You can play what if until the cows come home, but having used a 22.250 for years I'd shoot a "tough" animal in the neck, or through the ribs and into the lungs. Just like the not tough ones, both close and not so close.
More to the point, Trout has found a projectile that works very well for what he does, and he seems to be a good enough shot to avoid shooting some tough animal in a coating of mud, through a heavily muscled shoulder.
Most of his photos show clean bodied reds, and a high proportion of them look to be neck shot. I'd say he is doing pretty well, and doesn't need any advice from me.
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