.22-250??!!
 

I was shooting my Tikka .22-250 at the shooting range last week and got to thinking. Is this a big enough caliber to go deer hunting with? Provided that I use either 55 or 60 grain. (I think those are the biggest but I'm not sure) They travel at around 4000 fps. I know this caliber is perfect for varmint but is it enough for the big boys? So what do you guys think? Thanks in advance!

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Why would you use a 22-250 unless that is all you have? If you stuck to standing or walking shots where you are certain of placing the projectile in the vitals...and if you used a bullet that is not too fragile (like hollow points), I suppose it could be done. However, I would choose something else....even a shotgun with slugs... over a 22-250 for deer.
Each to his own.

Clint

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Clint-
I've got a 25-06 and 30-06 but was just wonderin.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Where I hunt it is a legal caliber for deer. With the 60 grain Nosler Partition or the Speer Bonded bear claw or the Barnes X bullet, It will do a good job on deer out to two hundred yards. I wouldn't recommend it as a deer rifle but a lot of ranchers use them for deer because they always have them in thier trucks. The 223 is also legal in our state. I would always use a 25 caliber or bigger.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Will it kill a deer? Sure but so will a .22 and a 76 Ford pickup........

RE: .22-250??!!
 

When my wife started to deer hunt she used my 22-250, and took two deer with it, one dropped in its tracks and the other went about 40 yards. Ive also taken a few with it but was very careful about shot placement. I handload 63 grain Sierra semi point bullets, they mushroom well and dont come apart like a hollow point. I dont recommend using one unlessconditions are just right, my wife has stepped up to a 243. As far as 4000 fps, mine were only about 3400 fps with the heavy bullet, but still worked with careful shot placement, but probably not for a beginning hunter.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

There isn't a doubt in my mind that a 22-250 will kill a deer on a good hit , but on a marginal hit you stand good chance of losing the animal . The damage it does due to the light bullet , doesn't give you much of a margin for error . I wouldn't use one personally ,but thats just my opinion .

RE: .22-250??!!
 

I have killed quite a few deer with one, dont shoot it in thick brush, will kill a deer very easy, shot placement is obviously the key

RE: .22-250??!!
 

A 22-250 will killem all day long. What you loose in brute force you can make up for with tight shot groups. Alot of guys out here think bigger is always better, kinda like who has the biggest 4x4. Don't need to make a hole you can put your fist into to killem. Get past the ego thing and make good shots the 22-250 will work fine.:)

RE: .22-250??!!
 

It has nothing to do wth ego. I think a .22 caliber bullet will probably do fine on a southern deer and it can kill a midwestern deer but why risk it if you don't have to.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

It will definitely work for deer, if if if you use it right. Treat it like a bowshot, be very selective about shot angles, and don't let all that velocity bait you into taking super long shots. I know people who use this caliber for elk, although that's really pushing it.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

My brother has a friend that knows this guy in fla. and he uses it to poach deer as its quiet and one shot in the head its down due to there accuracy. He said he would find shell fragments in its hind leg where it hits the animal with so much force and it would travel from its head down to its hind leg.
I thinkyou would really be limiting youself as to what species your going to hunt. It will kill deer but are you ever planning on coming out west? You may want to leave it at home than, if your strictly hunting small deer it will work I'm sure. Good luck, Bobby

RE: .22-250??!!
 

IMO a .22-250 is a varmint gun, period.
Yes...it will kill them for sure, but it's not the best choice. In many states it is illegal to use anything less than .24 cal. Use your .25-06 or .30-06, you'll be better off.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

IMO, all .22 centerfires are varmint calibers only!
As Clint asks "why?"
The only half decent reason would be that that's the gun you own. Other than that calibers like the .243/6MM are much better minimum calibers, with not much more recoil than the .22's!
Do they work? Yes but .177 pellet gun will too, but that doesn't make it a deer gun!

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Way back when, the only gun I had that was legal for deer was an over and under Savage with a 222 barrel on top and 20 Ga barrel under. I shot quite a few deer with that 222 I never had one get away but I shot most in the head or neck. I have as much faith in my 22-250 as I do in my 243. Now days I consider them both varmit calibers and use the 250 and 257 Roberts as my minimum.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Hey 121553 if you can get that guys name in Fl. I will try to get the poacher locked up.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Timbercruiser, maybe I used the wrong word, maybe its not poaching but he would tresspass on private property and shoot deer and hogs during the hunting season. Thats all he ever used a 22-250. Bobby

RE: .22-250??!!
 

You used the right word, 121553! Trespassing is poaching!
Poaching is not only taking illegal game, it is breaking other laws while taking game!
There is no sugar-coating it! Hunting is legal poaching is not!

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Will a 22-250 kill deer? Yeah, but when you use that light of a bullet you are really increasing your odds of heartbreak. Bullets that light moving that fast do some strange things sometimes. Especially if they contact heavy bone. My advice is to use at least a .243 for deer sized game.

RE: .22-250??!!
 

Use your .25-06;)