The various 22 caliber centerfire rifles are normally condsidered marginal for deer size game. I tend to agree with this, though on our smaller TX deer I make exceptions as I have had and seen to much sucess with them.

The key to being succesfull with 22’s on deer besides carefull bullet placement and not stretching the range are in the bullets that you use. There are several excellent bullets out there that act all out of proportion to their small size.

The first is also the cheapest, the 64gr winchester powerpoint. I have extensively used the powerpoint on deer,hogs, and varmints and have been really impressed. The little bullet usually expands to around 40 caliber and is hardly ever recovered. When they are recovered they reveal a perfect mushroom and about 65% retained weight. The only ones I have recovered were on large hogs and quartering away deer. This bullet is available in factory ammo in several of the 22 centerfires and also as a reloading component. I have had excellent results on 20+ head of deer and hogs with no losses and the furtherest running no more than 50yds when used in the 223. I rate this as an excellent bullet in the 223 and it has stabilized fine in my 22-250 although it may not in others.

Next in line is the 60gr Nosler partition, and what can you say it is the grand partition by which all premium bullets are judged. The partition is known for expansion with great weight retention and their is nothing new here. This is a great bullet in the 22-250,220 swift, and a laser beam killer in the 224tth. I havent shot as much game with this bullet as the powerpoint but it is no less effective and stands up to the higher velocities of the 224 where the winchester bullet seems to fragment more. I have not recovered a single 60gr partition in my use of the bullet. It is a accurate bullet that will stabilize in most any twist rate. This bullet is available in factory ammo in the federal premium line.

Federal cartridge company also loads the 55gr trophy bonded bear claw. I have not personally used this bullet, but have heard great things and seen several head of game that was shot with it. It also is hard to recover with its great penatrating abilities, along with good expansion to destroy the vitals while it passes through. I plan on using this bullet in the 22-250 and the 223 this fall and also on some hogs in the spring.

 The 53gr Barnes tsx an all copper hollowpoint bullet that acts like no other hollowpoint out there. The tsx bullet is long for its weight and has a longer bearing surface which requires less powder for the same pressure. Before loading this bullet I suggest getting a barnes reloading manual as it has lots of good, safe loads with their bullets. Dont use max loads meant to be used with other manufactures bullets with the tsx as very dangerous pressures can occur. On game this little bullet is great and has punched through everything I have shot with it dropping most within a few feet if not in their tracks on game up to 250lb hogs. I have also double shoulder shot 175lb deer with this bullet and folded them on the spot. Some guns like this bullet, some dont. These dont foul as bad as the older x bullet did but will still fould some barrels, especially if they are rough.

Hornady’s 55gr softpoint both with and without cannular are not thought of as premium bullets or to be used on heavier game. But when used in the 223 or in the 22-250 at lower velocities it works just fine. My wife and I have used this bullet on about 10 head of deer before the premium bullets came out. The bullet does expand alot and not retain much weight, but it will pass through on broadside shots and break the onside shoulder and destroy the lungs when shot that way. I have shot the 55gr hornady with cannular on lots of hogs in the 223 since then and have shot through most all of them, but they have been less than 150lbs with most in the 65-125lb range. I have never lost one with chest shots even out to 250yds which is really stretching the range on this size game with the 223. I like this bullet because you can buy them cheap in bulk and use them in everything. I will not use them on anything other than varmints and predators when pushed fast in the big 22’s.

 That is a small look at some of the 22 cal bullets that I have had good luck with on TX big game, I can not speak on the bigger deer of the midwest and canada or with muledeer, though they work great on the small pronghorn antelope. Give them a try and see for yourself that they can and will do the job. Just remember to use precise bullet placement and dont push the range to far.