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

I grew up being told that the 243 is marginal for deer, and a 22 caliber is only to be used in emergencies. I had always accepted that, and have been guilty of passing on the same information to others. (having never tried a 223) Several things have been making me rethink this, and I am seriously considering taking my 225 winchester deer hunting this fall. First, Big Stick has said a lot about 223 for hunting. And from what I have read, he can actually back his opinion up with experience. Second, I recently acquired P.O. Ackley's handbook for shooters and re-loaders. In volume 1 he has a chapter titled "Killing Power". In that chapter he talks pretty favorably about the 220 swift for deer. He also talks about using a 17 caliber for shooting wild burros. He does't exactly recommend a 17 caliber, but he expressed surprise at how well it performed.
So I would love to hear real world experience using a 22 centerfire rifle for deer. The good and the bad. If you have successes, it would be nice to know distance shot,bullet used, and how far the deer ran.
Ps. I do live in Pa, so 22 centerfire rifles are legal here. So lets hear it, the good, the bad, the ugly.
Ps 2. Lets not turn this into bashing other peoples choices and experiences, if you can't share experience with small centerfire rifles, keep your opinion to yourself. I want this to be a good informational discussion ( I know its a stretch on here).

I have a 223 and 2-250 both 8 rpm and I've killed quite a few deer with both. Never any issues with either

Be prepared to become overwhelmed. A lot of dudes have slayed deer with the .22 cal. Things seem to die when you hit em right. 😎

I wish Virginia would take a hint. I’d be all over 62 TTSX

I've been using a .223 for about 5 years on deer. 55 and 62 grain PSP's perform well and expand predictably out of a 16" barrel. I will NOT SHOOT more than 250 yards with this caliber - it will kill them but there will be some tracking involved... Most of my shots have been 80-175 yards... most neck shots DRT. The few I have shot in the shoulder/heart/lungs have run 20-40 yards with very little blood. I thinks it is a great tool but it will magnify the problems with a marginal shot, whereas a larger caliber might do a bit more damage on an off hit.

I think it is a great caliber for shooting deer and hogs.

My kids both used them this year for deer. One deer, a mulie, ran 30 yards with the heart shot out. The other never took a step after the shot.

I’ve used a 16” 223 AR on three deer. Bullet didn’t seem to matter if you stuck it through the slats, 40gr Nosler, 55gr Hornady SP, and 53gr TSX. I’ve also killed around 50 pigs in the last 2 years with 223ARs and a 222mag boltgun. I’ve used 40gr Varmaggedon tipped, 50gr Hornady SP, 55gr Hornady SP, 53gr VMax, 55gr BTips, 50gr BTips, 53gr TSX, 55gr ball, 75gr Hornady BTHPs, and probably others I’m forgetting, they all kill pigs from #40-250. Shot them in the front half and collect your critter.

Twist?

I have used them. They work, but I just don’t see the need when I can grab a 243. That’s just me.

Me too!

mathman has asked a relevant question. If your 225 is like mine, it has a 14" twist, which will limit the bullets that you use.

What do you want to see?

I've used a .220 swift a little for big game...

55gr Hornady spire points work pretty good.

Different species, same rifle and bullet.

My long time hunting pal was a 22/250 guy...The only rifle he ever used for over 50 years.

RIP Bill.

Sako Swift-55gr Hornady

That question can be asked all the way up the power scale. Why grab a 243 when you can grab a 260? Why grab a 260 when you can grab a 7mm-08? Why grab a 7mm-08 when you can grab a 30-06?

A 223 will kill a deer as dead as anything else. There's only one level of dead. My experience is that the 22 caliber Partitions shuts them down as quickly as a 30-06. Actually, more quickly in my experience. When I peel dead deer, I am not seeing any greater damage with larger bore bullets. The heart and or lungs just go to jelly. Obviously if we are dealing with extended ranges, the 22 caliber offerings may prove marginal before a larger caliber with heavier bullets. I don't have anywhere to hunt at those kind of ranges though.

Hey Pat, nice bucks and good to see you doing the posts.

I killed my first deer with a 223 back in the 70's. Not much tracking was involved. No idea of the twist rate or what bullet I used. I hit the shoulder, which ruined some meat. With that load, I should have held for the ribs.

I'd do it again with today's bullets in a barrel of the proper twist.


Okie John