Use the Baikal .222 Rem on Roe Deer.

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

      I am looking at travelling up to Scotland's border area during the Roe rot which is in July/August. Now the law in Scotland allows the use of .22 Centre fire rifles for Roe deer and I have some Sako factory ammunition with a 55 Grn bullet which they claim a muzzle velocity of 1000 meters per second which is about 3200fps. With this ammo the single shot Baikel MH18 shoots about MOA.

     This is the Buck season and Roe Buck in this area weigh about 45lbs, not as heavy as those found a little further north around Perth or further south, the guide is fine with using the .222 Rem as I broached the subject and I have the Variation on my licence which allows me to use it in Scotland on Roe deer so legalities are taken care of. Being a break action I am thinking of getting a break down shotgun hard case for transporting it but first I need to check that removing the scope does not effect the zero. I don't think it will but of course I need to check to make sure.

       Now as I have some time before making the booking I am thinking of trying a few handloads.

      Anyone have suggestions for a suitable expanding bullet of 50 or 55 grains suitable for small deer. Varmint bullets are not suitable.

[R.W.Dale]

Anyone have suggestions for a suitable expanding bullet of 50 or 55 grains suitable for small deer.

 As a handloading proposition I would recommend Sierra's 55grn GAMEKING SPBT

Here is a thread showing pics of what this bullet does to whitetail deer

[Brithunter]

Thank you for that although I could not get the link to work.

    And although it's Sunday my local gunshop is open and this morning on the way to the range I stopped off and brought a tub of H-335 powder, a box of .224" Hornady 55 Grn #2265 as I have had excellent results using Hornady bullets in other calibres. Next week if I can make it to the range I will see if they have any Sierra's however when I first brought this rilfe I also picked up a box of Federal 55 Grn BT FMJ which it hated. At 50 paces the bullet was not stabilised as the holes in the target showed tipping. I also brought some Sako 55 Grn Gamehead ammo which shoots around MOA so at least I have some factory so fall back on and as I only had 23 rounds left I picke another box of 20 this morning just in case.

     Tried to get some Reloader 7 but it seems that it's not being imported just now. I have some IMR 4198 so as I use H-335 in my 30-30 thought I could try it in the .222 Rem. So now it's time to read the books and choose where to start.

[R.W.Dale]

 The link has stopped working for me as well

[jedman]

A suggestion for a bullet if you are going to use the 222, try the SPEER trophy bonded bear claw in 55 gr. weight.
If your gun will shoot them accurately they are about the closest to a deer bullet that you will find in .224 cal.
Good Luck !     Jedman

[Brithunter]

Thank you for the suggestion.

   Due to weather and garden maintenance as yet I have not been able to get to the range to try out my handloads. I finally settled on BLC-2 as the powder to try. As yet I have never used apremium bullet for deer except for soem factory ammo I picked up in 7x57 which has the 173 Grn H-Mantle bullet in it. I usually use Hornady Spire Points, Speer Hot core and occasionally Sierra Game Kings. Roe Deer are light beasts weighing in the 40-55lb range and the Sako factory ammo is loaded with Roe Deer in mind. However I will enquire at the gunshop next time I am in there about the Speer Bear Claws and see if they have any but I do wonder if on such light beasts that expansion could be a problem.

[Willum241]

Don't have any ammo recommendations, but I take mine to the range in a 9-1/2" x 34-1/2" (inside dimensions) hard case. I leave the scope attached, and it all fits just fine. It's a ProMax hard plastic case.