Thread: 222 vs 223 on deer

Originally Posted by video hunter

There is a post on here titled '223 on deer' that has gained a bit of traction, well done.

Perhaps someone should start a post on 222 on deer?

However parts of it have wandered off onto 222 rifles etc like most of these forum posts do.

I'm not really a gun person and more into my photography. I have a collection as I have stated before on 35mm photos from the past again and I am putting them up for forum enjoyment.

However I have used both 222 and 223 just like others on this forum.
Yes as we all know the 222 caliber was used all over the world and some will have a following on it. So this thread is about the comparison of 222 vs 223 on deer. I'll leave this for the technical gun experts to sort out and explain.


Some postings on 222.
I was just like anyone else joining the NZFS like hundreds of others. At that early time period you could get a reduction deal on the price of either a 222 or a 270 rifle. The rifle I got was a Sako 222.

Yes it was stated on the other post '223 on deer' that a guy shot himself in the foot in the Ruahines and I have heard that a few times also. The 222 photos posting relate to the NZFS Ruahine area about 1974 period.


Attachment 230695

Rain gauge photo..... What has this got to do with a 222/223 posting. The fact is they were there in the 1970s and also I couldn't find other photos to match this 222 posting within that time period associated with deer culling etc.

Attachment 230696

Ruahine red deer

This is what you did in those days.....
1. Go shoot a deer
2. Remove its tail, this was to show the numbers culled.

you were lucky to get one of the .222 vixens from FS I started in 1975 culling -did my six months one had to do before ordering and all gone - now comparing .222 with .223 on deer I am going to say there is no real or huge difference - both need the right projectile - we used to get a variety of ammo - some was good on deer some not -genarally I have found that American manufactured ammo the worst at dropping deer - maybe because it was probably designed for small furry animals ??? - the best was always sako and norma - but Federal classic was not to bad -I do not doubt now there will be forum users who will quote ballistics to show .223 has x edge over .222 I will stand by what I have said I dont believe in real life there is that much difference when shooting deer