Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Wanted: real experience stories with 22 caliber rifles for deer

If Scenar's pics are not enough, here is my experience.

45gr TSX, 1:14, 22-250
53gr TSX, 1:14, 22-250
64gr Sierra, 1:9, 222

I do not have detailed notes, but close to 4 dozen deer/antelope with no issues
Have only recovered the 64gr Sierra out of the 222.

I got my 22-250 back from getting a new 1:8 barrel to replace the 1:14 that was shot out. Plan on trying 62gr TTSX, if they do not pan out, I will go right back to the 53gr TSX.

Good info CRS. That's what I'm trying to find out. On other sites I get ridiculed for carrying .22's for deer and 243 for bear because they say I'm certain to wound game too. Good to hear of someone shooting that volume without issue.

Pat, its good to see you post some pics of .22 kills, but damn, you, Bill, and Shawn look young in them.

You was just a kid in this one. I always enjoy your photos.
Thanks for posting them.

I killed about 12 mule deer with a 22-250 years ago using Speer 70 grain semi-spitzers. Never lost one, but some of the bullet made good straight wound channels and a few turned off at angles in the bodies. I wish the jackets were a bit thicker in the shank area.

After I have satisfied my curiosity I quit using that rifle for deer hunting because I had no real need to use it, having 25s 6.5MM, several 270s 308s 30-06s 300, 338s and also a 375H&H 458s 460s and a 50-140 Sharps in my safe. I have always liked larger rifles, but I don't preach that such tools are needed. If someone can shoot well and uses any bullet that will give good expansion with full penetration, a big gun is not needed. I just like them.

I have seen about 20 other hunters kill deer and antelope with center fire 22s, all 223s and 22-250s using well made "deer bullets". Nosler Partitions and Barnes X types of 60 grains and heavier. All did very well.

I saw 5 deer killed with 65 grain Sierras from a Remington M700 in 223, but I have to say I was not very impressed with them. They killed the deer, (all white tails) but only one of the 5 exited the body, and the other all blew up badly. All were well placed so no deer were lost, but in one case the wound was only about 9" deep.

Just last week I loaded 100 rounds of 223 for my AR15, with 60 grain Nosler Partitions. The 223 is a legal round for deer and antelope in Wyoming with bullets of 60 grains or heavier. I may never shoot one with an AR, but if I get an urge to do it I thought I should have some ammo made for the task. I loaded my 5.56 "hunting ammo" with 24.6 Gr H4895 in WW brass and I get right at 1 MOA with them, so that's plenty good for deer or antelope out to any range I would shoot at them with a 223. I would limit myself to 300 yards personally.

The AR15 is also an excellent tool for smaller hunters because of it's tele-stock and extremely low recoil. Because of that I have loaned my ARs to hunters several times in the past and so far all of them (mostly kids and small women) have done very well in their hunts, and nearly all of them got an AR for themselves afterwords.

The 6.8 SPC and 6.5 Grendel are favored, but many have used the standard 5.56 for deer and antelope with good bullets,and done fine. The deer and antelope do not always drop at the shot when hit with the 223s, but I have yet to see one go more than about 40 yards.

I played around with some 40gr AMAX bullets for coyotes in my .220AI for awhile. I was getting 4300fps with a good dose of 4064, in a 26" Hart 1-14".

I'd called in a pair of coyotes and got a facing shot on the old male at about 125 yards. I fired and he dropped instantly. I swung over on the female and killed her with a running shot behind the shoulder.

When I went out to recover them, the male was gone. There was hair, and chunks of meat where he took the hit. I looked up the coulee and saw him sitting in a patch of sagebrush still alive. I dispatched him right there. The first bullet
exploded on the heavy shoulder muscle, leaving a good sized crater, but never got inside the cavity. After that, I went back to 55gr class bullets. I'd taken about 75 coyotes with that load up until then, without any issues.

I’ve killed my share of deer with a .223. However, outside of some cull shoots, mine aren’t first choice for deer/hogs, but something that’ll work in a pinch. This is hunting the east, or Texas scrub.....if I always hunted open country with only patchy brush or could see the next hillside, I’d be far less concerned with such things. Too much thick stuff to track in, bad angle presentations, etc. I grab other/better suited stuff if planning ahead.

Kurt,

I hear you....where did all those years go?

I'll dig out a few more oldies.

Bill Beyl, with a nice chocolate brown boar he killed with his old Remington 22/250

I cherish these memories...two great people right here.

Bill and Shawn Beyl, with a nice 6X5 whitetail buck, Shawn took with his Sako .220 swift, about 30 years ago.

The only way you will wound game is if you mess up on shot placement. With the caveat that appropriate bullets are used. But that can be a whole other thread, and what makes the fire go round and round ad nauseum.

Our shot distances as been from 30-450yards, all sorts of presentations. I found that deer/antelope skeletal structure will not stop the TSX.

This is only an assumption, but I think the 53gr TSX at 3750fps would blow right through an elk shot through the ribs.

Bill and his 22/250...

His shooting skills were beyond belief....with any weapon.

The government of Alberta needs to see this thread.

Great pictures Gents!

Interesting that 32-20, 6.8 SPC, and 30 BO are legal here though....

I have limited experience of 2 animals. Shooting an H&R single shot, 12 twist with 60 grain partitions at 3150. ( too hot, I know. I accidentally mixed up my data with 5.56. Had to back this off later) I shot a doe at 150 yards, broadside. found one piece of hair. followed the best we could with no snow and hard grassy ground. Looked for a body for 3 hours, had to get home for work and school. Went back the next week and found it dead 120 yards from the shot. nickel sized hole through the ribs.
My daughter used the same rig, toned down to 2950 and shot a doe on the shoulder at 100 yards. Same result. No hair, no blood, no track. Never found. Im sure it was dead by its body reaction and I heard the bullet hit it. Frustrating since I know the round is capable. I decided to try again with snow on the ground and never got to it. I have a 8 twist bolt gun that is begging for 62 swift scirocco loads, but havent gotten there yet. I switched my daughter to a 450 bushmaster for various reasons and she laid down 2 last year and 6 this year with no losses. the bushy hurts them bad. Very large reaction from the deer when hit and huge blood trails. its hard to grab anything else out the gun safe when the bushy is so devastating and my 338 RUM is just plain hell on them at any distance I can shoot.

Also worth noting, a buddy that hunted polar bear years ago, said the inuit carried 222 as bear back up guns. basically was all they could get for some reason, but that was the back up gun to his bow!

I read a story about them hunting from elevated stands with a .22 Hornet with a stick tied to the barrel. (For some reason the bear wouldn't be visible, I don't remember the details of why.) When a bear would come along, they'd poke it with the stick and pull the trigger. Wait several hours, then go track the bear.

The Sportsman (Fudds?) in the state of Pennsylvania are still winning the fight against us who would like to see semi-autos become legal. They're primary argument is "guys will be out there hunting deer with AR's in 223". To which I reply "yeah so"?

How many in brush that runs sight length?????? Your “clusterfhuck” of bears always DRT?????

Nice wide open field.