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22-250 hunting ammo
#7536789
06/17/19 11:26 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Biscuit
OP
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OP
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What do y’all use ? Good penetration , expansion , etc.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7536827
06/18/19 12:07 AM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
J.G.
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With your probable twist rate (1:14), a hand load with 55 gr Sierra Game King Spire Point Boattail. MV 3780 fps
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7536829
06/18/19 12:08 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640
LeonCarr
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2012
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For varmints or deer?
Just my .02, LeonCarr
"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537093
06/18/19 12:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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the fusions have given us good performance on deer sized game
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537102
06/18/19 01:08 PM
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 4,176
Korean Redneck
Extreme Tracker
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Knew this old school hispanic rancher in south Texas did all his hunting with a 55gr soft point, i think just the plain silver box of Winchester. He mostly shot cull bucks and game for meat but he basically head/base of neck shot them all. It was brutally efficient and totally awesome.
I'm a dude who likes long barrels!
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537122
06/18/19 01:27 PM
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 6,284
scalebuster
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Nov 2010
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Korean Redneck]
#7537201
06/18/19 03:01 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
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Knew this old school hispanic rancher in south Texas did all his hunting with a 55gr soft point, i think just the plain silver box of Winchester. He mostly shot cull bucks and game for meat but he basically head/base of neck shot them all. It was brutally efficient and totally awesome. I've killed more than a few deer with a 55 grain sierra gameking and a neck shot. That gameking is also a good bullet. If you can restrict yourself to neck shots with the .22-250 it will serve you.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537364
06/18/19 05:23 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,755
ccoker
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my dad's old Sako 22-250 killed a lot of south Texas deer with a 63g Sierra soft point he was a wicked good shot and hated tracking, I bet 99% were straight down with a neck shot
I have the bug for one, his is in the safe and I don't want to thread the barrel so I am considering options.. a suppressed 22-250 would be fun!
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537371
06/18/19 05:29 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 18,907
ChadTRG42
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I'm loading some 50 grain GMX bullets in 22-250 right now. The 50 grain will stabilize in the 1:14" twist barrels well, and even better in the 1:12" twist. The solid bullets offer really good penetration, even for shoulder shots. The varmint style bullets do not work as well for shoulder shots.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537380
06/18/19 05:49 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
603Country
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Back in the 80’s, I had less than ideal performance from Varmint bullets on deer. Much better performance from the 63 gr Sierra SMP bullets. This was in my 220, and I was shooting them in the lungs. I was guiding customers back then and was going to let them do all the deer hunting while I stayed in the Jeep and Varmint hunted. But it never failed that I’d get a radio call to get us a doe to feed the customers. I quit using the Varmint bullets and went to the Sierra 63 gr. There weren’t a lot of options back then. And the 63 gr bullet was very accurate (over IMR 4064, if memory serves).
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7537387
06/18/19 05:58 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,318
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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Knew this old school hispanic rancher in south Texas did all his hunting with a 55gr soft point, i think just the plain silver box of Winchester. He mostly shot cull bucks and game for meat but he basically head/base of neck shot them all. It was brutally efficient and totally awesome. I've killed more than a few deer with a 55 grain sierra gameking and a neck shot. That gameking is also a good bullet. If you can restrict yourself to neck shots with the .22-250 it will serve you. Wow! Neck shots! Brings back horrible nightmares. First time in Colorado when I was very young and very inexperienced I stumbled on a nice Muley standing at 10 yds. For some STUPID reason I thought I would get cute and shoot him in the neck with my 3006. He dropped. Second STUPID mistake I set down my rifle and went to take a pic from where I shot. He jumped up and ran off. I trailed very few small drops of blood the rest of the day until my very patient but very bored wife suggested I give up which I did. Yall shoot em where you want but I will never neck shoot a deer again. If you are undergunned and/or have improper bullet and/or can shoot and hit a target that small then more power to you but that's too many ifs ands or buts for me. As for the OP- I think about anything with decent shot placement will kill a coyote. Same thing on a head shot hog but most everyone would likely agree that a hog shot elsewhere with a 22250 is trouble so go with whatever will penetrate and ill let the experts tell you what that is based on twist etc. As far as a 22250 for deer I would never use one unless it was a recoil conscious novice in which case very carefully placed behind shoulder with something stout that will penetrate. My 2 cents.
