So my question is this, I have found conflicting stories and opinions that .223/5.56 is good/bad for hunting deer. Have read that it depends on size or depends on shot placement. Now, to me, it don't matter what size you are firing, shot placement is always a factor. I read an article that states since the beginning of time hunting it has always been a battle of the "relics" that what they shoot with to hunt is the preferred method. Every time a new weapon is adopted from the military the ones using the "non" military weapons are not happy about the "younger" crowd coming in with there's and hunting. Basically it sounds to me like folks do not want to let go of what they know. Take for example, some believe that carb is better than fuel injection... not the best example but what I am trying to say is that some are traditionalists. Still have not got to my question but will. From what I have read, 5.56 is not the best to take down a deer but back in the day every time a new weapon comes out that size is too small or not the proper weapon to use. So if you are confident to kill with a 30-06 why can't you be confident enough to kill with a 5.56? I am in the process of buying an AR-15 5.56 and I know that I am not ready to hunt with one. ( I am military so I know I am no slouch, earned expert with the M-16) But I also know that I would not go out first day and try to take down a deer with out practice. So why are most so skeptical about hunting with an AR? Also, if I remember from research, can an AR be built to to deliver a more powerful round by changing the upper? Here is one link that lead me to post this, there is another but right now the site is not working.... thanks for taking the time to read this. I would like to be able to do more with my AR than shoot at paper, varmints and predators and what ever suits my fancy but if not, so be it, I still want one

http://www.huntingmag.com/guns_loads/phsar_022707/

I will post the other thread when the site comes online again.

AJ

OK.... the site came back up.... here is another debate. From what I can gather, take my AR out and use it for what is was intended... shoot and kill...

http://www.gunandgame.com/forums/ar15-m16/...er-hunting.html

Wow, some serious anti-223 hunting posts in there.

I'm not a huge fan of hunting with the .223. That being said, I wouldn't support someone being told they couldn't hunt with one. I've hunted nearly 25 years, and I've fired literally tens of thousands of rounds of .223/5.56. I still wouldn't hunt with one except at close range, and even then, only take absolutely guaranteed solid hits.

AJ,
This just my opinion....I don't recommend it for deer. I'll give you a little background on myself if it'll help. I was on the marksmanship team when I was active duty. All I did was shoot the '16...everyday. Designated "marksman" on the Special Ops team I was assigned to. (This was before everyone was called a sniper) Competed in the World Wide Championships in 1980 so I am no slouch when it comes to hitting what I am aiming at. I have a couple of AR15's that are literal tack drivers. I was also assigned to "cull deer". I have hunted many different parts of the world including getting a lion in Africa, one of the Big Five.
Having shot several deer with the 5.56, I feel it is marginal. Head shots and neck shots are good but a 'boiler room" shot leave a lot to be desired. Usually little to no blood. That little bullet punches a pretty tiny hole through their hide. The vitals get totally destroyed on the inside though, but if you have hunted enough deer, you know they can run quite a ways on reserve.
I converted one of my AR's to 6mm-223 and it was a big step up. There are more options out there now. The 6.5, 6.8, etc. And many of them are a just an upper change-out.
The deer that are there in Texas are smaller than most place I usually hunt but they still have stamina. Do yourself and the game a favor and use something bigger.
WW

.223 will kill a deer, eventually....
Its inhumane and unless you like to spend days tracking a wounded animal dont use it.
Get a larger cal.
People forget that deer are large muscular super cardio beasts. I have seen them run for hundreds of yards after being hit with .300 win mag 180 grain hullets through both lungs. Yes a .223 will kill them but it will be a terrible death for the deer and hard track for you.
That said, there are exceptions. but I wouldnt use them to make my decision.
Jim

This post has been edited by Buckshot_Jim: November 23rd 2008 4:40 PM

I Agree!!!!!!


In MY opinion which is just that, only an opinion.

That .223 doesnt blow a hole anywhere big enough to make tracking an easy job. I would only use one in a dire emergency. I've done it as a kid, but I guess Iam lazy now and like a big painted blood trail to follow.

