Quick question gentlemen.

If you were shooting a 22-250 for deer what grain would you lean towards?

Shots are going to be fairly short sub 150 yds.

Thank you guys!

You're kinda limited to grain, but I shot my first two deer as a kid with a 22-250 I know they were hand loads, I believe they were 65-75 grain.

Shot placement is key, those bullets will break bone but it's not very damaging comparatively. The exit wound is also usually very small so blood trailing is hard(er).

Unfortunately at this time I'm not able to handload, I sure wish I could though. The heaviest I have been able to find is 64 grain. Would it be better to go heavier with a traditional copper jacket or perhaps grab a 50 or 55 grain ballistic tip?

I've got my dad shooting 60 gr. Federals. Anything work related I shoot a standard 55 gr Remington soft point. I've never had a problem with either one.

[This message has been edited by ursusguy (edited 8/24/2011 9:20a).]

What is the twist rate on your barrel? That will determine how heavy a bullet you can shoot well. I have had good luck with Barnes TSX bullets. I hand load, not sure if available as factory. They usually hold up against bone better than ballistic tip. But I only break out the small bores during doe season.

Heavier the better with a Barnes X-Bullet.

Thank you for the replys everyone!

I believe it's a 1:14 twist on the barell.

The purpose for this one would also be for doe season.

[This message has been edited by The doctor (edited 8/24/2011 9:34a).]

I have killed many deer with 22-250 using 55 gr Sierra soft points and never had an issue. 30 to 40 yards was the furthest I ever had one go and that is shooting just behind the shoulder. Most were in the 100 to 150 yard range, but I have taken one at 250 yards and another right at 300...no issues. Another good bullet to use is the Nosler 60 gr Partition.

The typical 1:14 twist in the 22-250 really limits the bullet weight choices, as far as the heavies. "Short for weight" .224 pills in the 60gr range will likely be as heavy as you can go.
Barnes now offers their own loads, and their 50-55gr TSX's would be superb, and give and extra edge on bullet performance. Any soft point ammo would also do the job, for the size of typical does and reasonable distances.
I think Savage has started offering the 22-250 in a 1:10 twist...`bout time!

Edited to add: Barnes doesn't offer a 22-250 load, but Federal offers a 60gr Partition, or a 50gr TSX load.

[This message has been edited by GSS (edited 8/24/2011 10:18a).]

Here's my two cents.
I have killed multiple deer with a 55gr 22-250. Neck shots and shoulders both, usually the deer drops in their tracks. Like another ones that run are found within 50 yards.
However, I only shoot does with the 22-250. Reason being my FIL who is the one who bought me the gun, taught me to hunt,and was with me for my first buck said to. He said that a doe was small and the round was perfectly capable of killing the doe. But that when bucks are in the rut they're all swelled up in the neck and their shoulders. He said there is a much better chance of them no dying quickly due to that. I don't know if this is valid or not, but I listen to him. He's been hunting for a long time and has much more experience than I do.

Your not going to like this but IMHO the 22-250 is too light for deer especially for bucks. If you are in a very controlled situation and shooting nothing but does, it might work. You need to be very good with your shot placement as well.

I would hate to not get to shoot OR wound and not find the buck of a lifetime because I did not bring enough gun.

[This message has been edited by ghollow (edited 8/24/2011 10:06a).]

Shoot a better constructed bullet than a B-tip ( i.e. Sierra Game King). The lighter B-tip bullets might not get enough penetration.

You'll hear no argument from me when it comes to shooting at bucks with smaller calibers. The gun is actually for my wife, this is her first season hunting. I shoot a 30.06 but she isn't comfortable with it. Hence the 22-250. If it were anything but a doe I believe I'd try and talk her into a bigger caliber. A buddy was nice enough to let us borrow his ruger, it's my first venture into smaller calibers.

I really do appreciate all the help guys, thank you all.

quote:

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Your not going to like this but IMHO the 22-250 is too light for deer especially for bucks.

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+1 Last year in South Texas, we had a guy shoot a management buck with a 22-250 on an evening hunt. Good shot placement, but we still had to wait until the next morning to find him. Our lease now has a caliber minimum.

I inhereted a 50 year old .220 swift from grandfather. How do I figure out the twist ratio?

Do you already have the gun? What about a .243?

Already have the 22-250. She's been hunting with me a few times and enjoys it. I just want to make sure she likes actually hunting and not just watching before I go out and buy her a new rifle of her own.

Blue Bell--

take a really tight patch on your cleaning rod and measure the distance it takes to make a full rotation when cleaning your barrel.

What str8shot said.

placement.
bullet.

















headstamp.


In that order...

Von glasses may help...

Killed dozens of smaller deer with mine as well as a few larger bucks. Shot a smaller buck last year (cull buck), and at close to 160 yds it punched straight through right behind the shoulder. Far side looked like Jesse Ventura from the Predator. That round is going so fast that it just destroyed him. The round is just so flat, and so accurate and with dozens of different loads, it's just a great choice to have in your collection and fantastic for a young hunter.

And Hornady makes their VMAX Varmint Ammo that is moving! For coyotes, bobcats, etc it is devastating!

Doc,

I shoot a 30.06 as well most of the time. I have other choices but prefer my 30.06 on Texas whitetail.

My daughters shoot a 6 mm Rem. with a bull barrel. It is a Ruger M77. Deadly accurate and the heavy barrel takes most of the kick out of it. All of my daughters(4) are excellent shots with it and plenty of power to knock down anything out to 200+ yds. If you ever have a chance to get one, I think your wife would enjoy hunting with it. The only down side is that it is heavy.

ghollow,

Thanks for the advice I appreciate it. What kind of optics did you put on top?

I am a Leupold guy. That particular gun has a Leupold 3x9x40 Vari-x-III

< 4-12 AO vx2 LEUPOLD on my 300 wsm

22-250 Head Shots only.

Remington 700 series with a bull barrel.

extremely accurate.

Never track a deer. They drop in place.