I killed probably my first 15-20 deer with the Sierra 63 gr Semi Point that my grandfather used to load for me.

I started loading the same bullet a couple of weeks ago for my wife's 22-250 I picked up for her, but have yet to make it to the range to test them out.

Keep in mind that, unless you can track like an Apache, most 22 caliber bullets won't exit. No exit means not much blood trail on deer and less on hogs. If you hunt on open ground, that might not be a problem, but where I hunt has heavy undergrowth. I shot a big hog earlier in the year, using my 260 and a 100 gr bullet, and knocked the 200+ pounder down. She got up and into the tangle before I could pop her again. Not a drop of blood anywhere. I found her by cutting my way into the tangle with a machete. Never found a drop of blood even where she died. She only got 30 yards in, but it was a hard 30 for me. So my days of hunting deer and pigs with a 223 or 220 are over. Bring enough gun...

That said, I have killed deer and hogs with that 63 gr Sierra bullet. South Texas and open ground.

Seems like every time I take my 223 coyote hunting, here comes a dang pig. And pigs do not get a free walk. The last time it happened, I parked a 40 gr Nosler BT in the pigs neck. That's my coyote bullet. I'm pretty sure that every drop of energy was transferred to the pig, and I swear I don't think he noticed. He did walk a little faster and turned left into the brush. No blood nowhere, though I did not follow my own rule about 'bring enough gun', or enough bullet.

They make .224 cal bullets that make great hunting bullets and provide reliable penetration. Here is the broken record, but 60 grain partitions, 75 grain sirocos, 64 grain nosler bonded performance, any of the monometal bullets like barnes etc. will do well.

Have shot countless deer and hogs up to 200 lbs and never recovered a 60 grain partition out of a 223.

WHAT!

redchevy, what you say is true, but none of those will stabilize in my 220 Swift. And unless his 22-250 is fast twist, they won't work in his rifle either. I did shoot a few deer and pigs with the 60 gr Partition in my 223, and except for the pig I shot in the anus, all exited. I haven't used any Barnes bullets yet.

I did buy a couple hundred 55 gr Sierra GK's, but I have not actually used them on anything but paper targets. They shoot great in the 220.

my dad wanted my mother to hunt with him upon returning from his time in Europe during WWII circa 1943, so he bought the Winchester model 92 in 218 Bee for her (little recoil). She shot it a few times at the range (old trash dump) and once while hunting, it wasn't her cup of tea and gave up hunting after a different experience while hunting with dad (another long story, for another time).

Anyway, dad fed the entire family (his parents, his in-laws, all his and my mom's siblings & their kids plus a few neighbors) from deer he shot (times were hard, pay was very low, wild game was the majority of their meat, families shared living quarters), year around, yes most illegal. So he used the 218 Bee since it was considerably quieter and didn't alert the sheriff's deputies/game wardens like a much larger caliber plus it was smaller and easier to poke out a window while holding a headlight ... along with building up cars that would outrun the LEOs (no radios back in those days) too. I would guess at least several deer a week, year around for pushing ~20 years until shortly after my brother and I came along. Likely well past a thousand deer over those extremely tough years. Both my brother and I used it for the first 5-7 years of our hunting too without concern of it being enough gun within 100 yards. It was that or dad's old 30-06 that kicked like a mule. My brother got the 218 and I got the '06 but I have a duplicate 218 that I found 20+ years ago for my safe.

I can't speak to all the 22 caliber center fire rifles, but most will get the job done with a good bullet and proper shot placement. My experiences are with 218 Bee, 22-250 (FIL hand loaded as ZK-315 mentioned) and 220 Swift (what my dad went to when age and recoil were the factor).

The largest # of SAKO 222's I sold in 5 states went to a dealer in Gillespie County...every year for the 6 years I sold SAKO's...enough that with the other few bigger calibers he ordered one at a time as needed, they made his Distributor Contract minimum buy's every year.

One of the nicest old gentleman & wife pair I called on, and was proud to call him a friend. None of my other larger dealers, who I had to push for volume every year to make the stair step volume discount breaks, ever said anything about me selling him direct on a Dist Contract either...
Ron

I too killed my first few with a Winchester model 43 218 Bee and probably that same ammo. As for the 22-250, I have done that too, it will work, just be able to make a good shot or don't take it.

Those Germans sure do love the .222

Never understood why but it's still popular as a truck gun in that area

Thanks for the feedback. Very helpful.

This rifle was a gift and I am figuring out what it will be used for.

Thanks again.

.22-250 is king of coyote and prairie dog killing.

If all a guy is going to do is sit in a blind and hunt feeders, then I could see why one would use a 22-250 waiting for the perfect shot. That would be the only way though IMO.

You can and I have but your old 243 is a fine deer rifle. My 22-250 has probably killed more turkey than anything. It is a fast accurate shooting rifle.

Yep. My uncle lived in Mason for 83 years. He and I shot lots and lots of deer with .220 swifts. He passed last year and my aunt gave me one of the swifts. Love that caliber

.22-250 is overkill for whitetail unless you're a very poor shot.
Folks that can't shoot should use .243 up to the monstrous 7mm 08 or .308.

.17 Rem knocksem deader than a door nail.
Bang / flop, of course you have to be capable of hitting a baseball size target at 100 or less yards.

I killed this buck last year with a 22-250. He was shot off the back porch at 145 yards. He never knew what hit him. I like the 45GR TSX AT 4K FPS. I haven't had anything run away from it. I switched to the TSX because I head shot a hog with a ballistic tip and it just knocked him out. The TSX just keeps going. The bullet went in this deers neck and ran half way down his spine before it stopped.




One year a buddy and I killed 107 does on a west Texas place in two weeks with 55gr Gamekings and all died where they stood. This was several years ago but I remember several dropping at over 300yds.

Try a barnes bullet deadly

Maybe a .416 Rigby double rifle will be enough gun for some of the shooters who replied to this thread.

Not to change the subject but that buck sure has a lot of fat on him.

Yea, he was in good shape...

I have been using my 22-250 for a while now and have taken some big bodied panhandle bucks with it. Never had one go more than about 20 yds. I hand load a Hornady 60gr SP. Very simple but works every time. I have taken a doe at over 400 yds with it but after seeing the internal damage I would not suggest it. I will not even think about a shot past 250ish now. Like everyone says make sure you have the right bullet and it will get the job done and be one of,if not the,most fun gun to shoot you own.

We shoot lots of does and culls in Mexico with a 22-250 with 50g tsx barnes ammo.
Not an issue yet

X2 I have a feeling I've shot a gun Ron sold to a good Dr.