Author Topic: 22-250 vs. deer (Read 1748 times)

Aaro · « **on:** July 23, 2005, 03:15:20 PM »

Plan to use my 22-250 for deer this year. I know it can kill them but what do you think my max range will be? Also what are some good loads for deer for the 22-250?

R.W.Dale · « **Reply #1 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:14:35 PM »

I would probly limit the range to 200yds. As for bullets the winchester 64 gr power point has a good reputation against deer in .223 so they should do even better in 22-250.

Lone Star · « **Reply #2 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:31:43 PM »

The .22-250 is not normally a deer cartridge, but if you insist on using it use premium bullets. The WW 64-grain Power Point may work okay out of the .223, but it is designed for rapid expansion and if you speed it up by 300-400 fps in the .22-250 it may prove to be too soft and explosive. Better to try the Nosler 60-grain Partition or the Barnes 70-grain TripleShock X-bullet. High velocity challenges penetration with .224" bullets.

Don't you have a more suitable rifle for deer?

Aaro · « **Reply #3 on:** July 23, 2005, 04:32:54 PM »

200 yds is my limit with my 270 also. over that just let um walk and get closer the next day? :wink: What podwer do you suggest for a 62 grn bullet? Im using varget with 50 grn bullets.

Aaro · « **Reply #4 on:** July 23, 2005, 05:12:54 PM »

I do have a remington 710 in 270 which is qiute frankly a piece of junk! When you say better you mean bigger. This is the way I see it.

Pros of using the 270:
-bigger caliber larger grain bullets
Cons:
-more recoil, bullets cost more means less practice time which causes me to not be as good with this gun which causes gut shots and misses.

Pros of using the 22-250:
-Less recoil better accuracy cheaper bullets means more practice time making me very good with this caliber.
Cons: Smaller caliber smaller grain bullets reduces effective range and room for shooters error.

If I keep my shots under 200yds max and load a heavy bullet at slower velocitys I think a 22-250 will make a good deer rifle. If these theorys prove to be wrong then Ill go back to the 270! :-)

By the way these are just my thoughts and Im not being a smart@$$ or a know it all. Im asking yall because I want to know if Im seriously wrong in my thinking!! :grin:

ricciardelli · « **Reply #5 on:** July 23, 2005, 06:26:42 PM »

Oh bull dinky to all of you who say the .22-250 is not a "deer cartridge"!

I have used .22-250 with 52 grain bullets on white tail, mule deer and antelope, and have never had to track a single animal and the ranges have been from around 35 yards to 325 yards!

A lady friend of mine uses a .22-250 on white tail and antelope, with a 55 grain bullet, and has never had a deer travel more than 5 feet from where it was standing when the bullet struck it.

Another friend uses a .22-250 with a 55 grain bullet on deer and antelope, and he has had great success with it.

A friggin .458 Magnum is not a "deer cartridge" if you can't put your bullet where it belongs! Shooting a deer in the ass is NOT proper shot placement!

And as an afterthought, the best hunter I have ever had the pleasure to take game with used a .222 Remington on deer, antelope, elk, goat and sheep!

Lone Star · « **Reply #6 on:** July 24, 2005, 04:31:57 AM »

And many of my fellow workers in Alaska used the .223 on caribou, moose and grizzly - clearly, success does not make the .223 a bear cartridge. Of course a particularly good hunter can use a .22RF for deer - it happens all the time - but is the .22RF really a deer cartridge? (Somehow we never seem to hear about the failures of the .22s on game, yet we hear about every bullet failure out of 6mms, 7mms, 8mms.....odd isn't it? :roll: )

I love the OP's statement - " If these theorys prove to be wrong then Ill go back to the 270!' Does that mean that after he has wounded and lost "x" number of deer he'll go back to using what has been proven by thousands of successful hunters?

He says that he can't practice enough with the .270 - yet every year thousands of hunters DO practice enough to kill thousands of deer with .270s. Either the OP has exceptionally poor shooting skills now, or he should sell the .22-250 and buy enough .270 ammo to become proficient. His rationalization for using the .22-250 is weak...

