If you were to hunt deer with a .223...

77gr SMK OTMs (mk262) would be the best round IMHO, or a 7x grain SPS round. Of course any 5.56 round would take a white tail, but why not use the preferred round used in battle today that has 700 yard lethality and great barrier penetration (mk262)?

In MT here I believe we have to use a .243 or larger caliber for white tail and up.

 

Since the OP was asking about a factory load, I would consider this

Hornady Manufacturing Company :: Ammunition :: Rifle :: Choose by Caliber :: 223 Rem :: 223 Rem 75 gr TAP® FPD™

Hornady 75 grain polymer tip, 2790 fps advertised muzzle velocity. Probably need a twist rate at least 1:9 to stabilize it effectively.

 

Last time I checked ( need to read up on latest laws) nothing under .243 allowed in Az. But in a real scenario, I'd use anything I had!
My personal choice would be nothing less than a 150=205 gr. .30 caliber...I have seen game run off and never found after being hit ( bad shot!)_ Not mine...I'm no hunter by any means, unless you consider quail, dove, and rabbits!

 

M855 penetrator!!!! just kidding, any factory 55 grain load should drop a deer.

 

Here in Ohio we can use rifles for coyote, crow, groundhog, and feral/wild pigs, but not for deer. Deer hunting in Ohio is limited to archery equipment, black powder, and shotguns shooting a single projectile.

In the event that I had to use the .223 Remington (which uses a .224 diameter projectile) I would go with the heaviest projectile i could get that had the best weight retention for the bullet. Nosler partition has a 60 grain bullet available. All depends on the situation I find myself in.

I would not break the law while there is still rule of law.

 

Hey people
I realize this is an old thread but in WV deer can legally be killed with a .223 and per regs any CENTERFIRE RIFLE cartridge. The only caliber restrictions are for RIMFIRE RIFLE (must be over .25 cal) and handgun cartridges.
Just a heads up to any WV hunters that didn't know

 

I used a Mini14 for several years in WV and killed Deer with no issues, used FMJ on a few, most FMJ bullets will blow up like a HP once it hits something.........never had a Game Warden or Cop question anything even with a 30 round mag hanging under it......went through 3 Mini's and got tired of the bad accuracy issues and only use AR's now....

 

My Mini is accurate enough to justify having a scope on it, if I could not justify a scope on it , it would not be worth keeping, the same with any gun I own..
From all the statistics that others have shared through the years ,double tap is the way to go ,there is no pride here.
If I'm shooting with a bow, I'd be nocking, or attempting to, before the first arrow hit the target.
I have taken animals with good shots, but the animal still had the reserve to keep going , there's nothing more you can do once the bullet/arrow has left your influence, and having a follow up at the ready is the prudent thing to do. It makes the semi auto or double action the more practical means of harvesting game or defending one's life.

 

I have had good luck with the 60 gr. Nosler Partitian bullet in both the .223 and the 22-250. Recovered several bullets and all were cute little mushrooms. Hit them in the vitals and its a done deal. These are hand loads that I use, but I know there is a factory load that uses that bullet. Not sure but I think it might have been Hornady.