This has been a very hot debate a lot of places so I thought I'd ask some members here. I hunt whitetail exclusively with my .222. I limit all my shots to 75-100 yards and in and only take them in the pump house or neck. They drop on neck shots and act just like any other deer that was hit with any other bigger caliber on pump house hits. 40-50 yards and down. Anyone else use the .222 on whitetail? It's what my old man started me out on when I first started hunting and I've never seen any reason or need to switch when it comes to whitetails. Every deuce I've shot has been so accurate and friendly to shoot and I think that makes a huge difference with placing the shot.
Never used mine on deer, but it sounds you have has great success. I have piled up woodchucks with mine-I had a Remington 788-most accurate rifle I ever owned. I have a Rem Model 7 now-handiest little carbine.
Will, you are very lucky to have the .222 in the model 7. Not many of those made in that caliber. They command a nice buck at auction. I have a model 7 in 6mm and indeed they are very dandy carbine.
I don't have a problem with guys that consistently take game with smaller calibers. I have a problem with guys that can't, but still keep trying. Of course that's more on the hunter than the bullet, I know a few "hunters" that have managed to wound and lose multiple deer when using a 12 ga slug.
The deer I've seen shot on heart lung or "pumphouse" shots drop immediately, and heart lungs are gelatin ( destroying cardio vascular) with a larger caliber. Other small rounds let adrenaline get secreted tainting the meat. I know of a grandmother who shoots her deer exclusively with a 22mag, head and neck. Depending on terrain(and local law) is what rifle to use. If you are on a corner of 4 20-40 acre fields the .222 is nothing but a bb gun. But if you want that deer that's in your back yard a 22 mag will work.
I've never had a deer drop. Two seasons ago I turned one deer's heart into a canoe with a 12G slug and it ran 50 yards. The year before that I shot a buck at 20 yards with a 12G...he walked (not ran) 10 yards like nothing happened so I popped him again. He calmly walked another 10 yards and fell like a wet rag. The first shot was heart and the second was lungs (I know wich hit first because I saw the second exit).
I don't know that I would feel all that secure in using a .222 long rifle. Probably more because I don't shoot to wound. And I'd be afraid I would only wound the prospective deer. That plus I only do head shots, but these are only in my yard at no more than 55 yards from my front porch. Sometimes I use the a 7.62x39 hollow point or the 12 gauge with either a slug or the 00 flight assist or true flight. A shot in the head and they drop right there most of the time. I say "most" because this last season I shot a 6 pointer in the head right behind the left eye and he ran a good 50 yards. I'll just chalk that one up to it being a buck! I prefer to shoot only doe. But, he didn't have the adrenaline or stressed meat taste. I also only use the iron sights, and pulled the slings and hardware that holds them off (because they were too noisy)
Good points made. The .222 is not for taking a far shot. Where I hunt 100 yards is far. Most shots are 50-75 max. My gun drives tacks and I have all the confidence it's going right where I set the crosshairs. It surprises me at what a 50 grain pill can do to a whitetail. They really aren't that hard to kill. Most of the time I take them right at the base of the neck and it's lights out every time. I have a buddy that uses the 22 hornet and has been piling up deer for as long as I can remember with that little 45 grain pill.
If you only take headshots at no more than 55 yards the .222 would be right up your alley. I promise you DRT! I've only shot 3 doe in the head in my life with my gun and they never moved. Feet slowly raised up in the air when they were on the ground twitched a little and slowly went back down. Nighty, night.
I took a look at some YouTube video's where they were using the .222 and I have to say, I'm impressed! I may just have to add one to my little arsenal, especially for the way I shoot. (6 to 55 yards) Yep, had one doe at about 6 and 1/2 yards. The next closest was about 15 yards. The one and only buck was at about 20 yards.
You won't be dissapointed. That little .222 is one of the most inherently accurate cartridges ever made. It loves the 50 grainers and some 55's. Absolutely no recoil whatsoever and a joy to shoot. This is what I believe is the key to shooting this round. I can sight it in and not think about any recoil at all at the range. Unbelievable accuracy and when the moment of truth arrives you know that little pill is going exactly where your crosshairs are..
You should YouTube missed headshots on deer they are just as bad if not worse than gut shots. Deer walking around with half a face.
I have a buddy that was convinced headshots were the way to go. Then he blew a spike's nose off at 20 yards with a 20 ga slug. Blood was every where, but he never found the deer. I'm sure it had a very painful death. The good news is my buddy felt sick over what he did and promised to never take a headshot on a deer again. I've never had a deer take a single step when I've put a 12 ga slug in their heart. Every single one has dropped right where it stood. I know you can be much more precise with a rifle than a smoothbore shotgun, but it still doesn't seem worth it to me when a deer's brain is the size walnut and the vitals in their chest is the size of a paper plate.
Yup for me morally and ethically it's disturbing to hear or think about that stuff. I believe in hunting, but I believe in respect and to eat what you kill. Shotguns are accurate enough it's who's hands they are in. Anything bows included that doesn't have any hydrostatic damage, even a heart shot is not going to kill quickly.
I don't condone taking headshots either and have only took 3 in my life. I never aimed head on, it was back of the skull. I was just giving gazer info on a caliber choice as he said that's the only shots he takes. His choice and everyone is entitled to it. I prefer neck shots at the base of the neck with my rifle. Have been doing it for so long it's just natural to me. .222 in the pump station will kill em just like a 30-06 will though and it's a lot more enjoyable for me at least to shoot at the range.
Terminal ballistics, science and Dec around the country disagree about your thoughts on the effectiveness of the .222 But hey to each their own.
