22-250 for deer?

G

gator4ever

New member
Let me start this by saying that I hunt in SW Florida a big buck for us weighs 165lbs and average buck is 145lbs.

What that in mind which bullet would you recommend I use for deer in my 22-250?

I am not going to use it as my #1 deer gun but I have a few pastures that I could have the opportunity at a long shot.

I saw the barnes at BPS a bit pricey though? I dont like the ballistic tips for deer.
 
Gator4ever,
I don't usually use my varmint gun for deer either but I have this Rem 700 22-250 shooting so good that I knew I could place the bullet exactly where I wanted to within reason ...I shot this buck in 09 at 226 Yds. ranged, with a 50 gr. V-Max. This was in an open field and double lunged him. He weighed 170 lbs dressed which means he was at least 200 lbs. on the hoof. It was a standing shot so not so hard, but I wouldn't want to shoot at a deer that is moving pretty fast. Also one other thing. Those bullets do not come out most times. So there is no blood trail. If you were to shoot one in the thick woods and you have no snow to follow tracs, you may loose him. He went about 30 yds. and staggerd and just fell over. Just my 2 censt.
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Nice buck.
I shoot the 50 grain ballistic tip a lot but it would not be my first choice for deer. In .22-250 I would choose a 55 gr soft point or pointed soft point that will expand and hold together. I know it works and the twist rate limits your choice.
 
I have shot a few deer in Alaska with my 22-250. I shoot the 50 or 55 gr speer soft point. I limit my shots to inside 100 yards. Works good, just remember shot placement. If your taking long shots I would get a bigger caliber.
 
I use the 22-250 sometimes in northern NY and use 55 grain pointed speer points. Proper placement with knowing where your gun is hitting is key.
 
So 55grain soft point it is. I knew the ballistic tips would not be the one you guys would suggest. I dont even like using them in my 06.

Peterjc that is one hec of a nice buck. Hey and that coyote your holding is a hog how much did he weigh? Must have been over 50lbs????



thanks again everyone.
 
I'd vote for the Barnes TSX. They are a bit pricey, but I've seen first hand what they do to internal organs, trust me,it's worth it
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Originally Posted By: nofiveoI'd vote for the Barnes TSX. They are a bit pricey, but I've seen first hand what they do to internal organs, trust me,it's worth it
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my thoughts exactly. Should be able to kill anything with that combo.
 
Originally Posted By: JCHOriginally Posted By: nofiveoI'd vote for the Barnes TSX. They are a bit pricey, but I've seen first hand what they do to internal organs, trust me,it's worth it
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my thoughts exactly. Should be able to kill anything with that combo.

Did the deer shot with this load have a pass through shot?

I dont like bullets that dont produce a good blood trail. Trailing a blood trail down here where there is no snow and plenty of water is a pain in the neck.
 
I hand loaded some 60 grain Nosler Partitions for my boys to deer hunt with. My oldest son killed a forked horn last year with it. The buck was slightly quartering to us at approximately 35 yards away. The bullet entered to shoulder and exited behind the off shoulder. There was a 1 inch entry and exit hole. Perfect performance.
Now I will say that if your barrel has a 1 in 14 inch twist, it may not stabilize this bullet or the TSX mentioned above.
 
I can't say how they perform on deer, but I can tell you that when you take a frontal shot on a 155 lb mtn lion (not recommended) and the lion never so much as tries to stay in the tree and just falls dead, the bullet done it's job. I had 2 different loads for my .223 worked up. the first was a 55 gr combined technologys ballistic tip that proved very messy on yotes. It groups well, but less than ideal for fur. the second was a 53gr TSX.. truth be told, I cant get them to group for nothin, but at 10 yards with a pumped up cat in a tree I was more concerned with hydraulic shock and penetration than accuracy. The Bullet entered above the left collar bone with a .22 cal hole, turned the heart and lungs to chunky red jello, and exited behind the right shoulder with a .22 cal hole. The cat never knew what hit it.. dropped out of the tree deader than a stone. I've got it on video, just can't figure out how to upload it. The only downside, I can't seem to get less than a 3" group out of the TSX.. my stevens just dosen't care for them.
 
I have personally shot around a dozen deer with my 22-250 with 55gr nosler ballistic tips, anywheres from 100 yards to a doe at 400, even at 400 yards the doe only went about 10 feet and fell over. One of my buddy's shot a 6pt bull elk at 300 yards with his swift, and it didnt make it very far.
 
In the 22cals, a good soft point is a smart choice.
I have not taken deer with the 22-250 but have taken several with a .223 and one with a .221 fireball. It works well if you place the bullet in the proper spot.
 
Thanks for the input. I am going to shot some soft points through my gun and see how they group.

Does anyone know what the barrel twist is for the 22inch savage axis/edge?
 
personally, I wouldnt use anything smaller than a .243 for deer with a 90 gr. soft tip. That is the smallest cal. allowed in Michigan
 
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