Yep happens all the time. The 22 centerfire is great to start out shooting. But a good deer cartridge and a capable deer cartridge are two different things.
Only reason would be less recoil imo.
I was partial to those 53gr Barnes x copper solids
Considering the average whitetail weighs about 77-110 pounds, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. .223 has been taking down animals for years and it's considerably smaller.
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All (4) of my deer were shot with a 6.5 MB. I put together a Ruger American Ranch in 5.56 for my youngest son (13) to use. He has an any antlered deer (Coues or Mule) for a November youth hunt on Fort Huachuca, AZ. Planning on using Winchester Deer Season XP, .223 Rem, 64gr, 3020 FPS. Hope to be able to report that it worked. Finding those rascals is the hard part.
It will do the job with the right bullet, properly placed. Is it ideal? Not in my opinion.
I think it’s too small. You could end up losing your deer because there’s, IMO, not enough kinetic energy to really drop them and they could run a mile before dropping and you won’t find it. It would be all about distance and shot placement. Kind of like shooting with AR 5.56, just too much chance of wounding and never finding it. IMO 243 is the smallest I’ll hunt with and I don’t use it if I’m going after a buck. It’s just more of an ethical decision for me and for the animal. You can kill a deer with a 22 LR if you can put it right through the ear into the brain. The issue is that it’s unethical and illegal mostly for that reason. One shot, one quick kill. The larger calibers carry such kinetic energy they produce shock waves on impact that stop the animal from running far, most of the time. Still need good shot placement. I’m going to the 6.5 Creedmoor this year but if it doesn’t deliver that ‘Impact’, I’ll go back to 270. If I’m after a trophy I’m using my 300 shortmag. I’m not losing a trophy I’m after with ammo too small to get the job done right.
Sometimes you have to say ‘If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. 270 and 270 wsm are perfect for deer and elk, unless you’re shooting way, way, way out there but ‘Most’ shots are less than 200 yds in Oklahoma . I said most, so no neg responses from any of you long distance killers out there please.
My brother used one for years. Always shot in the neck too.
Dropped em in their tracks.
Dropped em in their tracks.
I don’t understand the recoil argument. Pending of course small frames kids, those I get. But any adult should be able to handle a higher caliber like the .243 or go to crossbow.
What am I missing?
What am I missing?
