Taking a deer with a 22-250

[Mr VJP]

If one uses a bullet like a Barnes TSX in the .22-250, it will expand fully and penetrate through the vitals.  It may also exit the other side of the deer.  It's solid copper with cuts to make it expand like an X.  They perform very well on deer and equal the penetration of heavier lead bullets.

 

Because a Barnes is all copper, it's lighter than a lead bullet, but it is longer than a lead bullet of equal weight.  That's why a faster twist in the barrel is needed to stabilize it.  The length of the bullet is the factor that requires a fast twist, not just the weight.

 

These solid copper bullets have a higher BC (ballistic coefficient) than a shorter lead bullet of equal weight.  Therefore the fly flatter (drop less) and make longer shots easier.  They do produce the same energy as a lead bullet of equal weight when traveling at the same speed, but do have less energy than a lead bullet of equal length that weighs more moving at the same speed.

 

It would be wise to study all the ballistics you can find for Barnes bullets from 53 gr on up, as well as other lead bullets of good deer hunting construction, like the Nosler Partition, and see which one offers the most favorable ballistics.

 

When using a minimum caliber for deer, you need to put maximum research into the decision, prior to shooting a deer with it.  Finding out a choice was a mistake after shooting a deer is not a good way to go.

 

[JimMac]

in cuff and collars on new york outdoors a guy shot a black bear with a .22 and it went 100 yrds and

died. shot placement  ...

 

and here is a vid on the .223 vmax  .. im sure it drop of deer but lots of lead fragments to pic out of

the meat is possible ..

 

 

 

[Mr VJP]

The V-Max is a Varmint bullet and should never be used to hunt deer.  It cannot be relied on to give adequate penetration.  I once took a deer that another man had shot with a .22-250 load for varmints.  The deer lived 4 days with a blown up left shoulder before I killed it.  It probably would have lived a lot longer too, because none of the vitals were damaged at all on that left shoulder side as the rib cage had no holes in it on that side.

[JimMac]

I agree , you would have to put the vmax round between the ribs to even get it close to

the vitals as seeing only 4 inches of the farthest fragment of lead from it , hit a rib and your game

runs away on you.

[Mr VJP]

I firmly believe the past use of varmint bullets in the .22-250 while deer hunting, is the main reason many people think it cannot effectively kill deer.

 

[Five Seasons]

to me this topic is the same as broadhead selection. You can kill a deer with a field point but increase your odds with a good broadhead. You can kill a deer smelling like a goat, but increase your odds smelling like nothing. You increase your odds of a good kill with a .270 and greater... than why not?

 

i wont tell you what to do, but please make sure you're confident in your abilities, a small miss could be bad for both you and the deer.

[Mr VJP]

A small miss with an adequate deer round is also quite likely to produce a lost deer.  Bullet placement is critical.  But excellent bullet placement doesn't mean a thing if the bullet doesn't penetrate that spot.

 

[thphm]

I watched a deer (big doe ) that was shot in the neck with a 180 Gr. 30-06 soft point , it ran and then walked another mile then was dropped by someone else with a 30-30 in the heart.

The fellow that dropped it never new it was shot in the neck beforehand .

[dbHunterNY]

The point I was making that those small bullets explode and ruins a lot of meat. The 22-250 is a varmit cartridge shooting out to 200-300 yards. If your any good you should be able to knock down woodchucks out to that yardage, and if so, you should be able to put one in the neck of a deer. Now if your not that good, don't do it!  Everyone has to know their limits. Now if they make a bullet for a 22-250 that holds together, that would save a lot of meat, but the ones I'm familiar with, they pretty much explode.

 

I agree that many 22-250 bullets will fragment and whatever meat each piece touches will be bloodshot or just no good.  all I shoot in my 223 is 60gr Vmax loads they are an accurate bullet and they do expand like crazy.  I've opened up a chucks skull at over 300 yards multiple times.  last shot like that was at 312.  I wasn't talking about accuracy though but energy required to make the neck shot work.  a 22-250 at 200 yards has about 100 ft-lb less than half the energy of a 130gr 270.  a neck shot relies on a sturdy enough bullet that will penetrate through that dense neck and close enough to the spine to dissipate much of that energy to work.  I also cut up my own deer from the beginning.  i'll lose more meat shooting the deer in the neck than I will using a sturdy bullet through the rib cage.  a buddy of mine shot a 210 lb buck last year.  he got something like 17 lbs of neck roast from it.  he couldn't have boned out several sections of ribs and get that.  Fusion and Nolser Partitions do the job among others.  Feel free to be a pioneer but my experience tells me it's not something I'd want to try.

 

my uncle has taken the biggest buck on my parents farm.  he did with a 22-250 at probably around 100 or so yards.  watched it run around in the woods for just over 2 hours before he finally got a good opportunity to put one right in its pump station.  the buck didn't go more than 30 or 40 yards.  I think he used a 64gr Winchester bullet.

 

[fasteddie]

Personally I never understood the need or desire to shoot a deer with a .224 "  diameter bullet . I guess if you can do it , fine .

[grampy]

My main focus as a hunter, when I decide to pull the trigger on a deer, is to have it Dead Right There, or down as quickly as possible. And the larger, more powerful rounds and slugs, just seem to be more efficient for me.

