22 cal deer result

14830 Views 148 Replies 41 Participants Last post by RayRay, 2 mo ago

dpms

Discussion Starter · Dec 9, 2020

There was some talk about restricting what calibers could be used for deer and thankfully that was squashed. I know quite a few people who have taken many deer with 223, 22/250, etc..... and have had no issues. As people that actually know guns will say, it is about bullet placement and bullet selection. My TC Encore in 22/250 is my furbearer gun but I have always wanted to take a deer with it. So off to the deer woods I went today with some Factory Remington 55 grain pointed soft points for a solo hunt. The shoot within 1 inch of the Winchester 55 grain hollow points I use when coyote hunting.

Much to my surprise on the public cooperator property I was hunting, I saw 9 deer and managed to sneak up on this one as it was feeding. The brisk wind helped. Broadside at 70 yards, slightly down hill. Bullet entered behind the shoulder, exited and broke the far leg on the way out. The deer dropped at the shot and it was over. I was impressed. I might have to tote the 22/250 on some more deer hunts. Checked this box off.

Fawn Liver Tool Natural material Tail

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loridr

· #121 · Dec 26, 2020

There are a lot of reasons to hunt deer. Some guys get a lot of enjoyment using different calibers and loads and that's the important thing to them, that's fine. Some guys like to shoot long range and nothing else is satisfying, that's fine. Some guys pride themselves in pinpoint accuracy, that's fine.

Me, I just want to kill the deer, and I want to be able to do that with any reasonable shot. I'm not about passing deer due to a limitation of the caliber I'm using. I want a sufficient caliber and stout bullet that can drive deep to the vitals from any angle within reason, and at the first, possibly fleeting, opportunity. Lots of calibers fill that bill, and some just don't.

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bohunr

· #122 · Dec 26, 2020

better than a .223, pick a .243 better than a .243 pick a 30-30 then a 30-06 or a .270, or a 300 win mag or a 500 nitro, there is always something that someone will say is better.
a 45 lb bow will kill a deer just as fast as a 70 lb bow or a crossbow.

its not about what some perceive as better, its about choice. this past september i chose to kill (not harvest) a doe with a 44 mag handgun, she was just as dead.

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TrashPanda

· #123 · Dec 26, 2020

And the last two posts are exactly my point. Whatever cartridge anyone on here wants to cite as their choice of deer rifles, I could make a pretty strong argument that there are "better" choices. I just don't see the point in that argument. All a cartridge needs to be is a.) legal and b.) adequate for what the hunter is doing. A .22 centerfire, loaded with the right bullet, is undeniably adequate.
Other than just skepticism, I have yet to see any valid proof on this thread that they are not.

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WildTigerTrout

· #124 · Dec 26, 2020

Years ago I took a nice big adult doe with a Ruger M77 223 Rem. I handloaded the then new Winchester 64 gr Powerpoint SP bullet over a stiff load of IMR 4198. It worked great. She was quartering toward me and I hit her right behind the shoulder and it excited her last rib on the off side. Range about 50 yards. She ran about 35/40 yards and piled up dead. The key is to stay away from varmint bullets. This bullet left an exit hole about the size of a quarter.

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jeffppc

· #125 · Dec 26, 2020

kudu58 said:
I guess I would turn this question around on you and ask how many bucks have YOU shot with a .22 centerfire with appropriate bullets for deer and had them walk away from you and lost them?
I haven't seen one person on here state that they have full confidence on any angle shot on a deer. If someone else has seen that comment, I'd like to see it post quoted here.
Seems to me that all of the commenters kinda understand that they are waiting on a good shot angle.
The thread title is ".22 cal for deer" not "what is your go-to deer rifle?"
Are we to understand that some of you think that if a guy is not using his "go-to" deer rifle, that he should just stay at home and not go out?

Kudu58, I can not give you an exact number but roughly 15. Most fell in their tracks or within 50 yds. 1 less then steller result. Big deer, double lung broadside, ran about 500 yds. Same bullet I always used, 55 gr Sierra Game King. Bullet did not open, looked like it was shot with a field tip. Required a longer drag. Is a .223 the ultimate deer rifle. No, but for a hunter with a functional brain it is adequate. My point was many commemts are made on any particular subject by those with unfounded opinions, no actual experience or first hand knowledge. I had a neighbor growing up who introduced me to guns and game. He hunted the mountains and killed a buck every year. His deer rifle., Winchester .220 Swift. He taught me early its about bullet placement and patience. No a .223 is not my favorite deer rifle but for most Pa hunting and shots it will so the job.

