22-250 for deer

[RockyMtnMT]

Here is my .02

GS Custom HV hunting bullets 40gr

4300fps to 4400fps

.2 bc

Required twist= 14

Proven on deer size African game out to 400 meters

Using JBM calculations @ 3000 ft elevation, and 4300 fps muzzle vel.

300yrd zero renders a 400yrd point blank range, in other words 7" low at 400 yards with impact velocity of 2400 fps.

full value wind @ 400yrds= 17.2" drift

This is a dedicated big game bullet that will do the job with shots into the vitals. No need for the risky head/neck shot. Meat damage will be minimal.

This is what I would do.

Steve

 

[D.A.T.]

39.2 gr h380 55gr berger.shoots good in my old 110 22-250

 

[7 loader]

The 250 is good for deer hunters with EXPERIENCE. The Barnes "X" bullets will work well even in engine compartment hits. keep it under 200yds for peace of mind and you will have no problems. I like a challenge to and great luck with my 22-250.

 

[kweidner]

I used .22 cals for 20+ years. 22-250 .220 swift, 223wssm and even the plain jane .223. I always used 52 grain HP and took neck shots. Never had one take a step. 2 yrs ago I started loading Barnes 52 grain for my neighbors son. I wasn't sure the neck shot was an option. He has had great luck with that little bullet. He has taken 5 animals with them ...all boiler room shots and all recovered less than 100 yds. I have shot three with my AR and 70 grain Barnes. Excellent bullet as well. If you are up for it use the Sierras and shoot for the neck. (No Tracking) The faster the bullet the faster they drop. The swift and the WSSM are great to 350 yds. and you would not believe how fast they drop! I WOULD NOT shoot one past 350. It's an energy/wind thing. If I have shot possibilities past 350 the little .22s stay at home. The 6.5X .284 is in the truck with me then!

 

[winmag]

I used .22 cals for 20+ years. 22-250 .220 swift, 223wssm and even the plain jane .223. I always used 52 grain HP and took neck shots. Never had one take a step. 2 yrs ago I started loading Barnes 52 grain for my neighbors son. I wasn't sure the neck shot was an option. He has had great luck with that little bullet. He has taken 5 animals with them ...all boiler room shots and all recovered less than 100 yds. I have shot three with my AR and 70 grain Barnes. Excellent bullet as well. If you are up for it use the Sierras and shoot for the neck. (No Tracking) The faster the bullet the faster they drop. The swift and the WSSM are great to 350 yds. and you would not believe how fast they drop! I WOULD NOT shoot one past 350. It's an energy/wind thing. If I have shot possibilities past 350 the little .22s stay at home. The 6.5X .284 is in the truck with me then!

Hey Kweidner, just by chance I just traded a Browning 338 win mag I had to a buddy to get my Win Model-70, 223wssm back. This thread and the one on prefered coyote rifles got me thinkin........... What kind of powder did you find most suitable for the 223wssm?

 

[kweidner]

H380 at 44.5 grains with the 52 grain sierra. I am getting 3800. It only drops 9 inches at 350 with a 1" high zero. Start lower and work up as this is what works in my gun. Those cases really need to be neck turned and flash hole de-burred. The brass is so thick when they punch the primer pockets it really leaves a HUGE burr in the flash hole. I trim them just so they clean up. (about 90%) I really think the secret behind the little blisterer is a clean bbl. They will copper foul like nobody's business. Do the bench-rest thing and really clean after 6 or so rounds and it will keep then in the X. My WSSM will shoot bug-holes if I do my part.

 

[Freebore]

My load in the 22-250 is 35.5 of IMR-4895 with the 55 BalTip for 3600+ fps. or I can switch to IMR-4064 and bump it to 36.5 for just about the same performance. This load has worked very well in many factory rifle for me. Strickly W-W standard LR primers worth 50 fps for me and better accuracy.

