In what states is it legal to hunt deer with .223?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - In what states is it legal to hunt deer with .223?

Posted: 10/26/2003 4:10:59 PM EDT

I'm not asking this for my self because I'm not going hunting any time soon. I'm asking because a friend of mine doesn't believe that you can hunt deer anywear with .223. He doesn't think it has enough knock down power to stop one.

I know I have read that some of you guys have droped deer where thay stood with .223, am I rong?

Thanks for any help 556Cliff

Posted: 10/26/2003 4:19:19 PM EDT

[#1]

Not Colorado!

6mm / 243Win is minimum here.

Posted: 10/26/2003 4:33:24 PM EDT

[#2]

NY

Posted: 10/26/2003 4:44:41 PM EDT

[#3]

Its leagal in Georgia.

Posted: 10/26/2003 5:07:35 PM EDT

[#4]

It's legal in wisconsin. And I've heard people do it and I'm going to do it this year. I'll tell you how it works out if you're interested.

Posted: 10/26/2003 6:00:11 PM EDT

[#5]

Oregon

Posted: 10/26/2003 6:39:54 PM EDT

[#6]

My son has killed four now here in PA with a bolt actioned .223. All were one shot kills with handloladed 55 grain Trophy Bonded Bear Claws at 3100 fps. All shots were complete penetrations on broadside animals and none of them went more than 30 yards.

Posted: 10/26/2003 6:44:25 PM EDT

[#7]

In NC it is legal but so is a .22 short rimfire.

I wouldn't hunt deer with a .223 as bigger is better for deer.

CRC

Posted: 10/26/2003 7:35:57 PM EDT

[#8]

Texas is legal too. Any centerfire cartridge is legal. If you're a good shot, there's probably no reason you couldn't take a deer in Central Texas. The deer are plentiful as rats, but they don't get very big. Now a South Texas deer - different story.

Posted: 10/27/2003 1:04:10 AM EDT

[#9]

Not legal in Ohio, but no center fire rifle is legal to hunt deer with here - all shotguns n the Buckeye state.

Posted: 10/27/2003 1:08:06 AM EDT

[#10]

Your friend is mostly right. .223s can take deer with proper placement but they're a rotten choice IMO. That said, you can add LA to the list.

Posted: 10/27/2003 1:23:56 AM EDT

[#11]

Scratch WA off any list, 6mm minimum. Thank Dog for 6X45.

Posted: 10/27/2003 3:58:41 AM EDT

[#12]

New York is any centerfire cartridge, pistol or rifle. MIKE.

Posted: 10/27/2003 4:21:57 AM EDT

[#13]

It is legal here in WVa any centerfire rifle.

Posted: 10/27/2003 4:26:34 AM EDT

[#14]

Any centerfire cartridge rifle or pistol in California.[shock]

Different areas, different rules, for fire arms and ammo. In one area if you use a handgun, the barrel must be at least 6 inches long and use only hollow point ammo.[whacko]

Safest bet is to talk with a knowedgeable game warden/park ranger (which can be hard to find, but there are good ones out there) in the area you intend to hunt.

Can be very confusing, which is what you would expect in CA. [puke]

Posted: 10/27/2003 4:32:57 AM EDT

[#15]

OK in ME, or at least it was last time I hunted (a few years ago). It may have been changed but I don't think so.

FB

Posted: 10/27/2003 6:00:50 AM EDT

[#16]

It's OKAY in Montana.

My family hunted for many years with .222 bolt rifles with excellent results.

Posted: 10/27/2003 8:43:17 AM EDT

[#17]

In Utah it is legal: "any rifle firing centerfire cartridges and expanding bullets."

Posted: 10/27/2003 9:17:55 AM EDT

[#18]

NY is legal EXCEPT in shotgun ONLY counties.

Posted: 10/27/2003 6:47:25 PM EDT

[#19]

Legal in Michigan,but ill advised.

The bullet selection and angle of the shot is critical even with deep penetrating bonded or monolithic bullets.

There are 25 spectacular kills reported for every 100 spectacular failures that are NOT reported it seems.