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: ChadTRG42]
#7537388
06/18/19 06:00 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,318
freerange
THF Trophy Hunter
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I'm loading some 50 grain GMX bullets in 22-250 right now. The 50 grain will stabilize in the 1:14" twist barrels well, and even better in the 1:12" twist. The solid bullets offer really good penetration, even for shoulder shots. The varmint style bullets do not work as well for shoulder shots. ^^^^
At some point in life its time to quit chasing the pot of gold and just enjoy the rainbow. FR Keep your gratitude higher than your expectations. RWH
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537401
06/18/19 06:27 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,755
ccoker
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
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if you can't cleanly kill ANY deer in Texas with a 22-250 or 243 you need to spend a LOT of time at the range...
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: ccoker]
#7537413
06/18/19 06:39 PM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,442
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
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if you can't cleanly kill ANY deer in Texas with a 22-250 or 243 you need to spend a LOT of time at the range... True I have used several different bullets over the years in a 22-250 for deer and the 60gr Nosler Partition when it came out is what I switched to . Had good results with other partitions and this one has never let me down either. Before that bullet I had settled on the Game kings or Nosler 60gr solid base which also worked well. I just have more confidence in taking a shoulder shot with the partition. Head or neck shots doesn't really matter as about any bullet will work, though I did have a 60gr Hornady soft point flatten out against the neck bone on a doe and a half mile plus tracking job to find her.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: ccoker]
#7537418
06/18/19 06:45 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
J.G.
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if you can't cleanly kill ANY deer in Texas with a 22-250 or 243 you need to spend a LOT of time at the range... Yup. And I think the term "neck shot" is way too broad, that is a large area of a deer. However, if the rifle, ammo, and shooter can hit very small, then just about any bullet in the BRAINSTEM will have a deer dead before it hits the ground. It is how I shoot whitetail does, but not with a .22-250. I'm sure there are plenty of online images showing how to locate the brainstem from any angle. Broadside, down from the ear noch, back from the jaw line. Facing toward, go right under the chin. Facing away, just below a level line connecting the bases of the ears.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537428
06/18/19 07:03 PM
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Joined: Nov 2017
Posts: 19,129
Biscuit
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OP
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You guys always have great insights - thanks
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537450
06/18/19 07:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 10,692
mbavo
THF Celebrity
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I used Barnes Vortex 50 grain .22-250 last year to kill a turkey, javelina,hog,and a whitetail doe. All 1 shot kills, dropped in their tracks.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537683
06/19/19 01:23 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 1,640
LeonCarr
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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The Sierra 63 Grain SMP is a good choice for the slow twist barrels common in the .22-250.
My Uncle, a .220 Swift fanatic, has killed a supertanker full of deer using 55 Grain Sierra flat base soft points over enough IMR-4064 to get them to 3900! fps. I would still recommend a heavier bullet if it will stabilize in your barrel.
My beloved Nosler 64 Grain BSB takes a 1 in 11.5 twist to stabilize in a .22-250 per the Berger Twist Rate Stability Calculator.
