Alright I have decided that I am going to out fit my boys for deer hunting.. One is 2 1/2 and one is scheduled for delivery on July 4th.. But it is never to soon to begin preparing ...The plan is to get a 22 Cal center fire barrell for my Encore. Don't give me the it is too small thing.. I have seen plenty of deer taken with 22-250, 223, 222 and so on andI already have a Ruger 22-250 (To nice, and too big to let a yougun tote), 2 243s, a 6mm and a 7mm08. So they have plenty of other choices to grow into.. But this will be the starter gun for them when they get to be about 6...

So let's hear it.. What is the best 22 cal for deer.. And why??

I'd take a look at ammo avaliable for deer, unless you reload...

I killed a few dozen with a 22-250 back in the late 60s and early 70s, using the Remington PSP 55 grain bullets, it killed deer, but the bullets would break up inside the deer...I got rid of it and moved up to a .243...

About 5 years ago, my youngest brother picked up a 700 in 22-250 in trade, he had remembered me using one and asked about bullets...I purchased a couple of boxes of Federal Premium 60gr Nosler Partitions and his daughter has used on 6-8 deer...They do quite a bit better, she gets exit holes and hasn't lost one yet...

That's why I'd do some research and see if you could find a couple of different options avaliable to you...I doubt it you will see much difference between .22s in damage done using the same deer bullets avaliable today....

Well...I'm having a slow afternoon here at the office, here is what I found...

Federal offers the 60gr NP in .223 and 22-250, not for the 220 Swift...
.223MV....3160 FP @ 100...998
.22-250MV...3500 FP @ 100 1234

Winchester offers their 64gr PowerPoint for .223 and 22-250
.223MV...3020 FP @ 100....1003
.22-250MV...3500 FP @ 100...1253

I didn't find a deer bullet on Remington's website....Hornady did have a 60grHP for the 220 Swift, but don't think it's a deer bullet...

Hornady does have a 60gr bullet for the 22-250, brother has picked up a box and I called and was told that it was for deer...

22-250MV....3600 FP @ 100...1360


So, I'd go with the 22-250 as you have 3 loadings for deer...The 60gr Nosler Partition that I have seen work, the 60gr Hornady that I was told will work and the 64gr PowerPoint....

Good Luck...

Is that even legal in any state?

Not legal in VA. 243 is the samllest Cal allowed for deer hunting.

Yep, legal as can be in NC, as is a .22 rimfire...Our regs, give no limitations, we believe in less Government...

Lethal as h&ll as well...

There are 43 states that allow deer hunting with a rifle. Of those 43 states, 38 allow the use of .22 centerfire cartridges.

Yes it is legal here in MS.. I wouldn't ask if it wasn't legal.

I have shot all my deer with a 223, hornaday sells a 75 gr boattail hollow point. I use either those or a55 grain vmax bullet.

Why not a .243?