22-250 for deer
- Thread starter 6.5x55swm
- Start date
Totally do-able, but twist rate as others have said, is key.
That is why I went with the Ruger American Predator with the 1:10" twist rate, so as to stabilize heavier pills if I wanted...
Cheers
Jay
That is why I went with the Ruger American Predator with the 1:10" twist rate, so as to stabilize heavier pills if I wanted...
Cheers
Jay
patricksbb391
CGN Regular
- Location
- Ottawa & WMU 62
I have a 22-250AI with a PacNor 1 in 9 barrel. It will throw 55-70 grains with aplomb.
New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
I've consider the 22-250 for doing such a thing, but without the proper rifling to stabilize heavy bullets, you are limited to using bullets designed for rapid expansion on varmints. I'm somewhat puzzled by the status quo that crams out and consumes 223rem with 1:8" twist, which is but a shadow of what the 22-250s potential if it were fitted with the same rifling.
For the most part, I've wrote off the idea in favour of necking the 22-250 up to 25 caliber.
Better selection of bullets = greater versatility... woodchucks to local big game are covered in a package with light recoil, moderate muzzle blast and longer barrel life... tried tested and true since 1915. But that's just me... your money and rifles, I can still see the point though I most likely won't bother with it.If i had a custom fast twist barrel id have no issues using a 22250 for deer. Id use rhe heaviest constructed bullet it would accurately shoot
Its not my first choice far from it but deer are not hard to kill. Ive seen 1 00buck pellet drop a deer and it only ran 30 yards
No one can argue that one pellet of 00buck is superior over a 70gr 224 bullet
Ive chosen to go with a 250 savage myself and may assemble another for varmints
Its not my first choice far from it but deer are not hard to kill. Ive seen 1 00buck pellet drop a deer and it only ran 30 yards
No one can argue that one pellet of 00buck is superior over a 70gr 224 bullet
Ive chosen to go with a 250 savage myself and may assemble another for varmints
Poachers here in Newfoundland kill a pile of Moose here with grey box Winchester 64gr in the .22-250 .
If that means anything to you (besides the fact that that poachers are SSSholes)
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I've shot quite a few sitka blacktail with a 22-250 loaded with 55gr Sierra Varminter bullets @ 3660fps.
Max range was 100 yards every one was shot in the neck resulting in a 1/4" hole in and a 2" hole out only the hide of the neck holding the head on.
Instant DRT every time.
Max range was 100 yards every one was shot in the neck resulting in a 1/4" hole in and a 2" hole out only the hide of the neck holding the head on.
Instant DRT every time.
I've used 22 250 for many deer with many types of loads from 35 grain v max at 4200 fps to 55 grain sp at more reasonable speeds.
One mistake that I see above is the assumption that a heavier bullet is better. This is not true for this reason. A heavier bullet goes slower. Therefore, when we think that a heavier bullet is better, we must admit that we are really saying that we need a slower bullet with the same energy. The value of a tiny bullet going quickly is the way that it can give up it's energy in an extremely short distance. The energy can go into rib bones and into creating a shock wave through the organs that the heavy slow bullet could never hope to.
Therefore, don't take a 22 250 and put a heavy, slow moving lead into it and turn it into a poor excuse for a 30 30 by slowing it down and rubbing off it's energy over a foot-long path through the organs. If anything, lighten it up and speed it up until it hits and dumps all of it's energy in the first couple of inches - into ribs that receive that energy so that they go through the lungs and heart like shrapnel.
If it hits high in the shoulder, it dumps its load of energy into the blade and this sends a shock wave into the spine, putting the deer down for the walk-up shot. ( This isn't the ideal shot, but if this is what happens, it still leads to venison.)
If the shot is a correct fore and aft, but a little high, the same thing happens - the spine gets the shock wave from ribs and the deer is down but not dead.
One strange advantage to the tiny explosive bullet is that it does not carry on through after it hits. If the shot is a quartering shot, don't aim for the centre of the deer like you might with a 270, but aim at the same spot just behind the near side leg. ( It is nice if you can discuss this with the deer and get him to put the near leg forward while you shoot.) When the bullet hits the ribs just outside the lungs, the bullet gives up all of it's energy - which blows those ribs into the lungs and heart and major arteries - and the bullet travel is done - not going on ( remember that this was a quartering shot) through the guts or far shoulder ( depending on which way it is quartering.)
