He’s in New Zealand, dummy
25-06, any good?
- Thread starter Mojo
- Start date
There is nothing to argue really because it is a fact. I'm in NZ but I'll school you anyway. The 222 was put through it's paces ballistically and practically by the NZ Forrest service in the early 60s in an attempt to approve it as a calibre for the govt to supply ammunition for the cullers. It was duley approved then was immediately adopted by a large proportion of the cullers and for the next 20 years was a predominant calibre taking 100s of thousands in the largest red deer cull in the world. The cullers had to present tails for proof of kill so they weren't wounding and letting them run away incase that is a question you ponder, shot placement and down. There are still alot of us using the 222 for venison recovery today.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
Alright fair point you old tw@t
The gun hasn't changed and the deer haven't changed. People have tho, the skill and ability to stalk has certainly diminished over the years with the obsession of monster calibres.
HonestJohn
Well-Known Member
I shoot and love my old Remington 722 .222. Use it for roe,,,but having shot many reds with the larger .243 and seen its limitations on stags and long shots, I would not pick the .222 for the job. Similarly, how many elephants are shot with 7x57 these days?
The .222 is certainly not the "master of reds" which is why it is not a legal calibre for reds in the UK. Head and neck shots in a culling situation is a different debate.
Like I said the deer and the guns haven't changed. Roe are alot smaller than the goats the cullers are removing here anually by the thousands and a large proportion of the shooters are using 223 and some 222. Like I said the people haven't changed. As you know the 30 cals 7mm 243 were around in the 60s and some guys used them but the 222 brigade kept pace no worries, it was thier living. Not sure how you argue with that. The 20 cals are still extensively used by the pros today, the choppers aswell. You don't like using them for whatever reason but you cant say they aren't good enough. Historyband current proves otherwise. PS: it is said there are more moose and caribou shot by locals in North America by 222 and 223. Reds are only little fellahs.
Well I'll give you a pass due to you obviously having no idea of the history of the 222s involvement in the largest red deer cull in history. Took hundreds of thousands of deer, do you think they were all head and neck shot? I use one myself, you put one in the boiler room and they don't take long to expire. Alot of the pros are still using 20 cals today. Who but the UK says the UK is right? More moose and caribou taken by local North Americans for food with 20 cals than any other cals.
Well this NZ writer references the culling and the shots taken and would seem to support the view that the .222 is not the 'master of reds'. Obviously it can be done, but that is not to say it is ideal. .222 Remington
How you manage to get that from my post I could only guess. The stats are written in ink wether you like it or not lol. To say it can be done but it isn't ideal considering it was done over that concentrated 20 plus year period until the red cull ended and the fact it is still done today suggests this UK writer is clutching at invisible straws. To ignore the proof is ridiculous
Last edited:
wildfowler.250
Well-Known Member
It’s gone a bit off piste as far as .25-06 goes.
As far as .222 , you could see the appeal in a quiet, mild recoiling and inherently accurate caliber for culling.
As far as .222 , you could see the appeal in a quiet, mild recoiling and inherently accurate caliber for culling.
Sorry I was trying to reference the link to Nathan Fosters page on the .222 ( The NZ writer I refernced) which discusses the culling in NZ using the .222, but the link just came up as '.222' not the web link, so not very obvious! Extensive Field-Tested Rifle & Cartridge Research - BallisticStudies.com is the web site and the info on the .222 can be found in the knowledge base.How you manage to get that from my post I could only guess. The stats are written in ink wether you like it or not lol. To say it can be done but it isn't ideal considering it was done over that concentrated 20 plus year period until the red cull ended and the fact it is still done today suggests this UK writer is clutching at invisible straws. To ignore the proof is ridiculous
I had a quick flick through that, his opinions lost me completely when he said "hundreds" of deer were taken by the 222. On a riddled block one shooter could take 100s by himself in a season back then. There was a 222 epidemic over those years. Ill agree with one thing he said and that is that it's use dropped off when the numbers dropped, of course it did, the govt stopped it's contracts. Fancy looking page but dont get sucked into all that. Find some of the cullers who actually used it and speak to them, or us who actually use them for medium game.
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
The 223 is very popular in the North . I've mentioned it in previous threads , but everything in the Arctic has to be flown in , weight equals cost . For that reason alone , the smaller cartridges are a lot cheaper . I've known a number of older first nations hunters who used a 22lr on everything . Google Bella Twin and the Alberta record Grizzly for an eye opener . I'm good friends with the descendants of Bella Twin , and her partner , Dave Auger .
To bring the thread back on line , I'm sure Kokom Twin would think the 25/06 would make a fine hunting cartridge , I tend to agree with her .
AB
You're dead right AB, it has got offline a bit, started by me I know by pointing out that shot placement makes a cartridge not the size of it that's why I was bleating on if a 20cal can do it comfortably then so will a 25 with the 30-06 powder vessel behind it. I never thought anout the wieght issue before now but that makes sense. They do the job effectively all the same. Im glad you bring up the good ol 22lr tho, it has taken so many deer and pigs here it couldn't be quantified. Upclose and head shot of course. Homekill guys have been dispatching beef cattle with them since the 1800s although alot use the magnum now.
Last edited:
Mojo
Member
Mainly gallery, but if i can get the grouping right may be for deer.
Shooting in Lydd and Hythe
Similar threads
