whats good to hunt with a .223/5.56?

PunisherBane

PunisherBane

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the thought of taking up hunting since ive bought my M&P15.. mostly of what we have around is coyotes turkey varmits and deer mostly... wouldnt mind some deer jerky...is .223 good for all that? a couple guys at work seem to think i need something like a 30-06 or like that for deer

so my basic question... whats good to shoot with .223/5.56?
 
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PunisherBane said:
the thought of taking up hunting since ive bought my M&P15.. mostly of what we have around is coyotes turkey varmits and deer mostly... wouldnt mind some deer jerky...is .223 good for all that? a couple guys at work seem to think i need something like a 30-06 or like that for deer

so my basic question... whats good to shoot with .223/5.56?
Click to expand...

I've been contemplating the same thing. Never been hunting.

From what I understand, your state DNR sets the rules for taking wild game. One of those rules is the minimum caliber required to humanely harvest wild game. Some states it's legal to take a deer with a .223, some states not.

What I want to do is head down south for a feral hog hunt. I think that with the right load, an AR-15 could humanely take a wild hog up to a certain size. The real big ones...hogzilla's... I'm not so sure. They have that shoulder blade that acts like armor. Maybe a green tip penetrator?

Before I take a hog, I want to see how I do shooting outdoors. I know I can place a shot where I want at an indoor range, but out in the open is something different. I want to be darn sure I can put the round where it will get the job done quickly.

That begs other questions. Where do I place the shot as not to ruin the meat? What type of shots should I avoid? What's the correct procedure to field dress a hog?
 
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The .223 round is plenty good for deer. My son has taken 2 very nice bucks off the King Ranch in south Texas with a single shot Rossi .223 when he was 10 and 11 years old.


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JaPes said:
I've been contemplating the same thing. Never been hunting.

From what I understand, your state DNR sets the rules for taking wild game. One of those rules is the minimum caliber required to humanely harvest wild game. Some states it's legal to take a deer with a .223, some states not.
Click to expand...

luckily ohio DNR hunting regs state "Unless otherwise indicated, game may be taken with longbow, crossbow, or any caliber handgun, rifle, shotgun (10 gauge or smaller), or airgun. Be safe and choose the appropriate method for the species."

but also states for deer
Shotgun – 10 gauge or smaller using one ball or one rifled slug per barrel (rifled shotgun barrels are permitted when using shotgun slug ammunition) – the shotgun cannot be capable of holding more than 3 shells, unless it is plugged with a one-piece filler which limits the capacity of the gun to 3 shells. The filler must be such that it cannot be removed without disassembling the gun.

Muzzleloading rifle - .38 caliber or larger

Handgun – 5-in. min. length barrel, using straight-walled cartridges .357 caliber or larger

Longbow – min. draw weight 40 lbs., includes compound and recurve bows. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.

Crossbow – draw weight no less than 75 lbs. The arrow tip shall have a minimum of two cutting edges which may be exposed or unexposed minimum 3/4 inch width. Expandable and mechanical broadheads are legal. Poisoned or explosive arrows are illegal.

so bite me ODNR... still allowed to shoot coyote wild boar Groundhog, Fox, Raccoon, Skunk, Opossum, Weasel, Squirrel,Cottontail Rabbit, Ring-necked Pheasant, RuffedGrouse, Bobwhite Quail, and Crow
 
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Kansas Its illegal to take deer with a .223 but anything else, except for maybe turkey that I dont know, it legal to hunt with. Some game mostly birds it is only legal to hunt with a shotgun. but I cannot hunt deer with my AR.
 
oneyeopn said:
Kansas Its illegal to take deer with a .223 but anything else, except for maybe turkey that I dont know, it legal to hunt with. Some game mostly birds it is only legal to hunt with a shotgun. but I cannot hunt deer with my AR.
Click to expand...

What's the minimum caliber to take deer in Kansas?


