deer rifle ?
 

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

RE: deer rifle ?
 

Start at 243 and go up from there if you want to.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

I agree, use at least a 243 Win.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

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 :D

RE: deer rifle ?
 

It is the same in WV, as long as it is 22 caliber or larger and centerfire it is legal. I have seen deer taking with .222's but i wouldnt recommend it, its just too small. Most of the deer i have seen taken with these guns where head shots. I do know an older guy who was a friend of my dads who took many deer with a 22-250. Shot placement is very very critiical with the small calibers. Althought they will do it, its not an ethical idea. Like everyone said the .243 is probably as small as you should go.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

While not the best round by any means. . .it will work just fine if you shoot well. Lots of folks seem to think bigger is always better. I have seen many Deer fall from rounds as small as a 22 hornet, which I do really think is to damn small, but it does drop em.

With that said though if you can and have the means get a bigger gun. The smallest I have for Deer is a .260 Rem.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

I've used an old Savage combo gun .222/20ga for deer in the past. Fine results. I've also used a .223rem and a .22-250, never had any problems with any of them...I used reloaded rounds that were pretty hot, and loaded with good big game bullets (rather hard for typical 22cal bullets). I've taken half a dozen deer with these three rounds, all were one shot stops, and only ONE of them did not exit, and it hit the far shoulder, shattering it at the joint...that deer did NOT move from where it stood.

The .243win is generally considered the bottom end, and for pretty good reason, as most 22cal centerfires aren't loaded with bullets suited to big game hunting. If you reload, you can bump the performance a bit by loading good big game bullets.

I WON'T say that it's a great choice, or even necessarily a good one, I've only used them to do something different than my typical rifles. I'd honestly recommend you buy a H&R/NEF Handi rifle or single shot in .243win or bigger, only cost you $200 or so new with a decent scope on it. You could also pick up an older mauser for very cheap too.

As long as you've got outstanding groups, there's nothing wrong with using the 22cal centerfires. They aren't the best choice, but if it's the only gun you've got and you don't want to buy another rifle, it's a viable option at least. Just limit your shots to supported shots on deer standing still at broadside/quartering away and under 150yrds and you'll be fine.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

While I agree that .22cal centerfire cartridges will kill deer, I would not recommend same for deer. Regardless of the shot in the heart/lung area, deer can go to far, in many cases, with holes through and through. One thing cannot be denied; bigger bullet equals bigger wound channel. Bigger wound channel translates into more rapid hemorraging. The more the animal bleeds the faster he goes down.
Add to that the case of trophy deer presenting a bad angle for your well placed shot, using a 22. This could be walking straight away from your position or at a steep raking angle. In those cases, you need a bullet that will penetrate a lot of deer meat and maybe bone, before reaching the certain, quick kill area. We all owe it to the game to make every attempt at getting quick, clean kills.
I began hunting deer with a rifle chambered for .243Win. I saw for myself that deer could be hit through the heart and still go 100 yards or more. One ran, jumped a stock fence, as if he'd never been hit and disappeared in an overgrown field, 20 minutes before dark. Just by luck, I found where he'd laid down in heavy cover. When I dressed the deer, his heart was cut into a "Y" by my bullet. After that, I began using a .270Win, which anchors deer with the very same shots that I had previously seen them run off on.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

with that little cartridge shot placement would have to be right on the money. use s 243 its a great little caliber, my dad has even taken moose with it.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

When I was reloading for the .222 here in the midwest, I heard it had a rep for poaching. Got the job done, & didn't scare the goat herders. Kind of a backhand compliment for an inherently excellent little cartridge.

Now the 223 (pardon, I don't like it) has taken over.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

Will a 222 kill a deer? You bet! But I hope that I will always be able to stand the recoil of a 243 because I feel that it is the minimum cartridge that I would ever want to take deer hunting.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

thanks for the input now all I have to do is convince my wife that I need to buy another gun

RE: deer rifle ?
 

The knee-jerk reaction to your question will always be: "NO, it is NOT adequate for deer" because it is a varmint cartridge, etc. This is pretty much true as a rule, PARTICULARLY IF YOU ARE SHOOTING FACTORY-LOADED AMMO IN IT. Factory loads use very fragile bullets intended to blow up on things as small as ground squirrels, crows, prairie dogs, and such little critters. Such bullets don't penetrate well enough to kill a deer except with a shot behind the shoulder that hits nothing but a rib on the way in, and then destroys the lungs. Even with a shot like this, the deer will often run a considerable distance, and the little bullet hole doesn't let out enough blood, if any at all, to give you a means to track the critter in those thick woods you've got in the northern zone of NY!!

