My best friends dad does his deer hunting with a 22-250 and nothing else. At first I was sure that he was using an under powered rifle, but for the last 10 years I've been hunting with him I've seen him take down several deer with his rifle.

Hunger G congrats to your daughter on her deer.

I have no doubt you can kill a deer with a 223, just like I have no doubt you can kill one with a 22 short under ideal conditions. Just a little too light of effective medicine for most folks. You know upping the odds of wounding instead of upping the odds on cleanly killing. Also, in most Western States (here in Colo. for sure) it's illegal. I do believe in Montana it's legal though. You might want to consider a quality expanding bullet as well if that's going to be used again like a Nosler or Barnes. With a full metal jacket you run the risk of a pencil hole wound and the animal getting far and away.

A 243 would be ideal for a youth on deer.

your right on not using a fmj but i was nervous on using a hollow point I didnt think it would do much on a deer. I guess there is only one way to find out is to try it.

Hunter G: I do believe there is a 65gr. soft point available and I have heard of a 77 gr, also. I haven't actually seen any of those, but you are right about hollow points; too light (45 gr.) to be effective. The person that talked about the 77gr. round uses it for deer hunting in Tennessee and says to have bagged several deer with his .223.

I won't argue the merits for, or against, using one for deer hunting, because I have personally witnessed straight through shots with larger caliber rifles as well. It's a personal preference thing and if that's what you want her to hunt with, and it's legal, then that's your call.

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I won't argue the merits for, or against, using one for deer hunting, because I have personally witnessed straight through shots with larger caliber rifles as well. It's a personal preference thing and if that's what you want her to hunt with, and it's legal, then that's your call.

+1, and for future reference, .223 is illegal for use on big and trophy game in Wyoming.

Regarding straight thru shots, yes, I suppose they can happen with the best of bullets, but c'mon were going with likely hood here. Or the the law of averages. If hunting mule deer with a 270 and a 130 FMJ I would feel much much less confident then if I was packing 130 gr Nosler Partitions. While the possibility that a blow thru could occur with that Partition it is far far less likely then with that FMJ. Don't mean to be a nit picker here but rather just want to state my belief in picking the right bullet for the job at hand to ensure a high percentage of fatal hits when the bullet is put where it's supposed to go.

My 2 centson a .223. Shot placement. I have taken several animals with mine. But I shoot often. I know exactly where the bullet will go if I do my part. I use Hornady 75 grain BTHP when I hunt ANYTHING over a coyotes size. If the round is put in the boiler room...game over. The other side is a child that does not have the same ability with that gun as me. My own children 13 and 10 use my 7mm with a muzzle break and a reduced recoil round.Kicks like a .243 but thrown a 180 grain round down range with more "knock down power". A term I hate to use by the way, because what it really means is you didn't hit the animal where you were supposed to. But that is why the kids shoot it. Flinching,hammering the trigger,holding their breath and shear buck fever! That's alot for a young hunter to overcome with a smaller round.

.223 and FMJ is plenty capable of taking deer. I have a buddy who uses nothing but .22-250 for pronghorn in states where it's legal. Unfortunately in Colorado the CDOW is very clear about the use of any caliber less than .24 cal for biggame is illegal.

For years after the .30-06 became available to civilians, most hunters who used it only had FMJ available to them. It worked plenty good on deer and elk from what I've heard and read. Read the book entitled "100 years of Hunting", you'll see what I mean.

I sure hope you're not from Colorado! Rules have been put in place to ensure lethality at all levels which is why Colorado believes in the .24 cal minimum for ALL big game. I've even seen nearby states that make you use a minimum .26 cal for Elk for this very reason. I don't disagree that .223 will work, but you can never say that it works as well as some of the larger calibers! I think .223 is way too small as well as .243....just my 2 cents worth.

OK. This is about the 4th forum I have read on the "BIG" debate, will a .223 take down a deer? I am 18 and just started hunting this year. I took a small 8 pointer with my mathews about a month ago. What I am getting at is that I am not an expirienced hunter...at all. But I have a passion for it. When my dad told me I was going to be using a .223 this year I was concerned about it, so i did a lot of research. The facts say a .223 should perform almost as good as any other rifle. Almost. The hunters say.....split decision, some guys say they have been using a .223 for years and the deer drop on the spot, while other guys say you are better off hitting the deer in the head with the gun. This is where I come in, tomorrow 30 min before sun up I will be in my stand for Wisconsin gun opener. My seeing radius is about 160 yards all around me. The barrel is 1-9 twist and I am using Hornady 75 grain hallow points. Sighted in at 100 yards 3 shots in 3 inches. So what better way to find out if it will drop a deer than to go out and use it. So I will come back and post when I have results!