Thread: A question for the doubters

Originally Posted by whanahuia

I had a rough hill country farm in the back blocks for 30 years. Lived on one for longer. 223 wasn't close too top of most popular used in that time.

To be fair that thinking about my shooting career that it has been spent in the back blocks fencing that there didn't seem to be many small calibres .
For myself I take minimum 6.5 for deer as a lot of my shots have to be at distance as can't get closer because of terrain to take the shot.
I did use my 22-250 on reds for a while but after having a can't find the shot deer moment I went back to my 300wsm or I can always find the deer moment!
If for some reason your shot gets compromised there's no replacement for displacement.
End of story

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

To be fair that thinking about my shooting career that it has been spent in the back blocks fencing that there didn't seem to be many small calibres .
For myself I take minimum 6.5 for deer as a lot of my shots have to be at distance as can't get closer because of terrain to take the shot.
I did use my 22-250 on reds for a while but after having a can't find the shot deer moment I went back to my 300wsm or I can always find the deer moment!
If for some reason your shot gets compromised there's no replacement for displacement.
End of story

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What bullet did you use in your .22-250?

Originally Posted by gimp

What bullet did you use in your .22-250?

63 grain sierra soft point.
I had had a good run up until I took a marginal shot.
With the wsm it would have been a found deer

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

63 grain sierra soft point.
I had had a good run up until I took a marginal shot.
With the wsm it would have been a found deer

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Or an 88 eldm perhaps ?

Originally Posted by gimp

Or an 88 eldm perhaps ?

Na shot was 300m.
The 300wsm would leave holes the size of your fist at that distance.
Not so much the 63 grainer

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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

Na shot was 300m.
The 300wsm would leave holes the size of your fist at that distance.
Not so much the 63 grainer

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The 63gr isn't really what any of us that are using heavy bullets would recommend as optimal. An 88gr ELDM would be a much better choice in a .22-250. The thing is that no-one is saying "all .224 cal bullets work great". What's been identified is that some heavy match bullets work extremely well.

The most amazing thing about the 223 is how topical and polarising it is.
Day 3 since Hunter_Nicks 1st post and we’re 190 posts in. Much of it a repeat of 223 on deer.


I haven’t read every page, but having a quick skim I saw some discussion on shooting wild cattle.
Good luck.
I know of a central north island block with a reasonable population of genuinely wild cattle.
You are not allowed to hunt them with less than a 30 cal magnum.

Could you kill one with a 223, of course. Could you fuck it up, and get killed yourself? Also a real possibility.

Originally Posted by gimp

The 63gr isn't really what any of us that are using heavy bullets would recommend as optimal. An 88gr ELDM would be a much better choice in a .22-250. The thing is that no-one is saying "all .224 cal bullets work great". What's been identified is that some heavy match bullets work extremely well.

I will reiterate there is no replacement for displacement.
When I first started hunting my very experienced mate awnsered my what calibre question shall I buy.
The awnser was" if your going to put a hole init you might as well make it a big one"
I still subscribe to that as I like to find my deer relatively easily.
Eg blood to follow or bang flop.
It's all about what your comfortable with and ethical shooting.
I definitely have shot fallow close ish sub 250m and the 73eldms and work very well.
I'm generally shooting bigger reds in cunty country so just like the security of big is better.



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Originally Posted by andyanimal31

Na shot was 300m.
The 300wsm would leave holes the size of your fist at that distance.
Not so much the 63 grainer

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Only tried it at 150m but my "fast 224" leaves first sized holes in goats

Originally Posted by gimp

Or an 88 eldm perhaps ?

I just bought a box to try in my 1-8 22-250 barrel.
Didn't like them as I reckon a 1-7 would be the awnser.

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