Actually, Anchor3593's post is a collection of some of the worst myths and misunderstandings about how bullets kill game that I have read in a long time. Please, do not follow his advice. Although Roy Weatherby killed some big animals with rounds like his .257, there are VERY few people who consider hunting cape buffalo (as he did) with such a round. There is WAY more to humanely killing game than just velocity, and, in fact, velocity alone can create bullet failures, wounding, and lost animals.
22-250 for deer
- Thread starter 6.5x55swm
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Actually, Anchor3593's post is a collection of some of the worst myths and misunderstandings about how bullets kill game that I have read in a long time. Please, do not follow his advice. Although Roy Weatherby killed some big animals with rounds like his .257, there are VERY few people who consider hunting cape buffalo (as he did) with such a round. There is WAY more to humanely killing game than just velocity, and, in fact, velocity alone can create bullet failures, wounding, and lost animals.
- Location
- Edmonton Area Ab, Candle Lake Sk
Actually,Anchor3593, post comes from real life experiences actual killing deer with a 22 CF. When I lived in Saskatchewan I never hunted with a 22 CF because it was illegal . While living and hunting in Manitoba hunting I hunted with a a 22 CF , killed deer and witnessed a number of humane kills from others using 22 CF as small as the 22 Hornet .
In any hunting situation shot placement and bullet construction are paramount . That's why it's called hunting not shooting.
Are their better cartridge choices Yes, however poor shot placement with larger cartridges contributes far more to wounded animals.
357
My criticism was about "the worst myths and misunderstandings about how bullets kill game that I have read in a long time." His understanding of how bullets kill is deeply flawed, no matter how much success he may have had, and the bad logic is used to make it look like velocity is the most important part of how animals are killed, so a .22-250 with light bullets is actually superior to other rounds shooting heavier but slower bullets (
That is just really misinformed and very bad theory. You don't kill an animal by slapping its rib bones in the hope that some sort of "shock wave" will damage the vital organs. You use a rifle that will penetrate the ribs or shoulder bones, AND which will penetrate the vital organs.
No one has said that .22-250 will not kill deer. I have said that it is a bad choice for deliberate deer hunting.
No one will argue that shot placement is really important no matter what round is used, and I hope you are not arguing that people who use .22 center fires never make a bad shot. Anyone who hunts enough knows full well that bad shots will happen, no matter how careful a hunter claims to be.
Regardless of whether that's true,
"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"
is a pretty ridiculous statement.
A 70gr bullet is still going 3200+fps, plenty fast enough to induce hydrostatic shock if that's what you're after.
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And you know that how? So your unbiased opinion supports those ridiculous ideas about terminal ballistics? And baseless ad hominem attacks is your best resort?
I am 70 years old. I have killed and seen killed many, many game animals of many different sizes from many different cartridges over many years. I have done informal "autopsies" on a large number of those animals too. You gain no credibility by supporting ludicrous ideas about how bullets kill game animals.
Some reading:
http://www.shakariconnection.com/bullet-wounds.html
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/Effective+Game+Killing.html
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
A shot into the basal junction with a .22 LR works just peachy in close.
As has been said Anchor 3593's post is very much wrong. Fast light bullets that come apart very quickly with little penetration kill like lightning when all goes well, when it doesn't it fails just as spectacularly. However there are now very good and even great deer bullets out there for the high velocity .22's, yes some may require an aftermarket barrel to shoot them but manufacturers are already seeing the error of their ways, look at Ruger and Browning. I don't think it is suitable for the novice but then I don't think that the .243 is either. I do know it will kill any whitetail in the woods if the shooter does their part.
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I wouldn’t go out of my way to use it for deer, but I saw a nice buck killed last fall at 150 yards with one shot that took out its heart lungs and liver. Basically dropped where it stood. I was impressed but it wouldn’t be my first choice.
Last wolf I shot was at 220 yards across the frozen Fraser River east of Prince George broadside shot hit center of lungs/heart it was DRT once again using my 55gr Sierra Varminter @ 3660fps loads .
Not much difference between a big wolf and a small/medium sized deer.
Not much difference between a big wolf and a small/medium sized deer.
I could tow my fishing boat with a small compact car, but why would I when there are much better tools for the job? I could pound 3.5" ardox nails with my finishing hammer, but why would I when there are much better tools for the job? I could split my fire wood with a small camp hatchet, but why would I when there are much better tools for the job?
It is simple physics, a heavier projectile is harder to stop than a lighter one. I don't want my bullets blowing up on the surface, and hopefully creating this magical shock wave to break ribs and create shrapnel to enter the organs and do the job that we know an equally well placed 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, or 30cal well constructed controlled expansion bullet would do. Why take the chance? If it was a survival situation, and all you had was light and fast, no question, do what you have to do to survive. But most of us are out there for recreation, and have a rifle that is more suitably appropriate for the task at hand. Proper tools help get the job done more efficiently, I won't question anyone's experience in dropping big game animals on the spot with light fast bullets, in fact I am very happy it worked out that way for you. But I believe, from my own experience and that of many others, that the high speed 22 centre fires are better suited for varmints and predators.
It is simple physics, a heavier projectile is harder to stop than a lighter one. I don't want my bullets blowing up on the surface, and hopefully creating this magical shock wave to break ribs and create shrapnel to enter the organs and do the job that we know an equally well placed 6mm, 6.5mm, 7mm, or 30cal well constructed controlled expansion bullet would do. Why take the chance? If it was a survival situation, and all you had was light and fast, no question, do what you have to do to survive. But most of us are out there for recreation, and have a rifle that is more suitably appropriate for the task at hand. Proper tools help get the job done more efficiently, I won't question anyone's experience in dropping big game animals on the spot with light fast bullets, in fact I am very happy it worked out that way for you. But I believe, from my own experience and that of many others, that the high speed 22 centre fires are better suited for varmints and predators.
