LIVING IN EAST TEXAS IVE USED EVERYTHING FROM 30/30,30/06,.243 DOWN TO A .223. MOST COMMONLY I USE A REMINGTON 7400 CHAMBERED IN 30/06 WITH A NIKON BUCKMASTER SCOPE.
I WOULD REALLY LIKE INPUT ON THE .223 AS A DEER ROUND,IVE HEAD SHOT SEVERAL WITH IT BUT AM UNDECIDED IF I WANT TO ALLOW MY WIFE TO USE IT HER FIRST TIME TO KILL A DEER.IM REALLY WORRIED ABOUT POOR SHOT PLACEMENT.ITS ALL ABOUT AN ETHICAL,HUMANE KILL.
ALL COMMENTS OR THOUGHTS APPRECIATED.

EXTHNTR

All caps is considered improper post so you may not receive response.
That being said ,there are a lot of questions remaining ,if you are going to arm your wife,i.e;do you have a large insurance policy with her as the beneficiary.
I personally believe .223 is a varmint caliber and should not be used for deer. would reccommend minimum of 25 caliber (.257 or 25-06 ).

jplonghunter

Ten year old Savage 11 .308 with a Leupold VX-II 3-9x with a good 'ol #1 German Post

After a few years of shooting a 7mm mag,i found the recoil sucks and the damage to the meat not worth the extra yards of shot distance.These days i shoot a 7mm-08 remington in 140gr.This is a great cal.for deer down to yotes.The Recoil is 1/3 of the bigger cals.but the distance u can be deadly at is out to 300+.I have yet tracked a deer more than 75 yards and no meat loss..If u are thinking of bringing a young hunter into the sport,try the 7mm-08 in 100gr.no recoil...

what I shoot
 

I shoot a Remington model 7400 in the 280 calibur.Like it alot.

Re: Deer hunters: what do you shoot?
 

Brown Bess 75cal.
Point Blank Range: 50 yards :)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v161/xm15e2/Bess.jpg

Just had a 6.5-06 AI built this year plan on using it for deer season this year. It realy likes 140gr Grand Slams alot.

Just got a Weatherby Vanguard Syntetic Stainless chambered in .243 Winchester, put a 2.5-10x42mm Tasco Varmint scope, Rock Mount bipod, and Kolpin sling on it. Cant wait to use on whitetail.
Minihuntur

For years I hunted with a .30-30 and even shot a deer with an SKS once- dead on impact, I was impressed actually.

But last night I bought a Weatherby Vanguard Deluxe chambered for .257 Weatherby Mag.
It's my 'one gun' to hunt everything from antelope and mulies to elk and bear.

I'll let you know how it works out next season when I get to put it to use.

BSA CF2 .270Win. 130gr 3-9x40 Bushnell

Just added a .260 improved with a 35degree shoulder to the grab bag. I used my 6.5-06AI this year with the 140gr GS worked great bang flop just the way I like it.

The more I shoot it, the more Im convinced I love it. 6.5x55 Swede in CZ 550 American. 129 gr Hornady SP over 46gr of IMR 4350.

Great deer rifle. :cool:

Instead of what I posted on this thread in 2006, this year I'll be using the 12-gauge H&R Ultra Slug Hunter I bought over the summer.

Andy, I quite agree the 6.5x55 Swede is great catridge. My dad loves it and that is why I am having one built for as we speak. I used his old one to build my 6.5-06AI. Thought it would be a nice present for him.

7mm Ultra mag when in Colorado, w/ 140 Partition
.243 or .308 here in Ca.