Thread: 22-250 PPU 55gr on game

I have a new (second hand) Tikka 22-250 with 20inch barrel. 1:14 twist so will favour the lighter projectiles. I have just put on my Vixen 3-12x40 so needed some ammo to sight in. I got 60 odd PPU cases to use for hand loading (more questions later) so got a box of PPU 55gr ammo to keep consistent cases which I hear are ok. Very good value also so was wonder if others had used these (or 223) on Fallow or Nanny Thar. This will be a wallaby and hare gun, but there are often Fallow and Thar in places I go so wondering how the PPU bullet would go behind the shoulder from actual experience.

Longer term I will load up VMAX (I have 100) for Wallabies and some Barnes for the odd bigger animal…..unless the PPU are good and accurate.

I've dropped plenty of fallow and a few nanny tahr and even 2 bull tahr(in summer) with my .222 with ppu 50gr if that's any help.

An old mate was using factory 55gr Winchester 22-250 ammo on everything including big reds with no issues at all, he wore that barrel out and replaced it with another 22-250 barrel.

PPU brass is fine to reload with, I’ve used it in a .243 and currently in my 7mm-08 with no issues.

As for projectile, 55 gr vmax is fine for all your intended purposes, I used to run that projectile shooting goats, sika in a .223 with no issues, it causes massive internal damage.

Get a good 55 gr SP projectile, Sierra, Hornady as they’ll see you right

How much betterer than a .223 is a .22/250? Talking about deer here. I have wanted one for a while but not sure how much difference it would be to a .223 using basically the same 55g sp

Originally Posted by John Duxbury

How much betterer than a .223 is a .22/250? Talking about deer here. I have wanted one for a while but not sure how much difference it would be to a .223 using basically the same 55g sp

Shooting heavies in the 223 makes it more useful on larger thin skinned game like deer

But if the 22/250 had a fast twist tube then the tables are turned, in an extremely useful fashion

I use 55Gr Sierra Blitzkings in my 22-250 devastating on goats and shot wallabies a couple weeks ago too.

It's on steroids.less thinking about range as shoots very flat to 250-300. 55grn cup n core work on deer but do pick shot placement. Head/neck or crease. Two reasons.less chance of surface blow up n most important less bruised meat lol

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

It's on steroids.less thinking about range as shoots very flat to 250-300. 55grn cup n core work on deer but do pick shot placement. Head/neck or crease. Two reasons.less chance of surface blow up n most important less bruised meat lol

It's OK to leave a bit of meat on the hill Micky, the deer is dead and if you take a bit less you run out faster and get to hunt more.

Those few hundred meters per second between a .223 and a 22 250 transform it into the hammer of Thor, due to E=MV squared.

I well remember watching deer begin to drop through the scope @300m before I had completed pulling the trigger on my old Sako

Originally Posted by XR500

Those few hundred meters per second between a .223 and a 22 250 transform it into the hammer of Thor, due to E=MV squared.

I well remember watching deer begin to drop through the scope @300m before I had completed pulling the trigger on my old Sako

Yes too true, the schockwave gets there first every time, that's the killer.

@Forestry . I Inherited my father inlaws 22.250. Did the same as you and brought cheep ppu ammo for the brass to use for reloading. Have had no issues with it so far. 4x reloaded, annealed 2x. Have been running 55gr hornady pills on fallow with good success. Have euthanized several cattle beasts with it too.The 52 gr eldx vaporize magpies, have yet to try them on deer. I was a bit dubious when I first got the rifle but it has really impressed me. I refer to it as my ".223 magnum". It wouldn't be my first choice on big red stag, but I have other guns to use for that.


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I have taken 1 red stag with mine needed a follow up shot even though first shot was only 30m but was front on. It deals well to possums, hares and Canada geese too. Or at least it has done.

When you get in to reloading try Sierra 52 grain hollow point match projectiles.
I use them in 220 Swift and 223. Easy to get to shoot. A bit harder than Blitz, Vmax types and not as spectacular, but a bit better on bigger stuff.

Been happily using using a 22-250 for near on 50 years and have yet to be disappointed with the results. Have used 55gn Noslers, and Hornady. And the Sierra 52gn HP as above. But the projectile of choice has always been the 63gn Sierra SP or the 60gn Hornady SP. 34.5gns of 4895 pushing it along or 35.5gns of 2206H. I would suggest the V Max arent quite as versatile, great on wobblies and hares and goats etc. But a bit too frangible for bigger game. Cant beat a good ol' cup and core.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d4ypfG-Sci4

Same bullet as PPU 22-250 - and a few others reviewed also. Looked pretty good in the gel

I’ll see how it shoots next weekend