Sask anterless mule deer doe shot with 220 Swift

[220 Swift]

A little bit of an experiment here to prove or disprove my thoughts towards smaller calibres being used. Remember this is legal for me in this province.

Higher lung shot than i would have liked on a doe as she was alert looking at me standing broadside. She ran 125 yards over the hill leaking blood then fell over dead.
Seen this many times over the years with the same type of 30-06 and 308 shots. She fell a bit down hill so the blood drained well as i walked back to my truck. Oh, tagged as per usual/ regs.

125 yards 220 Swift Reloads - 55grain Sierra Game bullets with a thicker jacket that were made for hunting big game not varmints. Don't recall powder charge off hand but i usually reload 3/4 of max. Powder used IMR 3031


I split the doe up the brisket up to jawbone with knife

Sawed ribs While she on her back

Hung on pickup hoist and a gambrel on the hidden hitch.
Cut around the anus area.

The anus area easily pulled down with gut weight to assist with the next cuts. Carefully split the belly hide from the back of the rib cage to the hind legs. Removed the udder.


Guts rolled out the front

The diaphram i then cut and spread the front legs open.

It All hit the ground

Windpipe came out at the tongue.

Probably the best cleanest gut job i ever did.

The photos i am attaching show how it went. The inlet hole hit a rib and the outlet hole hit another rib. Exit hole was was the size of a Christmas orange and went through the hide. Too bad i would have liked to had it- But tells me there was still energy still left in the event of a poorer placed shot or lots if i was to have hit the front shoulder blade.

[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[LKILR]

My 22-250 shoots 75 grain bullets through a 1-7 twist barrel. It almost penetrates 5/8 mild steel plate. In fact more penetration than .243 win or .270 win. Plenty of energy to take down any deer IMO. Would love to use it on a deer but it is not legal here in Alberta. Yet.....

[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

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[220 Swift]

Sorry i should have mentioned i zipped home in the pickup to gut- a couple miles away. I woudnt do that if i had a poor shot. This is why the dog is there. Hunting is her favourite time of the year too.

Sorry for my detailed story , but i know have it written down for my own memory loss lol. My new way to gut is also now written down.

[220 Swift]

:

Originally Posted by LKILR

My 22-250 shoots 75 grain bullets through a 1-7 twist barrel. It almost penetrates 5/8 mild steel plate. In fact more penetration than .243 win or .270 win. Plenty of energy to take down any deer IMO. Would love to use it on a deer but it is not legal here in Alberta. Yet.....

Yep, with my story and photos to prove it , i will stick to my guns on proper placement vs bigger/more HP in calibre selection. I have heard all kinds of you need at least _ _ _ calibre for a deer which i always though of BS. This gives me the warm and fuzzys when my 14 yr old daughter uses the 22-250 for deer, allowing her not to be scared of the recoil and focus on the shot. With the confidence and time if she gets drawn for MD buck , elk or moose she will then graduate to my other 30-06.

So what i have decided:
- .224 good for meat hunting place the bullet where needed.
- i would still use my 30-06 for moose elk and when drawn for mule deer buck
- if i get drawn for antelope ever again, i would use one of the .224 calibres
- white tail buck either way but probably 30-06

Maybe my story will help AB regs. Lol JK.

[stob]

Originally Posted by LKILR

My 22-250 shoots 75 grain bullets through a 1-7 twist barrel. It almost penetrates 5/8 mild steel plate. In fact more penetration than .243 win or .270 win. Plenty of energy to take down any deer IMO. Would love to use it on a deer but it is not legal here in Alberta. Yet.....

They used the triple deuce in NZ for years to cull red deer and goats... mostly high neck shots

[shooter12]

I know of one thick 5x6 bull elk taken with with 22-250 at around 300 yds not in Alberta though.
I was guiding USA hunters in B.C. this year and young lady said she got her bison with .243 . One shot also.
Little but deadly bullets they are .

S12

[spoiledsaskhunter]

i shot a whitetail buck last year with a .22-250.......almost identical placement as yours; almost identical death. i was really impressed.

this year, i saw another whitey shot with the 250. hit in the perfect spot broadside. bullet exploded on the ribs, causing an ungodly amount of surface damage and the deer ran away to hide in a tree row. when he was located alive about 20 minutes later, a final shot had to be made.

kinda ruined my opinion of what a great job those little bullets do. i think perhaps i'll carry my .270 from now on...i know what to expect from it.

