!!!!

Impressive! How many seasons did it take to rack up that many kills?

You must have one hellofa freezer! LOL

[cavman]

Black tail around here are Big at 120 Lbs., I have seen more deer lost to larger calibers with factory ammo that wouldn't expand in them. I think .223 in a expanding bullet is ideal for these coast deer. Most .270 / 06 / 7mm leave a pinhole exit wound because of overpenetration.

[TX Hog Hunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by MLN1963

Impressive! How many seasons did it take to rack up that many kills? You must have one hellofa freezer! LOL

I've just been using the 6.8 since May of this year. We have been culling does and cull bucks on the ranch, TPWD gave us 86 doe and 42 buck permits this year. We usually shoot 150 hogs a year on the ranch, our game biologist woudl like us to shoot twice as many...................but I like to hog hunt so try to maintain a large population.

[MLN1963]

Wow, you need any help?

[northerndragon]

I'd travel from NY to help, plus I can think of a vet tech in WA who could use a job...

[ZombieHunter]

About 6:15, I get into the stand. It's about 40F outside, and still dark. I close the plexiglass windows on the stand to keep the wind out, and sit back for a bit. I'm about halfway asleep, when I look over and see two figures moving near the feeder. It's still early, and the sun hasn't quite cut through yet, so all I can see are silhouettes of the two figures. One has horns, the other doesn't. I slowly ease the window back up, and think about how I'm going to slap my cousin for leaving cellophane candy wrappers all over the floor of the deer stand. I get into position, and I can still only see black figures against a grey trail lit by the moonlight. I sat and waited for another five minutes or so for the light to come out, keeping those crosshairs trained on that spot behind his ear. After a while, I could see clearly enough to take the shot, and he still had his head down eating the corn. I shoved that little 55gr Silvertip brain grenade straight through the back of his cerebellum, throwing fragments all into his head. Just as the muzzle flash faded away, I could see his knees buckle. He dropped right where he was standing. The only exit wound I could see was where one of the fragments had skimmed up and flown out the top of the skull.

I'd say a .223 is more than adequate for hunting deer "ethically", wouldn't you?

[Midas]

Nice deer, but why the head shot? why not a shoulder shot?

I think "ethical" would be using a cartridge with enough power to dispatch the animal in conditions other than that perfect angle that allows for a head shot.

For me the .223 is best left to varmint hunting, as I am not a good enough marksman to sneak that little pill in there every time, so I will use a 30-06 or the like and shoot 'em in the shoulder.

YMMV

[Beer Forever]

I would use a good Winchester .223 round for deer hunting, but I would much rather use .308

[Tack Driver]

How far was the shot?

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Tack Driver

How far was the shot?

Less than 80m, but where we hunt, you're not likely to get a longer shot than that. The lease I was on has fairly short shooting lanes cleared out of the pine forests, and you won't get a shot unless it's in a cleared section. The trees are just too thick out there.

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Midas

Nice deer, but why the head shot? why not a shoulder shot? I think "ethical" would be using a cartridge with enough power to dispatch the animal in conditions other than that perfect angle that allows for a head shot. For me the .223 is best left to varmint hunting, as I am not a good enough marksman to sneak that little pill in there every time, so I will use a 30-06 or the like and shoot 'em in the shoulder. YMMV

There is no "perfect angle" for a head shot. If you can see the head, you can shoot it.

In the areas we hunt, there are three types of clearings...natural, residential, and logging-related. Deer have a tendency to stay out of the latter two, which leaves only natural clearings. You won't typically find one in the Piney Woods that has a clear shot for more than 100yds.

If you can hit a softball at 100yds, you can reliably pop a deer in the head at that distance. If you can't hit a softball at 100yds, you need to spend more time on the range.

I take head shots because it doesn't spoil any meat, period. Every edible part of that deer wound up in a cooler that day, and it will be arriving in my freezer by the end of the week. Sling a .30-06 into a deer's shoulder, and you might be able to count on the other shoulder...and there's still a chance that he'll run. Put a .223 into his brainstem, and you have a complete edible deer that didn't go anywhere.

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Beer Forever

I would use a good Winchester .223 round for deer hunting, but I would much rather use .308

As would I...and I will be doing so, as soon as I save up the cash for that M14.

[Mojo]

IMO the 5.56/.223 is not real ethical to use on big game!
taking head shots are not the best choice either. giving the fact that the head is much smaller & have more erratic movements than the body (lungs)
you aim to shoot the head, deer turns its head & now you just shot off the mouth & it runs away....yep thats ethical
shoot out both lungs! I dont even think a front on shot is ethical unless with a big caliber round, I wont take the front on shot with a bow & run the risk of only hitting 1 lung.

look at it this way, yes you may be a great shooter with your AR in 5.56/.223 & your state the DNR made it legal to us AR15 for deer hunting, but lets remeber all those other people that may not be as good of a shot & just look at their state hunting laws & say " oh cool, I can shoot deer with my AR15 "

then they start taking shots in the 200 yard range, bad shot placement,bad ammo choice, & just wounding the deer or having them die a slower death.


