22-250 perfect for white tail?

[jeremykohler]

Hi I have heard time and again that 22-250 is to small for deer, but I have taken two. One at 150 yards and one at just over 200 yards, neither one took a step. All i used was a 45gr jhp 4000fps and I hit one high, just behind the front shoulder laying in the prone position. I saw her try to get up or so, I thought. So I put the cross hairs on her head and squeezed off another round, And no more movement. When i walked up to her I saw the first shot broke her back and the second, took the whole top of her skull.
The second deer I took was the same round but just about 60 yards further.
I sat and watched a heard come in from around 600 yards, I wanted them to make 100 to 125. Yards from me but when they reached about 200 to 210 yards they winded me and broke. But there were a few strays, I waited until they reached 200 yards and I took my shot. The only shot I had was a neck shot, front on. One round and she was done.
So in my opinion the round is fine for deer, one was 165lbs and the other 180lbs. I think you just have to be a responsible hunter and place your shots.
Would like to hear your opinions thanks

[DocHolladay]

1. Your first deer took 2 shots.

2. You shot the second in the neck breaking her spine, paralyzing her.

If I used a .22-250, I would look into 150yds or less, preferably less. I would also look into the heaviest bullet you can get to hunt deer and not a varmint round, like you are using. It did the job, but the projectile is mighty light. Even if it is moving at 4000fps, you are on the small side for deer. Get a heavier bullet that is made for deer sized game and dont hunt them with a varmint/predator round. If it was me, I would look into at least a .243Win for deer.

[jeremykohler]

I mainly hunt with a 300 win mag and a 180gr sst with 71gr of h4350 and cci mag lr primers. I completely agree with you about heaver lead and I was on the fence to try the 22-250 but I think the loads I have worked up it should work well for my son or wife 55gr btsp with 39gr of h414 and cci lr primers it changed my mind on small caliber rifles though thanks for your insight and any more will be helpful thank you

[KwackWacker]

Unless your wife and son shoot as well as you do then I would steer them away from that small rifle. In the hands of a good marksman it's fine but someone who is going to be nervous about taking their first shots at a live animal imposes some risks. If they hit that deer in the chest (heart/lungs) will it still drop like the spine shot you made? If it doesn't, will you have a blood trail to follow? Don't ruin their first hunts by giving them a gun that's undersized. Put something in theor hands that can kill a deer with a slightly off target hit.

[ironhead]

In some states, a caliber that small is also illegal,,,it USED to be here in Missouri untill about 10 years ago. Now any centerfire cartridge is allowed, a .17 will take deer if you hit in the right spot,,but is not ethical to me.

[Brow Tine]

To small of a round...IMO

[FOODPLOTPLANTER]

To small of a round...IMO

x2

[jeremykohler]

Even with a 80gr projectile? I mean a 243 only gets up to 110 and shot placement is key with any caliber is it not? a bad shot is a bad shot. I saw a buddy hit a deer a little far back with a 50 muzzle loader a 395gr powerbelt and watched her run until the next hit her neck. I concur that it is a small round but with an ethical shot and with in range but that is why I asked
so what would you think of a hand loaded 7.62x39 for my wife or son?
thanks

[NYBuckhunter]

7.62 is not the same as a 22-250. 243 is the lightest round I would use on deer, and even then, Id probably stay with something bigger than that. Any centerfire round is legal in NY, but that doesnt make it ethical.

[jeremykohler]

I was asking what people thought about the 7.62x39 I know it is not the same round but thank you for your insight although if you look at ballistic charts the 243 and 22-250 as well as the 220 are very slight differences between the three in the same weights

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

22-250 is far too light of a round for deer hunting.Knockdown power is sadly lacking.If you are busting groundhogs okay fine.Coyotes ok too.Target shooting,bemnch rest great.Most states a 22-250 isnt even legal to deer hunt with.Here in Ky, a 243 is the smallest round legal from a rifel.And a 7.62 is basically a 308,far bigger than a 22-250.You really need to beaware of these things before you post them.An M-60 Machine gun fires a 7.62 round,ak 47,a variation of the 7.62 round.A 223 is a 5.56mm round.I wouldnt deer hunt with a m-16 round,5.56mm or 223.22-250 is pretty much a 22 on steroids.22 Swift,22 Hornet ect.And are you sure its LEGAL to deer hunt with a 22-250 in your state?