[220 Swift]

Originally Posted by spoiledsaskhunter

i shot a whitetail buck last year with a .22-250.......almost identical placement as yours; almost identical death. i was really impressed.

this year, i saw another whitey shot with the 250. hit in the perfect spot broadside. bullet exploded on the ribs, causing an ungodly amount of surface damage and the deer ran away to hide in a tree row. when he was located alive about 20 minutes later, a final shot had to be made.

kinda ruined my opinion of what a great job those little bullets do. i think perhaps i'll carry my .270 from now on...i know what to expect from it.

What kind of bullet were you using. A varmint , target or hunting bullet?

[Pioneer2]

In the larger .22 centerfires a Barnes X bullet or a 60gr Partition would be about perfect. In Ontario where it is legal I loaded 55 gr Hornady /old style with cannelure on top of 24 gr of Win 748 in a triple deuce for my Dad .All big bodied WT's and 3 bears one shot each.At least a dozen deer over the years.

[Dubious]

I think they should allow 223 to be used for hunting cpx class 2 game. Alberta is behind the times on this and the argument of wounding more game isn’t valid with the bullet selections you can get these days it’s not the 1950’s any more a lot has changed. The average hunter in Alberta loves the bigger calibers most of the hunters I know personally carry 30-06 and use 180-210 gr bullets hunting exclusively white tail does in the late season. I have no doubt that these guys are over gunned and under practiced buying a box of ammo every 10 years still wounding game and blaming calibers for poor shot placement and lack of skill.

[Grizzly Adams]

Originally Posted by Dubious

I think they should allow 223 to be used for hunting cpx class 2 game. Alberta is behind the times on this and the argument of wounding more game isn’t valid with the bullet selections you can get these days it’s not the 1950’s any more a lot has changed. The average hunter in Alberta loves the bigger calibers most of the hunters I know personally carry 30-06 and use 180-210 gr bullets hunting exclusively white tail does in the late season. I have no doubt that these guys are over gunned and under practiced buying a box of ammo every 10 years still wounding game and blaming calibers for poor shot placement and lack of skill.

I think the "average" guy is lucky if he hits his target, let's not make it more difficult for him to deliver a killing shot. I for one never considered 30/06 as one of the bigger calibers out there. Millions of soldiers learned to be proficient with it.

Grizz

[Flight01]

I’d agree that 22 centerfire , greater than 50 grain bullets should be allowed on deer.
Everyone can choose to go down to 223 or keep using their 270.
Not making anyone decide.
The option would be great.
The last 3 deer I’ve shot have been one shot kills at less than 75 yards with 308 or 270... the 223 would have been sufficient as all were proper broadside presentation.
I’ve got a 223 now that’s shooting 62 grain soft points and I would gladly use it for deer.

[Z7Extreme]

Originally Posted by LKILR

My 22-250 shoots 75 grain bullets through a 1-7 twist barrel. It almost penetrates 5/8 mild steel plate. In fact more penetration than .243 win or .270 win. Plenty of energy to take down any deer IMO. Would love to use it on a deer but it is not legal here in Alberta. Yet.....

I used to hunt BC where a 22-250 is legal for deer. With the bullets described it is an awesome caliber for deer. Fast, flat and kills the deer just as good as my 300 WM.

[cody j]

Nice results, looks like the 22-250 would be great for a kid to hunt deer with, as far as shooting them they are all bark, no bite. ( recoil)

[Pioneer2]

Would determine the bullet weight.

[Flight01]

Originally Posted by Pioneer2

Would determine the bullet weight.

Correct. My 1:12 will stabilize 62 grain sp and going to try some 75bthp just for giggles. Not likely the slow twist will get it but you never know.
A lot of 223 rifles often has 9 or even 7 twist which could be good for 75grains and longer

[spoiledsaskhunter]

Originally Posted by 220 Swift

What kind of bullet were you using. A varmint , target or hunting bullet?

i used a 52 gr amax.......didn't ask what he was using.