Does the 22-250 really have the stuff?

[MZ5]

Since acquiring a 223WSSM, the 22-250 seems like a complete waste of time and money. I use a 223Rem for lighter stuff, and the WSSM if I need to go up whilst staying with a 22-cal. That said, I'd use a 243 or a 25WSSM for the multi-tasking under discussion here.

[setterman]

Quarter bore is the way to go.....
I use a .257 Rob for evrything: Deer, yotes and when I get a chance hogs. The coyote in the pic by my name was shot at 250yds running with my .257 Rob and he crumbled like a card house. Shot all the deer I've killed in the last several years with it also. I hand load a 100gr BT and it works great for all of them.
I have a .22-250 that I shoot crows with and a .17HMR.but my .257 is my all around Fav

[Waceyf]

The .270 gets my vote. My dad shot a 250 pound hog with his 243 and one lunged him at 70 yds didnt find him for a week. He trailed him in the brush for an hour and half and couldnt get another clean shot. Not saying it wont work but it didnt for him. That being said it depends if you want the meat or if your just shooting to get rid of them, the 243 did kill the hog but didnt kill him quick enough to salvage meat.

[MAGNUS]

Since acquiring a 223WSSM, the 22-250 seems like a complete waste of time and money. I use a 223Rem for lighter stuff, and the WSSM if I need to go up whilst staying with a 22-cal. That said, I'd use a 243 or a 25WSSM for the multi-tasking under discussion here.

Seems like alot of extra powder used in the 223WSSM for minimal gain over the 22-250 i woudlnt bother, the 25WSSM was aslo a failure wouldnt bother with that either. There are many other quarter bores out there that are a better choice.

[MZ5]

Just as much advantage and gain/benefit of the 223 WSSM over the 22-250 as there is in the 22-250 over the 223 Rem. I will agree, though, that there are an unbelievably large quantity of fools out there who merely repeat the party line of Win/Olin's competition, without any actual experience with the WSSMs whatsoever. Check the AR world; EVERYONE is building on the WSSMs.

[McKinneyMike]

I used a 22-250 for a rifle hunt in texas and when we skinned that deer one of the shoulders was completely destroyed, so we couldn't get any meat of it. The other shoulder had bruised spots too so yea a 22-250 is plenty enough for deer.

Well the Texas deer that i have seen are no bigger than a large dog, so sure a 22-250 will work fine. Most people shoot deer in the 200lbs plus range though and a 22-250 is just too light to be effective in the hands of anyone short of marksmen at very short range. Killing should be merciful. Save the 22 calibers for the crows and coyotes please.

My personal preference for deer and hogs would be a 25-06, but there are many options that fit the bill :)

[EFBell]

I also belive the 25-06 is the perfect deer cartridge. And I also believe the 22-250 will be around long after the WSSM's are little more than footnote in cartridge history books. But, to each his own. I do realize that there are better bullets available these days for the 22's that were not available just a few years ago.

[wbm]

...Just use the .270..lol.. ...By the time you buy a new gun & scope setup, think how much .270 ammo you can buy for that price..

Ditto! ;D

[MAGNUS]

I do realize that there are better bullets available these days for the 22's that were not available just a few years ago.

If you do use proper bullet choice like a barnes tsx or nosler partition then the 22-250 WILL be fine for all deer given correct bullet placement.

[Deserthunter]

While a 22-250 MAY bring a nice buck down, In my opinion is barely sufficient to do the job and then only when placement is perfect.......

At 200yrds a typical .224 bullet that started at 3700fps has less than 1000ft lbs of energy left. At 300yrds it's down to less than 750ft lbs.

I've taken more than 40 head of Muley out west, with shots from 200-600yrds, Most, If not all were taken with my 270win using 130gr loaded to 3100fps. At 200yrds it's still got over 2000ft lbs of energy, enough to put a deer down with a nicely placed shot....

For many, many years my 22-250's have taken coyotes with no problem, but for big game, give me a big game rifle......

I've seen to many wounded animals running around from hunters that have gotten excited and not placed a bullet where it belongs and in the heat of the moment it's so easy..... Use a rifle that's designed to bring down the animal your hunting and practice, practice...... JMHO

[SD Dogger]

If you want to hunt hogs and coyotes with the same rifle, I would NOT go for a .22-250 ..... they are fine coyote meds but when you factor in hogs ....

......... I would go UPSCALE to at least a .243 but better still a .257 Bob

Three 44s

Agree. I've been shooting a .22-250 for a long time, and it is great p-dog and yote medicine, but for a hog I would pass. .243 would be better, not a great hog gun, .270 is much better, but better than a .22-250.

[McKinneyMike]

I like the 22-250 also, but it is not a deer round. Well maybe some of the dog sized Texas deer, but not what I call deer sized animals across the majority of the US. A .243 is a minimum in my book.

[MAGNUS]

Im gonna say this.. i kill deer with a 223 people kill deer all the time with a 22 hornet. Do i suggest this to everyone well no, but is it as humane and just as good as other calibres.. yes as long as you know how and what to do. Deer is by far not big game it is medium at best. Larger bore size is not a substitute for poor bullet placement in my books.

[bootsmcguire]

I shoot a 12FV 22-250 with a 1-12 twist and 55gr Sierra Spitzers, and on Coyotes it stops em in their tracks. I have never had the opportunity to take a hog, as them seem to be far and few between here in the midwest. As far as an all around gun that's light on recoil and cheap to shoot I always seem to find myself reaching for my my 12FV in 308 Win. If you need a gun to do it all I love the heavy gun and hard hitting power of the 308 12FV. Too bad they discontinued it for 2009. :-\

[moe2]

i also have a fv 22-250 and i have shot two hogs back to back with 55 grn sie. first shot i hit the 200lb hog right behind the ear drt the second was running towards me <150lbs>an shot him under the chin ,drt. 1st shot @ 125yds an 2shot @ 100 yds . 22-250 works for me with well placed shot :)s. have not shot deer with it ,i use 257 weatherby for deer it also works on hogs VERY WELL. ;D

[borg]

I do realize that there are better bullets available these days for the 22&#39;s that were not available just a few years ago.

If you do use proper bullet choice like a barnes tsx or nosler partition then the 22-250 WILL be fine for all deer given correct bullet placement.

I personally feel that even the .223 is a perfectly acceptable round for most deer, but I&#39;d hesitate to use any .224 caliber round for mule deer. I don&#39;t doubt that an exceptional marksman could drop a charging grizzly with a .22 lr, but he would probably feel like a jackass drawing such a puny weapon.

Not that I wouldn&#39;t shoot a mule deer with a .22-250, I&#39;d just hesitate. It would have to stand broadside to me for half a minute like on all the hunting shows. You know, the kind of deer that doesn&#39;t spook when you start speaking in a low voice with your friends 150 yards away. If such a mule deer presented itself to me, I would take the shot with a .22-250.

Provided I have confidence in my load.