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Pa-Guy

· #126 · Dec 27, 2020

Bullet Placement is everything. Many deer and been poached with slobs using a .22 Does that mean it's a good deer rifle? Heck no. Yes, bullet placement is everything, IF.. IF you are able to make that shot. Fine, a light gun can do it. BUT, What do you do if that MONSTER buck is not giving you that shot? Just pass it up? Most guys are going to shoot at it anyway, regardless of what kind of shot is available. Wait, same scenario, now you have a larger caliber. If you're a good shot, you now have more odds of a kill shot by using a larger caliber and not just wounding him with a lighter caliber. I consider my self a good shot, standing, walking or running. I've shot several with a bow and crossbow. I've killed as many running as standing with my rifle. My smallest caliber is a 30.06. I've killed 46 bucks, 5 years kills were passed up because none were big enough for me, 1 buck dropped in front of a slob hunter when I was a kid and he claimed it; and I only ever missed 2. That would add up to 52 kills, 2 misses. I can positively say, if I was using a light caliber, some of those deer may have only been wounded because I didn't have an easy shot. Oh, one of the shots I remember the most, was a nice 8 pointer that I shot right under me, with my camera! (That was one of those 5 that got a free ticket.)
So the bottom line is, if you are a good shot, a larger caliber gives you more opportunities for a kill shot than a lighter caliber.

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bohunr

· #127 · Dec 27, 2020

so you're saying that as long as you have a large caliber firearm you can take less than ideal shots and be happy about it ?

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Wingatchtochwilsit

· #128 · Dec 27, 2020

Pa-Guy said:
Bullet Placement is everything.
{SNIP}
So the bottom line is, if you are a good shot, a larger caliber gives you more opportunities for a kill shot than a lighter caliber.

The first line basically negates the final line.
Put a proper for caliber bullet where it needs to go and you have a dead deer.
Doesn't matter if that's a 64gr fusion .223 or a 180gr Core-Lokt 30-06.
And there's no ethical shot that one can do that the other can't if the shooter is capable of placing the bullet where he intends for it to go.

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Pa-Guy

· #129 · Dec 27, 2020

bohunr said:
so you're saying that as long as you have a large caliber firearm you can take less than ideal shots and be happy about it ?

I'm saying I can make that less than ideal shot work with a larger caliber. (emphasis on "make it work", make a kill shot that a smaller caliber can't do. Would you take a quartering towards you shoulder shot at 220 yds. with a .223 ? How about a Texas heart shot at 210 yds. with him moving quickly away? Those are less than ideal shots for a .223. Shots that shouldn't be taken with a .223. If you are a good shot, those are "kill shots" with a larger caliber.

Wingatchtochwilsit

· #130 · Dec 27, 2020

Pa-Guy said:
I'm saying I can make that less than ideal shot work with a larger caliber. (emphasis on "make it work", make a kill shot that a smaller caliber can't do. Would you take a quartering towards you shoulder shot at 220 yds. with a .223 ? How about a Texas heart shot at 210 yds. with him moving quickly away? Those are less than ideal shots for a .223. Shots that shouldn't be taken with a .223. If you are a good shot, those are "kill shots" with a larger caliber.

I've taken deer quartering to and away with .223, as well as broadside. Base of the neck, high-shoulder, top of the neck, it all works. With 75gr Gold Dots, busting shoulders is no issue. Not really an issue with 64's inside 250 either.
I've taken a total of 2 deer (both doe) facing straight away and neither were "TX heart shots". Both got their switches flipped with 1st cervical vertebrae shots. (One with the 06, the other with an inline.)

You last line would be more accurate if it read "If you're a good shot, you can select an appropriate kill shot with ANY legal caliber."

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Pa-Guy

· #131 · Dec 27, 2020

Wingatchtochwilsit said:
The first line basically negates the final line.
Put a proper for caliber bullet where it needs to go and you have a dead deer.
Doesn't matter if that's a 64gr fusion .223 or a 180gr Core-Lokt 30-06.
And there's no ethical shot that one can do that the other can't if the shooter is capable of placing the bullet where he intends for it to go.

No, your first statement is wrong. I'm saying that you can make that shot with a heavier caliber that cannot be make with the lighter caliber, even with both placed in the same spot under those conditions.
Second statement, wrong. If you are a good shot, you can make those 200 yd. shots where the bullet has to bust some bones to get to the vitals. That, is an ethical shot. If you are shooting a lightweight, it's NOT an ethical shot.
One buck standing, facing me, at 210 yds. Aiming for the chest. Strong wind blowing from left to right. The shot hits the left shoulder low, exits and hits the left rear leg. The deer drops, bleeds out. As the butcher and taxidermist both said, "If you would have been using a light weight gun, it would have never took out his rear hind quarter. He would have run off on 3 legs."

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limbhnger10

· #132 · Dec 27, 2020

I think dpms gets the

🏆2020 HPA Top Threads Award🏆
with his last few topics.
...He has my vote

bohunr said:
so you're saying that as long as you have a large caliber firearm you can take less than ideal shots and be happy about it ?

