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

Not questioning how lethal 22’s are, but for increased probability of DRT in scenarios where you can’t see two football fields on either side of your target, you may want to increase your margin of error by going with something with a little more punch.

Christ. Trophy animals and great memories but when it comes to testament for .22’s, it’s out of place.

I once shot a coyote behind the shoulder with a 22 LR and never found it. I shot another in a wheat field with same rifle/ammo in the same spot and watched it run 100 yards and tip over. Did the same with two bull elk and an arrow. Found the former a day too late and the latter was able to watch with my feet up and some popcorn before he tipped over and was able to pack him out.

Pat and others thanks so much for all the real world results... Great stuff...

Dreamin 😂😂😂, you are dreamin 😂😂😂

In the woods of Pennsylvania I’ve seen it work extremely well, I will say the same as many that have actually used it but a 223 with a tough bullet will drop any deer when used correctly ( appropriate distance and good shot placement) . I have total faith in that round. My son used it for his first 2 years and now graduated to a creedmoor simply because I want him to start using something else for when we go out west. He is a big kid for his age( 6’ and 175 at 13 years old) but was very recoil shy early on, that 223 was exactly what he needed and he shot a few hundred rounds with it. I told him if he wanted to hunt elk or bear he needed to move up so my creed is now his.

MM

Dreaming, whether you know it or not you don’t shoot critters through brush no matter the cartridge....
Unless of course you like miserable results.

What does this have to do with the price of eggs?
Not once in this thread has a 22 LR been discussed.

You're pretty observant. What does that have to do with anything??

Take any decently constructed 55-60 grain bullets running North of 3000 fps, maybe even North of 3400, poke the critter in the vitals and stuff dies rather quickly. Most will be DRT or if they can handle it they might run 50 feet at the most.

Speed kills.

All anecdotal aside, the fact is there’s not the blood trail to work with in a 223 in the thick and/or wet, that there is with bigger stuff. I’ve used it plenty. Deer is still dead, but it’s a bitch to track it in the dark or thick....especially for that extra 50yards they seem to run when not shot in the CNS, vs most other stuff. Speed is ZERO guarantee of DRT with deer. Sometimes it seems to be. Other times it’s baffling to a guy with his pet laser beam to watch them run unfazed. A 55-75gr .224 bullet just can’t expand a whole lot, AND penetrate for an exit/good blood trail. It still kills well, it’s just not the ‘best’ for typical eastern deer hunts, IME. I’ve got a TON of deer/hog bullets and loads for .223, and I’ll use them up eventually, but it’ll be scenario specific. A 357 pistol bullet works better in the woods around here, and other stuff generally works better to keep them from getting there to begin with. I’m not saying don’t use it. I’m just pointing out the considerations some might need to acknowledge when using the smaller stuff as if it weren’t ‘smaller’.

Sounds like you're a hell of a hunter...

Don't know, or care what "DRT" is, but I've never wounded and lost any black bear I've ever shot at....with any rifle.

Maybe you should explain it all to us....

Can someone share a favorite 223 55 grain Hornady spire point load?

25 grains H335...

Pat's photos and experience should be sufficient.

My friend Dober, who used to post here, has used a 22-250 as a deer antelope rifle for over 30 years with the standard 1-14 twist.

I'd probably go with a 1-8 or 9" starting from scratch.

In the early 1950's my father used to fly the state of Montana. In the winter he'd have skis outfitted on his plane, delivering groceries and mail to snowed-in, isolated ranches. He'd always sit down for a cup of coffee, and in Eastern MT, there was invariably a BIG mule deer on the wall. He told me 9 times out of 10 you could count on it having been taken with a 220 Swift...

At our house, we've only used the 223, and only on antelope.

FWIW I've killed lots of does on a depredation permit with 22LR. Only blacktail so they were 80-90lbs. Head shots inside of 50 yards DRT.
Also I had a 1 in 14 223 that would keyhole any Barnes heavier than 45gr. I'm surprised some here have been able to stabilize heavier Barnes in 22-250 but maybe the extra velocity helps?

25gr H4895 for me

federal sharp shooters use 556,223 rem. for most of the deer they shoot at night and Federal sharp shooters kill plenty deer.

Lever' by lightyears.

Hint................

I've shot/killed with every chambering/boolit thus far cited and a LOT that haven't been. Hint.

If it won't shoot the 75 ELD or 88 ELD in a boltgun,I'm rebarreling.

Hint...................

I always enjoy seeing your pictures Pat. Makes me want another fast .22 caliber too.