.223 works well if conditions are just right.
Then again,I have seen the old '06 fail thanks to angles,the odd twig in the bullets path,and last second movement by the deer.

30/30 and the 06' are the most popular for a reason here.

S-28

Posted: 10/28/2003 7:18:05 AM EDT

[#20]

mob rules don't always mean it's the best choice. They're old standards that are easy to get and rifles are aplenty in those chamberings. But I've seen plenty of deer hit by these guns run and run. It's still shot placement. I could go on and on . I'm using .223 this year for the first time, if you want to know how it went I'll tell you. I'm not saying it's the best. But I don't really think the 180 grain 30-06 is the best either. Just my 2 cents.

Posted: 10/28/2003 7:21:36 AM EDT

[#21]

Not in Virginia.....

Posted: 10/28/2003 8:13:55 AM EDT

[#22]

legal in Idaho.

Posted: 10/28/2003 8:21:04 AM EDT

[#23]

Legal in MD (in those few counties that allow hunting with rifles at all).

Posted: 10/28/2003 9:05:43 AM EDT

[#24]

All centerfire rifle cartridges are legal in Kentucky.

Bob

Posted: 10/28/2003 9:27:35 AM EDT

[#25]

In Kansas .23 or larger centerfire rifle
Cant remember minimums for pistol, but it's based on size and muzzle velocity.

Posted: 10/28/2003 10:41:35 AM EDT

[#26]

Legal in NEBRASKA as long as the round delivers 900 ft. lbs. of energy at 100 yards. The Winchester 64gr power point does.

Posted: 10/28/2003 1:13:52 PM EDT

[#27]

Legal in Missouri (any centerfire cartridge is allowed). Plenty of folks use the .223 on deer. Seems to work fine so long as you know what you are doing.

Iowa does not allow centerfire rifles for hunting deer.

Posted: 10/28/2003 3:02:53 PM EDT

[#28]

its legal in oregon, i have a old uncle that uses .223 bolt rifle every year for the last ten years or so. he always comes home with a deer, he is trying the new nosler 60gr partition this year to see how it works. of course he has hunted all his life and killed almost everything that walks or crawls in the woods, he likes the .223 cause it doesnt destroy as much meat. he laughs at the guys who go out with a 300 win mag and blow a big hole through a deer.

Posted: 10/28/2003 4:05:14 PM EDT

[#29]

Not in Tennesee, luckily it is in Mississipi. It's close enough.

Posted: 10/29/2003 11:27:04 AM EDT

[#30]

gootmacher, which load has your grandpa used so far? I thought the 60 grain nosler might be a good choice also but I haven't got any yet. Hey, do me a flavor. Give a post on how it works when he gets one this year. I'll do the same. But I'm using 75 bthp's, hornady.

Posted: 10/29/2003 2:15:40 PM EDT

[#31]

Yup, legal in Missouri. Like 1911-AR15 stated, any centerfire rifle cartridge.
I took two deer last year with my AR15, this year the GF gets the AR and I will use the M1 Garand.

Posted: 10/29/2003 7:03:55 PM EDT

[#32]

It is legal in Arkansas, just no FMJ.

Posted: 10/30/2003 7:38:33 AM EDT

[#33]

Thanks for all the info,

One more question. Would anyone hunt something bigger then deer with the .223, Bear, Moose, bigfoot etc..... Is it even legal?

Thanks 556Cliff

BTW, not because I'm hunting Bigfoot any time soon..... Just in case.

Posted: 10/30/2003 9:18:15 AM EDT

[#34]

The any centerfire cartridge rule in New York for deer is ok for bear hunting also, (in legal rifle zones of course). The largest bear 600+ lbs taken in New York was shot with a 243. Me I would make the 270/30-06/30-30/35Rem my botton line for black bear in New York. MIKE.

Posted: 10/30/2003 11:01:15 AM EDT

[#35]

GARY M, Nothing like using military rifles for hunting. I think the military peep sights are better than any other hunting rifle "iron sights". By the way, what load did you use for your ar for deer?