I know the answer, but I had a guy tell me he had 2 rifles. He had an AR-15 in .223, and a lever action in .45LC. He said he was going on his first deer hunt, said he was taking the AR15. I told him, no the 45LC was a much better choice, he said I was crazy, the .223 has more muzzle energy, and the 69gr matchking was very accurate and that was what he was going to use. I couldn't talk him out of it, 2 weeks later, he tells me he can't understand how, that busk ran off, after he shot him at 75yds with the AR15. He couldn't find a blood trail, and never found the deer.
Posts: 3097 | Location: Louisiana | Registered: 28 November 2001
A 69gr Matchking at around 3000fps will leave a blood trail.And it will also leave an exit hole the size of a baseball.If there was no blood or hair HE MISSED.
------------------ I HUNT LONG RANGE.AND YES I USE MATCHKING'S.
My hunting buddy bought a single shot in 223 for his grandkid. I have helped drag several deer, and a couple hogs that was taken with the 223 and 69 gr. softpoints. When you connect, it seems to work like lightning.
Good luck and good shooting
Posts: 849 | Location: Between Doan's Crossing and Red River Station | Registered: 22 July 2001
I belive that a lot of I could find the deer is 1 he missed 2 the deer ran off so they didn''t look. If you don't have some hair or something you most likey missed. They want to blame the bullet but it is most lilely a miss. Missing a deer at 75 yards isn't that hard if it is bushy or running. Standing their broad side is another thing.
Posts: 19669 | Location: wis | Registered: 21 April 2001
Well, while neither is a really good deer round, but IF I had to choose one, I would take the .223 in a heartbeat. With an accurate AR-15 I could head shoot them to 300 yards or better, and kill them easily with a heart lung shot and decent bullets farther than that. Not to mention the ease of a fast follow-up if needed with a 15. Anyone who thinks the .45LC is more than a 100 yard deer cartridge, at best, and that is pushing it, is nuts. Not that it can't kill them farther, but can you accurately place it with the looping trajectory?
Posts: 17099 | Location: Texas USA | Registered: 07 May 2001
While it is to early to establish any conclusion most of the replies here would lead one to believe that the 223 is a tried and true deer rifle.
I can't help but wonder how different this thread may have started if the original poster would have asked the simple question "Is my 223 a deer rifle"?