If shooting deer I almost always go for the neck/behind the ear. If going to the boiler you HAVE TO stay off of the shoulder and go back a few ribs or wait until the leg is forward and drill the heart. These are shot taken under 300 yrds. I shoot a Ruger #1 and I clean the barrel every 10 shots or the groups open to 3/4" at 100 instead of 1/4". I want that 1/2" advantage.

I have taken doe Antelope out to 650 with a Swift. It drives the 55's at 3900 with N-160 It is a custom rifle. I've taken PD's to 700 with the 69SMK in the Swift...the 22-250 dies at 500 for me.

I have always wondered about the performance of the Nosler 60 Partition though and the Barnes TSX in that 22-250.

As said prior...bullet placement is the key.

 

[sniper2]

Have killed dozens of white tail deer with .22/250 with 36gr. H380 and many 55gr. bullets of all kinds shoot them in the neck(spine) they will not run away. As several have mentioned bullet
placement key to success...

 

[7mmpoppy]

It took a while to order, load and shoot, but thought I would update on bullet
selection for the 22-250. the 60gr nosler partition will not stabilize in our rifle.
at 50 yrds the group was 3.5 in. left of bull, 3in high and 1in right, then low and right. so to save the next guy $30, it won't shoot. 50gr tsx will do the job but will need to tweak the load. it was 1/2 in at 50. 55gr v-max was 3 holes touching.
Thank you for the input. He will have to decide, but I would shoot the TSX for a
"do it all" round out of this rifle.

 

[tnshooter111]

I killed a bunch of deer with a 52 gr sierra MK. Shooting head or neck shots.

 

[J E Custom]

I told him the very same! But he's gonna take the 250 so want all the bullet we can get.......

The 22/250 is very light for big game and wind really effects the bullets. But having said
that I have killed many deer with a 22/250 "But they were all neck shots and almost any
bullet will work if used in this way.

So if he wants to use it make sure it is a very accurate bullet and somewhere between
45 and 52 grains And that he shoots them in the neck(He will have something to brag
about, not to make excuses for).

Just my opinion.

J E CUSTOM

 

[jrsolocam]

I finally give up on discouraging people from using .223 and .22-250 on whitetails. In ND bucks can weigh up to and over 300 lbs. I guess it doesn't matter how many deer you see running around with injuries due to light bullets blowing up.

Yes, you can kill a deer with a 55 gr bullet, thats not the point. If you can only afford one rifle and its a .223 I guess you pick your shots and make it work.

For everyone else, I believe a .243 with a good bullet is a sensible minimum.

 

[7mmpoppy]

I totally agree that a 22-250 is not the best choice for deer sized game.
and the person I'm loading for owns several other rifles.......
but I have been unable to persuade him of the folly! so that being said, I am
trying to load the best round possible for the task.
I believe that we can do this ethicaly if I do my job of proper bullet selection and he does his of proper shot placement at a reasonable range.
A plus is that our deer are about 100 lbs wet, and not so tough.............
thanks for the input.

 

[eaglesnester]

I have a Weatherby Super Varmint Master in 22/250 with a 26inch 1-14 inch twist barrel. I have tried Speer 70grain bullets against all of the internet advise against using a bullet that heavy in a 1-14. My results speak for themselves 3/4" groups at 100 meters using 39grains of Winchester 760 and a 250CCI cap. Getting 3400FPS out the business end. Plenty for even moose. I have not killed anything with my 22/250 however I have shot it at a 5/16inch steel plate at 200 meters with a Burger 52 grain and the bullet goes over 1/2 way through the plate. The resulting bullet crater is quite impressive to say the least. I do believe that if this round will do that much damage to a steel plate it will sure as hell will put down any deer on this earth.
Saw a video of a ineuit hunter that hunts polar bears with a 22/250. puts em down fast as he goes for the spine. Now i dont advociate going after polar bears with a 22/250, thats purely stupid, however this guy was a pro and he has been doing it his entire life. He uses a 22/250 bullet because he does not wish to mess up the pelt. I guess he gets 20-30 thou for a first class skin.

Cheers & Tighter Groups: Eaglesnester