Thread: 222 vs Fallow

I would think 222 perfectly adequate, used the 22-250 with both fallow and sika, never had one walk away. Head or neck shot best but through the chest with 55gr gameking still perfectly OK. A mate uses 55gr varmint rounds in his 223 but only head shoots.

I have an old friend that did a few seasons as a culler for the NZFS and when the new super 222 calibre came on the scene he was right into it. Long story short he struggled through one season and went to the 270, which he still swears by. As he said to me while we were dressing a brahman bull a couple of years ago "you never hear about the balls ups that come from using a varmint calibre on big game" He still has that lovely little Vixen but only for varmints and dogs.
For my own part Ive shot a couple of Fallow with a 223 with resulting dead animals but Ive never been impressed with the performance personally.

Originally Posted by Troy Tempest

I have an old friend that did a few seasons as a culler for the NZFS and when the new super 222 calibre came on the scene he was right into it. Long story short he struggled through one season and went to the 270, which he still swears by. As he said to me while we were dressing a brahman bull a couple of years ago "you never hear about the balls ups that come from using a varmint calibre on big game" He still has that lovely little Vixen but only for varmints and dogs.
For my own part Ive shot a couple of Fallow with a 223 with resulting dead animals but Ive never been impressed with the performance personally.

That's really interesting, I found an old thread last night that was here by a guy called Scribe. He is an author and old Deer culler and he basically said the opposite. They given a choice between the 270 or 222 for ammo through NZ forest . Apparently Belmont I think he said was loading the 270 ammo with a useless projectile that cost guys a ton of deer. Most switched to the 222 and were amazed at the killing power of the round. I think it ran a Norma projectile.
It was a great thread as not only was he a ex culler but had also served in Vietnam and seen the damage first hand from the 223 on human flesh.
His take on the 222 / 223 family made for some very interesting reading.

Originally Posted by Troy Tempest

"you never hear about the balls ups that come from using a varmint calibre on big game"

I think this a great point, I've seen plenty, shot a few with a 222, also a 223 until one day I ran into a big stag in the roar, he was mudded up angry as all hell and took a 5 shots to the neck with the 223 at 20 odd meters and shook them off like nothing
Thankfully there another forum member there to polax him with the 7mm but ever since then only for bunnies just my 2 cents.
Important to note that was big red stag not a fallow.
I've never heard anyone say I wish I brought a smaller calibre when out deer hunting.

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Originally Posted by BRADS

I think this a great point, I've seen plenty, shot a few with a 222, also a 223 until one day I ran into a big stag in the roar, he was mudded up angry as all hell and took a 5 shots to the neck with the 223 at 20 odd meters and shook them off like nothing
Thankfully there another forum member there to polax him with the 7mm but ever since then only for bunnies just my 2 cents.
Important to note that was big red stag not a fallow.
I've never heard anyone say I wish I brought a smaller calibre when out deer hunting.

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That's a very good point, rutting stags are a different kettle of fish, I had the same problem with a red stag pre roar but neck was swollen up , shot him 4 times with my BAR 30 06 before he stayed down, bullets were the problem early day 150 gr Ballistic tips. They are made stronger nowadays which is good.