.222 for deer hunting?

[bozo699]

spike elk shot with 220 swift (hit in front shoulde dead within 50 yds) being a marksman and knowing the trajectory of your bullet come first magnums help make up for being inefficeint

Hey mr 1 post,
Thats funny right there, and very true. Welcome to the forum I see you joined some time ago, there's nothing wrong with being cautious
Wayne.

 

[Scott Harris]

I think bullet selection is more important than bullet diameter/caliber. Today, we have a fantastic selection of bullets that did not exist 20 years ago and this makes some conventional wisdom obsolete IMHO. With the right bullet that penetrates and expands at the terminal velocity, a 22 is plenty for a small black-tail deer. My 10-year old is going on his first deer hunt and I initially planned on having him shoot a bolt action with a light-recoil 243 (85gr SGK over 32gr H4895). After more than a few trips to the range practicing, it became clear he shoots our 20" AR quite a bit better than the 243. So, I've decided it's more important that he shoot straight and he'll head out with an AR shooting a 75 Swift Scirocco next week.

 

[jonbearman]

I agree that a .243 win or the 6.5x55 swede would do it right and adding a muzzle brake would make the rifle feel like a .223. Good luck and I hope you can afford to move up to a heavier caliber to be as humane as possible. I have a swede and a .243 with a brake.They are both really fun to shoot.

 

[Jim See]

OP, Being that you know how to shoot, you should take her out for lots of practice and have her shoot at cardboard deer sillouets. That way you can determine and coach her into proper shot placement on a real target and not a 2" orange circle. The velocities of a 222 are not like that of a 220 or 22-250 so bullets placed thru both lungs should show good expansion and not blow ups. Limit her distance to 150 yards or her effective range.

I have killed 6 deer with all but one needing a single shot with a 223 carbine (16" barrel) velocity of the 55 grain soft points at 2900 fps. (avoid BT and hollow pnts.) Bullets shot clean thru on 5 broadside does leaving 1/2" exit wounds. Some broke ribs in and out. The one that took 2 shots was my fault as I took a front on shot with the first bullet. That deer was a deer farm CWD cull.(170 lb buck) so being as he was in a pen I let him walk around for about 1 minute to see if he would sucome to the shot. and after that I put one thru the lungs broadside, and it ended in 5 seconds. This gun has never been my first choice, but on deer culls it works very well.

Buck season it is at least a 260 rem for me.
Your deer are a bit smaller than WI whitetails so I suspect the 222 will be effective with a good responsible shooter driving it.

 

[snert]

Couple of thoughts:
I am a huge 222 fan. Also have killed about 30 deer with a 22-250 or 220 Swift, 55 Gr Vmax to the chest or head, during late summer, doing culls for local farmers. never had one go more than three hops in any direction. However, I would not use a 222 nor could I ethically suggest a hi-power 224 cal for deer hunting. ( I do deer shooting, which is different) The guys here are correct. Go to a 243/6mm, 250 savage or even 6mmBR, and buy a "game-king" like bullet, shoot for the chest and you will be fine. No need for a bellowing magnum. just get that bullet into the vitals, let it expand and detonate, and it is all over.

 

[deadlyswift]

The last two post is where I think my mixed fellings are coming from. Myself I wouold use the .222 no doubt. However I have been under the pressure many times and know how to calim myself and make the shot. As to my daughter I only allowed her to take the shot because I felt confident she would make it. Again she was seven when she made the kill, but she was only five when I started teaching her, and she had over came many learning curves for the task at hand. She was ready, and I knew it as well did she! Curently I hunt with a 270wsm witch is a huge step from the 222 220swift or 22-250! How ever I am shooting deer futher than I have before so even tho I can shoot that far with the lighter rounds, I choose not too! Just because I'm human and I make mistakes. Even when I feel 100% confident things happen at the last mintue, and after the Ignition of the round you have very and very little control of what happens next! Me I just haven't been able to take a body shot with anything smaller than 6mm rounds! Some friends have done it as well as many that have posted here! I just can't bring myself to take those shots! Unless Your gal can hit the deer in the head! I would still say go to a 243 cal!!
Mark

 

[oldhoward]

I see deer taken with 222's and 223's every year. The deer here are about 120 lbs. and not the 220lbs. variety. I hunted with a young fellow 7 years old using a 223 who pasted up a nice buck because it was too far(about 90 yards) and he could not get the shot he wanted. It is also hunter education knowing what you and your rifle can do that makes a hunter. A larger caliber would be a better choice, perhaps a 243 or 6mm br, but it is what you can shoot accurately that gets the job done.

 

[bozo699]

I see deer taken with 222's and 223's every year. The deer here are about 120 lbs. and not the 220lbs. variety. I hunted with a young fellow 7 years old using a 223 who pasted up a nice buck because it was too far(about 90 yards) and he could not get the shot he wanted. It is also hunter education knowing what you and your rifle can do that makes a hunter. A larger caliber would be a better choice, perhaps a 243 or 6mm br, but it is what you can shoot accurately that gets the job done.

Very well put oldhoward, and spot on in my opinion. By the way if it was the 7 year old's decision not to take the shot..... I am highly impressed. He will make a great hunter someday, heck he is already a great hunter. I know full grown men that wouldn't have made that sacrifice. Give him a job well done from me. ;D
Wayne.