I also forgot to add, if you live in a location where theres a chance of CWD, then it would be wise to not shoot the brain & run the risk of getting brain matter or fluids to run down on the meat. no point in increasing the risk.

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by Mojo

IMO the 5.56/.223 is not real ethical to use on big game! taking head shots are not the best choice either. giving the fact that the head is much smaller & have more erratic movements than the body (lungs) you aim to shoot the head, deer turns its head & now you just shot off the mouth & it runs away....yep thats ethical shoot out both lungs! I dont even think a front on shot is ethical unless with a big caliber round, I wont take the front on shot with a bow & run the risk of only hitting 1 lung. look at it this way, yes you may be a great shooter with your AR in 5.56/.223 & your state the DNR made it legal to us AR15 for deer hunting, but lets remeber all those other people that may not be as good of a shot & just look at their state hunting laws & say " oh cool, I can shoot deer with my AR15 " then they start taking shots in the 200 yard range, bad shot placement,bad ammo choice, & just wounding the deer or having them die a slower death. I also forgot to add, if you live in a location where theres a chance of CWD, then it would be wise to not shoot the brain & run the risk of getting brain matter or fluids to run down on the meat. no point in increasing the risk.

First off, remember that this is in the Piney Woods of East Texas. The chances of getting a deer at 100yds in most places is slim to none. My deer was a bit closer. 200yd shots are relatively unheard of in these parts. Not because we are poor marksmen, but because the terrain simply does not allow for it.

Second, let's not forget that the .223 is only 20/1000ths of an inch smaller than a .243 projectile, and several generations of my family have hunted with a Browning semi-auto in .243 and have killed several deer with it. Regardless, the .22-250 is one of the most popular rounds in these parts, and it uses the exact same diameter cartridge as the .223 I'm shooting.

Third, have you seen many headshots on a deer? The head is typically about a foot away from all the good meat, then you have the fact that a basic lesson in mammalian anatomy will tell you there are so many different membranes any "brain matter" would have to travel through that it's just NOT going to happen.

Seems to me like the only people who think it's unethical to shoot a deer with a .223 are the people who can't shoot straight...

[buzznod]

I drop deer with an sks using win 123gr pointed soft point. It dont kick hard and is a good brush gun. we had an ice storm last year that really messed the woods up that's why i use it other wise I would use a .270 130. gr or 30-06 150 gr.

[buzznod]

cool gun I wish I had one !

[ZombieHunter]

Quote:       Originally Posted by buzznod

I drop deer with an sks using win 123gr pointed soft point. It dont kick hard and is a good brush gun. we had an ice storm last year that really messed the woods up that's why i use it other wise I would use a .270 130. gr or 30-06 150 gr.

Are you using any optics on that SKS, or are you shooting irons?

[Mojo]

Quote:       Originally Posted by ZombieHunter

First off, remember that this is in the Piney Woods of East Texas. The chances of getting a deer at 100yds in most places is slim to none. My deer was a bit closer. 200yd shots are relatively unheard of in these parts. Not because we are poor marksmen, but because the terrain simply does not allow for it. Second, let's not forget that the .223 is only 20/1000ths of an inch smaller than a .243 projectile, and several generations of my family have hunted with a Browning semi-auto in .243 and have killed several deer with it. Regardless, the .22-250 is one of the most popular rounds in these parts, and it uses the exact same diameter cartridge as the .223 I'm shooting. Third, have you seen many headshots on a deer? The head is typically about a foot away from all the good meat, then you have the fact that a basic lesson in mammalian anatomy will tell you there are so many different membranes any "brain matter" would have to travel through that it's just NOT going to happen. Seems to me like the only people who think it's unethical to shoot a deer with a .223 are the people who can't shoot straight...

not every state or locations that allow hunting with .223 are just like your location. & not everyone shoots the same or has the knowledge of the limitions of the ammo they're shooting.

just like crossbows & bows, some people think they can shoot deer at a hundred yards with a crossbow cuz of the higher poundage, but you can only shoot the same distance as any other bow & with the lighter bolt (arrow) its less effective the farther you shoot.

some people might think - hey the DNR said its ok, so they go buy any kind of ammo & think they can kill deer at any ranges, hey the DNR said its ok. you dont think this happens ?
some people claim what ever you use on deer is enough to use on black bears cuz black bears are thin skinned like deer, so do you think it'd be wise to use .223 on black bears ?
the CWD prions are in the bones & brain tissue, & theres neck meat thats good for grinding! no meat worth keeping in the rib cage.

I'll take my 12ga or .308 any day over my .223/5.56 for big game!!

also you think that a deer will never move its head & you just graze it or wound it & it runs off ? it might just happen one day. how'd you feel if you just shot the mouth off ?

for some stupid reason some bow hunters even think they can shoot deer in the head I've seen pics on the internet of deer that survived with broadheads in their skull. talk about unethical pain.