22-250 for deer

I have not shot deer with .22 CF rifle but I picked up a box of federal trophy copper .223 55gr just to try out. I was a bit surprised they advertised a WT buck on the front and says for medium game (deer, antelope and similar size). Not that I don't think they are capable but here in Ontario its just not legal.
I was a bit disappointed on how they shot in my gun thought.
Love shooting my .22 CF rifles but my 6mm rem and 257 bob work great and are the sweet spot for deer in my opinion.
 
Simpson302 said:
I have not shot deer with .22 CF rifle but I picked up a box of federal trophy copper .223 55gr just to try out. I was a bit surprised they advertised a WT buck on the front and says for medium game (deer, antelope and similar size). Not that I don't think they are capable but here in Ontario its just not legal.
I was a bit disappointed on how they shot in my gun thought.
Love shooting my .22 CF rifles but my 6mm rem and 257 bob work great and are the sweet spot for deer in my opinion.
Click to expand...
In Ontario it states Any Centerfire rifle is legal for deer hunting. Certain WMUs have restrictions on what can be used. Shotguns mustbe20 gauge or larger if shooting shot. Your 6mm and the 257 are perfect government goat getters!!
 
hunter-4-life said:
Partitions and Accubonds i've found don't shoot "1 Hole" the best i've ever got out of either one was 3/4" at 100. And thats a few different cal's. No matter seating depth, powder charge or type. But again, they aren't a "target" bullet. Not saying guys havent got them to drill a hole, but in my experience in the 240 wby, 243 and 270 wsm the best they did was 3/4". And for most if they shoot 3/4"-1" at 100 thats good enough for deer. Either or the Partition or TTSX would be just fine for deer. More and more guys are using their 22-250 and 223 for deer in SK, especially for new shooters who are scared of recoil.
Click to expand...

My 7mm Rem. Mag will shoot 140 grn Accubonds 1/4 to 1/2 moa. I tried the 160 grn and they did about 1 moa.
 
I have shot two deer with a 22-250 using just factory 55grn. First one fell over like you pulled the rug out from under him. The second buck went about 40 yards, lung shot, the blood trail was literally a solid red line like you poured it out of a pail. In my last 45 years of hunting have not seen a blood trail like that again.
 
This discussion is interesting, but the more we learn, the more we know that we do not know - it is much like raising kids - confidence gives way to honesty.

Not knowing that 22 250 was too small for deer, we used it for 25 years, bringing up kids with no flinch, no scope-skidding and accuracy and range far beyond 200 yards - we have a 400 yard range, but zero at 200 - and shoot lots to build confidence in everything and everyone.

I've loaded and shot deer with everything from 35 grain V max at 4200 fps - hollowpoints at 4000, 52, 55 sp at just a little slower, and yesterday, a daughter took one with a 55 gr Nosler Armageddon (a very thin jacket and a little plastic point, meant to blow up in a gopher.) He was angling downhill towards her at 70 yards and the shot went just above shoulder blade, angling down towards lungs - it shattered tops of ribs, and so dislodged the spine, and it expired immediately. I am a believer in the ability of a very fast expanding bullet for deer.

We have talked about deep penetration, and long wound channels and bullet weight retention etc. forever, and so the ammo manufacturers give us what we talk about, but I'm not sure that a solid copper projectile is the best for any but just a few situations - if it expands optimally at 100 yards, how well does it expand at 350 yards? - and when there is an exit hole, that is nice to trail, but a smaller, faster bullet that dumps all of the energy and actually drops the animal might be better?

I'd love to ramble on about how little I am sure of anymore - but right now, I am certain that there is a deer to cut.
 
I've been using a 22-250 to shoot deer, tahr, chamois and pigs, for the past 47 years. One of the original M55 Tikka's, 1-12 twist. My favourite projectile is either the 60gn hornady or the 63gn Sierra. Both continue to group inside 3/4moa, after about 3000 rounds. A 22-250 used properly will put down larger game animals no problem. Our red deer are around 100+ kg's, our tahr are up around the 80+ kg's, but bloody tough. I have some other rifles to choose from and will usually take a larger calibre if Im after a big head. But if I'm after meat for the freezer, I have no qualms using the 22-250.

Tried the 70gn speers once, but the slow twist wouldnt stabilise them. Have used 50's, and 55's as well. Theres a lot of rhetoric out there that a 22CF wont do this, wont do that, cant kill a deer, wounds animals, aint ethical, etc etc. My suggestion would be to pick a decent cup and core projectile, 55 - 60gns, do some load development and just go shoot ####. Its not rocket science, put the pill in the right place and they fall over.
 
My family all swore by a Model 99 in 22 High Power . But dad said they blew the hind end and shoulders off a lot of animals also. Grandpa swore if you shot a moose in the kidney they dropped. Pretty sure they were responsible for Saskatchewan passing laws for bigger calibers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom