but if you can't afford to get a custom gun build then a 220 swift with some good non hunting bullets like a sierra matchking would also be good. but make sure with a matchking you try to shoot the deer as far away as possible, at least a half mile away. any closer and you are a bad shot.

or you could just make a logical choice and get either a 260 remington or a 7mm-08 if you handload and a 243 if you don't. the 7mm-08 would also be good for other larger game if she would ever choose to hunt it.

quote:

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Originally posted by heavy varmint:
with the proper bullet ofcourse. This is something I wouldn't even have concidered a few years ago but with bullets now available for the job in .22 cal. and some glowing reports from gun writers I am concidering loading up some Nosler Partitions in my 22-250 for my wifes first deer hunt but would like some oppinions from those who have tried it. Shots will be under 125 yards at 160 to 200 pound white tail.

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The only difference between using a 22 centerfire on deer and using a larger caliber is simply the size of your margin of error.Get excited and bust a deer through the hip with a 300 Weatherby and you'll still knock him down most times.Can't do that with a 22 centerfire.Keep them in the heart/lung area,or if you are a keen offhand shot the center of the throat,and you'll be happy with the results.

Bigcountry,

My general rule is that if they hit the deer first,it's their's no matter how poorly hit.You did the right thing calling DNR in that situation.

Cougarhunting,

While I don't doubt you for a second,there is probibly going to be some name calling thrown twards you for what you just said from some certain posters here.

------------------
I'm out to wrong rights,depress the opressed,and generaly make an ass of myself!

quote:

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Originally posted by Adirondack Joe:
heavy varmint, absolutely not. Such a caliber choice is unacceptable. My own 25-06 shooting 117 grn Hornady Interlocks is insufficient for the big whitetails here in Upstate NY, according to some on this site. You have to realize that anti-s are strapping bullet-proof vests on deer so that a 7mm is the minimum that can kill a buck. Your wife needs a 7mm Rem Mag. Apparently that is THE deer caliber. A 30-06 would be nice, but is light on power. A 300 Weatherby would be a better choice. A 338 Win Mag would work well, too. Why not get one of Remington's ridiculous Ultra Mags? Little pea shooters like the 25-06, not to mention centerfire 22's, are simply inadaquate.

Now that I've vented, I'd say go ahead. I know hunters who have taken deer every year with 60 grn Hornady's. Never lost a deer yet. My cousin has a Ruger M77MKII in 223 and he shoots Winchester's 64 grn power point. He has taken two bucks and quite a few does with it, none requireing a second shot. Some on this board would prefer if such accounts from the field did not exist, especially those who think a bullet should weigh at least 500 grains.

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I witnessed a largish doe shot at 275yds with a .223 carbine and 55gr Black Hills remanufactured ammo. It seemed like a poor combination at the time, but I was just along for the ride. At the shot, the deer herd ran off. For a few seconds, we thought the hit doe was in the mix of them, then we saw she had gone about 40yds and hunkered low in the grass.

We let her be for a little while before deciding to stalk closer for a finishing shot. Not sure just how undead the doe would be we were fairly cautious, but as it turned out, we were able to wald casually to about 20 yards where we finished the job.

Post mortem, the first shot was center high lungs and maybe a little back. Not ideal anyway. Our conclusion was that a better hit would have been extremely fatal.

Would I use a .223 for deer? Yes, but only if I had to. But if I did, I wouldn't feel bad about it for a second. I would think that a well loaded .22-250 should not have a problem at all within reason, of course.

Just remember the trade off of recoil and bullet weight for lighter recoil is shorter ranges and necessity for better shot placement.

Use your best judgement and you'll be fine.

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>>>--------------------->
Toxophilie and carry a bent stick.
<---------------------<<<

Rifle: Rem 788
Round: 22/250
Bullet: 55gr Hornady SP
Range: 400 yards

Dead center lung shot.

Post mortum:

Entrance hole was as expected, .22 caliber
size; exit hole was only about 3/8 inch.
Half of the lung on entrance side was
liquified while 90% of lung on exit side
was liquified. The buck stood in place until
he collapsed.

Know your rifle, know your shot.

If some claims of just what kind of cannons
are needed for deer and larger game, I would
suspect that for elephant hunting, they need
to produce a core-lokt type of bullet for
the 105mm Howitzer.

------------------
Rod's Place

quote:

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Originally posted by vibrasonic9:
Just because something can be done doesn't make it a good idea......I know a .22 rimfire will kill deer.......I've seen it happen a lot, but that don't make it a good idea. A Volkswagon truck can be outfitted with a gooseneck hitch and it'll pull a trailer.......but it's damn sure not the best thing to do.
I could jam my thumb up my ass and hop to Mexico on my fist, but why do that when there are better modes of transportation? You CAN shoot and kill a deer with those little calibers......but why?

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Simply because it works, and works very well.
No one here is suggesting to use any rimfire.

As for your unorthodox trip to Mexico, there
would be a sizeable number of the population
who would pay good money to see that. May I
be your cameraman?

quote:

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Originally posted by rock42:
but why would someone want to handicap themselves with a centerfire 22. 257 robers, 260 remington, 6.5 swede and some others would be much better choices with very little recoil. if you can't learn to cope with the recoil of a 260 remington there is something wrong with you. so why would someone want to handicap themselves in anyway by shooting a 22. and if you think a centerfire 22 will give you a flat trajectory, then look seriously at a 25-06 or 243 ackley. both of those are light recoiling and pretty damn flat to boot.

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I've used both 22/250 and 25/06. A lung shot
deer cannot tell the difference. A 22/250
is no handicap in deer hunting, UNLESS you
want to use the ol' phrase "shoot through
several inches of flesh", but most of us
just so happen to eat that several inches
of flesh and do not care for the taste of
blood-tainted venison.

Get a grip. Those of you who think the
22/250 as being too puny either take shots
you should not take or you have never tried
it. I reiterate: THE 22/250 IS NOT A
HANDICAPPED DEER RIFLE.