Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters .222 REM for Deer - what modern bullets make this possible?

It might be easy, but an incorrect answer..........the 60g Nosler Partition will keyhole at 100yds with the factory 1-14"twist

My wife's co-worker shot 20 white tails in about 25 years , all with one shot/each ( allowed 1 deer per year in Maine) with a Savage 340 bolt in 222 Rem, with a 60 year old steel-tubed Weaver El Paso-era K4 with standard crosshair. Factory ammo was used ( not sure if it was 50 or 55 grain ammo). She shot from a tree stand on her father's Albion, Maine dairy farm at distances less than 50 yards. She was a patient hunter ( passed on many deer) and decent shot (not great). She aimed for the base of the head/neck area. Never missed.

After she got re-married (after the 20 deer streak with her 222 Rem), her husband told her she was doing it ( deer hunting with a light rifle) "all wrong", and bought her a 308 Win bolt rifle. Now she is successful. She now gets one deer with one shot. :-)

The biggest problem with most 222 Rem rifles are their 1-14" twist barrels, which limits use of heavier bullets. If you have a 222 Rem 1-14" barrel, try the Speer .224" 70 grain round nose flat base. That may be stable in a 1-14" twist barrel at 222 Rem max velocities.

Setting your maximum range will be very important. 150 yards may be pushing it.

My wife's co-worker would still get her deer if all she had was a 22 Hornet with a single factory 45 grain cartridge with an ear shot at 50 yards, so go figure.

It might be easy, but an incorrect answer..........the 60g Nosler Partition will keyhole at 100yds with the factory 1-14"twist

My boys and I have shot over 3 dozen deer with our old 788 222. Most of those with 55 grain Sierra gk. It works incredibly well. Ranges from 30 to 200 yds. Actually, I shot a mule deer buck at just over 400 yds with it years ago but that's another story. Those bullets at around 3000fps really perform well.

Better than most would think.

Work good from 223s and 22-250s as well.

Don't remember if we tried them in a Swift or not.

Another vote for the 60 grain Partition. Work great in my .223 and I'll bet it would work in a 222 Rem too although I don't own a 222.

I read once that the semi pt 63 grain Sierra would work in the 1 in
14 twist of the 222. Seems like I tried some in my 788 and they were marginal to say the least. Not sure but I think the 50 gr bullet is used in most factory loads, don't recall seeing any heavier. Mb

I think you’re right - the 50’s are great and most heavier, to include some 55’s are velocity/length dependent. I have a pile of the 55gr Horn SP with a cannelure that I was happy to learn, that for many, it stabilized. I’d cast the rifle as a medium varminter since the late 80’s and I’m happy to learn that I’m wrong and need to reconsider it’s potential.

An easy correct answer is the 60g Nosler Partition. Just don't think it is a long-range load or anything.

One of the best deer hunters I've known carried a Savage that had a .222 over a 20 gauge with a scope. He hunted in Virginia back when about everything was in season all at once. He carried 4 shot for turkeys, 20gauge slugs for bear and deer, and the heaviest bullet he could find on the shelf in .222 for deer. He even carried some smaller bird shot for squirrels in case they wanted some easy meat for deer camp. He got a nice deer nearly every year, and a few bear.

One of the best deer hunters I've known carried a Savage that had a .222 over a 20 gauge with a scope. He hunted in Virginia back when about everything was in season all at once. He carried 4 shot for turkeys, 20gauge slugs for bear and deer, and the heaviest bullet he could find on the shelf in .222 for deer. He even carried some smaller bird shot for squirrels in case they wanted some easy meat for deer camp. He got a nice deer nearly every year, and a few bear.

24 Caliber is, & has always been the min. Caliber for Deer in Virginia !!!!!

24 Caliber is, & has always been the min. Caliber for Deer in Virginia !!!!!