minimum caliber rifle for deer

[Red Rabbit]

Keith,

I did a search on G&F, but only found the 07-08 chart you posted.

[catclaw]

Regarding the 22-250 for deer, there are better choices, IMO. ie 243, 257 Roberts, 260 Rem for those wanting light recoil and better deer performance.

 

A 55 grain Ballistic Tip at 3600 fps will have retained 1900 FPS and 450 FtLbs Energy at 600 yards. Enough speed to expand the bullet, but would raise question to penetration if required to go through a shoulder or paunch.

 

I have seen a 55 gr Hollow point blow up and penetrate only 1" into the shoulder muscle of a deer at 100 yards. This goes to proper bullet choice. Most 22 caliber bullets are lightly constructed for varmints. Better bullets like the 60 Nosler Partition will require a faster twist than the common 1-14.

 

I have shot 40 grain HP at 420 yards at soda cans and have found a bullet laying atop the sand bank. The bullet was totally reloadable with no expansion at all.

 

I have seen a coues taken at 400 yards with a 53 gr TSX from a 223 WSSM. Penetration through the chest, no shoulders.

 

Doug, according to Nosler's manual #6, a 55 grain BT will be down to 1600 at 600 yds, not 1900. This is not enough to count on reliable expansion.

 

[Red Rabbit]

Dennis,

 

That is a big difference.

 

I plugged 3600 fps, bc= 0.267, weight= 55, temp=70, elev=5000' into PointBlank. It gives 1924 fps at 600 yards.

 

JBM/Eskimo calculates 1880 fps

 

The back of my Nosler #5 shows 1625fps

 

For grins, Federal shows the E of various 22LR from 100-130 FtLbE at the muzzle

 

Doug

[firstcoueswas80]

I have never killed a deer with a 22-250, but I have seen the body of one killed.

 

This past year, in camp with Pops and Gary. Gary killed a really nice mid 80's buck with a 22-250. When he got back to camp, and I got to see the deer, the exit was tiny. Gary was using a very good bullet (Partition if i recall), and the shot was great, 1/4'g away, in the shoulders. The exit was tiny, and he stated that there was little, to NO blood on the gorund. He found the buck by tracking it. If I recall, the shot was fairly close as in sub 200 yards, but I could be wrong on that.

 

Now, if a hit like that does not produce any blood, that makes me nervous.

 

I prefer my .257 wby or my .270 wsm that I KNOW is going to leave a good size wound and bleed out!

[KGAINES]

Keith,

I did a search on G&F, but only found the 07-08 chart you posted.

 

Thanks Doug

 

I couldn't find anything either, you never know something could change tomorrow so when the deer regs come out they should at least update it then.

 

[Bill]

You can't use a .22 mag. for deer, only javelina and turkey.

 

are you sure on that? it says centerfire, and 22 mag. is a centerfire. so where does it say you can not use it on deer?

 

deserthntr,

 

Could you have confused the 22 mag with the 222 Remington Magnum which is a centerfire and legal for deer?

 

Bill

[.270]

red rabbit, the 2007-2008 regs say any firearm or bow and arrow for fall turkey. says nothing about shotguns and shot, like the spring regs. am i wrong? Lark.

[Red Rabbit]

Lark,

 

The 07-08 regs do title the fall hunt as "General Turkey" and allow centerfire, as seen in the "legal methods of take" printed above the hunt numbers.

The 08-09 regs title the fall hunt as "Limited Weapon-Shotgun Shooting Shot Turkey" and allow shotgun and bow, but no longer centerfire or magnum rimfire.

 

Just need to make sure hunters are aware of the changes and do not go out with a 22WMR or centerfire for fall turkey.

 

Doug~RR

[.270]

thanks. i couldn't find the new one. i have a spring tag. hafta get out some buckshot. that's what i use. i useta love my .22 mag for turkeys. it was easy to teach them stubborn sobs that wouldn't come in a lesson. Lark.

[Mangum]

All but one deer that I got as a youth was taken with a .243. All were one shot kills too. One out to 300yards.