small calibers for deer?

[nolan-sawka]

anyone hunt deer or anything like that with smaller calibers? .222, .223, .22-250, .204 ruger? im thinking of getting a .22-250 and (with practice and depending on the situation) would like to take deer with it. dont get all bent out of shape cause YOU think its unethical, its just a question

[little moose]

i use 22-250 for deer , shot placment is everything.personaly i like lung shots ,ihavent had one go more than 30 yards.

[islandhunter]

I wouldn't use the .20 cal, but the .223 would work. Definitely load partitions or tsx though. Having said that, a .243 would be a huge step up IMO.

[little moose]

nosler makes some 68 gr for 22-250 that work nice

[drivintrucks_shootinbucks]

i agree, a .243 would be a lot nicer for deer. nothing wrong with any of the others. It would give a little more kick for deer, but still nice and small for coyotes. I have a .223, but haven't used it for deer.

[nolan-sawka]

nosler makes some 68 gr for 22-250 that work nice


yeah i herd about those is that what you use or something else?
you ever head shoot them?

[RJ]

Im going retro with my 250-3000, that is if work lets me get out this fall. 80 grain TTSX should work alright :-D

[nolan-sawka]

Im going retro with my 250-3000, that is if work lets me get out this fall. 80 grain TTSX should work alright :-D


Arguably it is a better overall cartridge for hunting than the .30-30 win, pretty close to the .257 roberts

[MichelD]

My father used to regularly kill deer with a .22 Hornet in Vancouver Island. Almost all at short ranges and only shot in the neck. I'm not saying it's a good idea, nor do I advocate it, but it is possible.

I have a friend in Sointula who used to use a .222 most of the time.

[DGuest]

I know there are a lot of people up north who use a .223 for caribou, can't see why it wouldn't work for deer.

[troutseeker]

Dobtartell has done it I believe. Probably with his beloved TSX bullet!:-D

[DGuest]

Sorry, by up north I mean Alaska etc. not northern BC

[peashooter]

I would honestly consider stepping up to a 243. More punch and heavier lead for deer, but still got cool varmit rounds available. Just more versitile in my opinion.

[tuffteddyb]

i going to use my 22-250 this fall for deer and going to use the 63 gr tsx,minumum.
but! my 280 rem is going with me too.lol

[Shooter Jr.]

How far is the 223 or a 22-250 limited to range wise? I understand that there will be different variables but what are we talking about?

[nolan-sawka]

iv heard you need 1000ft-lbs of energy to cleanly kill deer sized game so its looking like with a .22-250 with a 55gr its looking like 300yards ish, obviously theres different situations head shots and such
dont hold me to the 1000ft-lbs of energy thats just what iv heard


.22-250 55 GR.
0 yds. 4,012 fps 0.0 1,966 ft./lbs. -1.7"
100 yds. 3,571 fps 0.0792 1,564 ft./lbs. 2.0"
200 yds. 3,187 fps 0.1681 1,240 ft./lbs. 3.0"
300 yds. 2,829 fps 0.2680 977 ft./lbs. 0.5"
400 yds. 2,498 fps 0.3810 762 ft./lbs. -6.3"
500 yds. 2,190 fps 0.5093 586 ft./lbs. -18.7"

[RJ]

This is Dobtartell's thread, a great read for sure.

http://www.huntingbc.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=26675

[todbartell]

it will work. Use a quality bullet designed to penetrate like 60gr Nosler Partition or whichever Barnes TSX your twist rate will stabilize (45, 50, 53, 55, 60, 70gr)

Placed in the vitals at moderate ranges, the 22 cal's will work just fine. Despite their velocity, they're not good choices for longer distance shots.

http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v356/111/96/526315515/n526315515_1883112_1437.jpg

[luckynuts]

Im going retro with my 250-3000, that is if work lets me get out this fall. 80 grain TTSX should work alright :-D


Funny i just picked one up for my oldest. Though will use a 110 or 115 gr bullet in either barnes or nosler. I love that gun supper fun to shoot.

nolan 22-250 works great on deer and bears but shot placement is totally key. i loaded up 53 gr tsx bullets for mine. 60 gr partitions were keyhole-ing. Will have to match your barrel twist with bullet weight and speed. Though if your thinking to use for your main deer gun I would step up to a 243 or 6mm variety.

W

[barry1974w]

Although I normally pack something with a bit more punch, I know one guy who uses a .222 as his deer rifle ( he uses .338 when moose are on the agenda) with great success. And one of my buddies shot a large antlerless mulie buck (late season, already dropped antlers) with a .204. Spectactular results but I don't think he'd do it again just because of the lack of bullet weight avaliable.

[Barracuda]

good bullet placed well = dead deer

[.330 Dakota]

I have shot many deer with the 243 and it is like the hammer of Thor for game this size. Also check the loads for varmints...55 grainers at 4000fps

[rocksteady]

I agree with what others have said:

Bullet placement - Key #1
Bullet construction - Key #2

I personally prefer heavy for caliber bullets, as it adds a little insurance for a not so perfect shot..

Most people do not shoot enough or well enough to go light on the lead.

I load 180 grainers in my '06, 100 grainers in my .243 for deer..160 round noses in my 6.5 by 55

I am confident I could kill an elk or moose with my .243 BUT I would rather use the '06 and make sure...

I believe in Alberta its got to be a .243 size or bigger to hunt big game....Not 100% sure, but I think so...

[hunter1947]

I myself would use a 243 for deer ..

[Gateholio]

I shot a black bear a couple of years ago with a 53gr TSX form a .223 at about 175 yards...One shot and it was dead. Should work on deer, too. BUt watch your distance and placement. No question a .243 or .260 is a better mouse trap.