Hi All, I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I apparently don't have enough posts to use the search feature yet? So I ask for your understanding please
I've done quite a bit of reading already, and I've found some very... energetic articles for and against the viability of a 5.56/.233 AR-15 as a deer hunting rifle. Granted, it is not the best hunting platform out there, but this post isn't to debate this.
My question is this, what rounds would work best in an 5.56/.233 AR-15 for deer hunting? (If it helps, I can say you're trapped in an ammo store with only your AR-15, starving and surrounded by deer, which box do you grab off the shelf?)
I have no specific round in mind, but with that small of a bullet, I think I'd be going as heavy as possible and probably a soft point of some sort.
This is the reason I'm probably going to be building a 6.8 SPC II here shortly.
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Posted Nov. 01 2012 - 08:40 AM
Please: Deer have been shot with everything down to slingshots and the last time I looked starvation is most likely not the problem.
Yes, you can hunt with and kill deer the 223/5.56, is it the round to be used for this size animal? NO,,,,
38 years ago out of the Navy on unemployment sitting on my arse as my out of Conus contracting paper work was being done and civilian security clearance being re-done, I was shooting deer at night with a .17 cal Rem 700. Knock them down, finishing the job with a .45. If I were not killing deer, things got a little hungry, starving No, but a little hungry.
Am I proud of that, NO!
You can kill any animal with the tiny bullet coming out of the 223/5.56 barrel, how many times are you going to need to shoot the animal or how many animals are going to run off and feed the crows or coyotes’
Long story short, spend a buck for a larger caliber or trade the “toy” off for a 30-30, they are cheep as hell.
Killing anything on two legs or four is done with Respect!
Hi All, I'm sure this has been discussed before, but I apparently don't have enough posts to use the search feature yet? So I ask for your understanding please
I've done quite a bit of reading already, and I've found some very... energetic articles for and against the viability of a 5.56/.233 AR-15 as a deer hunting rifle. Granted, it is not the best hunting platform out there, but this post isn't to debate this.
My question is this, what rounds would work best in an 5.56/.233 AR-15 for deer hunting? (If it helps, I can say you're trapped in an ammo store with only your AR-15, starving and surrounded by deer, which box do you grab off the shelf?)
Thanks.
Well like you already know there is none, 5.56 is not big enough and should be not legal to hunt game such as deer with. Anything below 100 grains should not be allowed to be used while deer hunting.
But anything would work in your scenario, you would just need to head shoot. 55 or 62 grain is all I shoot with the 5.56 AR15 platform.
Edited by Nwatson99, Nov. 12 2012 - 12:02 PM.
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If you have 1:7 barrel, Silver State Armory (SSA) 70gr Barnes TSX rounds work well on smaller hogs, so they should handle a deer with no problem, given good shot placement.
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Posted Nov. 01 2012 - 12:50 PM
I have never seen .233 ammo. Is this some secret squirrel round for deer hunting with an AR?
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Look for the heavyest bullet your barrel will stabilize! I have some 64gr Horniday HPBT's that I would have no problem using for deer if I had to! But there are heavyer bullets out there that would work better
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Well like you already know there is none, 5.56 is not big enough and should be not legal to hunt game such as deer with. Anything below 100 rounds should not be allowed to be used while deer hunting.
But anything would work in your scenario, you would just need to head shoot. 55 or 62 grain is all I shoot with the 5.56 AR15 platform.
Neil did you mean to say 100 grain projectile??? Check bolded words above lol...
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I dont think I would personally use such a small caliber for deer because they're a typically small round for an animal the size of a deer... In an AR platform i would go with a 6.5 Grendel or bigger like a 6.8 or 300 blackout
Neil did you mean to say 100 grain projectile??? Check bolded words above lol...
i kind of think he meant pounds. for hunting of deer i agree with most that .223/556 is too small and should not be used for hunting, TYR's post explains it.
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First of all, let me restate that this question is not about 5.56/.223 being a good choice for deer hunting! Its a, if this was all you had available, what rounds would you use, question! (I do not plan to deer hunt with my AR, this is really just for my curiosity).
Secondly, yes, .233 is a new secret ammo type I'm developing :P I think we all realize I meant to type .223
Thirdly, I do fully support the use of 100 round and greater magazines for deer hunting!
Our deer down south GA are on the small side. .223 is legal here for deer as long as it is center fire. .22-250 swift will kill them dead right there when center mass just behind the shoulder is where they are hit. If I were to hunt with the AR, I would hand load some 77g Sierra Game Kings at the highest accurate velocities I could if I had a 1:8 or fater twist. As long as the distances are under 150 yds. the .223's are leathal for deer
Neil did you mean to say 100 grain projectile??? Check bolded words above lol...
i kind of think he meant pounds. for hunting of deer i agree with most that .223/556 is too small and should not be used for hunting, TYR's post explains it.
I'm pretty sure he meant 100 grain. 100 lb projectiles kick like a motherfuzzer, and 100 rounds leaves little meat!!
I bought a box of the Winchester PHP's 64 grain the day before opener this year. Didn't know what kind of shot I would have since I was on new land so I brought my AR and .308 bolt action with me in the blind. Even with all the research in the world and confidence in my ability to hit something with the AR; when I saw a deer on opening I had no hesitation to grab my .308. I guess if had the same shot placement with either I still would have gotten it but in all I don't think I would ever shoot a deer with 223
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