The 22-250 is a bad choice for whitetails in ANYBODIES hands. It was conceived and intented as a varmit round and thats what it is. Can it kill deer? Yep! Can you wound and lose a deer with it even with a well placed shot? You bet! If you haven't seen a light 50 to 55 grain bullet do some strange things apon impact from a high velocity cartridge like a 22-250 or a 220 swift then you haven't been around as much as you think. I may walk a straight line now and preach the ethical way but I haven't always been so high minded. I was a young idiot once and hung out with a slew of other young idiots. I've shot or seen deer shot with everything they sell over the counter in the state of Alabama. I have seen 22-250 bullets explode on ribs, deflect on shoulders and run along bone instead of blowing through it. To be fair however I have also seen it drop deer so fast they literally bounced.

But why take the risk? I have been a strong advocate for the 243. It's a good deer round with the right bullet (100 grain) but it is in my opinion the minimum for deer. I have never understood why people want to keep pushing the envelope on the low caliber side for deer. I am also mystified at people who want to use a 338 magnum for deer but at least that will definately kill them consistently. If the recoil of a 243 is too much for you then maybe deer hunting isn't for you.