So I've read a lot of the debates over the years on using .223 on deer. I know some states have laws against it but my questions are not legal, just practical. My girlfriend wants to hunt for the first time this year so I've got to pick out a rifle for her to use now so she can get some trigger time in over the next couple months. I've got two rifles in mind sitting in my safe... a Marlin 336 and a Ruger Mini-14 ranch (581). I'd prefer to set her up with the 30-30 but she is not a fan of having to drop the hammer after loading it and #2 she is slightly recoil sensitive. She really likes the Mini but I'm not really crazy about the idea of using .223 on deer.
I do have 4-5 cases of the Hornady 55gr SP (not the vmax, the conventional SP) that I have used to great effect on Fox and Coyotes. Anyone with experience using .223 on deer (mostly 100-140lb, not many big ones around here) have an opinion? Would you feel comfortable sending her in to the woods with a scoped mini loaded with the 55gr Hornady SP?
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