Thinking of getting a 22/250 and using 60 to 70 gn bullets on whitetails where I live anyone had success with this

I've shot probably 8-10 whitetails with my 22-250. I used 55 grain soft points and never had an issue with any of them.

A 22-250 is very adequate for deer and yes, I've had success with it.

50 to 55 grain Barnes TSX work great in the 22/250 too, they exit everytime.
Good luck with yours.

quote:

using 60 to 70 gn bullets

I'd sure be looking for a 1-12" twist for those bullets.

The typical 22-250 has a 1-14" and works quite well for 60 grains and less.

I've used 55 grain soft points and in my very limited experience they worked quite well for the size deer I was shooting.

Same song different rendition. The 55 grain soft points can be a real disaster. I speak from experience with well placed shots. roger

I was going to try and find a 1/9 twist barrel . The one I was shooting the other day had a 1/14 and shot very nice with 55 gn bullets. I was hoping to go a little heavier with the bullets if I can

grandpa--The 55 grainers in the .222/.223 velocity range work great. If you want heavier move up to a .243---the 22-250 has as much blast and recoil as a .243. Neither the .243 or the 22-250 is gonna kill em any deader than what the .223 will do.

60 grain Nosler Partitions will do well on deer from a 1-14" .22-250 as will 64 grain Winchester Power Points. The regular Hornady spire points also have a reputation for holding together pretty well on game animals and their 60-grainer should be a good choice.

I wouldn't bother with any of the heavier .224 bullets as they are almost all specialty target bullets. Besides requiring a fast twist their terminal performance on game would likely be marginal.

I agree with Vapordog and go with a 12 twist. Swift Scirroco's are a heavy weight hunting bullet.

I have a friend that has a Ruger Varminter in 22-250 with a 14 twist and his rifle would absolutely keyhole the Sierra 63 grain semi points. So one can't say for sure if they stabilize in all rifles because they do in their own.

I think with the bullets in that 60 grain range the 22-250 may drive them too fast, but would be good for longer range where the velocity drops a lot. Like Carpetman said a 223 will work especially at the closer range.

If you look at flat base bullets they seem to stabilize better than the boattail versions of the same weight in slower twist barrels.

If you have a good barrel but a slow twist, the Barnes TSX up to 53gr shot pretty good for me.

quote:

Originally posted by BigNate:
If you look at flat base bullets they seem to stabilize better than the boattail versions of the same weight in slower twist barrels.

If you have a good barrel but a slow twist, the Barnes TSX up to 53gr shot pretty good for me.

That's because the same version in a boattail is a longer bullet. Twist has to do with the length of a bullet not it's weight. It's because as a bullet gets longer so does it's weight get heavier and maybe the confusion why a faster twist is needed for longer bullets.

quote:

Originally posted by SmokinJ:
That's because the same version in a boattail is a longer bullet. Twist has to do with the length of a bullet not it's weight. It's because as a bullet gets longer so does it's weight get heavier and maybe the confusion why a faster twist is needed for longer bullets.

I'm glad you understand the concept. I completely agree that the longer a bullet the faster the twist. That's why I said what I said.

That was my chance to throw the Captain Obvious line out there but even with smilies some people don't take it with humor.

I am just curious why you want to buy a varmint gun to hunt deer with. I know it is done with success and if you have it already that is one thing. However if you are buying a rifle to hunt deer why not at least a .243? Not wanting to start a flame war I am just asking.

quote:

Originally posted by Donald Nelson:
I am just curious why you want to buy a varmint gun to hunt deer with. I know it is done with success and if you have it already that is one thing. However if you are buying a rifle to hunt deer why not at least a .243? Not wanting to start a flame war I am just asking.

Don't know for sure but I suspect it's some sort of hemmroidal deficiency. roger

quote:

Originally posted by Donald Nelson:
I am just curious why you want to buy a varmint gun to hunt deer with. I know it is done with success and if you have it already that is one thing. However if you are buying a rifle to hunt deer why not at least a .243?.

Classifying a 22-250 as a "varmint gun" is just something in your mind. The 22-250 is a very legitimate deer rifle and not just a marginal deer rifle.

Well I am buying the rifle as one I will use ocasionaly untill one of my grandsons can use it as their first rifle . I allready have a .243 and a 25/06 for when they get a little bigger it has nothing to do with hemaroids I guess I came to the wrong place. Don't bother with a reply if you don't have any helpfull input

Take it easy, these guys are just lonely, and trying to make conversation.

grandpa--Once you defined you are buying the 22-250 for grandchildren and already have a .243 it increases even more my recommendation of a .222 or .223. Except for the backwards safety, those CZ's are great rifles. My grandson and my great nephew have had great luck with .222's and .223's---much better than I would have ever expected.

I do believe that the 22-250 was originaly called "the Varminter". That's also the reason it was originally offered with a 1/14 twist to shoot 55gr varmint bullets. Now, IMO, people are playing around with the faster twist and the heavier bullets to try and make it a .243.
As posted, why not just get a .243 or better yet, a .260.