I'm all for making deer hunting a challenge if that is what you want to do. That's why we have black powder guns, deer sized hand guns, recurve, compound and crossbows. My point is to understand the capabilities, and limitations of any weapon used,and to kill as quickly and efficiently as possible. We owe that to the game we hunt!

[Mr VJP]

I don't see hunting deer with a .22 centerfire as a challenge.  I see it as a better option for a hunter who cannot accurately shoot a rifle with more recoil.  To me, that is it's only advantage.

[G-Man]

Proper bullet , but why unless it's the only gun you own much better calibers that allow for margin od error available.

[Larry]

I have used a 22-250 to kill 4 deer on a nuisance permit but I only took head shots. I waited for the perfect shot and put the 55gr bullet right where I wanted it.
But I would not use it during the season there is a lot of good deer calibers out there. If you don't have a rifle a shot gun with a deer barrel will work out to 150yds.

[Pygmy]

I have shot deer with a .222 Rem.  It was the only centerfire I had at the time and it worked fine.

 

I have no problem with people shooting deer with .22 centerfires if they so choose...

 

However, intentionally using a .22 centerfire for deer because you feel it is more  of a CHALLENGE, is probably the STUPIDEST reason I have ever heard to use one...

 

WTF  ???

 

Shoot 'em right and they die...  Shoot 'em wrong and they go to waste.. I don't give a hoot WHAT you shoot, and I've killed whitetails with everything from a .222 to a .338 Win Mag.

[Five Seasons]

I don't see hunting deer with a .22 centerfire as a challenge.  I see it as a better option for a hunter who cannot accurately shoot a rifle with more recoil.  To me, that is it's only advantage.

 

there are some pretty light kicking calibers that will do the job before you get up to the .380 though, and they have more knockdown power than the .22.

[fasteddie]

My NEF 25-06 single shot doesn't have a lot of kick . I have taken several deer with it .

[wolc123]

The short answer to this question is NO, don't do it if you have a bigger gun to use.  No doubt that it will kill a deer if you put your bullet in the right place, on that we all agree.   I do admit that I have struggled with not using my own  Ruger, M77 22-250 on deer.  I have never missed on a  "live" target with that gun and every animal ended up dead.  Just a few weeks ago, I watched a chuck struggle about 5 feet, with its guts trailing behind, when my shot was a little too far back.   I then grabbed my Ruger, 10/22 rim-fire to head shoot it.  It was handy, the bullets were cheaper, and I felt sorry for the struggling animal.   With a total of over a hundred  chucks, foxes, and coyotes, that was the first time a second shot was needed to dispatch one quickly. 

 

I have to agree with the guy who questions the logic of challenging oneself by making it harder to kill a deer cleanly.  Our family practically lives on venison and to loose some because of a dumb move like that would hurt me bad.  If you have a .308 available, stick with it, for it is close to the perfect round for deer. I would call it # 3 after # 2 (.270), and #1 (30/06).  The 22-250 would be very close to last place as an "adequate" deer rifle with hundreds of better choices available.   That certainly qualifies it as a "dumb" move if nothing else.  I apologize in advance if I have offended anyone here with my opinions but they are what they are.       

[ATbuckhunter]

I think a 22-250 is a little too much of a risk if you can accurately shoot a bigger caliber. Although that being said, I have seen many deer taken with a .223 so I would have no trouble shooting one with a 22-250. 

[G-Man]

This topic is the same when someone asks what caliber for bear... use common sense and pick the right bullet , and a caliber that leaves you a margin of error, not every shot opportunity is perfect, and if you wait for perfect you won't take much game.

[jjb4900]

I don't get the "more of a challenge" thing either...............kinda like looking for a tiny broadhead because the standard sized ones have been killing your deer too easily.

[dbHunterNY]

shoot me down too but i think all the slams being dished out for being "more of a challenge" aren't really warranted.  it's no different than me using a bow during late season when i could use a muzzleloader.  similarly a 30-30 like a 22-250 limits you to a similar range for different reasons but basically has the same amount of energy.  22-250 is more than capable.  i think where things are getting lost is using it well within it's limitations to respect the game you're shooting.  the "challenge" is you've got to wait for a broadside shot that's much closer and shoot it with the proper projectile.  you can't just take a shot at any angle to the vitals, from any range you're capable at.

[wolc123]

There is just so many better ways to challenge yourself that don't increase the odds of a wounded and non-recovered deer.   Maybe hold out for a deer of a certain age or antler size,  or try and hit the heart or center-lung every time.   The kill zone on a deer with a .22/250 may be less than half the size it is with the top contenders like a .30/06, .270, or .308.  Those slower, heavier bullets will also power thru unseen branches and bones much better.   I do like my 22/250 a lot but I love venison and it would be tough knowing that I failed to get some because I was under-gunned when I had far more capable weapons to pick from.  I imagine those who love antlers would feel the same way about that.            

[gjs4]

A Ferrari will tow a snowmobile trailer too but........

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[Elmo]

I've had this conversation many of times.  Every one hunts their own way and if they can successfully perform an ethical kill with their legal caliber of their choice, it's not my place to tell them what they should or should not do.

 

I will make these points though and say no more.

 

1. How often has any hunter ever said "Damn, I should have used a smaller caliber."?

2. If you want to challenge your shooting skills, can't you do it against a smaller piece of paper rather than a living, breathing creature?  Is hitting the smallest possible target really a hunting skill or a shooting skill?