Thread: 223 on deer

I used a 1/8 twist 223 on deer pretty regularly for 9 years, generally with controlled expansion monolithics. I had a couple of heavier calibers at the time but I normally chose the 223, as I’m a meat hunter more than anything. I purchased it as a bit of an all rounder for varminting and meat hunting (fallow and smaller reds at shorter ranges). It filled that role pretty well but I don’t think the 223 is a great choice as a stand alone deer rifle. If a nice fat red spiker wanders out onto a clearing 250yd away, right on dusk and there’s no opportunity to get closer, I want a caliber that will reliably flatten that animal with a shoulder shot. So that means a 6mm minimum. Do yourself a favour and get a 243 instead