"....I would not hessitate to shoot anything up to a muledeer with my 22-250, but that's because I know my rifle and I know what it can and can't do. However, I have never shot a deer in the chest with my 22-250. I only take the shot while the animal's head is up and I have a good square shot on the neck. Not quartering to or away. Only if the animal is broad side or, best case scenario, the animal if facing directly towards me. It doesn't matter what you are shooting if you break the neck the animal will not live. Period.
You guys can stand behind your opinion about the 22 calibers being "too small" for deer and continue to blast them with large bore rifles. That's fine with me.
Your arguments do not change the fact that just as many deer, if not more, are wounded and not recovered with large bore rifles because people tend to "see fur and pull the trigger".
Should everybody should shoot a 22 caliber rifle at deer? Without a doubt, no! That statement is as irresponsible as saying that every hunter shooting deer with a 22 caliber rifle is unethical.
Bottom line is that it has more to do with the shooter than the rifle. You can own the fastest race car in the world, but if you don't know how to drive it then you aren't going to win many races.
I personally like the low recoil of the small caliber rifles, and I like the fact that if I want to shoot 100 rounds in one day out of my 22-250, my shoulder can take it. If I am shooting my .270 I shoot is as little as I need to because of the recoil.
And that's my personal choice. And I stand behind that choice 100%.
AND
"....Going back to the 25-06.....I feel that the 25-06 is plenty sufficient tokill elk. Elk are tough creatures, no doubt about it.But let's be real. Even with a super whiz bang magnum rifle you have to put the bullet where it's supposed to go...right behind the shoulder. Otherwise you risk losing the animal...plain and simple.No matter what gun you use, you must make a good shotto bring an elk down....."
The first one appears to be based in experience on deer.
The second appears to be based in theory with no experience on elk.
Gotta give the lad credit, at least he is consistent, exceptthe aim point changesbetween the two....
Does seem to be "recoil sensitive" which may lean the viewpoint.
Note: I also agree with FC, for those who use capable cartridges one is not restricted to the "right behind the shoulder" requirement. Personally I consider it to be inferior to punching them thru the shoulder(s) with a capable cartridge which also scrambles the boiler room in the process plus stops theadrenalin run, which in elk country can take you a long ways into where you don't want to go.
I guess there is always neck shots.... not my cup of tea but advocated by some.
IMHO, less than 30-06 power is weak and asking for trouble where none need exist.
I've seen cases where the friskier cartridges put elk right down even with less than perfect placement which, though I am sure many here don't believe it,
sometimes happens to humans in the real (non-internet) world. While this should not be relied upon at all, it does provide
a measure of insurance against the uncertainties that occur in real life.