Do any of you guys deer hunt with your ARs? I have seen pictures of deer taken with .223 shot out of an AR but I seem kinda skeptical about it. I have always used a bolt action .270, which has served me well, but I was just wondering which .223/ 5.56 loads work best on deer.
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Nosler partition 60gr or Barnes TSX
Federal Power Shok 64 gr. SP
Federal Vital Shok 60 gr. Partition or Barnes 55 gr. TSX
Federal Fusion 62 gr.
Winchester PP
Barnes Vi-Tor TSX factory ammo
I live in New Mexico so the deer we have out here are pretty big… Especially some of the mule deer I have seen when out hunting. How well would these loads do on a hog?
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You may want to check you state regulations to see if it’s legal to hunt deer with 223/5.56 where you live. It is not here in Virginia, and I’m sure we’re not the only state with that regulation.
Nope. That is what the 270 or 30-06 are for.
My 223 and 22-250 are for varmints and the bolt guns get the bigger stuff.
If you already own a rifle in 308, 0-06, 270 or other “deer calibers” why chance it?
Our deer aren’t even that big…and I am not taking a chance with a 223…sorry.
It can be done. There are a lot of factors involved. A heavy (60+ gr) “hunting” bullet is preferred. Shot placement is key, if you hit the heart and lungs it’ll drop. Distance is also key, you’ll lose energy the longer the shot.
I prefer my 450bm, 308, or 300AAC.
Will do just fine on a hog, and I agree with what others have stated be sure to check your local laws on caliber and magazine capacity also. Shot placement shot placement shot placement…
We have some big bodied deer here in Maine as well, and I come from a long family tradition of shooting 30-06 for deer/moose almost exclusively. With that said, I would not hesitate to use .223 but using the right ammo and waiting for the right shot is crucial. Broadside or quartering away is ideal, but any straight on bone penetration is going to drastically detract from killing power. Quartering to and trying to pass one through the shoulder is not ideal. Neither is a pelvic or hip hit, obviously. I only mention the pelvis/hip because that very scenario happened this year. The Game Wardens carry AR’s in their vehicles and will dispatch road hit and nuisance animals with them. This year a close friend was able to witness, inspect, and eat some Game warden killed nuisance deer and the effectiveness was adequate. The first deer took one broadside and went down very quick. The second deer wasn’t so easy as it was on the move. The first round hit the hip, blew apart, but did take the deer to the ground where it was quickly dispatched. I wish I knew what ammo he was shooting, but I would guess it was probably something similar to xm193. Not ideal.
Another interesting note is if you have watched the show Yukon Men, they shoot .223 a ton, and often for caribou.
Look what I found here on M4Carbine.net!
https://www.m4carbine.net/forumdisplay.php?202-Hunting
That is so cool having a Sub-forum that deals with Hunting. What will the Staff come up with next? 
^^^^ (JS-Maine) This, a properly patient shot placed in heart/lungs and game over, just don’t get cocky on distance and use the right bullet.
I was waiting on one of those, go hallway patrol :nono:
Yeah, I hate that I can’t use one of my M4 rifles to take a deer here in VA. But I can use my Glock 19. Stupid.
I’ve killed several 200lb deer with 5.56. The key is to use a good bullet like the Federal Fusion or Barnes TSX, and keep your shots within 150 yards. Shot placement is key.
I’ve had great success with 70gr TSX from SSA and ASYM.
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barnes 70 grain tsx and good shot placement and you will not be disappointed. When I got bit by the ar bug years ago I sold all my traditional deer rifles and have never looked back.
Great thread about that https://www.m4carbine.net/showthread.php?94628-223-Barnes-70-Grain-TSX-Performance Awesome hunting round.
I used my 16" Colt 6920 with a 62 gr Federal Fusion round on a N. Idaho doe this last season. 40 yard shot. It worked. Lung shot, through and through. She ran for 30-40 yards and dropped.
I went hunting at my uncle ranch in Oklahoma a few years back and absolutely destroyed a buck with my 7mm Mag. Way more than was needed. My uncle’s friend had taken his girlfriend hunting that year for the first time and she dropped a big buck with a 223. My uncle and his friend, both good ole country boys, were impressed with the damage done by the 223. Next time I go Ill be using one of my ARs and ill post up some pictures.
I would guess that other than the AR being lightweight and handy this is exactly why the guys on Yukon Men use them. They are sustenance hunters, so the least amount of damage they can do to the meat is the goal.
I know it can be done…hell the deer in NC and some other states are the size of large dogs anyways. However, whitetail deer in MI can be pretty big and I have a concern about using such a small caliber for “medium sized game.”
My dad asked me to build him a retro AR so that he could take it deer hunting and I’m having a hard time wanting to do it. He’s not the best shot in the first place. He NEEDED the M16 when he was in…lol.
To each their own but when I go hunting I grab my 300 WSM.