.250 winchester for deer

jgrundy · #1 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010, 07:17 PM

This is my first season deer hunting here in CA.
My father in law passed on his dads deer rifle which is a .225 winchester. Is that gun a large enough caliber to take a deer? I have been told 30-06 or nothing. Any help will be greatly appreciated as season starts here soon.
Thanks

jgrundy · #2 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010, 07:29 PM

.225 model 70 i had a brain fart

Hunting Man · #3 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010, 08:15 PM

I guess I start things off for you. First you have a real nice rifle in the model 70. The 225 is really designed for varmints as it shoots a 5o-60 gr bullet at 3500 fps. Can it kill a deer the simple answer is yes, is it something most would use for deer hunting nope. Brass for this round I believe has been discontinued for some time now, so you need to either locate used brass to reload and also purchase everything you come across already loaded. I love the past/forgotten rifles and in obsolete calibers and you have a rare one that's become nearly extinct. Glad it's been handed down through the family! I'd invest in a more powerful caliber for deer hunting starting with 243, 300 sav, 270 win, 308, 30-06 280 rem. ect you know all the more traditional ones. Don't ever sell your 225, if however, something ever comes up let me know! Good hunting to you!

jgrundy · #4 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010, 10:34 PM

Thanks. Im definately going to take your advice, I got pretty lucky with this hand down I also got a savage 30-30 and a parker brothers 12 gauge side by side.

rdrader2002 · #5 (**permalink**) 10-03-2010, 10:41 PM

Savage .30/30??? -- Cool -- What model? You've got my curiosity up now. My father-in-law has a Savage 99, but in .300 Savage. Don't let the fact that it's a lever action fool you. You might just want to check that caliber again. If it's a Savage Model 99, it could be any one of a number of calibers.

For lever action (I have a Marlin 336 in.30/30) I highly recommend using Hornady LeverRevolution rounds. They have the performance of a .270 for the ability to "reach out" with great stopping power. For anything less than 200-250 yards, the .30/30 would be all that you need.

Hunting Man · #6 (**permalink**) 10-04-2010, 04:37 AM

and a Parker sxs, I'd call it the jackpot, then add the 30-30, Christmas comes early! That Parker may have some serious value. I've got an up-dated value book if you want to pm me on the model guage condition ect and I'll give you a current value.