Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 222 whitetail load

I killed a rather large muley buck with a .221 fireball and 40gr vmax. It just happened be the only rifle i had going into deer season so i used it. Took a couple hours to get into position but put that little pill in the base of his skull as he was walking away from me at about 150yds. He fell so fast that i actually thought i missed him!

Rusty I have shot numerous southern whitetails (between 70 and 140 pounds with a 22 hornet and 50gr Hornady SP with 13 gr of hogdon lil gun just shoot em behind the shoulder. Any 45 or 50gr bullet will work. If you want complete pass through go with the Barnes for best reliability.

Not a long range proposition I keep the hornet at bow range 50 yards max with the 222 I would expect 100 yards max.

Good luck and shoot straight

Bob

Long time ago, folks in the west would reach for the Speer 70 grain SMP or the Sierra 63 grain SMP.. they worked then and still do today....

and were made to stabilize out of a one in 14 twist.

Finished up an antelope hunt in WYO, used 55 gr GK. My oldest daughter hit her doe behind the front shoulder, at 100 yds, bullet passed through and the lope stumbled about a half a dozen steps and fell over. I shot the remaining two does, one at 150 yd and the other about 175 yd, bullets passed through and the critters made a typical lung hit run for about 25-30 yds and piled up. Loads were 22 gr of WC844, chronographed at 2940 fps, settled on that combo as I could place 5 shots in 3/10 inch at 100. Tried several loads with the "X" bullets, they just will not shoot accurate out of my 788s, they are an older lot (bought almost 15 yrs ago) maybe the newer ones would show promise.

Currently I have two 222's and spent time with them working up a load through my chronograph this summer, both like about the same thing. Lapua brass,fed 205primers,VVN130 powder and 50gr SBK bullets....better in every way to the "superformance"