Author Topic: 22-250 as a deer gun (Read 8273 times)

pastorp · « **on:** May 29, 2011, 05:47:32 AM »

Anyone use a 22-250 as their deer rifle? As I age I find myself wanting lighter recoiling rifles. I'm thinking about trying the 22-250. What bullet you use? I've never used the barns but was thinking about trying them if I procede with this project.

Regards,

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #1 on:** May 29, 2011, 06:31:34 AM »

Pastorp, Over the years I have shot quite a few (deer probably close 50) with this caliber rifle, a .22-250, the Improved, or a Swift...I would say I shot more with Serria 55 grain HPBT than any other bullet..I also used 60 nosler part., 63 grain Serria, and 64 grain WW..I do not ever recall loosing a big game animal when shooting these calibers...but when I used there game was abundant, and I had lots of time...so a careful shot could be made...Also, tracking conditions were either ideal, or I was hunting open country where the game could be observed after the shot...to me the conditions under which we hunt can be far more important than the caliber used...at this time, I had a situation with lots and lots of game, and lots and lots of time...so only good shots were taken..now as I approach my middle 60's I am concerned with making a clean kill, also the abundant game has been shot off, so chances are more limited...I guess if I were looking at something with less recoil and still wanted a good killer, I would take my Marlin 24" .30-30 or my model 99 .300 Sav...I like that .30 caliber bullet incase I misque, or the game moves as I shoot..just a bit of insurance to do a good clean job...

Shu · « **Reply #2 on:** May 29, 2011, 09:15:27 AM »

Pastor,
I used 220 swift with the winchester 64 grain bullet. It did the job well. I don't think you would have a problem with a barnes bullet if thats the route you choose. As you well know it's about shot placement.

223fan · « **Reply #3 on:** May 30, 2011, 12:01:18 PM »

I've killed a few deer with a 22-250 the 55gr.remington soft points work well.The last one I shot with this caliber was shot in the shoulder at about 100 yards the bullet didnt exit,but it was a bang flop.It did ruin the shoulder I hit it in.

hillbill · « **Reply #4 on:** May 30, 2011, 02:34:06 PM »

for a light recoil round yu mite look at the 6.5x55. i like a exit hole, yu dont always get that with the 250.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #5 on:** May 30, 2011, 02:38:53 PM »

Quote from: 223fan on May 30, 2011, 12:01:18 PM

I've killed a few deer with a 22-250 the 55gr.remington soft points work well.The last one I shot with this caliber was shot in the shoulder at about 100 yards the bullet didnt exit,but it was a bang flop.It did ruin the shoulder I hit it in.

Is the 55 grain Remington Soft Point a quality bullet?

Cheese

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #6 on:** May 31, 2011, 02:38:15 AM »

ive shot a few with .223s and 22250s using nos 60 grain partitions and they worked fine.

gr8ful · « **Reply #7 on:** May 31, 2011, 08:41:46 AM »

Quote from: Lloyd Smale on May 31, 2011, 02:38:15 AM

ive shot a few with .223s and 22250s using nos 60 grain partitions and they worked fine.

+1 for the 60 gr partition

chutesnreloads · « **Reply #8 on:** May 31, 2011, 01:23:47 PM »

Ditto the 60 grain Partition,however I've switched to the 55 grain Sierra Gameking.It's about as effective slightly more accurate in my rifle and half the price of the Noslers.

flintlock · « **Reply #9 on:** May 31, 2011, 03:31:03 PM »

Back in the '60s I killed a few dozen deer with the 22-250 and the Remington 55gr soft points...I moved up to a .243 in 1980...

About 8 years ago one of my brothers ended up with a 22-250 in trade...I sighted her in with Federal Premium 60gr Nosler Partitions for my niece, who was 12 at the time...She has killed 14 deer at last count with this gun, most with a high shoulder shot and the are drt...Lung shots leave you with a quarter sized exit and the pile up within 60-70 yards...

pastorp · « **Reply #10 on:** June 01, 2011, 03:10:53 AM »

Hillbil,

I have a 260, which duplicates the balistics of the 6.5x55, but it is hardly in the same class as the 22-250.

