taking a white tail with a 22-250
- Thread starter angrysoldier
- Start date
I can recall at least 10 deer that I have shot with my B-78 22-250 over the past 15 years. When we could shoot a deer in all three seasons archery, muzzleloader and rifle if I shot a nice buck before rifle season I would carry the 22-250 and be out hunting coyotes more than deer. If the right shot came along I would take my rifle deer with the 22-250. Shot placement and proper bullet and a deer dies quite easily with the 250. If I was strictly targeting deer I would carry my 25-06 although. Unless they change the law in MB. in the next few years I do plan on using my Sako 22-250 to take a deer or two as well.
I use a 22-250 because I don't like meat damage.
I have taken more than one deer every year with a 22-250 with every type of bullet that I can find to load up - from 55gr down to 45gr hollow point and one with a 32gr V-max which clocked at 4200 fps. I conclude that IF the bullet goes into the right area on the side of a deer, the deer will die very soon - the type of bullet is not important. A deeper penetrating bullet loses it's energy over a longer path - and a thin jacketed gopher bullet drops all of it's energy quickly - into ribs which become shrapnel which shred the lungs - same consequence - dead deer. The deer will bleed out into the body cavity - often with only a drop of blood that leaks out. I can't say much about what would happen if the shot is badly placed - but I did use shoulder blade shots - a few years ago. Shoulder blade shots will stop the deer because it shocks the spine enough to paralyze the hind end and requires a kill shot - which I don't like doing. Don't chase the deer - leave it for 20 minutes to make sure that it is dead - it will be nearby.
I do not recommend 22-250 if you need a blood trail or are prone to take anything but perfect shots - very near broadside - nearside front leg forward and steady squeeze - put the bullet high of center into the lungs.
The 22-250 will take a deer at any reasonable range - "reasonable" is dictated by your excitement level - if you are apt to heartbeat, short shots only - but it can kill out to over 300 yards.
One year, I lost only one pound meat in three deer - all rib shots. Oh - and don't be trying those head shots - nothing so awful as a deer missing the lower jaw because someone thought they'd get bonus points for headshots.
A few years back, a big one walked out of timber into my cross hairs - walking quick - not much more than 100 yards away - turned one way then the other - and I pulled the trigger - less than 3 seconds from the time he appeared. I felt sick - way undergunned for a beast like that - the first and only time that I've felt that. I knew that the shot was right, but I also knew that he looked moose-sized in my scope. He went maybe 25 yards further than a doe hit the same would have gone - and then into the freezer.
This is getting too long - sorry - but - well - "It's getting to be that time of year again..." My tree stands are ready and I've a new calibre to try this year.
I have taken more than one deer every year with a 22-250 with every type of bullet that I can find to load up - from 55gr down to 45gr hollow point and one with a 32gr V-max which clocked at 4200 fps. I conclude that IF the bullet goes into the right area on the side of a deer, the deer will die very soon - the type of bullet is not important. A deeper penetrating bullet loses it's energy over a longer path - and a thin jacketed gopher bullet drops all of it's energy quickly - into ribs which become shrapnel which shred the lungs - same consequence - dead deer. The deer will bleed out into the body cavity - often with only a drop of blood that leaks out. I can't say much about what would happen if the shot is badly placed - but I did use shoulder blade shots - a few years ago. Shoulder blade shots will stop the deer because it shocks the spine enough to paralyze the hind end and requires a kill shot - which I don't like doing. Don't chase the deer - leave it for 20 minutes to make sure that it is dead - it will be nearby.
I do not recommend 22-250 if you need a blood trail or are prone to take anything but perfect shots - very near broadside - nearside front leg forward and steady squeeze - put the bullet high of center into the lungs.
The 22-250 will take a deer at any reasonable range - "reasonable" is dictated by your excitement level - if you are apt to heartbeat, short shots only - but it can kill out to over 300 yards.
One year, I lost only one pound meat in three deer - all rib shots. Oh - and don't be trying those head shots - nothing so awful as a deer missing the lower jaw because someone thought they'd get bonus points for headshots.
A few years back, a big one walked out of timber into my cross hairs - walking quick - not much more than 100 yards away - turned one way then the other - and I pulled the trigger - less than 3 seconds from the time he appeared. I felt sick - way undergunned for a beast like that - the first and only time that I've felt that. I knew that the shot was right, but I also knew that he looked moose-sized in my scope. He went maybe 25 yards further than a doe hit the same would have gone - and then into the freezer.
This is getting too long - sorry - but - well - "It's getting to be that time of year again..." My tree stands are ready and I've a new calibre to try this year.
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Was talking to a guy that shot lots of caribou with a 223. He told me that you need to keep shots close and rely on the high velocity to make decent sized wounds. If the shots were longer the bullet was not explosive enough and made small wounds that left the caribou alive for to long.
