Gordon Eastman’s “bears and bear hunters” show an Inuit hunter killing a polar bear with his 222.

A real man can kill a deer with a .22 long rifle. The .22 magnum is a real deer gun. The .223 is for elk.

When you are in jail for a game violation, for shooting deer with an illegal caliber, just tel 'em Hal sent ya.

A little overkill wouldn’t you say?

Yep too overkill .222 for elk. lol

Thank you for the kind input sir. I keep hearing not to modify when looking for information. I really don't know what I'll do but I think I've been convinced not to modify it.

That's a serious gun, if you can get to where you can hit with the slug at out to 50 yrd -dead deer.Don't get discouraged if you can't hit right away I had to put a rear sight my smooth bore 20 ga. It will definitely take down deer.

Aim small and miss small. I've killed more deer including good bucks with both .222 and .223 than I have with "deer rifles".

You hit them right, a .22 mag is plenty. I hunt deer like squirrels, most of my shots are less than 100 yards.

Wnen I go to the deer blind when shots may be much further, I take the .243

A question that was kind of touched on above. What kind of slugs. Would you use for a 20 ga. I read somewhere that copper shot is only a little harder than lead. Would it make a differwnce if it was a slug instead of shot?

through a full choke , you need a soft lead slug that will squeeze down as need https://www.midwayusa.com/product/290016...-oz-rifled-slug
i have had the best experience with Win because they run a 3/4 oz slug Remington runs a 1/2 and 5/8 oz slug they all start off at virtually the same speed so the heavier slug stays stable longer.

most rifled slugs in a smooth barrel are a 50 yard gun , this is not to say that the slug is not going and lethal at 100 yards or more , just that it has destabilized and deviated from the path you sent it on.

foster type also called Rifled slugs are drag stabilized unlike bullets from a rifle barrel that are spin stabilized

foster slugs travel like a lead badmitten bird heavy at the front light at the back they loose energy fast going form 1600fps at the muzzle to 1160 by 50 yards with a 50 yard zero you can expect a 6 inch drop at 100 yards and 12 inches by 125 yards

if you can keep 3 slugs on a paper pie plate at 100 yards you are doing very well most likely some where between 60 and 80 yards you will stop keeping 3 on a pie plate consistently this depends on the barrel and wind

at 50 yards you should expect a 20ga rifled slug to travel through both shoulders of a deer and usually make an exit. if you find a slug they usually are just about turned inside out expansion isn't huge they may get to a nickle or slightly larger. they are bone crushing slow heavy projectiles.

Thank you. Maybe you can tell I've never slugged before. You have taught me alot every time you post. Thank you.

Use them here work As good as any other caliber .
never a problem dead is dead

I used to load the 60 grain Nosler Partitions in my 22-250 for kids I took for youth season. I heard they don't stabilize well in .222. Does anyone know?

The bears used to be hunted with a seal puppet and .22 long I saw a documentary once where they interviewed old timer inuit elders ...they showed the camera where the hit the bear in a thin spot on either side of the skull. Also they told about hunts for polar bears before they ever had rifles. Spears

It would appear that the consensuses is that it will kill deer with proper bullet selection and shot placement. Also you are very young and, hopefully, you will buy many more guns before you have kids. It is a great gun and set it up for turkey. When the time comes that you need it for deer then worry about the load.

You will buy more guns by the time you have kids, you will also buy many more guns 'for' your kids. The gun will work well as is, but you will most likely have other guns by then.

One thing I have learned over the years is never sell a gun. Once in awhile you find yourself with a turd but they are few and far between. It might take a decade but you may regret getting rid of a gun.


Jerry Jr.

The above is good advice. I've let many go years ago I wish I had kept now.

only ever traded one away and man do i wish i had it back.870 wingmaster.i also had to have bigger and better and now i have 4 cabinets of bigger and better but can never get that one back.sure i bought an identical one but it isn't the one my dad got a great deal on at the trailer shop and i started my hunting career with.just sayin.

Those who know better, will use better.

Good Advice...keep every firearm.