Ok, just ran some numbers here, I post results momentarily, first I want to address Puma definition of ethics.
Why is it that someone whom you don't know, or even know the conditions of where they hunt, that doesn't uphold your beliefs is unethical? Are you the supreme holder of the ethics parameters for the modern world? Ethics are a very personal subject, something that each hunter molds from his own beliefs and experiences. I've taken probably more deer with a 223 than most people average in they're lifetime and I know for a fact that it is adequate for deer where and how I hunt. If its not adequate, or reccomended or just plain wrong why have the ammo makers been building ammo for that intended purpose for the 223. here is a list of ammo built for hunting deer
1) fed. 223 60 gr nosler partition
2) fed 223 55 gr trophy bonded bear claw
3) win. 223 64 gr. power point
4) ultramax 223 60 gr nosler partition
Now just to run some numbers
The 243 win. which everyone says is a bare min. in power for deer hunting...100 gr core loct
mv- 3000 fps, me 1998 ft/lbs, so on a 300 pound whitetail it will deliver 6.66 ft/lbs per pound of weight
and the 223 rem with the 55 gr trophy bonded which I hunt with some here in wv where a really large whitetail weighs 140 pounds
mv 3300 fps, me 1250 ft/lbs, on one of our 140lb bucks it will deliver 8.92 ft/lbs of energy per pound of game weight
So am I safe to assume that any body who hunts northern whitetails with a 243/6mm is unethical?
Guys whitetails are not the same everywhere, there are 5 subspecies and they run from the tiny keys deer from fla. which weigh 80 pounds tops to the giant northern whitetails which have been recorded at over 500 pounds. So it really comes down to what each hunter feels is best for his application. but I will say that in the right conditions I wouldn't hesitate to take even a big northern whitetail with the 223 and the proper bullet!
RR