Well I also have a 223 but I have two grandsons 8 months apart but not sure I want to always give them the same stuff. Not sure about when I get a third grandson but these two are brothers I was trying for similar but differnt. I also have a cricket and then two differnt 22s for them. Since they are both close in age I will have both with me at the same time.

I don't know how many deer I've killed with the 22-250, a Remington 700 varmint synthetic with 1-14 twist to be exact, more than enough to provide a reasonably valid statistical sample. The vast majority with 55gr soft point bullets. I am of the opinion these days that bullet construction far trumps bullet weight.

I've killed a few deer with a 1-9 twist .223 too. Those were taken with the 63gr sierra and 64gr power point. I never could get the 63gr sierra to exit, but all shots with it were inside 100yrds

One of these days I'm going to have Melvin Forbes build me an 18" 1-8 twist .223 that carries like a feather.

If it were me, I would look at some of the savage riffles in .223, most of them come with a 1-9 twist which will get you up in the 70gr neighborhood. Don't get too caught up in bullet weight though. Any of the 50-55gr Barnes triple shocks will do it. Also the 65gr Sierra game king or the 64gr power point.

Those last two bullets in the .223 will be comparatively inexpensive to load and shoot in volume and often times will mimic the trajectory of larger bore rifles down range. All that adds up to better shooting down the road in my opinion.

Grandpa,
I like your idea about the 22-250. I also would go with the 1/12 twist. Savage makes some in that twist rate. I have a Tikka 223 with 1/8 twist and I love it. It is a deer killer.

Savage makes a 1:9" twist 22.250

It's not what I recommend for beginners, unless deer are small and country is very open. But I started with a WBY Vmaster decades ago. Shot a handful of deer in a field in ME with standard cup/core Sierras 55 and 63s and also the Speer 70. Nothing ran more than 100 yds, and most ran less than 50 yds. One neck shot DRT. Longest shot was around 220 yds. I cannot say any particular projo proved better than another. Lungs were always pulped.

Understand that there is essentially no blood trail with standard construction bullets (no exit). I have no experience with monolithic and partition .22s.

If I were hunting open country again I would be perfectly content to use one (or a Swift) again. But I'm older, and more patient.

Sam

One thing grandpa hasn't pointed out is the bullet weight restrictions in Oklahoma. Oklahoma law requires a minimum of 55 grains for the bullet, which is why I used the 55 grain soft points previously. Recently, I've gone away from the standard cup and core type bullets and have miagrated to the "premium" type bullets. I'd first look at the 55 grain Barnes TSX bullet and the 60 grain Nosler partition. Hopefully, you'll hit on a load your rifle likes. Another option would be to look at the Rhino bullets.

Anyways, that's where I would start.

Graybeard I really like the barnes bullets I have used so far I was looking to load them for my .223 and 25/06 I use them in several others now so they were going to be my first choice for the 22/250

I have shot a few with the 63gr Sierra and the 64gr WW with satisfactory results. I have a couple of customers who swear by the Sierra 52gr HPBT match.

I am still poking around a semi varmint rifle in a fast smallbore. I have and old intermediate Oberndorf B Mauser from 1913 in 8x57 I wish to alter. I have thought of .220Swift, 22/250(+ackley) 5,6x61Vom Hofe, 6x62 Freres, 240Weatherby, 6mmRem. The 22/250 is still a caliber that in the end seems most sensible as I only want to rebarrel and keep everything as it is.
I have always wondered about .220Swift Vs 22/250 in the accuracy department??. anybody have an idea?.

quote:

Originally posted by grandpa:
Graybeard I really like the barnes bullets I have used so far I was looking to load them for my .223 and 25/06 I use them in several others now so they were going to be my first choice for the 22/250

I'm with ya there! I reach for the Barnes bullets first when working up a load for a rifle.

JP- I don't have a lot of experience with the Swift but what I have seen would indicate that it is as capable as any. It greatly depends on the quality of the barrel, proper mechanics, and a decent load. Same as any other.

I was not trying to be nasty I just asked the question. Sorry I think of .22 centerfires as varmint calibers. That said I know how kids are if you get one a .223 and one a 22-250 you may have the little green monster rise up. I can appreciate what you want to do though.

quote:

Originally posted by jens poulsen:
I am still poking around a semi varmint rifle in a fast smallbore. I have and old intermediate Oberndorf B Mauser from 1913 in 8x57 I wish to alter. I have thought of .220Swift, 22/250(+ackley) 5,6x61Vom Hofe, 6x62 Freres, 240Weatherby, 6mmRem. The 22/250 is still a caliber that in the end seems most sensible as I only want to rebarrel and keep everything as it is.
I have always wondered about .220Swift Vs 22/250 in the accuracy department??. anybody have an idea?.