The 22-250 will kill deer-sized game quite well.
The criteria has already been stated.....proper bullet choice, careful bullet placement.
I have never shot a deer with the 22-250, but have taken several with the 220 Swift.
All were "Swift" kills. [pun intended, lol] A medium size Black Bear died similarly.
I always used the Nosler Partition, or similar projectiles for big game.
These days, with many to choose from. I hunt deer with 6mm's and 6.5mm's by choice.
Even my 7x57 gets to go play for deer at times.
Regards, Dave.
The criteria has already been stated.....proper bullet choice, careful bullet placement.
I have never shot a deer with the 22-250, but have taken several with the 220 Swift.
All were "Swift" kills. [pun intended, lol] A medium size Black Bear died similarly.
I always used the Nosler Partition, or similar projectiles for big game.
These days, with many to choose from. I hunt deer with 6mm's and 6.5mm's by choice.
Even my 7x57 gets to go play for deer at times.
Regards, Dave.
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It's still legal in BC.....
My GF uses a Sako Vixen in 223AI with 45gr TSX's, smashes deer to the ground. Velocity impresses deer more than bullet size.
I've shot two because it was, at one point, a back up gun and I needed it. It turned the heart into jelly both times. Neither the buck or the doe went very far.
That being said. I do not have it as a back up gun any longer because I am no longer poor and I prefer either a 308, 300 WSM, 45-70, 375H&H, .50, .54 or just about anything else I have over the 22-250 for whitetail.
That being said. I do not have it as a back up gun any longer because I am no longer poor and I prefer either a 308, 300 WSM, 45-70, 375H&H, .50, .54 or just about anything else I have over the 22-250 for whitetail.
It's not the bullet diameter that either kills or wounds the animal, but shot placement, and bullet construction. It's funny that .224 diameter cartridges are illegal in a lot of places, but .243 is somehow perfectly ok. I'd rather use a 223rem with a good bullet like a barns X, than a 243win with a bullet that won't hold together any day of the week.
Ivor
Ivor
Small bullet - big speed - big messy waste of meat - fat happy dog.....
Is that a rabbit, or did you aim at the wrong spot on a fawn?
If that is a set of (small) deer ribs, I'm not seeing what the waste of meat was.
Cheers
Trev
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Why is it "funny"? Most 243 ammo comes loaded with "deer" bullets. Try finding a factory loaded 22-250 with a TSX/Partition,etc. They're few and far between, as 99.9% consider it a varmint caliber, which it is.
Those that reload generally know better than to use a 22-250 on deer. I really don't understand the "how small can I go" mentality.
I would never consider a 22-250 to be a deer cartridge, but then again deer season and elk season are at the same time here and would never use anything smaller than .25 for elk so i would never be packing a 22-250 during deer season.
What does those that reload imply? I've been reloading since I was a kid, and I'm now 42.
I personally use 30-06's for about 95% of my hunting, but it's my oppinion that the 224 diameter bullets that are designed for big game will killed big game.....there are many others that have chimed in stating that they have already done so.
I quite frankly don't understand the "need a magnums to kill a mouse" mentality.
Ivor
Less than a 23 cal is illegal in Alberta. A few years back I was working at WSS on 97 St edmonton. Before it was bought out by UFA and we could pretty well bring in any rifle you wanted. CWD had just surfaced and Alberta Fish & Wildlife bought every Heavy barreled Remington in 22-250 they could get. I asked why it was legal for them and not us to hunt deer with the 22-250. He never admitted to shooting deer in so many words but said we are shooting in populated areas and don't want ricochets or bullets passing through. It was a good reason but I really became burned when I saw pictures of them bulldozing deer into huge pits to be covered. They work for the job if they are legal and you choose a good bullet and perfect shot placement.
Neil
Neil
colonel3006
Regular
- Location
- Ayton,ontario
I shot my first deer with a 22-250 that I had borrowed from a friend cause it was my first year hunting and I didn't have a rifle yet.Close shot (75 yds),and she only went maybe 50 yds before she tipped over.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
None of the 22 centerfires are "big game" calibers by any stretch of the imagination. I've shot a few smaller deer with 22 centerfires. Usually there's one of two scenarios: The bullet blows up and doesn't penetrate enough(varmint type) or the bullet pencils through(TSX,etc.) and even a double lunged animal runs for a long way with very little blood. In other words, their performance is erratic, the very reason they're not recommended or illegal in many places.
But if you think a 22-250 with a 53 gr. TSX is a great choice on a 350 lb whitetail, go ahead and use it, just don't be surprised if the performance isn't that of your 30-06 with a 165 TSX. From my experience, the safest bet is to use the largest possible caliber you can shoot well and you'll rarely run into problems.