[jeremykohler]

look i know the dif between the 22-250 223 220 so on 7.62x39 7.62x51 or 308 7.62x54 and 8x57 so on and on if you read carefully you will see i asked what you think about the 7.62x39 for my wifes or sons first deer rifle for managed recoil but thank you chicken trucker

[SGT. D]

A little too light of a round for deer. Yotes and smaller it's great. Can't hunt with a rifle in IL but even the muzzleloader has a .45 cal or larger for deer here in IL.

[DocHolladay]

Use a .22-250 for deer if you wish. Your wife and son could wreak some havoc on deer with a .243 Win/6mm Rem. Light recoil, accurate and really drops the hammer on them, IMO.

If I had the choice of 7.62x39 or a .30-30, I would choose a .30-30. A 6.5x55 Swede is a great round. Actually, any 6.5 caliber would be great for your wife and son.

[jeremykohler]

thank you doc i was looking for an option for a light recoil rifle when i bought
the 22-250 i dont want to turn them away from hunting with a wounded animal or to much recoil i know my 300 is to big and the 22-250 worked for me but might not be enough for them one alt was the 7.62x39 i had not thought of the 6.5 thanks

[Runner]

IMO the .22-250 is a varmint round and was never intended for big game of any sort. The .243 Win, in the hands of a marksman, is an acceptable deer round. Anything lighter is really pushing the envelope and promises trouble ahead. -Runner

[ironhead]

IMHO 7.62x39 is an underestimated whitetail round at yardage under 145-150. I have often wanted to try a Ruger Mini 30 recoil is minimal, accuracy at shorter ranges is good, knockdown is good.

[RICHARDCatdaddy]

Sorry,I didnt read as closely as I should haVE.Naybe a 243 would be a little better for them to learn with,recoil ect.Let them get used to a smaller caliber and as their skills progress,go up in caliber.Cluck cluck..chicken truck.

[backwoodsman]

The SKS 7.62x39 is a fine shorter range deer cartridge and rifle. Wifes cousins hunting camp in Missouri use them extensively. Although centerfire rifles are illegal for deer hunting here the SKS I carry for yotes would drop the biggest white tail buck quickly I have no doubt. 7x57 Mauser round doesnt have alot of undue recoil either. For a beginner I wouldnt rule out a muzzleloader/inline muzzleloader either.

[hatersbeware80]

I tell u some of you guys need to do some research. First of all it is legal to hunt with a 22-250 in Kentucky. I looked it up on the fish and wildlife website. If u have doubts about hunting whitetails with a 22-250 its because u can't shoot. It is all about shot placement. Several of my friends and family and myself use the 22-250 to hunt whitetails and have had much success. I guess u guys just like the recoil of those big guns.

[cjg]

The problem is, most 22 bullets are constructed for thin skinned game, like ground hogs or foxes etc. I have heard of people using the 22-250 on deer and it just left a large crater like wound on their side, never penetrating the chest cavity. You would probably be ok with some premium bullets designed for deer sized game, but why risk wounding an animal. Perfect, not so much, adequate, just barely, marginal, yes, get a real gun.

[dubya]

I agree that 22 caliber bullets are sufficient to kill a deer. Mostly with a head shot with the weaker ones and a neck, maybe heart shot with the more powerful 22's but for a first time or novice hunter/shooter I'd say thats a big no no. I've been hunting and shooting since I was 7 years old, I'm now 25 and although I'm no "pro" I can out the shot right where I want it and that being said, I myself wouldn't use anything smaller than a .234. But thats me. The first centerfire rifle I learned to shoot well and deer hunt with was a 7mm-08 and I still use one from time to time when i walk and stalk because its a light, short action rifle with relatively low recoil. I'd suggest having your son/wife try one out if you can afford or get your hands on one to try. Great all around deer round.