General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: "If you need an AR 15 to kill a deer, you ought to stick to fishing!"---Senator Richard Durbin, [View all]PTWB
(4,131 posts)The .223, which is the common AR chambering, is an underpowered and anemic round for most deer hunting. While it is quite possible to harvest deer, even ethically, with a .223, one must combine a supremely accurate rifle, excellent knowledge of a deers anatomy, and a knowledge of terminal ballistics in order to choose an appropriately constructed bullet.
There are many backpackers who use lightweight bolt action rifles chambered in .223 (the same round people incorrectly claim will blow up a deer) to successfully and ethically fill up their freezers with venison every year.
I wouldnt recommend the .223 as a go to deer cartridge for novice hunters but its a fine choice for experts. Novice hunters should go for a more powerful round and practice, practice, practice.
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