Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Critiquing the 22-250 for antelope

I shot one yesterday. Here's what I used:
Savage 22-250, 1 in 14 twist
bullet 55 gr Sierra spitzer BT
book velocity about 3700 fps
range 150 yds
broadside heart shot

This bullet left a whopping hole going in. It somehow broke 2 ribs. It clipped the soft tissue in the elbow of the leg but the hole in the hide behind it was only 1/4" wide so it couldn't have expanded before the ribs. Once in, it totally obliterated the heart and 1 lung and moderately hashed the other lung. It didn't exit. It left a small hole on inside of the rib cage between 2 ribs but didn't make it through the soft tissue. I couldn't find the bullet in the jello inside.

This was a very easy shot and he couldn't have got any more dead. I'm questioning how the bullet would have held up with a more marginal hit, like a leg bone. In general, I'd recommend a stronger built bullet for 22-250 velocities. A heavier bullet might have penetrated better on the far side but with this slow twist, I couldn't get much heavier. This is the most accurate bullet I've used with this rifle. I can shoot .75 MOI with it.

entry hole


far side rib cage. Knife point shows small hole where bullet stopped.

Looks like it did a fine job to me.

What part of DEAD, don't you like?? Rio7

Thread title should be, "Critiquing the 55 grain varmint HP for antelope"...

MY ERROR. In my OP I said HP. That's wrong. I meant BT. This is supposed to be a bullet for larger game than varmints.

Read again. I'm questioning what would have happened on a marginal shot like hitting a leg bone.

Nice hole.

Don't take marginal shots, and you won't leave any 3 legged speed goats behind.Rio7

That's easy to say but a walking critter can easily move a leg in front of a bullet. That requires a bullet that will penetrate it and still get inside. I don't think this one would.
Actually, I think this bullet would be excellent in a .223 with a little lower velocity. I don't think it's sturdy enough for a 22-250.

55 grain factory loaded soft points fired from a 22-250 have killed a bunch of deer and antelope around these parts.


Chancy shots and I would prefer a 270(antelope/deer).

Awesome! Some of the best table fair there is!

I am with Sam...

Rock Chuck: I have used 55 grain bullets from both 22-250's and 220 Swifts to kill Antelope - I have also seen them killt with 55 grain bullets from 223 Remingtons!
Patience and shot placement are both critical when attempting this.
Placement in the heart/lungs with this type/size bullet WILL result in a very quickly dead, Antelope.
LUCKILY on all the 22 caliber Antelope kills I have done and seen done none have as yet to strike a shoulder blade - so I can not comment on your question.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

rockchuck,

i've used the .22-250 on deer for over 40 years.

in my experience, the 55 gr. Sierra sp is a good pill, but i do prefer the 55 gr. Hornady sp over the Sierra.

the 60 gr. Hornady sp is also an excellent pill, but avoid their 60 gr. hp pill that they actually introduced for usage on big game such as deer.

in my own experiences, the 1 in 14 .22-250 rigs will readily handle the 60 gr. Hornady sp, the 63 gr. Sierra sp, and the 70 gr. Speer sp--i've found them to stabilize just fine. in fact, i've never had a problem with these three pills even when used at .222 velocities.

as an additional thought, i do prefer the 60 gr. Hornady sp above the other two--for obvious reasons.

if i remember correctly, the 70 gr. Speer has a jacket thickness of .018, about .004 thicker than some of the typical .224 55 gr pills.

back in the 1970's, i even used the Nosler 55 gr. solid base, in one case dropping a big mule deer at approx 375 yards. the jacket/solid base unit was found just under the hide on the far side.

i've only had one mishap with a .22 cf pill on deer, and that was when i used a lightweight Sierra pill in a .220 Swift on a whitetail back in the mid 1970's. the load was high velocity, and the deer was only about 160 yards out. while the deer was brought to bag, it was a good lesson for a young hunter...

try the 60 gr Hornady sp--i'm reasonably sure that you will like it...

When I dressed him, I saw his teeth and just groaned. They were worn down to where there were V notches in them and the 4th incisors were just nubbins. He was older than me. However, we had some loin chops tonight and they're very mild and VERY tender. A pleasant surprise.

I would say it would perform marginally on a marginal shot.

I'd use a more heavily constructed bullet in the 22-250.

The Hornady 60SP mentioned is a very good one.

My buddy is going to be using a 55gr. hornady this weekend, when we go deer hunting. I expect it will get the job done just fine..

the 55gr Barnes tsx would be a good one to use..

Monos would certainly be high on my list for skinny little bullets traveling at multiples of Mach speed versus eating sized deerish critters.