.222 Rem on roe

[Bavarianbrit]

I shot my first roe using a .222 rem last week and it seemed to me that the bullet had fragmented too quickly even though I did get the deer, it ran on for 30 metres but the first row of trees stopped it. Any thoughts on this round? Is the jacket hard enough?

 

[jimbo1984]

I use 50 gr soft points on muntjac and roe ( sako gameheads ) always been plenty of gun provided I do my part , that being said I do head / neck shoot a lot of my deer

 

[8x57]

I shot my first roe using a .222 rem last week and it seemed to me that the bullet had fragmented too quickly even though I did get the deer, it ran on for 30 metres but the first row of trees stopped it. Any thoughts on this round? Is the jacket hard enough?

View attachment 136145

Isn't that a varmint round rather than a round that uses a bullet specifically designed for deer?
Most American ammunition for the .222 cartridge tends to be more suitable for varmints rather than deer. Personally I would tend to look more towards European ammunition specifically loaded for deer.

 

[User00025]

Never had a problem with the .222 used one on Roe for years. Not as good as the Hornet I used years ago IMHO but the Law is the Law.

 

[Rake Aboot]

Only ever used Sako gamehead. 50 , 55's either would do.

Dropped them all good style.

Never liked Federal ammo.

 

[Sash]

Looking at the Federal website that’s a small game round, optimised for foxes and rodents.
It’s not sold as a deer round.
It would technically be Muntjac-legal in England, Roe-legal in Scotland, but it’s not a particularly suitable bullet for the job.
+1 for the Sako Gameheads: they certainly work on Roe.

 

[plonker]

Perhaps the gopher on the front is an indication to what it was designed for.
ATB dave

 

[Freeforester]

Norma bullets for 222 had a thicker jacket than many and always worked very well, but then they were designed to work on roe deer - not too many of them over the pond...

 

[Loki]

Hi

I have used Norma equivalent, when 'walkabout' north of Hadrians, 50grn SP, and many a Roe has seccumbed.
Mind you that may be because I strive to get as well under 100yds as conditions allow...............

L

 

[Cumbrian 1]

Perhaps the gopher on the front is an indication to what it was designed for.
ATB dave

LOL the prairie dog is a bit of give away that it's a varmint round.

 

[User00025]

Hi

I have used Norma equivalent, when 'walkabout' north of Hadrians, 50grn SP, and many a Roe has seccumbed.
Mind you that may be because I strive to get as well under 100yds as conditions allow...............

L

How far North of the wall? You could be in Cumbria or Northumberland for a long way. Careful Loki

 

[Sakoodin1]

.222 is a great little round I cut my teeth with a Sako vixen using Sako 50grn soft point back in 1989-1996,I find or found it a great little calibre up to 200 yards maximum but ideally around the 120-150 is perfect distance for roe and I found that if I hit them on the shoulder rather than behind the shoulder they dropped on the spot.theres not much meat worth saving on a roe shoulder anyway but if your closer a neck shot is a great choice if conditions and yourself are applicable.i now use a 22.250 for roe if I can and even with the faster harder hitting bullet if you don’t put it on the shoulder they will run off a little that’s for sure

 

[Bigboab29]

Might be a really soft jacket on them but ive used these and many other 50gr soft points and they all do the job admirably on roe. Maybe some do a bit more damage but even vmax wont blow them to bits out the 222. i use 55gr sierra gamekings and they are amazing but then they aint a varmint bullet they are heavier constructed for game.

 

[Bavarianbrit]

Perhaps the gopher on the front is an indication to what it was designed for.
ATB dave

Well I missed that gopher icon when at the store. It was a 60 Metre shot so I was lucky. Off to the store again now. Thanks for the replies.

 

[Freeforester]

.222 is a great little round I cut my teeth with a Sako vixen using Sako 50grn soft point back in 1989-1996,I find or found it a great little calibre up to 200 yards maximum but ideally around the 120-150 is perfect distance for roe and I found that if I hit them on the shoulder rather than behind the shoulder they dropped on the spot.theres not much meat worth saving on a roe shoulder anyway but if your closer a neck shot is a great choice if conditions and yourself are applicable.i now use a 22.250 for roe if I can and even with the faster harder hitting bullet if you don’t put it on the shoulder they will run off a little that’s for sure

Only about £30 worth (if you know what you're doing), and choose to avoid busting the shoulders. I don't personally like venison jelly, nor do the customers, so I don't accept .22-250 shot roe; if you take a few jackets off them you'll see why... but the .222 is great when the right bullet choice is made, for sure

 

[Sakoodin1]

Well seeing as I shoot 400-500 roe a year our game dealers pay a full value at £1.20 a pound and he doesn’t care about the front shoulders and they haven’t for 25 all they want is the saddle and haunches because they mince the front shoulder and neck meat and that hasn’t changed here in the borders for 25 years so il take his price and his preferences over £30 for 2 front shoulders!if your paying £30 for two front shoulders that theoretically your paying £80+ for a beast so in that case where are you il quite happy drive the miles for that price??!!

 

[Loki]

TfH -

Ah yes I should have been more precise/accurate - Riccarton Junction, not far out of Newcasleton - so well over H's Wall!

 

[Selous]

Well seeing as I shoot 400-500 roe a year our game dealers pay a full value at £1.20 a pound and he doesn’t care about the front shoulders and they haven’t for 25 all they want is the saddle and haunches because they mince the front shoulder and neck meat and that hasn’t changed here in the borders for 25 years so il take his price and his preferences over £30 for 2 front shoulders!if your paying £30 for two front shoulders that theoretically your paying £80+ for a beast so in that case where are you il quite happy drive the miles for that price??!!

Thats a lot of Roe! do you shoot them all with the 22/250? if so do you think that the meat damage is more or less than with larger calibres. How did you end up using the 22/250?

 

[Sakoodin1]

Yes all with the 22.250 with Norma 53 grn soft point(great round by the way)it was back in the Ronnie rose days we moved onto a 22.250 instead of the .222 for more knock down power and better performance and yes if you scon a roe through the shoulders with anything bigger it’s not pretty at all so behind the shoulder is better for .243 or bigger

 

[sir-lamp-alot]

there is nothing wrong with the .222 or these rounds for roe if used at sensible normal stalking distances, the fact is your saying that the deer you shot ran 30 yards before buckling up and that has worried you, which is fine everytime a deer runs on a bit it always put that slight doubt in your mind as to what you just did was right but 99% of the time they do as this deer did and fall down dead and ive seen roe run a lot further than 30 yards after being hit perfectly with a .308. so dont worrie about what the picture is on the box of bullets dont worrie about what youve heard or seen on the internet the set up you have right now is perfectly adequate for roe