22-250 and 223 for deer

My worry is the fact many hunters these days have little actual field experience but lots of "cyber-experience". They see figures of a 220 Swift or 22-250 which is 1.5" high at 100 and dead on 300 and figure they're good to go on moose out to 600 yards.

No different than the bullsh$t I used to hear fly at gunstore counters back in the days before Windows 95 ;)
 
Hard to tell the ".223 for deer" threads from the bear defence threads these days.
So much knee-jerk emotion coupled with very limited actual experience.
 
Hard to tell the ".223 for deer" threads from the bear defence threads these days.
So much knee-jerk emotion coupled with very limited actual experience.

No kidding. 223 bad, but a lever 44-40 would be fine. They'll make the same damn wound channel, but who cares. No experience, no imperical evidence, just a bunch of "blahhhhhhhh" from their fingertips. :rolleyes:

And for the energy clowns, a 22-250 with a 53gr TSX at 3700fps has the same energy as a 170gr bullet in a 30-30. I know what the 30-30 results are to 200yds on deer, and I doubt many with experience with refute that either.
 
No kidding. 223 bad, but a lever 44-40 would be fine. They'll make the same damn wound channel, but who cares. No experience, no imperical evidence, just a bunch of "blahhhhhhhh" from their fingertips. :rolleyes:

And for the energy clowns, a 22-250 with a 53gr TSX at 3700fps has the same energy as a 170gr bullet in a 30-30. I know what the 30-30 results are to 200yds on deer, and I doubt many with experience with refute that either.

Like I said in a previous post, there's lots of cyber experience on here. Seasoned hunters with actual field experience know that your numbers mean squat.
 
I am an old guy - who hunts for meat - and I can assure you that the 22 250 is more than capable of killing deer and black bear. Anyone who believes otherwise has not much experience killing with the 22 250. I just set up a new stand - 210 yards from where I will see deer this year - and it will only take one shot per deer. I shoot a little high - to hit the lungs without damaging the heart. Ribs - if hit, go through the lungs like shrapnel. When my eyes start to go - I may go to 243, or shorten my maximum range to 200 yards or so - it won't be the bullets fault. One more thing - if the shot is good - wait until the nearside leg is forward - the bullets type or weight matters little - the animal will drop, or dash - then drop.

If you are serious about hunting - learn to shoot - then learn to hunt - the excitement should be about getting food - not about having killed.

I might as well put this in here too - lots of us guys shoot many bullets - but wasting bullets is a waste of time - practice like you care about every shot.

Opinion of cranky old guy.
 
Like I said in a previous post, there's lots of cyber experience on here. Seasoned hunters with actual field experience know that your numbers mean squat.

Exactly what I said, I and the folks I hunt with all have planty of experience. And I say you don't know what your talking about. How many animals have you seen or shot with said cartridges and appropraite projectiles?
Exaclty. Enjoy your cyberiffic evening.
 
Exactly what I said, I and the folks I hunt with all have planty of experience. And I say you don't know what your talking about. How many animals have you seen or shot with said cartridges and appropraite projectiles?
Exaclty. Enjoy your cyberiffic evening.

I've shot lots of animals with the 220 Swift, which is basically the same as a 22-250, just a touch faster. Wolves,coyotes,and a few does. I have other calibers better suited for bigger game.

I see you're from Alberta? Here's the regs for your province:

It is unlawful to

set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:
- ammunition of less than .23 calibre...


Care to share your experiences with 22 cals on big game in AB ? :cheers:
 
I've shot lots of animals with the 220 Swift, which is basically the same as a 22-250, just a touch faster. Wolves,coyotes,and a few does. I have other calibers better suited for bigger game.

I see you're from Alberta? Here's the regs for your province:

It is unlawful to

set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:
- ammunition of less than .23 calibre...


Care to share your experiences with 22 cals on big game in AB ? :cheers:

I alread did. And there is nothing unlawful about it BK. Where would you like to go fishing now?