Regards,

jbrray · « **Reply #11 on:** June 01, 2011, 04:08:34 AM »

The 22-250 is pretty popular here in Texas where most of our hunting is done around feeders or wheat fields. As always shot placement is critical. Every deer I have seen shot in the boiler room with this caliber just collapsed on the spot. I can not say this has always been the case with larger calibers such as the much touted 300 Win Mag. Just watch the hunting shows on TV and see how many deer run out of the field when shot with the larger bore rifles!!! I do prefer a 243 or 25-06 but also use my 22-250 on occasion these days and do not feel "under-gunned" in the least. That being said, I do not take "risky" shots with any caliber, I feel that I owe it to the game and myself to make a clean kill and not have to track a dying deer several hundred yards. Take your 22-250 next time put one in the boiler room and go get the pickup!!!!

JB

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** June 02, 2011, 03:10:15 PM »

I think jbrray hit a very key issue in a discussion like this...the style of hunting one does or has to do is a very important key in the selection of caliber...time and pressure are two items that must not be ignored.

Deerhunter#1 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 02, 2011, 03:42:57 PM »

Just got involved in is rifle game a few years ago and got hooked. I also posted this question some time back and am of the belief that a 22-250 is plenty for deer with the correct bullet, right opportunity and within 150 yards. I live in pa and most of my shots are under 100. I have bow hunted for the last 15 years and have killed a bunch of deer and cant remember the last one that just went bang and flop. Tracking does and will happen but if we do our part with what I mentioned above 223, 22-250, 300 win mag makes no difference. put it where it needs to be and it will be meat on the table.

yooper77 · « **Reply #14 on:** June 02, 2011, 10:49:13 PM »

Nosler 60 grain Partition in the 223 Remington and the bullet worked flawlessly. It was a 75 yards broadside shot and that little bullet broke a rib exiting.

yooper77

rickt300 · « **Reply #15 on:** June 11, 2011, 04:05:09 PM »

I used a 22-250 this past season to take a doe and a pretty nice 10 point buck. He was an old tough buck with all white antlers that weighed 180 pounds. Hit as he angled slightly away right at the last rib with a 60 grain Hornady flat base HP he made it 20 feet before he was done. The bullet ended up just inside the bucks far shoulder blade, just a ball of copper and lead. The doe was hit at 150 yards right behind the shoulder and I heard the bullet whine off after it hit the hill behind the deer which dropped, got back up and ran 50 feet or so then she went back down. I like being able to see the effect of the bullets impact. Both deer put a lot of blood on the ground so if either had gotten out of sight they would have been easy tracking. I took to more does with my 7x57, both of which were hit in the ribs with the bullt angle lined up so it would come out behind the far shoulder and both deer ran around 50 yards after being hit.

pastorp · « **Reply #16 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:29:09 AM »

Thanks guys for your opinions,

Two schools of thought on deer rifles. One is use a big enough gun to shoot through them so you have a good blood trail. The other is smaller caliber with high velocity. Like weatherby used.
I've killed one deer with a 223 & was not completely satisfied with the results. Actually my son shot him and I trailed him up and put another 223 bullet in him at close range as he jumped up & ran away. I gave up on the rifle then and trailed him up again where a 41mag pistol bullet in the neck ended the chase.
Perhaps the 22/250 or swift is in a different class though. And I know I don't takr recoil like I used to.

. If I'd a known I was going to live this long I'd a taken better care of myself is all I got to say about that.

Regards,

Swampman · « **Reply #17 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:34:47 AM »

The .243 is impressive.

pastorp · « **Reply #18 on:** June 12, 2011, 05:44:37 AM »

That's what i have heard. I carried one once on a hunt one day. But never got a shot.

When I moved to NM one of the guys I became friends with used a 22/250 for all his hunting. He only owned one rifle, a ruger #1 in 22/250. He shot antelope, mule deer, & elk all with that gun. Worked for him. I've seen him make some long shots and anchor the game every time with that gun.

Regards,

Swampman · « **Reply #19 on:** June 12, 2011, 06:26:41 AM »

Tennessee law was nothing under .24 for years. I've always stuck with that for a min. I wish they'ed go back to that law.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #20 on:** June 12, 2011, 07:09:31 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 12, 2011, 06:26:41 AM

Tennessee law was nothing under .24 for years. I've always stuck with that for a min. I wish they'ed go back to that law.

