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- - 22-250 (https://www.huntingnet.com/forum/whitetail-deer-hunting/55643-22-250-a.html)

i was wondering what you guys think of a 22-250 for deer? i want a good rifle for deer, woodchucks, coyotes etc. deer would be the biggest thing i'ld shoot

marinestud

Yes but I'd highly suggest only perhaps if you handload. We use Nosler Partitions in my 11 year old son's 22-250 Encore and they're very lethal on does. I'm going to give them a try next year on a buck but I think actually my son's probably the better shot!!

I think the idea of ANY .22 caliber guns as deer guns stinks! Use a deer rifle for deer and a varmint caliber for varmints!
This issue only gets hashed out here about once a month!

JagMag,

I agree it's light, but the .22-250 can be used quite successfully for deer. I've even read it's a popular deer cartridge in your home state of Texas for smaller 140 - 150lb white tails.

Just like anything else, it comes down to hunter prudence, experience, confidence and judgement. You obviously can't take the same shots you would with a .270, .30-06, etc. and although not as forgiving, (meaning you're going to have to pass shots) the .22-250 can certainly be used as a dependable deer rifle.

Another major factor nobody touched on is what part of the country you live in, what's the typical size of the deer in your area, what type of hunting do you usually do, what's the typical shot range, and how much deer hunting you do... Not everyone is shooting Monster Maine sized bucks across bean fields or from ridge-top to ridge-top.

If you're mostly a target, woodchuck, coyote shooter and only occasionally hunt deer - or typically hunt smaller whitetails (< 200lbs) inside say 150 yards, then a .22-250 is fine. Federal actually offers two .22-250 Medium Game rounds specifically for "light, thin skinned game such as antelope, mule deer, white tailed deer, etc." Ballistically, these rounds are similar to some .30-30 rounds out to 200yards.

To say "the idea of ANY .22 caliber guns as deer guns stinks!" is more opinion than fact. The fact is, the .22-250 can make - and in many areas is - a fine deer cartridge.

Marine, do a search on this as it just came up just about a month ago, hope it helps, Bobby

Yes, the .22's are legal in my state. That is one fact that I am not very proud of!
I still say using a .22 of any kind on deer, stinks!
Given the fact that there are at least 50 real deer calibers on the market, there is just no good reason to use a .22!
My "opinion" is based more on good, sound, ethical judgement, than just a mere "personal opinion!"
If its a challenge that you want, take up bow hunting, handgunning, or muzzleloaders! Don't experiment with very marginal calibers like the .22's! Fine game animals like deer, deserve more respect than that!

If you don't already have one, why buy a rifle that is on the lower end as far as a deer rifle. Get a .270 or something similar.

There are other more adequate cartridges for a dual purpose gun. 243, 257 Roberts, 25-06, 260, 7mm-08, 308 all come to mind. While yes you can kill a deer with a 22-250 there are much more appropriate cartridges for the task, regardless of where you are in the country.

Hunting deer with any of the .22's is the equivalent of bowhunting deer with a field point!
It will kill them, but most of the time they won't be dead where you want them to be dead at!