22-250 for deer
03-02-2009, 01:01 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast Alabama
Posts: 1,625
RE: 22-250 for deer
Will it kill a deer? Yes. Is it a good round for deer? Its decent in my opinion. There are much better choices out there I agree with 3000 go for a 243 so you will have better shot options.
03-02-2009, 03:36 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: central Ky
Posts: 2,867
RE: 22-250 for deer
A 22-250 will kill deer with the right bullets and bullet placement. The problem lies in the rifling rate of twist, which is usually 1-14 to 1-12 in 22-250s which is designed for up to 55 gr bullets MAX. The bullets designed to be used on deer sized game start off at about 62 gr and go up to 79 gr or even heavier, of which requires rifling rate of twist of 1-7 to 1-9 to properly stabilize them.
03-02-2009, 03:45 PM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Spokane Washington
Posts: 1,042
RE: 22-250 for deer
If you can get a close shot, and are comfortable with taking a head or neck shot then yes. But if your shots are from more than 100 yards and you arent comfortable with taking a head or neck shot then no. Those bullets are not heavy enough or long enough to do enough damage to take a reliable lung/heart shot. I can just see you loosing too many deer trying to get good enough to reliably make clean kills with that gun. Pick yourself up a 30-30 or 308 and get some practice. The 22-250 will, can and does kill deer, but it has to be in the right hands with the right shot placement.
03-02-2009, 04:23 PM
#7
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,425
RE: 22-250 for deer
I would not buy a .22-250 as a deer rifle (actually I did back in the 60s) but, if it is what you have and you shoot it as a varmit gun regularly then it will kill deer...
Here is my story...In the late 60s, the lawmakers in NC were scared of high powered rifles...They enacted a law that you could not use a rifle over .22 caliber...So, many of us went out and bought .22-250s and .223s...At this time deer populations were just coming back and most of us didn't have much experience with big game calibers...
In the course of 5 years I killed at least 40 deer with a .22-250 and 55gr varmit bullets...All were either broadside lung shots, straight on heart shots or where the neck joins the body...Frankly, I don't remember losing any and never had one go over 125 yards...There are still plenty of NC hunters that regularly hunt with these calibers...Most are reloaders and varmit hunters so they are good shots...I have since moved up to a .243...
About 5 years ago, my youngest brother acquired a .22-250 in trade...Remembering my experience he had me set it up for his (then) 14 year old daughter...I sighted this gun in with 60gr Federal Premiums, sat down with my niece and had her shoot it a few times and gave her some basic instructions on where to shoot a deer, etc...
The following afternoon she killed 2 does with it, both dropped...I cleaned her deer, both were high lung shots and both bullets exited...Since then she has killed another 5 deer with this rifle...
With the new, deer bullets loaded in a .22-250 this gun is very capable...I wouldn't buy one for deer, but it will do...
Here is my story...In the late 60s, the lawmakers in NC were scared of high powered rifles...They enacted a law that you could not use a rifle over .22 caliber...So, many of us went out and bought .22-250s and .223s...At this time deer populations were just coming back and most of us didn't have much experience with big game calibers...
In the course of 5 years I killed at least 40 deer with a .22-250 and 55gr varmit bullets...All were either broadside lung shots, straight on heart shots or where the neck joins the body...Frankly, I don't remember losing any and never had one go over 125 yards...There are still plenty of NC hunters that regularly hunt with these calibers...Most are reloaders and varmit hunters so they are good shots...I have since moved up to a .243...
About 5 years ago, my youngest brother acquired a .22-250 in trade...Remembering my experience he had me set it up for his (then) 14 year old daughter...I sighted this gun in with 60gr Federal Premiums, sat down with my niece and had her shoot it a few times and gave her some basic instructions on where to shoot a deer, etc...
The following afternoon she killed 2 does with it, both dropped...I cleaned her deer, both were high lung shots and both bullets exited...Since then she has killed another 5 deer with this rifle...
With the new, deer bullets loaded in a .22-250 this gun is very capable...I wouldn't buy one for deer, but it will do...
03-02-2009, 05:11 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Renfrew County, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 1,392
RE: 22-250 for deer
ORIGINAL: xi32
hey guys first off i cant use a rifle to hunt deer in illinois with but if i get the chance to go somwhere i can would a 22-250 be a good round for deer
hey guys first off i cant use a rifle to hunt deer in illinois with but if i get the chance to go somwhere i can would a 22-250 be a good round for deer
.243 min
03-03-2009, 12:59 PM
#9
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Shenandoah Valley, Virginia
Posts: 256
RE: 22-250 for deer
I wouldn't buy a 22-250 for hunting deer that why I have my 30-06.
But a 22-250 will kill a deer. My 22 MAG will take down deer. I bet a clean head shot with a 22 could do it too.
Shot placement is all that really matters.
But a 22-250 will kill a deer. My 22 MAG will take down deer. I bet a clean head shot with a 22 could do it too.
Shot placement is all that really matters.
03-03-2009, 02:03 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
Posts: 3,802
RE: 22-250 for deer
I'd go for a slightly larger cartridge myself. .243 Win and up. But if you use the right bullet, are are VERY disciplined in your choice of shots, AND it's legal where you're hunting (most states require a centerfire rifle shooting bullets 0.243" and larger for deer), then it'll do the job. I'd keep my shots inside 100 yards and full broadside into the ribs. No racking shots, shoulder shots or "Texas Heart Shots".
As stalkingbear mentioned, the chances are pretty good that your .22-250 is a 1:12" or 1:14" twist, designed for shooting the standard varmint weight bullets of 55 grains and smaller. Many of the newly released .224cal deer bullets are larger than can be stabilized in such barrels (60 grains+). If your barrel is a slow twist, then the bullet I'd recommend to try would be the Barnes 55gr TSX. It should give the best on-game performance for both penetration and expansion of any .224" bullet in that weight class. Just be very careful about bullet selection if you use factory ammo. Most factory .22-250 ammo, especially those 55 grains and under, will be loaded with varmint bullets that will instantly disintegrate on impact and may not produce adequate penetration to humanely kill a deer.
But my suggestion would be, if the opportunity arises, get yourself an inexpensive .243 Winchester. Just about every CF rifle made today is chambered for the .243, ammo is as cheap as you can get for hunting ammo, and it'll do a fine job. Savage/Stevens, Mossberg, and Marlin, to name a few, all offer decent and inexpensive entry-level bolt actions for under $450. Worth a look.
Mike
As stalkingbear mentioned, the chances are pretty good that your .22-250 is a 1:12" or 1:14" twist, designed for shooting the standard varmint weight bullets of 55 grains and smaller. Many of the newly released .224cal deer bullets are larger than can be stabilized in such barrels (60 grains+). If your barrel is a slow twist, then the bullet I'd recommend to try would be the Barnes 55gr TSX. It should give the best on-game performance for both penetration and expansion of any .224" bullet in that weight class. Just be very careful about bullet selection if you use factory ammo. Most factory .22-250 ammo, especially those 55 grains and under, will be loaded with varmint bullets that will instantly disintegrate on impact and may not produce adequate penetration to humanely kill a deer.
But my suggestion would be, if the opportunity arises, get yourself an inexpensive .243 Winchester. Just about every CF rifle made today is chambered for the .243, ammo is as cheap as you can get for hunting ammo, and it'll do a fine job. Savage/Stevens, Mossberg, and Marlin, to name a few, all offer decent and inexpensive entry-level bolt actions for under $450. Worth a look.
Mike