rkba2nd wrote on Oct 8
th, 2018 at 2:25pm:
I have to side with Elmer on this one. The 22-250 was not designed with hunting deer in mind, especially when much more reliable rounds are available. It may be, that in capable hands, the 22-250 is adequate for deer size game, but just a matter of time until it will fail. If you cleanly killed as many as you said out to 400 yards, you are one very lucky man Val, and I might suggest running to your local 7-11 and buying a lottery ticket. I personally feel that 6mm's are at best marginal. I guided deer and elk hunters on the Roan Plateau in Colorado for many years, and shuddered when a hunter showed up with a 243, as I knew there was a real possibility that I would end up tracking a clients wounded deer or elk, and then have to pack it out of a deep canyon for him or her. That is what I was paid to do, but doesn't mean I had to enjoy it, either seeing the animal wounded or my having to pack it out in two or more trips. I am glad to see you have gone to larger calibers, and closer ranges Val.
If you've ever taken coyotes with a .22-250 and seen what it did to them, you might reconsider. I know numerous gun magazine writers have written that the .22-250 was inadequate for deer, but those I've spoken with never tried the caliber. I often wonder how people can state so confidently a certain caliber is not good for something when they've never used it?
I would add that all my deer were taken with a 55 gr. spire point, and never even tried any HP bullets. My load was around 3450 fps, with this bullet, and I found it devastating to internal organs. Most deer I field dressed had heart, lungs or both literally exploded into small pieces. A deer wont go far once those vital organs are destroyed, and I had none that took more than a few steps.
I wouldn't call it lottery type luck when a particular caliber and load take something over 20 deer. As I stated previously, I didn't keep exact count, but I know it's something over 20, and less than 30.
I've had more deer run a short distance with my .45-70 than I ever did with the .22-250. And deer surely aren't "heavy animals".