BTW, I've killed 5 Kodiak Island deer with a .223 in six shots, so I do know something about the lethality of a .224" bullet. What I did was a stunt and I won't repeat it. I am trying to disuade someone else from making a mistake, that's all. Let your conscience be your guide, it's a free country for you to waste game animals testing a well-worn theory. Bull dinky indeed.

jerkface11 · « **Reply #7 on:** July 24, 2005, 05:02:08 AM »

Lone star you seem to be saying you can't wound a deer with a .270.

jhalcott · « **Reply #8 on:** July 24, 2005, 05:52:40 AM »

I didn't read Lone star that way,he said several calibers have failures every year.Not many "modern " hunters use the .22 center fires when they can buy a NEW 30 cal shortmag. I've taken deer with a 22 cf and would do so again if conditions were right. One thing for certain is poor practice will never improve your performance. Rather than sell the 270, just put it in the safe and buy 22-250 ammo and reloading gear. Speer makes a 70 gr for deer that can be pushed to 3300 + fps.Sierra made a 63 gr bullet that went around 3500 fps. Old Vern Speer shot ELK with 22 cf's.

dukkillr · « **Reply #9 on:** July 24, 2005, 05:56:59 AM »

This debate goes on here in various forms all the time. Someone will ask if a 25.06 is a elk caliber. Someone else will ask about a 22-250 for deer. The answer is always the same: Why? Why would you be in a race to use the smallest caliber possible? You can kill deer with a 22 short if you hit them in the head. All you have to do is, "Put the bullet in the right spot". Just because it can work doesn't mean it's a good idea. I simply don't understand why anyone would use anything smaller than a .243 for deer or a .270 for elk. It seems stupid, arrogant, and irresponsible to me.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** July 24, 2005, 06:19:36 AM »

I say use enough gun. Sure a 22-250 will kill a deer, but there are better choices in my opinion.

Aaro · « **Reply #11 on:** July 24, 2005, 06:39:39 AM »

The point yall missed is that the gun is a piece of junk. It wont hold a pattern to save your life. I can shoot very well as far as ability is concerned. I will be testing out this 22-250 as far as accuracy and some penetration tests with different loads. But like Steve said people who hunt deer around here think that you have to use 7mm mags to kill deer when the truth is if they would just learn to shoot and when not to shoot they would be fine! :wink:

Lone Star · « **Reply #12 on:** July 24, 2005, 06:48:41 AM »

Quote

The point yall missed is that the gun is a piece of junk. It wont hold a pattern to save your life.

Unfortunately we can't read your mind since you forgot to tell us the point: "piece of junk" has different meanings to different people. If you don't like the .270 and won't use it - why in the world do you even own it? Many of us would kill for a good excuse to buy another gun, and you squander the opportunity by keeping the POS? Shame on you!

jerkface11 · « **Reply #13 on:** July 24, 2005, 06:57:51 AM »

Aaro is in southern georgia so i'd guess the deer there are smaller than they are here in arkansas. I would say a .22 centerfire is good enough.

poncaguy · « **Reply #14 on:** July 24, 2005, 07:43:42 AM »

Got a nice doe a few years back at 400 yards with a Ruger 77 60 grain 22-250, she ran about 70 yards and folded. Only rifle I had that year, had given my Savage 270 to grandson (who a 10 point last year with it!) I use a 270 WSM now, but have a 243, 7mm-08 , 260 , 45-70 and 25-06 to try this year

. Will not be caught short again. I have confidence in the 22-250 on a heart-lung shot anyday thyough.

muzzleblast525 · « **Reply #15 on:** July 24, 2005, 08:18:25 AM »

Ok, going out on limb here. Texas Throphy Hunter mag's game poll, showing kids taking deer and hogs in every issue. Gun used, 22-250 and others. I took three deer with 22-250, shooting Nosler 50g BT two years ago. All were shot broadside at 100 yards. One ran 30 yards and fell over, the other two ran 15 yards before falling over. Two were pass-thru shots, one came to rest in the off side. The damage done on the inside was impressive.