Just my .02, LeonCarr
"Whitetail Deer are extinct because of rifles with telescopes mounted on them." - My 11th Grade English Teacher
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: freerange]
#7537857
06/19/19 01:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780 |
Knew this old school hispanic rancher in south Texas did all his hunting with a 55gr soft point, i think just the plain silver box of Winchester. He mostly shot cull bucks and game for meat but he basically head/base of neck shot them all. It was brutally efficient and totally awesome. I've killed more than a few deer with a 55 grain sierra gameking and a neck shot. That gameking is also a good bullet. If you can restrict yourself to neck shots with the .22-250 it will serve you. Wow! Neck shots! Brings back horrible nightmares. First time in Colorado when I was very young and very inexperienced I stumbled on a nice Muley standing at 10 yds. For some STUPID reason I thought I would get cute and shoot him in the neck with my 3006. He dropped. Second STUPID mistake I set down my rifle and went to take a pic from where I shot. He jumped up and ran off. I trailed very few small drops of blood the rest of the day until my very patient but very bored wife suggested I give up which I did. Yall shoot em where you want but I will never neck shoot a deer again. If you are undergunned and/or have improper bullet and/or can shoot and hit a target that small then more power to you but that's too many ifs ands or buts for me. As for the OP- I think about anything with decent shot placement will kill a coyote. Same thing on a head shot hog but most everyone would likely agree that a hog shot elsewhere with a 22250 is trouble so go with whatever will penetrate and ill let the experts tell you what that is based on twist etc. As far as a 22250 for deer I would never use one unless it was a recoil conscious novice in which case very carefully placed behind shoulder with something stout that will penetrate. My 2 cents. I've killed dozens of deer with a neck shot. most of the time, people aim too high, clip the back of the neck. This results in them hitting the deck but getting up and running off, most of the time while a surprised hunter is over them. I don't use them much anymore, but nothing wrong with a properly executed neck shot
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: J.G.]
#7537859
06/19/19 01:18 PM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,780
txtrophy85
THF Celebrity
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Posts: 31,780 |
if you can't cleanly kill ANY deer in Texas with a 22-250 or 243 you need to spend a LOT of time at the range... Yup. And I think the term "neck shot" is way too broad, that is a large area of a deer. However, if the rifle, ammo, and shooter can hit very small, then just about any bullet in the BRAINSTEM will have a deer dead before it hits the ground. It is how I shoot whitetail does, but not with a .22-250. I'm sure there are plenty of online images showing how to locate the brainstem from any angle. Broadside, down from the ear noch, back from the jaw line. Facing toward, go right under the chin. Facing away, just below a level line connecting the bases of the ears. Ive been hunting over 25 years and have read countless books on hunting, shot placement, etc. I've never heard or read about a person advocating a "brainstem" shot.
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: txtrophy85]
#7537878
06/19/19 01:36 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,083
J.G.
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Well, you have now.
I've stuffed coolers many times with brainstem shots on whitetail does between 70 and 250 yards, and one cow elk at 510 yards.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: J.G.]
#7537885
06/19/19 01:45 PM
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 548
SenkoSamurai
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 548 |
Well, you have now.
I've stuffed coolers many times with brainstem shots on whitetail does between 70 and 250 yards, and one cow elk at 510 yards. Savage!
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7537907
06/19/19 02:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,413
ZK-315
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,413 |
If you hand load, Sierra 63gr Semi-point works excellent. I've probably killed more deer with this bullet than any of my other calibers combined. The Sierra 55gr Spitzer also works well.
If looking for factory rounds, the Winchester Pointed-Soft Point in either 55gr or 64gr works well also. The 64gr is pretty difficult to find, but it does great work on pigs and deer. It stabilized out of my 1:14 twist Remington and my dad's gun just fine.
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7538002
06/19/19 04:15 PM
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 4,755
ccoker
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
Joined: Sep 2009
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yeah the 63g shot one ragged hole groups out of my dad's old Sako (1/14) I tried some 65g Sierras and they were key holing at 100 yards
ordered some 63g Spitzers from Sierra an back to one hole with a stout load of Varget
I just look at his old Sierra manual from the 80s and his handwritten notes were almost a grain over max with H380
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Re: 22-250 hunting ammo
[Re: Biscuit]
#7538079
06/19/19 06:17 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 15,606
603Country
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Based on my trying this and that bullet in my 14 twist 220, here’s what I found, in order of best to worst stabilization:
63 gr Sierra - stabilized and accurate 60 gr Nosler Partition - will stabilize barely in some situations 64 gr Nosler BSB - nope, but I got them on paper 65 gr Sierra GK - Big nope and still have no idea where they went. Never hit paper at 100 yds.
My rifle has a 20” barrel, so I don’t reach max velocity with any of the mentioned bullets. I’m thinking, but don’t know for sure, that if I had a 24” barrel and pushed the Partition to the max velocity, it probably would stabilize, though barely, in some rifles. That’s how close I was to getting that bullet to work.
Not my monkeys, not my circus...
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