I dont have too many problems putting the round where it needs to go ( gave up rifle Hunting out of boredom and hunt strickly with bows and handguns), but deer move, it's not a perfect world, and shit happens.........

99% of all .223 projo's are not designed to perform as needed on deer anyhow.



I've taken more than a couple of buck, and a pile more Hogs with full power 44 mag loads and can say I've seen them run a good ways with double lung shots. Heck I've even punched a couple with 45/70's. Difference is Larger holes let more air in and more blood out. EASY tracking when the trail is painted bright red.


If you hunt long enough, you will come to learn that bullets also sometimes DO NOT work as advertised. And placing the round in the Right spot sometimes isn't enough. Meaning, they dont expand properly, come apart, shed jackets, frag, etc....... For this reason, I do like larger diameter projectiles. If a bullets fails, you will still have a larger hole upon entrance.

Not Knocking the original poster who is seeking out info, but I keep seeing this same question about .223/5.56 posted every year on differnet forums that I frequent . It's simply not the right tool for this job. Some guys swear by it, and some of us have been hunting long enough to know better.

In the great state of Texas, any centerfire round is legal for whitetails. I keep waiting for the day when someone asks about using a .25 auto or a .17 remington.

As for larger caliber Ar's........ I can only comment on the .50 beowulf as Its the only one I have experience with. It will get 'er done on Hogs and deer. It was a bit cost prohibitive for me to shoot, so I got rid of it. I got mine back before the .500 smith's came out so Projos were pretty limited. The only other .50 that was remotely close to being popular was the .50 AE so manufacturers were not too interested in cranking out a bunch of slugs for a limited market.

This post has been edited by chaos: November 22nd 2008 9:46 PM

I guess if it came down to being the only rifle I had I might consider hunting deer with it but I would rather take a pistol if it came down to that. I also hunt with archery and kinda look at it like this. I hunting a deer with 5.56 is kinda like using arrows with target tips. Will it do the job? Yes. Are there ways to make my life easier and the deers harvest faster? Yes. If you are going to hunt you owe it to the animal to make a quick cleen and humane shot reguardless of the circumstances. Remimber one of the things that shaped the switch to the 5.56mm was the fact that it wounded more enemy combatants than it killed. By wounding them you take them and some litter bearrers out of the fight. If you are lucky even a couple of folks to guard the litter crew. Best case 5 folks out of the battle with one shot. This was some of the thinking during early Vietnam. The 7.62 was doing more klilling and the enemy leaving them there until the battle was over. I dont want to wound a deer I want if dead right there. I have seen deer do complete front flips when hit with a 150gr round from a 308 at 130 yds. After I got to the deer I realized that the angle of the round went through the front shoulder after passing though the chest and completely crushed the front shoulder. So when the deer went to jump she did not have any front springs and she kicked her rear all the way over her head. I have very seriuos doubts that a 5.56 would have that kind of effect.

Why use a target tip when you can get an expandable broadhead with 2 inches of cutting diameter? Why use a round that was designed for varmits and groundshogs when you can use a round that was designed to kill the larger game you are after?

.223/5.56 is not legal to take deer here in VA but i've been tempted to try it just so i can ACCURATELY reply to topics like these. i have no doubt in my mind that you CAN kill a deer with 5.56, but i just don't think it is a really good idea.

all you need to do is make a hole in the heart, or brain and any deer will drop (maybe not in it's tracks, but soon), no questions asked.

i just don't advise using it. there are plenty of better rounds available.

This post has been edited by hsracer201: November 22nd 2008 10:58 PM

I'm not an avid deer hunter, but it wouldn't be my choice.

I want to thank all that replied and did not flame me for asking. Since joining this site I have seen plenty of respectful answers and that is why I posted my question here. Thank you. Guess I will use 5.56/.223 for target practice and maybe some predator hunting if I get the chance and will look into getting a larger caliber upper.


AJ