Using .22 cal rifles for deer

[Texas by God]

The worst performance from a .22 center fire bullet on deer that I’ve experienced was a Sierra 52 gr bthp from a .223. I shot a cull 3 point in the chest facing me at 25 yards. It penetrated just far enough to rupture the heart; pieces of the bullet were found in the heart. About 6” penetration. He sidestepped and fell.
So, as Joyce Hornady once said, “At what point in the animals death did the bullet fail?”

[white eagle]

there was a fella who used a 220 swift to harvest numerous heads of big game including African game
he said the best bullet he found for the swift on deer was the 52 gr Sierra boattail hollow point

[wallacem]

I killed 40 deer with my 22-250 before retiring it and going to pistol hunting. I always shot 55 psp bullets and distance was from 25 yds to 200 yds. Placement was from head to lung shots at the further distances. The furtherest one ran was 25 yds. Never lost one. Great gun. Wallacem in Ga

[white eagle]

better bullets, high velocity things just die

[wallacem]

Absolutely. I shot deer in the lung area and they would go down immediately and die before they could get back up. Wallacem

[MarkP]

My father's friend shot a large buck with his 22-250 it dropped dead in its tracks. He said it was the nastiest wound he has ever seen and would not use it again. He used a heavier (65 gr) Sierra Gameking. He is in his 80's and has shot multiple deer over the years.