If you just want to rebarel and keep everything else as-is, then I suggest the 6mm Rem. In my experience, they are more likely to feed without alteration than most of the others you mention.

My .225 Win. has a 1 in 13" twist and will stabilize the Speer 70 grain semi spitzer with no problem and it is very accurate. I do have to seat them rather deeply however. But, I believe they are designed for deer size game. Give them a try.
joe

22-250 will kill almost any thing out there including deer if you have the proper shot placement.

I shot a small black tail buck that was maybe 30 yards away walking towards me grazing. Thought I would shoot him between the eyes but because of the angle of his head, I blew out both eyes and blew his lower jaw away without killing him. I had to shoot him again in the head. What a mess and I felt bad for the poor animal.

I use mostly .30 cal for deer now, something that isn't so much like a hand granade when it hits.

Head shooting is always risky and I don't recommend it in any caliber.
The .22-250 placed in the vitals is quite capable. The wound channel from a 53gr TSX would be hard to tell the difference of several other smaller calibers. The 60gr Nos Part or 64gr Win PP leave a bigger wound yet I think.

In my mind, there are three things that cause me to NOT recommend a 22-caliber center fire for deer hunting, or for that matter, the much-loved 243 either:

1) The round's effectiveness is very dependent on projectile quality. Most of the commercially loaded rounds out there are NOT loaded for hunting deer,and I don't care which bullet you use, there is the potential for projectile failure (as there is with all of them). There is just less margin with a lighter projectile.

2) Hit a deer too far forward and there is the distinct possibility of the small 22-caliber pill blowing up on the shoulder. (And I am NOT including gut shot deer. Gut shoot them with a 35 and you may still lose them!) A lot of times, youngsters aren't disciplined enough to make that "perfect" shot. In my mind, giving them a small caliber to start with almost dares failure to happen, and with a youngster, losing a deer may turn them off the game completely.

3) Any bullet expansion much over 1.6X diameter or so is asking for a lot. Expand a .224" bullet to even twice its diameter and the exit wound is only .448. That isn't much of a hole for blood leakage, in my experience. And I have seen it. See below...

I have posted this repeatedly on this forum in other places: two years in a row I had to help a friend find deer he had punched in the boiler room with a .223 and the almighty 60-grain Nosler Partitions. In both cases the shot was a pass through, but the deer leaked very little blood, and due to execessive trauma inside (I guess), both ran over 400 yards before expiring. It took over three hours to find the second one. (Try finding something that runs that far when it isn't painting you a trail... it will change your mind on the caliber, I think.)

After the second one I told him if he shot another deer with his .223 I was going to wrap the barrel around his neck. The animals deserve better, as I see it.

These last stories are the sort that rarely get posted in cyberspace. You only hear about the DRT at xxxx range. I think starting a kid deer hunting with any .22 is like starting him out duck hunting with a .410.
Like the old fossil at the general store told me, he'd taken his grandson deer hunting with a .223 and he'd killed a deer. "hee hee" said the old man, "he had to shoot at 15 of them before he got one down..."

I started with a .22-250 and I killed about 15 deer with it. I used 55 grain Remington soft points. Deer dropped in their tracks about as often as they do with my bigger caliber rifles (maybe half the time), but I don't recall any running farther than 30-40 yards.

I never got an exit, and the lungs were generally shredded.

I'm not really an advocate of .22 centerfires for deer, nor am I adamantly against them. All I can say is that they can be effective on deer, as long as the person pulling the trigger does their part. In the case of a kid, it's up to the adult who is taking them hunting to instruct them in proper shooting, as well as when not to shoot.

In 1966 the 22 Varminter was my deer rifle.
The first mule deer I killed with it was a small buck A long distance off. He was looking away up hill. The cross hairs were about 3 inches above the V formed by his ears. The Barnes' 70 grain bullet hit him in the neck about 8 inches below his ears and exited the throat with a tennis ball size hole.
The following week a large doe was coming off a hill directly at me. She was hit with two 62 grain soft nose bullets dead center ,middle of chest. She kept running till she got into some brush in the gulch below me. My partner and I followed down hill for more than 100 yards when we ran into a cowboy who said he hadn't seen the deer. We entered his camp later and there it was hanging from a pole. We know it was the same deer as no shots had been fired in that area since I shot. She had two horrible wounds on the surface of her chest.
Same day I shot a large doe moving perpendicular to me, in the open, about 50 yards out. I hit this deer 2 to 4 times with the same 62 grain bullet low behind the shoulder. She just kept going leaving very little blood trail. About 3 hours latter my partner found her about 500 yards from where she was shot. She was down but still alive. The combined entrance wounds were well placed but the bullets came apart just under her hide.

Later that year and the next, that rifle performed well but only the Barnes' 70 bullets were used.After that the Varminter (22-250) was never used by me on deer.
I guess I learned that there were better deer rifles to be used. Had either of those 2 does been hit in the same places they were,as many times, with perhaps an 06 It would have been a far different story. roger