ORIGINAL: johnl
according to new york state any center fire rifle is legal for deer( in the areas where you can use a rifle ) I have a 222 is that enough gun for deer ? it does a good job on woodchucks but I personally think it's too light for deer
Sorry, NO, your 222 Rem. should not be considered enough gun for deer hunting. The
.222, .223, 22-250, 220 Swift, etc. are varmint cartridges. They were never intended
for big game hunting, and bullets loaded in these cartridges are too frangible as well.
Even with premium bullets, they're really just too light of weight to insure proper penitration, and lack sufficient terminal ballistics. Yes, deer have been taken using these
cartridges, but to better insure a "humane" kill, and recovery of the animal, larger &
more powerful cartridges should be used.
Recommended minimum would, as noted above, be the .243 Win., which can do double duty in that it makes a pretty good varmint cartridge too. Just be sure to use the heavier, and well constructed bullets of 100gr. for the deer hunting.
Personally, if you like the .222 Rem. keep it, and get a second rifle for big game hunting.
Suggest a .270 Win. as minimum, but as noted, many make do with lesser such as the
.243Win., 257 Robts., 260Rem., etc.
Good luck & good hunting
