Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .22-250 vs .308 Win

Each year, I am taking 4 or 5 teenage boys out deer hunting...including Seafire Jr...

each year, I am the one carrying the lightest caliber among us all....

at the same time, several of the boys, including my son.. I have to give them downloaded ammo so they can accurately shoot the caliber they chose...

but they each still think a downloaded 270 or 30/06 or even 30/30 is more 'cool' and 'macho' than a 243 or 260...

they really get insensed over a 223... but then that is the one they love to shoot, while "practicing" at the range...

although many have said the same thing, I think TEAL said it best...

That's right I just read that you turned 37. A good year for sure. A Happy Birthday to you!

.223

there's some truth to this in MS. you'll never be questioned about totin a .308, although there will be suggestions to step up to a .300 mag because it "hits harder" (you know, if you want the 120 lb doe to be "DRT"). but if you're caught totin a .223 or .243, youre gonna hear a variation of "bwa, are u some kind of a queer??"

Kinda funny that the same "undergunned philosophy" shows up when fellas talk 270Win vs 7Mag.....

I heard the .270 is a chick bike

The biggest blacktail I have taken while here in Oregon, I had the head mounted...guys see it and ask how much did it weigh on the hoof...about 235 to 240....

well fed suburban deer... courtesy of all the California transplant retirees, who can't feed the 'wildlife' enough.. muffins from Costco etc...

Then they ask what I shot it with... If I say 300 Win Mag, its amazing the nods of approval I get...

When I tell the truth about I shot it wandering thru my backyard last day of the season ( granted it was a wooded rural back yard).... I get frowns...

when I tell the truth and let them know it was a head shot with a 22 Mag, as that what was quickly available...I get these looks ranging from shocked to disgust...

took it after getting home an hour before, and put all my hunting gear away.. and hunting up in the mountains hadn't produced any results...wife told me there was a big buck out in the yard chasing some does...so I thought what the hell, its in a legal area to take it...

point being, no one thinks anything of it, if I say it was taken with a 300 Mag.. they get incensed when I say it was with a 22 Mag and a head shot at 50 yds...

people get funny over things like that...

Whatever you decide on cartridge, make sure the rifle fits the kids now. Worry about a full size set-up when they are full size.

I heard that a 270WSM is mullet wearing lesbo bike....

ha! it's fat too

I'm with the .223 or .243 crowd. Get him a 6mm and the village idiots will think its a cannon

If it were me, .223 hands down, followed by .243/6mm, then 7mm-08� before I'd even be thinking .308

I've used some 110s and factory 130's in the .308 and they are really destructive at full velocity. With reduced loads they start acting more like a pistol or 30M1 carbine bullet. Between the 2 I would go with the .22-250 and near full velocity loads. More chance of dropping the deer in it's tracks. The 223, 243, 260, & 7mm/08 are good choices too. Of these only the .223 would be noticeably quieter when wearing ear protection, which should be mandatory.

Happy belated birthday, Travis!!!

Thank you sirs.




Travis

I would do 22-250 and then when the kids grow-up they will make their own decision on calibers and cartridges. You never know the direction they will take. They may decide hunting is not their thing or like to chase birds and small game instead of deer.

My father started me with a 243 Winchester and as soon as I got old enough to buy my own rifle, I bought a 7mm Remington Magnum. I shot a pile of deer with it and thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I also started buying different rifles because I was also turning into a "rifle loony" as well. I have tried many different cartridges and now have come full circle. I don't like rifles that "kick". I prefer the smaller cartridges now. So in other words, the children may do the same. The 22-250 will serve them well and if the get magnumitis like many of us they will forget about it for awhile. Although one day in their distant future they may come back to the "wimpy" 22-250 and use it again with pleasure.

Putting together a rifle for wife and grandkids now and have elected to go with the 22-250. 8" twist of course, and will be shooting 75gr Amaxes or 80gr VLDs.

John

I vote 308. Though I hunted with a 220 Swift for many years. Took several WT's with it.

A 22 centerfire will, by default, teach them shot placement immediately.

To answer your question: 308 all the way.

The rifles are likely to be equally heavy to the child no matter the chambering. If they can handle it from the bench and not be scared of it, it'll be love at first kill for the kid. 308 Win.

125 nbt's loaded to 2600 in the 308, if he can't handle that recoil he is to young to hunt. Teach him how to shoot and dole the shells out miserly cause the 1 st thing after safety lessons is teaching "make the first shot count", good luck Magnum Man

Practice makes....nah, no need for that...