...That is EXACTLY what they're are saying...they put maple syrup on a cow patty and try calling it a flapjack.

It justifies their PP shot judgement...and even possibly, their lacking hunting/shooting ability and actually boasting about taking those shots because they shoot a "big caliber".

Their keywords:
idiots
blast away
running
monster buck
make it work
less than ideal shot
lightweight is not ethical
THS
must bust bones

I'll continue using my "little" .223 rem and the "girly" .243 win calibers for deer and have no doubt that that .223 will ethically kill a "monster buck", should the opportunity arise.

The advancements in todays projectile technology, anchor MY decision to kill deer with a .224 caliber bullet. The advancements equal, level..and in many cases exceed the old school " bigger cal bullet is better" performance results.

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dpms

Discussion Starter · #133 · Dec 27, 2020

I am really liking the Tikka T3x Superlite in 223. I own another Tikka rifle and it is super accurate and has a super trigger. The superlite also comes in 22/250 but the twist rate is 1/14, which is better for the smaller varmint bullets.

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bohunr

· #134 · Dec 27, 2020

Pa-Guy said:
I'm saying I can make that less than ideal shot work with a larger caliber. (emphasis on "make it work", make a kill shot that a smaller caliber can't do. Would you take a quartering towards you shoulder shot at 220 yds. with a .223 ? How about a Texas heart shot at 210 yds. with him moving quickly away? Those are less than ideal shots for a .223. Shots that shouldn't be taken with a .223. If you are a good shot, those are "kill shots" with a larger caliber.

i wouldnt take either one regardless of caliber or the size of the rack on the deer. to much room for error on the quartering towards me at 220 yards. if its quartering towards me, it must be moving towards me, let it come.
the texas heart shot ...aka...up the butt...why gut shoot a deer, hoping it comes out the chest. that just makes a mess to clean if you get the deer. No thanks..i'll pass regardless of caliber.

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bohunr

· #135 · Dec 27, 2020

Pa-Guy said:
"If you would have been using a light weight gun, it would have never took out his rear hind quarter. He would have run off on 3 legs."

thats just a polite way of saying "you shouldnt have taken that shot" crippling, non fatal wound if it hadnt have broken the hind leg too ! as hunters we need to make the best humane kill shot possible so the animal doesnt suffer.

congrats on making it successful.

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Wingatchtochwilsit

· #136 · Dec 27, 2020

Pa-Guy said:
No, your first statement is wrong. I'm saying that you can make that shot with a heavier caliber that cannot be make with the lighter caliber, even with both placed in the same spot under those conditions.
Second statement, wrong. If you are a good shot, you can make those 200 yd. shots where the bullet has to bust some bones to get to the vitals. That, is an ethical shot. If you are shooting a lightweight, it's NOT an ethical shot.
One buck standing, facing me, at 210 yds. Aiming for the chest. Strong wind blowing from left to right. The shot hits the left shoulder low, exits and hits the left rear leg. The deer drops, bleeds out. As the butcher and taxidermist both said, "If you would have been using a light weight gun, it would have never took out his rear hind quarter. He would have run off on 3 legs."

Sounds more like the taxidermist should’ve said “You got lucky this time, learn to read the wind and dope your gun before next season”

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GermanHillHunter

· #137 · Dec 27, 2020

GSP66 said:
my 1:12 22-250 shoots 55 gr pills really well. Its only had varmint type rounds up till now ... finding a deer appropriate bullet and load is near the top of the list for this off-season

Look no father than the barnes 50gr tsx. You will be shocked what that little pill will do out of that rig!

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Pa-Guy

· #138 · Dec 31, 2020

As far as my shot judgement and or ability. I've only ever missed two bucks out of 54 attempts. That's good shooting no matter how bad you want to dice it up.

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triggercreep

· #139 · Dec 31, 2020

I once met a guy on the jobsite who did some hard reductions on farms. He said he had killed around 300 deer. I asked him what in his opinion is the best deer cartridge? He said without hesitation it's the 222 Remington with 50 grain bullets. Said it dropped deer like a 30-06. I also had a friend who was so pleased with the performance of his 222 on bucks that he would leave his 25-06 and 30-06 behind and just take the 222 deer hunting.

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octagon

· #140 · Jan 8, 2021

triggercreep said:
I once met a guy on the jobsite who did some hard reductions on farms. He said he had killed around 300 deer. I asked him what in his opinion is the best deer cartridge? He said without hesitation it's the 222 Remington with 50 grain bullets. Said it dropped deer like a 30-06. I also had a friend who was so pleased with the performance of his 222 on bucks that he would leave his 25-06 and 30-06 behind and just take the 222 deer hunting.

I have a 1970 Winchester 70 .222 with the slower twist. What bullets do you guys reccomend for deer hunting? Thank you.

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