Up in So.Dak, every white tail I ever got, was with a 22-250. This is NOT the round to shoot deer on the run. This is a stalking round, and back when I was 18, in the early morning at sun rise, I would be in position on a hill top. Waiting. Thermos of hot apple cider (coffee is unnatural, apples were plentiful). As a deer would approach, or you stalked one by following foot prints in the fresh snow, as you got in range, you would quietly whistle. The deer would raise its head to listen what direction the sound came from, and you took the head shot. The 22-250 is a small caliber, 4,000 ft/sec round and is known for accuracy. The doe didn't feel a thing, the harvest was literally as merciful as humanly possible.
The 500FPS advantage of the 22-250 over the .223 does not hurt the situation.
Penetration is the key.
I prefer a a 30 cal range for deer hunting myself, they don't always pose for you.
Has a great advantage in SoDak. Farmland. Gentle rolling hills, shelter belts. Getting close wasn’t that hard. High deer populations and low hunting populations
Wouldn’t work so well in other areas. Here in Utah, unless you own farm land, you need range and a heavier caliber that won’t be easily deflected.
Up in So.Dak, every white tail I ever got, was with a 22-250. This is NOT the round to shoot deer on the run. This is a stalking round, and back when I was 18, in the early morning at sun rise, I would be in position on a hill top. Waiting. Thermos of hot apple cider (coffee is unnatural, apples were plentiful). As a deer would approach, or you stalked one by following foot prints in the fresh snow, as you got in range, you would quietly whistle. The deer would raise its head to listen what direction the sound came from, and you took the head shot. The 22-250 is a small caliber, 4,000 ft/sec round and is known for accuracy. The doe didn't feel a thing, the harvest was literally as merciful as humanly possible.
The .223 or 556 would probably be even a better round. It's not so much the size of the round, as the person pulling the trigger. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.22-250_Remington
The 500FPS advantage of the 22-250 over the .223 does not hurt the situation. Penetration is the key. I prefer a a 30 cal range for deer hunting myself, they don't always pose for you.
Has a great advantage in SoDak. Farmland. Gentle rolling hills, shelter belts. Getting close wasn’t that hard. High deer populations and low hunting populations
Wouldn’t work so well in other areas. Here in Utah, unless you own farm land, you need range and a heavier caliber that won’t be easily deflected.
Different time, different place.
Yup, 22 mags were legal for deer when I was a kid