Why? If you can shoot them with arrows, why limit caliber? New regulation this year for Muzzle loaders in TN, .32 now legal.

pastorp · « **Reply #21 on:** June 12, 2011, 10:00:37 AM »

Swampy, what does Tennessee law have to do with anything, don't you live in Florida?

I know guys that kill brown & polar bears with mini-14s. Not me but shot placement is where it's at. One of the guys in Fort Yukon killed a polar bear last year with a AR15. Worked for him.

Regards,

Wyo. Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #22 on:** June 22, 2011, 08:52:30 AM »

pastorp, I have heard of the guys in Alaska shooting lots of game with mini 14's and ars, but don't they rely on having fire power

I dont hear of them shooting a 223 in a number one?

? I have thought about this issue quite a bit..also I have used the .22's on some big game..they work, but shot placement is very important..more so than with a .30-30..I haven't used them on game for quite a number of years, but neveer had a lost animal, and to me for some strange reason they killed better than the 24 and 25 calibers, BUT I don't think I ever shot an animal at over 200 yards with a .22 cal..it was at longer distances I had my issues with the 24's and .25's....If recoil is something that is getting to you, maybe a contender in .30-30 where a guy could shoot spire points, have bullet weight and dia. , and light recoil...just a thought.......

tcencore3006 · « **Reply #23 on:** June 22, 2011, 11:01:19 AM »

Personally I think I would go with the 243 over the 22.250. It is hard to say though too. Do I think I could kill a deer with my 22-250? Yep. I could kill anything within a couple hundred yards with ease. Personally I want something with a little more knockdown. I understand shot placement is more important than caliber but I don't know if I could ever bring myself to hunt whitetail with that caliber. Then again, I never even thought about it.

pastorp · « **Reply #24 on:** June 22, 2011, 02:41:48 PM »

Coyote hunter, they use mini14 & ar15s because it's easier to shoot with one hand while your driving your snow machine with the other. You can't do that as well with a #1.

Regards,

Swampman · « **Reply #25 on:** June 22, 2011, 03:18:20 PM »

Quote from: victorcharlie on June 12, 2011, 07:09:31 AM

New regulation this year for Muzzle loaders in TN, .32 now legal.

That's crazy.......clearly passed by someone who knew nothing about muzzleloaders.

mike243 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 25, 2011, 12:54:00 AM »

a 22-250 is a little lite for me,that said velocity kills quick if you can get a lung or heart shot no matter how big a hole you make

.i think i read 36 cal on the muzzleloader in Tn this year.

Dixiejack · « **Reply #27 on:** August 21, 2011, 04:16:50 PM »

My favorite small calibers are .22-250, 55 gr. soft point and .250-3000 87 gr. soft point. Can't tell the difference between the two. Both have the same amount of apparent recoil and kill power is about the same. .22-250 ammo is easier to find.

hillbill · « **Reply #28 on:** August 23, 2011, 03:11:05 PM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 22, 2011, 03:18:20 PM

Quote from: victorcharlie on June 12, 2011, 07:09:31 AM
New regulation this year for Muzzle loaders in TN, .32 now legal.

That's crazy.......clearly passed by someone who knew nothing about muzzleloaders.

that is crazy!who thought that up? a lot of us here would have no prob killing a deer with a 32 rifle.but in the hands of the untrained with no restraint? jeez?what were they thinking.only thing i can figure is that there are so many deer in TN they want rid of them by any means!

gr8ful · « **Reply #29 on:** August 24, 2011, 07:31:35 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on June 22, 2011, 03:18:20 PM

Quote from: victorcharlie on June 12, 2011, 07:09:31 AM
New regulation this year for Muzzle loaders in TN, .32 now legal.

That's crazy.......clearly passed by someone who knew nothing about muzzleloaders.

Most of the original Long rifles (Penn. and Kentucky c.1730 - 1850) were .36 -.40 cal with many .45cal being the result of a rebore of a worn out barrel. this was because lead was a precious commodity on the frontier. Also the frontiersmen were not blessed with the modern knowledge that a .50 cal 500gr bullet over 150gr charge of Pyrodex 777 is the bare minimum required to dispatch a scrawny whitetail deer. I guess the likes of Daniel Boone and Davey Crockett didn't know anything about Muzzleloaders, too bad.