However, if you use a handload with a Nosler 60-grain Partition bullet, or one of the .224 Barnes X bullets, the penetrating powder of the .222 is increased a significant degree, allowing shooting of much bigger animals. For example, a friend of mine in Alaska's 12-year old son took a couple of large mountain goats with a .222, and they are at least as hard to kill as an Adirondack buck. HOWEVER, even with these bullets, shot placement is very critical, and again, you cannot expect instantaneous, drop-on the spot kills (unless you use a brain shot!!), nor will these bullets improve the blood trail problem.

But I must add that the .243, which some folks advocate, is not a whole lot better in this respect! After all, its' bullet is only two hundredths of an inch bigger around, and it will not penetrate any deeper than a premium .224 bullet of equal sectional density launched at the same speed.

Get a 6.5X55, .260 Rem., 7mm/08, or .308 and be happy!!

RE: deer rifle ?
 

I also took quite a few deer with the 222/20 Ga over and under Savage. Loaded with Barnes X or trophy bonded bullets it will do the job. My minimum deer rifle now is the 250 Savage. Between the 243 and the 223 or 222, I would flip a coin.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

I remember reading a tale by Jim Carmichel, shooting guru for Outdoor Life. He was returning from Africa and his guns were on the plain to the U.S.of A. He stopped off in Scotland I believe and a friend invited him to a "hunting club" to cull some Fallow deer. (a european deer somewhat smaller than a whitetail) Carmichel had his choice of two club rifles he could borrow. A .300 win. mag. and a .222. He took the .222 to the range and found it a superb shooter so somewhat hesitantly chose it. He then shot a number of deer very dead, all one shot kills. He ended the article not recommending the .222 as a deer round but being surprized at how well it knocked over the fallow deer.

Robin

RE: deer rifle ?
 

In Ontario 22 cal. centerfire is not legal for big game for good reasons. Many have been mentioned already and they simply leave to many injured animals if everything is not perfect. They also tend to deflect easily in thick cover. The .243 I would consider minimum as it offers bullets in the 100 g. range and far more energy downrange compared to the .22 bullets. I personally use a 25-06 and have never had even large deer travel more than a few steps.

Best Wishes

RE: deer rifle ?
 

Back in my younger days when options were limited in the household I used a 222 for two seasons. I took a buck in both of those years. I was very familiar with the rifle and it was incredibly accurate. Both of the deer were taken with neck shots and dropped in their tracks. With that being said you have to be prepared to pass up shots that are not ideal. If you are not able to do that then don't even consider using it. The 243 is really a better choice to be considered the minimum caliber. If you can swing the purchase of a higher caliber you should do it, your shot options really increase.

WSMDan

RE: deer rifle ?
 

If you are from NYS,you could use a 50 cal muzzleloader.It can be used in most places that shotguns are allowed so you don't have to travel,yet get the rifle accuracy.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

If you're strapped for cash and can't afford a new rig, then go with the 222 and use hotter loads with premium bullets. But if not, why take the risk of losing an animal due to shooting a marginal caliber? Taking risks like that and losing animals are not only inhumane, but its the stuff that the anti's get all wound up too. I'm not saying go out and drop a grand on a new rifle/scope, but like mentioned above, the NEF Handi-rifle won't break the bank. If you decide to go that route, I'd also bypass the 243 and go with something bigger. Yes the 243 is a great double-duty rifle(deer and varmints), but you've already got a good varminter in the 222, so why not get a caliber thats more suited for bigger game? just a thought.

RE: deer rifle ?
 

i wouldn't reccomend the .222 to anyone for deer. Anything smaller than 23 caliber is illegal here in KS. I agree with everyone else....243 is the smallest i would go, and i wouldn't reccomend the .243 for deer, here is my out look for the .243, kill a deer if shot placement is right-yes knock them on their butt-no. I personally prefer something a bit bigger. My smallest deer rifle is a 6.5mm, and my favorite is 8mm. .222 just isn't enough umph to knock a deer down...and head shots are a little brutal. good luck

RE: deer rifle ?
 

Sorry to controdict everyone, but if the shot placement is their, the deer will come down. I, personally, shoot mainly a .22-250 at most of my deer. If you have good confidence in that rifle and get a good shot, either in the neck or quartering away (tuck it extrmely close to the should and split the heart), the 22 cal will drop a good deer in his tracks. However, if you can afford it, i'd probably pick up an affordable (700 ADL or savage) in a little heavier caliber such as .243, .25-06, .260, .270 and so on.