22-250 for dear

B.C. - really, they state no minimum caliber size in the Regulations?

Alberta Regulations:

Big Game

It is unlawful to

1) set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:

* ammunition of less than .23 caliber
* ammunition that contains non-expanding bullets
* an auto-loading firearm that has a capacity to hold more than 5 cartridges in the magazine
* a shot gun having a gauge of .410 or less

Curious what the other Provinces state?
 
Fortunately most hunting juristictions wisely prohibit the use of varmint calibers for big game hunting.Beyond that,it's a question of one's own hunting ethics.Most hunters I know believe in a quick,humane kill delivered by a suitable cartridge at a range where correct bullet placement can be assurred.

Hunting deer with a light,frangible varmint bullet is not consistent with my idea of ethical hunting.Maybe this discussion is more rhetorical than real anyway.I remember a "range lizard" once telling me how he was tuning up his 17 Rem for spring bear season.His theory was that he was "going to slip one thru the ribs and disintegrate the lungs". From the looks of his target he did'nt have either the rifle or the X-ray vision needed to bring it off.
 
"...deer with 22 -250..." Illegal in Alberta.
"...What Province..." Ontario for one. Any centre fire. Very bad idea with the wrong bullet. Like a 55 grain varmint bullet.
 
Hummmm. Some people think the .243 Win is marginal for deer even with Barnes TSX or Nosler partition bullets. If the 22-250 works for you, go for it.
 
The Win 55gr and old Hornady with cannalure work fine for lung shot deer.I loaded some for my dad's .222 and he ran up a string of over a dozen one shot kills on WT and 3 pest black bears.Yes with a .222
I think the slower velocity would be an advantage for the 222 while using 55gr varmint style bullets. The 22/250 with it's higher velocity would require a better/stouter bullet. I use 70gr Speers in my 22/250, but I go for a lower velocity for just that very reason.


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B.C. - really, they state no minimum caliber size in the Regulations?

Alberta Regulations:

Big Game

It is unlawful to

1) set out, use or employ any of the following items for the purpose of hunting big game:

* ammunition of less than .23 caliber
* ammunition that contains non-expanding bullets
* an auto-loading firearm that has a capacity to hold more than 5 cartridges in the magazine
* a shot gun having a gauge of .410 or less

Curious what the other Provinces state?

Saskatchewan is the same. .23 caliber or larger. Must be because our deer are so huge;);)
 
Here is what Sierra has to say about .224 bullets for deer.

<snip>
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif].22 Bullets For Deer Hunting??[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]by Kevin Thomas

Q. Which of your .22 Caliber bullets do you recommend for deer? In my state .22 Caliber centerfires are now legal for big game use, and IÕd like to use my .22-250 for deer this year.

A. While it is undeniable that most .22 centerfires are capable of taking deer size game, we want to stress the fact that they are marginal even under the best of circumstances. Most .224" diameter bullets are designed for use on varmints, or are match bullets not intended to expand. If you absolutely must use a .22 centerfire, choose as heavy a bullet as your rifle will reliably stabilize. A thicker jacket, such as those designed for .22-250 or .220 Swift velocities will also help. Consequently, we would recommend something like a 55 grain spitzer or spitzer boattail, 60 grain hollow point, or 63 grain semi-pointed. Place your shots with extreme care, and don't take any questionable shots.
[/FONT]
 
Here is what Sierra has to say about .224 bullets for deer.

<snip>
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif].22 Bullets For Deer Hunting??[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]by Kevin Thomas

Q. Which of your .22 Caliber bullets do you recommend for deer? In my state .22 Caliber centerfires are now legal for big game use, and IÕd like to use my .22-250 for deer this year.

A. While it is undeniable that most .22 centerfires are capable of taking deer size game, we want to stress the fact that they are marginal even under the best of circumstances. Most .224" diameter bullets are designed for use on varmints, or are match bullets not intended to expand. If you absolutely must use a .22 centerfire, choose as heavy a bullet as your rifle will reliably stabilize. A thicker jacket, such as those designed for .22-250 or .220 Swift velocities will also help. Consequently, we would recommend something like a 55 grain spitzer or spitzer boattail, 60 grain hollow point, or 63 grain semi-pointed. Place your shots with extreme care, and don't take any questionable shots.
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I'm not sure if Barnes has anything to say, but if they did, it would probably go "Make sure of shot placement and distance and do YOUR part, because the TSX *will* do it's part!" :D:D
 
If memory serves correctly, when I was in Nova Scotia, one needs a rifle .23 or larger to hunt big Game. Feel free to chime in Bluenose folks!
 
22 centerfires are legal here in NB for deer and moose, but it's not legal to carry anything larger than .224 for hunting outside deer/moose/bear hunting.




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a friend of mine uses his 22 -250 for deer huntin all the time .he just buys the 55 grain factory soft points .he gets upset as it usually destroys more meat than his 308. i usually tell him then why use that 22-250 instead of his 308.he says he likes that particular rifle over his lever 308.
 
I'm very fond of the .223/5.56mm as an accurate and pleasant to shoot cartridge and I've fired thousands of rounds,both in the Army and as a civvie. The only animals that I've ever shot with it that were bigger than a gopher were a badger and a coyote.

The biggest thing I've seen shot with the 5.56mm was a man,and I can attest that it was a very instantaneous and messy death.I used to recount the details of this for the troops before annual range qualifications as graphically as possible in order to re-inforce their safety briefings.So I have the utmost respect for what the cartridge can do.

Back to deer hunting. I just can't imagine using any .22 centerfire on the big whitetails and mule deer that populate the prairies,or for that matter the big deer that I used to hunt in the NB timber.Back in 1980 I had the good luck to shoot a buck in heavy timber at approx 60 yds using a 180gr Speer handload in my sporterized No 5 LE. This animal was huge and weighed 275 lbs hog-dressed.It dropped like a stone to that big slug through the lungs,but I would not have wanted to try an encore with my .223.

This takes me back to the debates in the early 1960s about whether or not the .30 cal M1 carbine round was an effective deer cartridge.Sure,there are thousands of graves full of proof that it could kill,but as a deer cartridge,I think not.
 
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