Ammo Prep

[paintman]

obviously you didn't see where I said at least. i meant that would be the smallest deer or defensive round i would choose. given i had the option.

 

[Yeah]

Because that extra .003 is MAGIC!

Why not pick something you wouldn't be laughed out of deer camp for carrying?

Consider describing your ideal deer rifle.

 

[Thor]

edit: response to post #20 that .223 kills deer too.

Yes, and as I mentioned so does my pellet rifle.

 

[Thor]

obviously you didn't see where I said at least. i meant that would be the smallest deer or defensive round i would choose. given i had the option.

Obviously I was oblivious to that...

Late night work trip comprehension level.

 

[Thor]

Consider describing your ideal deer rifle.

Well now, that depends on where you are doesn't it? From where I'm sitting looking at the woods that start about 50 feet away I'd want something that doesn't go all off at tangents if it touches a twig and might have a fair chance of busting some branches and still carry enough energy to drop the deer in its tracks so I don't have to spend the next few hours tracking it. That probably means something heavy and slow and since this is Indiana I suppose a 12ga or .44/.45 carbine would do. If I could use it here my .45-70 would do just fine.

Some place with more range it would be something more appropriate. The afore mentioned -06 seemed to work fine in CO for a variety of game.

Whatever you choose it should carry enough energy to make sure that a less than perfect shot will still drop it. .223 is perfectly appropriate for small game.

What's yours?

 

[avboiler11]

223 is more than sufficient for medium game; "energy" matters substantially less than 1. shot placement and 2. bullet design.

Deer don't wear SAPI plates or kevlar.

I've tracked deer far further after hitting them with a 300 grain .54cal muzzleloader slug than I have the two I put down with 223s.

 

[Jlburger]

You shot deer with .223?

 

[Bfish]

A lot of guys down south shoot deer with .223 so long as they use the right ammo. I personally would rather have something a bit bigger but that's just me. Some of those same idiots will shoot with a 300WM though I've been told too which I see no point in what so ever.

 

[17 squirrel]

Consider describing your ideal deer rifle.

Sure but for what species of deer ?
Sika on the eastern shore of MD and Va along with parts of texas ?
65 to 200+ lb white tails in different parts of the country.
Either of the two black tail or blacktail deer or
Mule deer.
And a few subspecies I missed.
Which one are we talking about ?

 

[avboiler11]

You shot deer with .223?

Yes, in Kentucky.

Killed them just as dead as my 260, 270, 30-06 did.

Shot placement and bullet selection...

 

[chef1231]

22 has its advantages over larger rounds.

You can carry 500 rounds in your front jean pocket
It will get the job done on 95% of what you need it to do
it is not as loud when fired so as to not alert the rest of the zombies of your position. Easier to suppress too.

I'm not saying just take a 22 but I would want one with me

 

[Trigger Time]

People hoarding .22 are simply greedy *******s. That's it.

 

[6mm Shoot]

Some years back I read about a gun that the FBI said they would pay 1,000,000 for. It was used in some twenty murders. They claim it's a S&W K22. This is not saying that the 22 is for home defence. It is saying that people are killed with 22s. Lots of people have been killed with 22s. Don't foo foo the 22. It could save your life. I would rather have it than a sharp stick or a rock.

 

[BigMatt]

There are also situations where a .22 rifle would be better than a larger caliber handgun.

Look at that shootout in L.A. about 20 years ago with the two bank robbers in body armor. All the police had were handguns and they could have easily taken the guys down with a 10/22 aimed at the back of the neck.

 

[OutdoorDad]

You shot deer with .223?

i killed a boar in South Georgia with a .223.

Dead within 10 feet.

Another in our party shot one with a 30-06. Twice.
And I thought I might have to help him out with a well placed shot after his pig treed our outfitter.

Shot placement shot placement shot placement.

 

[Deadeye(+)]

Others have put some very good points out there that I agree with. .22 is a good caliber, deadly past 200 in the right hands. But there's also the fact of what you may be against. 5.56 will out range and out power you every time not to mention anything larger. But it has its place. It's light, quiet, and very low recoil, which allows for faster and more accurate shooting. It's all based upon situations