I have seen deer shot and killed very cleanly by First Nation friends with a .223 using the 60gr Hornady spirepoints I loaded for them. I also have a myself killed a few deer with a .243 and 85gr Sierras. All died very quickly and without any anomaly to report. Actually I recall one of the deer I personally shot with this sub-par setup was a 200lb mule doe at 420yds. She DRT'd on the spot with a lung/heart shot.

Did any of the deer you shot with the Swift laugh at you? How did you decide the cartridge was inefficient or a failure? Cause dead is dead, and I assume you didn't use a poor bullet did you? I mean with all your experience.

Did someone tell you shooting deer with a .22 cal was like riding a moped or something, and your shame is calling you out now? Just askin';):D

Oh and I am flattered that you took the time to look up the regs in my province.
 
I already told you....a 223 or 22-250 is capable of killing big game. That is the only argument needed.

So is a .22 Hornet, so is a .22 mag, so is a .22 rimfire with shorts.
Would you also like to lump them in with your above cartridges?
If we're gonna draw a line, just where do you think it should be drawn?
 
Reading this thread and others like it convinced me that we need more hunting regulation not less. I would suggest something in line with getting your hunting license in Germany.
I am sure it would eliminate all the fuds from this forum (there is bunch of them) and from hunting, sure would eliminate 99% of wounded game.
 
I've shot a lot of coyotes with 55 grain FMJ .223 and it isnt even a 100%reliable coyote load.

If you carry an elk and a deer tag in a general open season could you explain that you are hunting deer only with your .223 or are we talking about making the .223 into an elk and moose load as well?

Pretty slippery slope here.
 
I've shot a lot of coyotes with 55 grain FMJ .223 and it isnt even a 100%reliable coyote load.

If you carry an elk and a deer tag in a general open season could you explain that you are hunting deer only with your .223 or are we talking about making the .223 into an elk and moose load as well?

Pretty slippery slope here.

A monster whitetail buck isn't a great deal smaller than a yearling elk cow...........or a runty, late born moose calf.

To allow its use on antlerless whitetail is one thing, but a general acceptance for big game is wrong, IMO.

Then again, those Eastern Ontario bucks are smaller than our fawns anyhow. :p
 
First I've heard of it mentioned in this thread, with everyone foaming at the mouth in anger over .223 for deer...this would surely put them over the top! :stirthepot2:

Not foaming at the mouth at all,just want to ask a few simple questions to the segment of the population that is allowed to hunt with it.

Do all the folks that carry a .223 for deer know the difference between Nosler Partitions /Barnes X and regular white box winchester 55 grain soft points?
Do they care or do they just load up with the cheapest sheet that they can buy at Canadian Tire?

Is a 55 grain varmint bullet considered legal and ethical?
It seems about the same as loading up the .243 with 60-65 grain bullets and then wondering why there was no exit wound.
 
Reading this thread and others like it convinced me that we need more hunting regulation not less. I would suggest something in line with getting your hunting license in Germany.
I am sure it would eliminate all the fuds from this forum (there is bunch of them) and from hunting, sure would eliminate 99% of wounded game.

You can't regulate the stupid out of people. That goes both ways when talking about this topic.
 
Not foaming at the mouth at all,just want to ask a few simple questions to the segment of the population that is allowed to hunt with it.

Do all the folks that carry a .223 for deer know the difference between Nosler Partitions /Barnes X and regular white box winchester 55 grain soft points?
Do they care or do they just load up with the cheapest sheet that they can buy at Canadian Tire?

Is a 55 grain varmint bullet considered legal and ethical?
It seems about the same as loading up the .243 with 60-65 grain bullets and then wondering why there was no exit wound.

How worried are you about bow hunters and what broadheads they are using and what distances they are shooting? How about some yahoo using buckshot on deer from 100 yards?

I hope the regs do change and I also hope hunters make ethical decisions, as they do every time they go hunting anyway.
 
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