22-250

[dylanb]

should the 22-250 be legal for deer and is it to light for deer.i know in idaho and oregon is but why not here

[wreckerman5357]

I don't think any of the .22 centerfires should be legal for deer, I agree with the .24 caliber minimum. That said, a .22 centerfire will work with proper shot placement. The thing is that they are not reliable penetrators. There is no reason to hunt deer with a varmit gun. I cannot think of a single good reason reason why someone would want to hunt deer with a varmit caliber. That's my two cents on the matter.

[Biggerhammer]

The 22-250 with the heavier bullets(Partitions/ bonded core) and the proper twist rate is a down right deadly deer cartridge. I have killed plenty of antelope with one. Hell, I have dropped some Antelope quicker at 350 yards with a 22-250 than I have mature mule deer at 200 yards with a .375 Ultra mag. Everyone one of them takes the hit different.

[wadu1]

I agree with wreckerman they do not have enough penetrating power. When they were legal in this State I saw two bucks hit hard and did not go down 1 with a .22-250 and the other with a .233. We tracked the two bucks for 3 days and never found them on public land they both went into tribal land that we could not hunt. Unfortunately I was not in a safe position to use my .243. The only deer taken that year was with an old Winchester 38-55.

[wreckerman5357]

What gets me is that if it is legal to shoot deer with a .22 centerfire, then people will decide "this thing should work on elk too". My dad has a great story from back in the day involving my aunt's ex-husband taking a .223 elk hunting. This genius emptied his rifle into a bull elk which then decided to charge this guy and my uncle. Those little bullets didn't even slow the sob down. The ordeal ended with my uncle shooting the poor beast in the chest with his '06. The animal took a couple rickety steps and died. To this day Wayne will tell you his .223s had done most of the work.

[Rooster1981]

I love shooting my 22-250.... at coyotes. I'm sure a 22-250 would kill a deer but I know for a fact what my 30-06 can do. If it were legal I would still use the old 06.

[Biggerhammer]

I agree with wreckerman they do not have enough penetrating power. When they were legal in this State I saw two bucks hit hard and did not go down 1 with a .22-250 and the other with a .233. We tracked the two bucks for 3 days and never found them on public land they both went into tribal land that we could not hunt. Unfortunately I was not in a safe position to use my .243. The only deer taken that year was with an old Winchester 38-55.

Like I said, with the proper bullet and twist, it is a DEADLY deer cartridge. Feed a well capable rifle and scope combo CHIT fodder and your going to get CHIT results.

[GoldTip]

I've seen a few deer killed in Montana with 22 centerfires, they work fine with proper bullet placement. Longest shot I ever saw taken at a deer, 700+ yards was with a 22-250 and the deer dropped literally in it's tracks. One of the biggest bulls I ever saw killed was up the south fork of the flathead and shot a single time with a 220 swift by a logger who only hunted with that gun. The 22 centerfires will do the job if bullet placement is good

[GUHunter]

I think a major issue with allowing 22 centerfires for big game is bullet choice (as has been stated). When you get into 24 cal centerfire cartridges, most off the shelf ammo you'll find at typical sporting goods retailers is designed for big game hunting. Drop down to any 22 cal cartridge and most are either FMJ or highly frangible varmint type bullets. The informed user can choose appropriate ammunition for deer hunting in 22 caliber weapons, but many hunters do not fit this classification. Many would buy the cheapest ammo in the shelf (likely varmint type) and go hunting. This is a recipe for lots of wounded animals. That's my theory on the matter.

[inchtowntracking]

Shoot them in the head and there is plenty of penatration. Use my 22-250 to kill deer and my uncle has a .223 dpms ar15 that has killed its share of animals too. Shooting a deer in the side gets me an butt whoopin we are taught from a young age that a head shot is the only one to take. Grandpa used to chew us and tell us we wasted to much meat. We dont even use the 30-06 that every one else  seems to shoot them with.

[maddog]

In my opinion the 22-250 is more effective on deer size game than a .243.  It may be the velocity, or the tumble of the bullet, I don't know what it is exactly, but if they were both leagal and I had to choose one I would definitely choose the 22-250.  that being said, I use a .300 win mag just to make sure!   

[wreckerman5357]

Shoot them in the head and there is plenty of penatration. Use my 22-250 to kill deer and my uncle has a .223 dpms ar15 that has killed its share of animals too. Shooting a deer in the side gets me an butt whoopin we are taught from a young age that a head shot is the only one to take. Grandpa used to chew us and tell us we wasted to much meat. We dont even use the 30-06 that every one else  seems to shoot them with.

This is why a bigger rifle is better, the don't require a hunter to shoot a deer in the head to perform.

[724wd]

I think a major issue with allowing 22 centerfires for big game is bullet choice (as has been stated). When you get into 24 cal centerfire cartridges, most off the shelf ammo you'll find at typical sporting goods retailers is designed for big game hunting. Drop down to any 22 cal cartridge and most are either FMJ or highly frangible varmint type bullets. The informed user can choose appropriate ammunition for deer hunting in 22 caliber weapons, but many hunters do not fit this classification. Many would buy the cheapest ammo in the shelf (likely varmint type) and go hunting. This is a recipe for lots of wounded animals. That's my theory on the matter.

 

[carpsniperg2]

Paired with the right bullet the 22 centerfire rds are just fine for mid sized game: such as deer and lopes.

[JimmyHoffa]

I think it sucks that there has to be regs for what equipment we can/can't use (to some extent).  Hate to see the good ones punished for the actions of the ones that ruin it.  People should know when what equipment is suitable and the limitations.  With that being said, if there was a way to prevent the 'wrong' use or at least most-then I'd say allow the .22 centerfires.  I've seen plenty of animals taken with .222, .223, .22-250, and .220 Swift in other states.  Mostly deer but a few preferred the .22-250 for elk.  They did head/neck shots on the animals and they worked great.  The ones not shot in the head/neck...well, long days tracking or loast animals.