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I would use the AR for hog, turkey, coyote, bobcat, and other small game. I don't use it for deer, but it will work with proper bullet and placement. I mainly wanted it for hogs. I know this sounds bad, but we wanted high capacity and ability for quick shots. The aim is to eradicate the hogs. They are not an indigenous species, and they have no predators other than humans. The landowner gave us strict orders to shoot everyone of them on sight.
 
I am planning on deer hunting with my Sport this year and leaving my .270 in the safe.


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coyotes .223 is more then enough
deer 270 and up .223 I would only use it if I was spine shooting or head shooting.
turkey you can only use a shotgun
pheasant shotgun
rabbit .22cal or shotgun
hog I wouldn't even think of getting one out for that hunt. I would use .308 + ive seen 30-30 bounce off of big bores.
 
waterfowlwidowmaker said:
coyotes .223 is more then enough
deer 270 and up .223 I would only use it if I was spine shooting or head shooting.
turkey you can only use a shotgun
pheasant shotgun
rabbit .22cal or shotgun
hog I wouldn't even think of getting one out for that hunt. I would use .308 + ive seen 30-30 bounce off of big bores.
Click to expand...

Disagree with you on deer. My son uses a .243, no problem on Texas Whitetail.

We can take Rio Grand Turkey with a rifle, but not Eastern Turkey.

I have never seen any round "bounce off" of any hog. I have seen them not drop from a 30-06 due to poor shot placement, but nothing bounced off. Some folks hunt hogs with a .17hmr. A well placed shot right behind the ear and they drop. A .223 either right behind the ear or in the vitals will take a hog. They aren't that tough. I've killed one with a 9mm pistol.
 
zombie-hunter-copy.jpg
 
I like a .243 for most North American game - it's more than adequate for deer and I argue that it's plenty of rifle for elk and black bear so long as you place your shots well. .223 is OK for most deer (especially the skinny ones here in South Texas), but you need good shot placement to ensure a reliable kill, which is why many states don't allow it. I personally would prefer not to take a .223 out hog hunting - it's fine for the smaller ones, but (around here) you'll run into some big boys that I wouldn't feel comfortable shooting with a round that small. I've come across some hogs that I wouldn't shoot with anything smaller than a 7mm Magnum (those aren't exactly common, but you do not want to piss off a 400 lb feral hog by merely wounding it)
 
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I have to disagree with a post, I have taken wild hog with a 30-30 on numerous occasions in North Central Ok. one shot one kill. 243 is a phenomenal weapon. 270 it a great weapon but it requires shooting skills because of the projectile speed, it can blow right through a deer and if you dont get a vital spot you just end up with a wounded deer. this is all my opinions after hunting over 40 years with numerous calibers and rifles. Kansas legalized 22-250 for one hunting season. Just like the 270 if you didnt hit the deer just right you ended up with wounded animals, there were way to many wounded animals that died long after they were shot to make it a viable weapon so it was outlawed for the next season and since.
 
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longhornfan69 said:
What's the minimum caliber to take deer in Kansas?


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Click to expand...

Most states have a minimum caliber size of .24 for big game take. It leaves the .204, 22-250, 223 out of the deer game. BUT, they are usually allowed for speed goats (Antelope) because they are generally fragile, light boned smaller animals.
In that case, a .243 is the smallest general allowed rifle.
I will put a couple things out here: 1. I feel that if you can get great shot placement, in a place where deer come to feed plots, or to corn chuckers- deer can certainly be killed with a 223. I would NEVER recommend one where longer shots, shooting in cover, looking for those faster moving animals is the likely scenario. Hit placement is no longer a guarantee, and as such- a 200-300lb whitetail is the most amazing athelete you have ever seen. He's got 4 legs, and WILL run, and run, and run. And, maybe even fight back. Bigger bullets, bigger wound channels for greater blood and better penetration thru bone is the choice of experience.
2. There are several great options for the AR platform. But a 6.8SPC, or a 6.5 Grendel upper, and you can A: Legally use the AR for deer, and B. you get much greater knockdown power and better terminal performance against strong, stubborn animals.
 
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