I hunt with a 22-250 making mostly neck shots but a few times I had to take a chest shot. I have been using factory ammo but now I have started handloading for it. I am wondering what would be the best bullet (brand & weight)that I might get the best results. I shoot a Remington 700 VLS with a 14 twist rate.

Try Nosler 64 grains... however you might have a problem with that slow rate of twist not stablizing them...

Aside from the "premium" bullets, the Hornady 55 grain Spire point has a reputation for holding together fairly well. You should have no problem on Texas whitetails, even with shoulder shots, using this bullet.

Eric-
Nosler does not make a 64 grain bullet but does offer the 60 grain Partition, although stability will be borderline with a 1:14.

I don't advocate the use of .22 centerfires on deer, but there's no doubt many have been taken with them. In my younger days, I did so myself. After extensive bullet testing, I settled on the Sierra 55 graim BTSP GameKing and the Hornady 60 grain SP and HP as the best of the lot. Today, the WW 64 grain Power Point warrants consideration. When he was 8, our son used this bullet on a whitetail with excellent results. The range was just 70 yards, and the MV from the .223 was just over 2800 fps.

Keep in mind that shot placement and patience are extremely critical -- moreso than when using a more conventional bullet/caliber combo -- when using rounds that rate as marginal for the application...

Don't use a 22-250 for deer, period. Take it from someone who used to hunt with a 22-250. I killed several deer with it, including the 34" mule deer that now hangs on my wall.
However, I found that it takes two or more shots to accomplish what one shot from a deer round would do. The worse was at least two deer that never would give me that second shot, one a 30"+ deer that I ended up losing.
Go with at least a 243. There are several on the list who will insist that even that is to small, and I won't argue with them.

I use the Speer 70 grain Spire point. You won't get bench rest accuracy, but it will work quite well for hunting.

Pecos

I know that most people thinks the 22-250 or .243 are to small for deer. With the 22-250 if any way possible I only take a neck shot. I have hunted with a .270 for several years also making only chest shots. I lost a few deer with the .270 but not the 22-250. I feel this is because of a couple of reasons. First with the 22-250 I have more confidence with the accurracy of it. Second I know that shot placement is more important. Yes I have let deer walk with the 22-250 that I would not have with the .270. I would push shot with the .270 that I don't with the 22-250. I feel a neck shot (close to the head) with the 22-250 is better shot than a chest shot with the .270. Every deer that I shot in the neck with the 22-250 has drop straight down but some shot with the .270 in the chest have ran & sometimes not recovered.

Thanks for the replies.

I like to neck shoot also. But the west is BIG country many of the shots I get just are not feasible for neck shots. So my recommendation are slanted by that.

Less than 100 yards Shoot in the neck or head.
300+ and I've got to go for the chest shot. Too many variables to accurately hit the neck at that range. Especially after climbing a 10,000 foot mountain and shooting off a sagebrush support.

So I carry at least a 25-06 that still has enough thump at 300 yards to make up for an inch or two of error. I shoot Barnes XBT or Nosler Partitions.

If you are hunting out a stand with an excellent bench rest in texas at closer ranges at deer standing under feeders. Then you can probably get away with neck shots and the lighter gun. But I'd recommend you shoot with a larger caliber and pratice with it until you are comfortable with it.

bpc,

I have been using a 22 CHeetah MK 1 for 5 seasons now for deer. I use this rifle for crop damage doe only. I use a 52gr berger bullet pushed at 4280 FPS. Out to 400 yards, double lung, broadside shot it just plain drops deer. I have yet to have one take one step after being shot.

My CHeetah has a 1 in 16 twist. I also use this rifle to kill woodchucks to 660 yards, my best kill to date.

Don

I still hate the thought of using a 22 caliber bullet on deer, based on my own experience. It was some 30 years ago when I tried the 22-250, and I know that the bullets today are much better today than they were then. The neck shots always dropped them, and most shots less than 100 yards were effective. I had my problems on longer shots and bigger deer. The smaller bullets lose their speed and energy in a hurry, and I believe were too fragile to bust through a rib, much less a shoulder.
I recommend picking your shots well, and using the best bullet you can find. I hope you have better luck than I did.

personall yi shoot a .308. I have not shot a deer in the neck w/ it i like cheast shots. I also like pass through's w/ nice sized holes. I would never try shooting a deer w/ a 22 caliber. I would be too scared of losing the animal. to me there is no greater wrong. But i suppose if you shoot it well and can make a well placed neck shot go ahead. Not for me though

45 Colt in a Marlin 1894 Cowboy carbine with 300gr XTPs (gonna try that this coming season)

Ruger#1

[ 03-23-2003, 09:37: Message edited by: Ruger#1 ]

I oftentimes guide kids antelope hunting. We've shot several antelope does so far with the .22-250 and the Nosler 60 gr. Partition. None have gone more than 50 yds. Several shots have been out to around 300 yds. My nephew shot one at about 150 yds straight-on once. The bullet went completely through the doe and lodged under the skin in the hindquarter perfectly mushroomed. One thign about that cartridge-- it doesn't recoil much and kids love to shoot it. Which means they can concentrate on shooting technique, instead of wondering when the recoil is going to hit them.

I had a long string of 1 shot kills with both the 223 and 22-250. I limited my 22-250 to 225 yards and the 223 to 150 yards. In all cases I used one of these three bullits, 60 grain Nosler Solid base, 60 grain Hornady SP or HP. All hits were broadside hits into the rib cage near the shoulder, no running shots attempted. Most exited wether or not they hit ribs and no animal ever went more than 50 yards. I use my 6MM Remington in a similar manner but will take shoulder shots with the better bullets and will take some angling shots.

sscoyote, I notice that you're from Colorado, just wondering, where do you guide these antelope hunts? The reason that I ask is that a 22-250 is not legal for anything larger than a coyote in Colorado and certainly not for antelope or deer.