I had thought of trying the 70g Triple Shock this year, but with the rate of twist in my rifle, don't know if it would work out well. I bought some 53g Triple Shock that I'm going to give a try. The best thing I like about this round is no meat damage at all.

Now, I will tell you that I have several other weapons, .25 WSSM, 308, 243 and another toy, Encore with 25-06 pistol barrel.

Bob/TX

beemanbeme · « **Reply #16 on:** July 24, 2005, 09:06:38 AM »

Just like the folks that only bring their good targets to the house, you only hear about the spectacular kills using under-powered rounds. No one brags about how many he had run off not to be found.
Last year, sitting in the general store, this old fart (about my age) was braggin' about taking his grandson deer hunting. With a .223. "yep", he said, "he had to shoot at about 15 of them but he finally got one down."

That, of course, proves that the .223 is indeed a deer cartridge and an approriate choice for a small statued or beginning shooter.

And, yes, you can miss with a .270 but it does give you a larger margin for error.

dukkillr · « **Reply #17 on:** July 24, 2005, 12:29:44 PM »

Quote

And, yes, you can miss with a .270 but it does give you a larger margin for error.

and what's the advantage of using a smaller caliber, unless you only own one gun. If you've only got he one gun and it's 22-250 i say go for it. If you own a caliber that is more suited to deer, what's the advantage to not using it?

Both states I deer hunt in have a minimum of .243 which I think is great. It takes this race to the bottom off the table.

beemanbeme · « **Reply #18 on:** July 25, 2005, 05:50:26 PM »

No, no, no, Duck Killer. We're on the same side. I don't even agree that "if a 22-250 is your only gun, go for it". The problem I have is that some folks will read that a center fire 22 is okay for deer IN THE HANDS OF AN EXPERIENCED, CAREFUL HUNTER. And they will think, "hey, I've shot almost a box of shells thru mine in the last couple of years so I must be a seasoned, careful hunter" and they will go arkansawing away at whatever they see.

dukkillr · « **Reply #19 on:** July 25, 2005, 05:58:11 PM »

yeah, i can see that. On the other hand I think it's important for people to get out and hunt, even if they lack the best tools for the job. My biggest complaint is against those who have the correct tools but choose to engage in the "I kill deer with a X" debate. Respect for the animal dictates a .243 or bigger for me, and for the states I hunt in.

TexasNimrod · « **Reply #20 on:** August 01, 2005, 06:29:25 AM »

Had a hunting buddy that used a 22-250 for all of his deer hunting. Based on my observations the 22-250 is not a deer cartridge. Oh sure, it will kill a deer, but so will a .22 rimfire. Don't we as hunters want to insure a minimum of cripple losses. The ARF's (animal rights fanatics) would love if there were a lot of deer lost, because then they might have a case to close everyone's hunting seasons.

stork · « **Reply #21 on:** August 01, 2005, 04:33:51 PM »

My uncle has hunted deer with a 22-250 longer than I have been alive. He has always gotten his deer. A 22-250 can and will kill deer. My uncle usually takes head or neck shots, and he has killed deer out to about 400 yards.

poncaguy · « **Reply #22 on:** August 01, 2005, 04:57:02 PM »

A lung -heart shot with a 55 grain or heavier will drop a deer in it's tracks...........but I would use 25-06 or 7mm-08. My favorite by far though is my 270WSM.......

doetag · « **Reply #23 on:** August 07, 2005, 03:37:31 AM »

I hunted with a 223 for four or five years. The .224 Dia. bullets are small for whitetail,And I belive reloading would be a must for using this cal. but if you understand that you are slightly underguned and pick your shots you should be alright. I did have to let a few walk that had i been hunting with something else I would have brought them home. I limited myself to 100yds. and only broadside shots. Stay off the shoulder and punch through both lungs. I never had one go over 60yds.And i belive a premium bullet is a must.I shot Nosler partition 60 gr. in an AR-15 and got 8 or 9 deer with it in the few years i caried it . Just set limits and stick to them.

warf73 · « **Reply #24 on:** August 07, 2005, 09:54:18 PM »

The 22-250 was made to shoot critters. That being said with the right BULLET at proper ranges the 22-250 can be a deer rifle. I have an uncle that shoots his doe (doesnt believe in shooting bucks says they taste bad) every year with a 22-284.
He says he passes up shots to get the prefect broad side shot and harvests a deer.