I don't shoot bouncy deer with a 22 250.
I've used 40 grain HP. No problem.
The 35gr Vmax was the most notable - meant for a 22 Hornet - it broke three ribs on the way in - direct broadside - and the lungs were mush.
If you are going to use a little bullet, use it well, and you will save venison - use it badly and you will not quickly forget the sick feeling of not finding a deer that you know is hit. Every old hunter has memories - the wretched feeling of having spent your whole day looking for a deer that someone didn't hit well.
I spent a whole day looking for a deer that a guy said that he shot ( it was a very special deer that we knew well - with antlers that were very very tall and narrow) - said he shot it with a 7mm at 100 yards. I went to see what happened and found where he had shot - out his truck window from the centre of the road - about 35 yards tops - and the happy ending is that a few days later, we had new pics of him on our trail camera. The reason I tell this is to illustrate that it is not the size of the bullet, but the good honest shot. Don't ever take a shot in optimism or that you might have to make an excuse to cover.
Some guys get excited when it comes time to shoot - if this is you, use a 243 or more - and try to learn to stay calm I guess. Some go chill and still.
One mistake that I see above is the assumption that a heavier bullet is better. This is not true for this reason. A heavier bullet goes slower. Therefore, when we think that a heavier bullet is better, we must admit that we are really saying that we need a slower bullet with the same energy. The value of a tiny bullet going quickly is the way that it can give up it's energy in an extremely short distance. The energy can go into rib bones and into creating a shock wave through the organs that the heavy slow bullet could never hope to.
Therefore, don't take a 22 250 and put a heavy, slow moving lead into it and turn it into a poor excuse for a 30 30 by slowing it down and rubbing off it's energy over a foot-long path through the organs. If anything, lighten it up and speed it up until it hits and dumps all of it's energy in the first couple of inches - into ribs that receive that energy so that they go through the lungs and heart like shrapnel.
If it hits high in the shoulder, it dumps its load of energy into the blade and this sends a shock wave into the spine, putting the deer down for the walk-up shot. ( This isn't the ideal shot, but if this is what happens, it still leads to venison.)
If the shot is a correct fore and aft, but a little high, the same thing happens - the spine gets the shock wave from ribs and the deer is down but not dead.
One strange advantage to the tiny explosive bullet is that it does not carry on through after it hits. If the shot is a quartering shot, don't aim for the centre of the deer like you might with a 270, but aim at the same spot just behind the near side leg. ( It is nice if you can discuss this with the deer and get him to put the near leg forward while you shoot.) When the bullet hits the ribs just outside the lungs, the bullet gives up all of it's energy - which blows those ribs into the lungs and heart and major arteries - and the bullet travel is done - not going on ( remember that this was a quartering shot) through the guts or far shoulder ( depending on which way it is quartering.)
I don't shoot bouncy deer with a 22 250.
I've used 40 grain HP. No problem.
The 35gr Vmax was the most notable - meant for a 22 Hornet - it broke three ribs on the way in - direct broadside - and the lungs were mush.
If you are going to use a little bullet, use it well, and you will save venison - use it badly and you will not quickly forget the sick feeling of not finding a deer that you know is hit. Every old hunter has memories - the wretched feeling of having spent your whole day looking for a deer that someone didn't hit well.
I spent a whole day looking for a deer that a guy said that he shot ( it was a very special deer that we knew well - with antlers that were very very tall and narrow) - said he shot it with a 7mm at 100 yards. I went to see what happened and found where he had shot - out his truck window from the centre of the road - about 35 yards tops - and the happy ending is that a few days later, we had new pics of him on our trail camera. The reason I tell this is to illustrate that it is not the size of the bullet, but the good honest shot. Don't ever take a shot in optimism or that you might have to make an excuse to cover.
Some guys get excited when it comes time to shoot - if this is you, use a 243 or more - and try to learn to stay calm I guess. Some go chill and still.
I have an old ABolt in 22-250 with factory bbl that loves those 70gr Speers. Those bullets are semi-spitzer so short overall. That load kills deer dead but I don't bother using it as there are better chamberings out there for deer.
