Thread: .222 turning back the clock

Originally Posted by Mooseman

I remember back when we were culling the Rangitoto Range inland from Otrohonga, at the time there was a fencer working on the farm we had our base camp at. Any deer we shot that we didn't use were traded for Veges. I can still hear him saying What canon did you use to shoot these deer, when we showed him the 222 round he didn't believe us as he said most of the deer he processed he lost the front shoulders from blood shoot meat. I don't really know why they kill so well as when you look at the energy figures and compare them with other deer calibers most people wouldnt consider even trying to use one. Back then the little trebly was carried 7 days a week and you got to know how to shoot it and it just plan worked.

@Mooseman if you don’t mind me asking, which station up Rangitoto were you based at? I hunt up there occasionally and it’s a magic spot with an interesting history. There were some hard yards put in when that land was broken in from bush!

Originally Posted by 7.62

@Mooseman if you don’t mind me asking, which station up Rangitoto were you based at? I hunt up there occasionally and it’s a magic spot with an interesting history. There were some hard yards put in when that land was broken in from bush!

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

Originally Posted by Mooseman

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

Owenga..(sp) ..?? Was overlooking that country on Saturday arvo...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Originally Posted by tiroahunta

Owenga..(sp) ..?? Was overlooking that country on Saturday arvo...
Sounds familiar, the road forked further up but we were on the farm next to main bush, when hunting we had a Forest Service caravan which was parked closer to the areas we were hunting, Wesmecotts and a few other farms were up the other road which we also worked at the time.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

,

Originally Posted by Mooseman

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

I know which property you’re talking about. The Oliver’s own half the north king country but Owawenga Rd is the place you’re referring to. Yeah there’s still pretty good numbers of deer up there, the Pureoras act as a feeder for the local farmland so there’s always deer coming out. Down the Waimahora end it seems that fallow are dominant, but further north it’s all reds. The block I hunt gets constant sustained pressure, so the deer are real cagey, basically nocturnal, not the easiest place to knock over an animal! Goats are thin on the ground as well due to regular culling operations. But yeah its a magic spot with some great views of the central Waikato basin

From left to right 70gr Speer, 63gr Sierra, 62gr Barnes. I have also used 55gr Sierra, Hornady and Nosler ballistic tips. I only have a wee CZ now so I would be leaning towards the 50gr Barnes.

.222 Brno circa 1968 meat hunting. 50 grn Sako and Hirtenberg (sp?) ammo. 4 x Tasco 'scope (Jap, they were ok). Deadly rifle and caliber. Wish I had taken more pics.

Mangahao Tararuas. 30 yards


Ruahines coming off the tops. 150 odd yard shot during the roar. He was one of 2 fighting. Mate got the other.


Tararuas. easy shot at 100 yards and missed with the first shot


The last deer I shot and sold with that .222 - neck shot at what I thought at the time was was 275 yards. Probably closer. Up above the Waipakahi. Kaimanawas.

Is it just me Tahr or is it strange that your black hair as per last photo looks blond in the others in black and white? You haven't been dying your hair or surfing have you? Cool pics thanks. Love seeing older hunting photos. Reminds me of the time when life appeared simpler (at least in the rear view mirror) and reminds me why the original post is about recapturing that. Cheers

Originally Posted by Hiawatha

Is it just me Tahr or is it strange that your black hair as per last photo looks blond in the others in black and white? You haven't been dying your hair or surfing have you? Cool pics thanks. Love seeing older hunting photos. Reminds me of the time when life appeared simpler (at least in the rear view mirror) and reminds me why the original post is about recapturing that. Cheers

It got darker as I got older. Then in my 50's went completely white. The white seemed to coincide with my lads being teenagers.

Don't know how my reply got in with the quote, strange.

Originally Posted by Tahr

.222 Brno circa 1968 meat hunting. 50 grn Sako and Hirtenberg (sp?) ammo. 4 x Tasco 'scope (Jap, they were ok). Deadly rifle and caliber. Wish I had taken more pics.

Mangahao Tararuas. 30 yards


Ruahines coming off the tops. 150 odd yard shot during the roar. He was one of 2 fighting. Mate got the other.


Tararuas. easy shot at 100 yards and missed with the first shot


The last deer I shot and sold with that .222 - neck shot at what I thought at the time was was 275 yards. Probably closer. Up above the Waipakahi. Kaimanawas.

Great old pictures which bring back good memories , during my days culling and meat hunting the old instamatic camera I had just didn't cut it, I have very few pictures from throughout the 70s , wasn't till the early 80's when I got an Olympus camera that I got good photos

Originally Posted by Mooseman

Great old pictures which bring back good memories , during my days culling and meat hunting the old instamatic camera I had just didn't cut it, I have very few pictures from throughout the 70s , wasn't till the early 80's when I got an Olympus camera that I got good photos

Those pics were taken with a Russian 35mm film camera that was a copy of the early Leicas.

Another 222 oldie from the roar. Both shot roaring at under 30 yards.



Another from the Tiritea Water Reserve. .222 20 yards

@Nathan F will need one of these packs.


Hunting mate coming off the tops in shit weather with a mate to the one I shot with the .222 when they were fighting (in the first lot of pics).


In the Pouranaki with a .222 and stag neck shot at about 50 odd yards. We had come over from the Rangi side so it was a big carry back up and down to the car. By then I was using hand loaded 52 grn Sierra hollow point match (forerunners to Barnes )and BLC2 powder. A powder measuring spoon and nut cracker hand press.


That will do. I got a bit carried away there. Someone might enjoy the history.

Originally Posted by Tahr

Another 222 oldie from the roar. Both shot roaring at under 30 yards.



Another from the Tiritea Water Reserve. .222 20 yards

@Nathan F will need one of these packs.


Hunting mate coming off the tops in shit weather with a mate to the one I shot with the .222 when they were fighting (in the first lot of pics).


In the Pouranaki with a .222 and stag neck shot at about 50 odd yards. We had come over from the Rangi side so it was a big carry back up and down to the car. By then I was using hand loaded 52 grn Sierra hollow point match (forerunners to Barnes )and BLC2 powder. A powder measuring spoon and nut cracker hand press.


That will do. I got a bit carried away there. Someone might enjoy the history.

best thing I've seen on the forum in a while Tahr
keep them coming

Sent from my SM-G986B using Tapatalk

Couple of old ones I found
Our old Forest Service Caravan it sure was luxury compared to the tent camps I started working from.

First deer I shot with a 222 it was one of three he waited to long and I shot in the shoulder and thought i might lose it but it went about 30 yds then went down.

Deer taken with my old Vixen 222