Any thoughts on 5.56 on whitetail? I keep hearing that it
SPB
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 08:59 (17 hours, 49 minutes ago)
is perfect, but I wonder if it is enough? I have stuck with 30 cal. Your thoughts appreciated.
It will work for a neck shot , but I don agree
Sean Harper
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 09:13 (17 hours, 35 minutes ago) @ SPB
with the usage for heart/lung shots, unless you like to track long distances. I also prefer a hole in and out when hunting.
Sean
Matter of fact a buddy neck shot a Whitetail with a 5.56
WB
[subject]
Monday, December 15, 2025, 09:38 (17 hours, 10 minutes ago) @ Sean Harper
I had loaded him up some Speer 70 gr. Semi-spitzers just for the occasion. It was a bang-flop. Pole-axed as they say. On the way over to the animal it jumped up and ran away never to be seen again! No hair, no blood.
Had he taken a lung/shoulder shot would it have been a shoot through? We’ll never know, but we had one of the best bullets for the job at the time, hedging our bets. I think a modern monolithic expanding bullet might be even better today. Lot of Whitetails and hogs taken with the .223. But heavens, what an available selection of cheap uppers that would convert it to a much more serious arm for the task! 6mm ARC, 6.5, 6.8, .300, .338, .350, .400, .450, .500! Run what you brung.
My thinking also.
Jim Taylor
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 09:41 (17 hours, 7 minutes ago) @ Sean Harper
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Thanks. I agree. Sticking with 308.
SPB
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 09:51 (16 hours, 56 minutes ago) @ SPB
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In every state I have hunted in the 223 is illegal for
Gary Reeder
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 12:29 (14 hours, 18 minutes ago) @ SPB
deer hunting. The minimum for deer hunting has always been 43 caliber. EXCEPT Arizona. Everything here is legal. You can take your Colt 25 ACP pistol and wreak havoc among the elk herd should you so desire.
Personally I want the animal, deer or elk, to hit the ground at the shot. I have never lost a wounded animal (no comments about a Nilgai I drowned).
I don't think there is "too much gun" but there is always a time where a little common sense goes a long way. In Tennessee when I lived there the 243 was the minimum and I don't think there was a maximum.
Some states have outlawed the 50 BMG for hunting and I sort of go along with that. When states start outlawing certain cartridges for hunting here again is a place for common sense. Guys that are hide hunters tend to use the FMJ ammo for less damage to the hide.
Personally I don't like the idea of any military cartridge for hunting. Most of them will be FMJ and that is just asking for trouble along with wounded animals.
6mm is a good mimimum to me. For deer.
WB
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 13:11 (13 hours, 36 minutes ago) @ Gary Reeder
Although a 55-70 gr. 6mm would be sort of moot point and about par with good .224 bullet loads. The 85 gr. is a good minimum game bullet to start and at around 3000 fps it gets interesting. The old .250 Savage took on a "87" gr. bullet to first get 3000 fps and the speed crown in it's day. My 6mm Ackley can push a 85 gr. bullet north of 3600 fps! About like a .243 Improved, but on the 6mm Rem. (7x57) case.
I think Arkansas has a .22 or larger "center-fire" ruling for rifles. They also have a .30 cal. and bigger "straight wall cartridge" allowance for the extended Black-powder season. Handguns bleed over into that ruling as well with 4" + barrels. Yippie!
The handgun ruling is .22 center-fire or bigger with a minimum 4" barrel for a primary game arm during normal deer season. So unlimber that M53 S&W .22 Jet! (not). I'm not sure who writes these rules every year. It's even more complex by listing the state in about a dozen specific "zones" each with possible unique rules.
Texas also 22 centerfire or larger
Sean Harper
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Monday, December 15, 2025, 14:08 (12 hours, 39 minutes ago) @ WB
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