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

I enjoy the Ass Ache of Drooling Dumb Fhuqks...Whining about wares beyond their "means","abilities" and "comprehension".

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

Odds are pretty good that somewhere among the posters is in fact a federal contractor who does wildlife conflict management. I’ve yet to ever see his advice not be solid. I know of another contractor who prefers the 22 hornet suppressed and head shots but his shots are rarely over 75 yds and taken at night with NV’s on crowded airports and the like. Both have a set budget and shoot what they want given the target and area etc.

1. Longest shot I've ever taken on a deer; 360 yards with a 22-250 and DRT with a lung shot. The bullet, a Speer 70 grain Semi Spitzer.

2. Another deer I took with a Speer 70 grain Semi Spitzer but this time out of a 222. It was a lung shot. The deer rand about 100 yards and died.

3. A deer I took at about 252 yards with a 45 grain Hornady bullet out of a 204 Ruger went less than 20 feet.

I consider the 204 Ruger marginal. I consider the 22-250 and similar a very valid chambering for deer sized big game.

Lots of game was killed by round balls launched out of flintlocks before there were percussion caps. So?

I’ve killed a couple does with a 22-250 shooting 55 grain varmint bullets but both were head shots. I hunted a ranch in Texas that an old man owned and he swore by the 22-250 for deer but I swear that old man lost more deer that he shot than I can count. I couldn’t begin to testify to shot placement, I just know I spent a lot of nights with a flashlight looking for deer “he hit good”. I think these heavier bullets now available with fast twist barrels definitely adds an advantage to the 22 cal capability on deer/antelope sized game especially since accuracy can be so good, recoil non-existent and being able to watch the shot all the way through.

I gotta call a certain goofy fhuqker,of whom you speak...................(grin)

All these were 222 or 223 with a variety of bullets




I have dozens more instances, they flat kill stuff. I rarely use “good” bullets and rarely have anything do much running, surgical precision and no recoil makes for short tracking jobs.

AR and Mini 14, using my handloads (64 grain Winchester SP over H335) have proved reliable killers on hogs and deer here in North Florida.

Lots of game was killed with bow and arrow before there were flintlocks. But only with fast twist fletching.

More than a few steaks,was run offa cliffs too.

The Window Lickers NEVER disappoint,by simply doing their best!

Bless their hearts!..............

Y'alls points are really "relevant" to the thread.

Pat,

Could you post some photos of your and your son's Swift and provide a history of the rifle? What twist is your son going with in the .22 Creed?

Scenarshooter, have you had problems with wind drift in that open country? As for me , there is no wind drift , my avr. shot is 20 yds here in the cat tail marshes.

I’ve killed a handful with the 223 and the 70 grain Speer RN. The bullet stays together and all have exited. All the deer died. Most ran, one dropped. The blood trails left something to be desired. I like hunting with it, but have decided to stick with bigger stuff for a better tracking job. I know a lot of guys like the copper bullets, but I’m cheap and like shooting cup and cores at reasonable velocities. I’ll probably use it again for deer, but there are better rounds out there, IMO.

I don’t have any experience with them because I use calibers suited to the game I hunt without feeling the need to push any envelopes. A .22 caliber is marginal for deer at the very least. Why use marginal when there are so many better choices? Is a .243 Win too powerful for many?

Actual experiences will be heavily skewed towards the positive because those who choose to use skirt the edges will almost always feel the need to justify their choices. A .22 caliber for deer-sized game is just an accident waiting to happen. JMHO.

Wow you're really cool. I'm sure you "know" a lot and "do" a lot. You've changed my mind. I'll never stunt shoot again.

Oooopsie! Does this box show a deer on it?

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/gallery/80/full/94766.jpg

I've never seen a deer killed with a .22 CF bullet.

That's why I use RF ammo on pigs.

I have seen elephant, water buff, pigs and people whacked by .22 CF bullets. They all required at least one shot.

Don’t they all require at least one shot?




P

I have done it for years, although I still think there are better cartridges for deer. My wife with a 22-250, my daughter with a 223 and a couple more antelope with the 22-250. The nice thing about a great varmint cartridge is you can shoot them in the head, even at extended ranges...