I use a 300WBY to hunt deer and Im told its way too much gun for Kansas white tail deer. Guess what I dont give a rats bottom what they think. I practice with my rifle at least once a month maybe more and Ive taken my share of deer with it. I've never lost a deer, but I don't shoot deer at 600 yards either. I've passed up bad shots even with my so called cannon.

I also hear every year about this deer got away, that deer a got away, I thought it was a good hit. I was using caliber X and bla bla bla. A lot of folks around here think the .270 is the BEST of the BEST. Im happy for them but those are the same people that loose deer every year why? Because they are weekend warriors they shoot 3 round (at 100yards) threw there rifle right before deer season and think they can kill anything that they put in there crossers on.

If this fella practices and is a good shot with his 22-250. Use a good bullet, that Barnes triple shock sounds like a good bullet (I dont know) then he should be fine. But if he is going to use off the shelf ammo (Wal Mart, Kmart) that is intended for varmints then I would much rather see him stay home. Dont want to be rude but use a bullet that is intended for what youre shooting.

Warf

Awf Hand · « **Reply #25 on:** August 08, 2005, 07:33:18 AM »

Speaking as a motorist who has hit deer before, I say wound and release as many as possible. Scavengers need to eat too. Hopefully they'll die before they get to the road that I'm travelling. Your goal is to help with deer population control, not to subsist on your quarry's meat, right?

The 308 has killed more elephants than any other caliber. African soldiers love the meat and elephants carry a lot in one place. That was mostly in the 60's and 70's though...

Don't pass up a chance to buy a bigger caliber. I'm not a big 270 fan, as it seems like a lot of powder and recoil to push a bullet to the velocities that they'll push, but they have worked well for years. I'll take my 708 with a better available variety of bullets (OTC 140's work well)

Rimfirekid1022 · « **Reply #26 on:** August 10, 2005, 10:24:22 AM »

i dont mean to be a butt head but i completely disagree with you Awf Hand about wounding and releasing as many deer as possible. your job as a RESPONSIBLE and ETHICAL hunter is to be able to harvest any animal whether it be a squirrel or deer without the game having to suffer to death. therefore i think if you are going to be taking shots past 150 and a max. of 200 yards you should shoot nothing smaller than a 243 wssm not even a 243 winchster. you need a bullet to pass all the way through a deer and exit the other side so if the deer does run you will be able to follow a blood trail. my first deer was a 125 pound doe at 120 yards that i shot with a 243 winchester. it was a perfect shot getting a lung and her heart but the bullet did not exit therefore we could not find any blood. she ran straight into the thickest woods on our property of 2600 acres. we didnt find her until the next morning because we were just romping through the woods in every direction just looking for any sign at all since we couldnt find blood and we just with luck stumbled upon her. this is just my opinion on the subject and i know others are different but i hunt on the principals of fair chase and fair harvest. and if that means i have to pass on a huge buck because hes just out of my reach or isnt perfectly broadside then so be it theres always tomorrow and next year and hopefully years more to come. just my thoughts.
joseph

rvtrav · « **Reply #27 on:** August 10, 2005, 02:58:44 PM »

Hello Aaro, and hello to all,

Two of my neighbors as well as myself have used the .22/250 for mule deer with great success.
There are quite a few more 'catchy' bullets out there now than there were a few years ago, but the speer 70 grain semi spitzer worked very well for me and my friends.
I used a charge of reloader 7, I can't remember the amount right off the top of my head, and my neihbor's used IMR4895.
Shot placement is the ultimate factor, and a good varmint/target type gun helps a bunch. pick your shots carefully, and the '250 will do the job.
Rvtrav