Thread: .222 turning back the clock

Good stuff Nathan. I think you have clicked on to the fact that in many cases more people are realising that using more gear and more tech takes something out of the hunt. Tahr hit that nail too when he talked about the pleasure of hunting simply with a calibre that requires you to do your bit. I have shot a lot of deer but these days I often use a 223 by choice. Just because. I don't over think things and generally use factory loaded Hornady training ammo with the 55gn SP or the Federal blue packet 55gn. Both work well on deer. I would however add some experience based learnings I have made through just being 'out there doing it'.

1. I shoot in the shoulder a lot. Just because. A lot of deer will dash and die. But they are well dead. Fact is though that a shoulder hit 223'd deer will often leave next to no blood trail. I have a good wee dog who makes things a lot simpler. A recent track on a stag running dead was 80m and the buggar sidled on a steep face when he should have been going down hill. If you don't have a dog then shoulder hit deer can sometime take some finding. Just keep it in mind before you pull the trigger and you will be fine. Think about the surrounding country etc. Sometimes I will head shoot just because I need it to drop where it stands.
2. Stay away from varmint bullets for deer. They will often slip between ribs and be spectacular killers, then hit some bone on a deer and let you down badly. Any basic controlled expanding bullet will be fine. Speer, Hornady, Remington and if you are rich Barnes 50gn.
3. As Phillip Holden said years ago. Range pulls the calibre up. I keep to within 200m and am fine. Inch high at a hundy and smack on near two hundy. Job done. Head shots are great if you know drop but then one day you will jaw shoot an animal and regret it forever. A hit in the crease equals dead deer.
4. Big stags in the roar are harder to put down.
5. I find if the animal is on to you then it often goes further when hit with smaller calibres. Adrenaline?
6. There is something about using a smaller calibre well and within its limits and minimal noise that greatly increases your satisfaction in a job well done. But be prepared to walk away from some deer and go find another more suitable. Nothing wrong with that either. Enjoy mate. You will love it. It can change the way you hunt too as your aware that you need to be sneakier etc. It can make you a better hunter. I think using a 224 is half way to realising what bow hunters have figured out. Harder to achieve equals greater satisfaction. We all have our own take on the line that suits us individually on that. Enjoy and report back.