I have shot quite a few deer with a 223. Only one gave trouble, it died but had run pretty far, recovered it with the help of my trusty shepherd. I had hit him a little low, just over the sternum. Otherwise, no problem. I used 55 grain ballistic tips at max loads. I would however limit myself to cross rib shots, nothing through heavy bone and short range only. The high speed and fragmenting bullet results in massive lung damage, my recollection is there was usually no exit wound but just bloody pulp were the lungs had been. But I prefer heavy bullets at moderate speed.
Pete
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