26 replies to this topic

[1shot_1kill]

I am looking to get a new yote/deer gun and was wondering if there is caliber restrictions on hunting deer in ca if any? The caliber i am looking to get is 22-250..Thanks in advance for any responses..

[Thumper Dunker]

I would get atleast 24cal or up. good combo rifles would be 243,6mm,260 or 308 ect 22cal I think is too small for most .

[NVWalt]

Look in your regs.

[PredatorMaster]

.243 could be wrong though.

[wannakillacoyote]

Personally, I would not go with less than .243. Should be a good round for small California Deer and makes a GREAT Coyote round.

[lilwes278]

x2

[PredatorMaster]

that is my primary weapon of choice. .243

[Fjold]

CA DFG says " may only be taken by rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles" so the 22.250 is legal. If you want to use that I would go with a faster twist than the standard 1:12" or 1:14", (try Savage) and shoot the 70 grain Barnes TSX or the 60 grain Nosler Partition. My personal minimum for deer is the 243 with the 85 grain Partition bullet.The weird thing with the law is that a 17 Remington with a varmint bullet is legal to take big game with but my 375 H&H magnum using solids is not.

[ShooterJohn]

I've shot deer with a .22-250 and it will work. But my choice is a .243.

[4RHUNTS]

243 also

[1shot_1kill]

The reason i brought up this topic is when i told the guy behind the counter i wanted an all purpose gun for yotes and deer he said that nothing below a 24 cal in ca is legal... I couldnt find any thing in the regs regarding caliber sizes for deer etc.... thanks for all the responses i think the 243 is what im looking for....

[lilwes278]

A .25-06 would make a great all-purpose gun too... A little more punch for deer and the ammo is priced about the same.

[DEERSLAM]

The .243 would be the min. in my opinion.The .243 and 25-06 are great choices but my #1 go to deer cal. is the .270win.

[clampdaddy]

If it's going to be a dual purpose gun I'd go with the 25-06. The 243 is a great round but the 25-06 is way better for deer if you ever need to shoot past 300 yards. If you hunt the lead free zone though the .243 will be easier to get set up with non-toxic ammo.

[Thumper Dunker]

The .243 would be the min. in my opinion.The .243 and 25-06 are great choices but my #1 go to deer cal. is the .270win.

Ditto

[Cranky Farmer]

Make any decision on caliber?

[1shot_1kill]

Yeah im going to go with 243 in savage Model 11F.......Thanks all for all of your responses....

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[Cranky Farmer]

Good choice!

[lilwes278]

Yeah im going to go with 243 in savage Model 11F.......Thanks all for all of your responses....

If you can still find one (check gunbroker.com), look at the Savage Sierra 10FCM in .243. It's my newest dedicated predator rig, identical to the 11F except it's 2" shorter, 1/4 pound lighter, and you get a detachable magazine instead of the blind internal magazine. It's consistently sub-MOA at the range and a pleasure to carry in the field. I paid an extra $20 over the 11F's price which is well worth it, IMO. For some reason Savage quit making them last year in favor of the Scout rifle...

[hawkeye80863]

I am looking to get a new yote/deer gun and was wondering if there is caliber restrictions on hunting deer in ca if any? The caliber i am looking to get is 22-250..Thanks in advance for any responses..

In Colorado we are regulated to a min of .243 caliber for big game in both rifle and pistol. In addition, pistols must produce 550ft/lbs at 50-yards. Another writer, which I can't remember the publication, recommends sectional density as the limiting factor. Based on my notes of the article it stated sectional densities should be held to the following: >.140 for coyotes, >.210 for deer and antelope, >.260 for elk and moose and >.300 for dangerous game. If you use these numbers as your guide it would require .224 caliber bullets above 75grns for deer hunting and .243 and .257 at 87grns and 100grns respectively. Lastly, you can look to PO Ackley and see that he (and I) believe that very light bullets traveling at high speeds kill better than one would think. In his book, "Handbook for Shooters and Reloaders", he writes of his use of a 17 Javelina to take Catalina Island sheep and a 220 Swift to cull Jennies (female jackasses) in the desert south west. Of course the shooting of asses was done prior to the introduction of the Wild Free-Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971. If it were legal I would have no problem hunting deer and antelope with my 220 Swift using the same 55grn HPBTs I've used for woodchucks and coyotes. I hope this helps.

[clampdaddy]

Ackley used his own projectiles that he described as a solid copper shanked bullet with some lead inserted into the tip. By that description it sounds exactly like a modern trophy bonded bear claw.

[SStgQ]

CA DFG says " may only be taken by rifles using centerfire cartridges with softnose or expanding projectiles" so the 22.250 is legal. If you want to use that I would go with a faster twist than the standard 1:12" or 1:14", (try Savage) and shoot the 70 grain Barnes TSX or the 60 grain Nosler Partition. My personal minimum for deer is the 243 with the 85 grain Partition bullet.

22-250 is legal for hunting deer in CA, but the question comes down to personal ethics. No one will yell at you for killing a deer with a .22 on steroids (.223 Rem or 22-250), but personally I would never go deer hunting with anything less than a .243My personal favorite is 308 Win.

[NVWalt]

I have shot a number of mulies with my 22-250 and all have been one shot kills, but a slop shot is a slop shot whether it's a .22 or a .50 BMG.....Walt

[Bozsik]

I had a friend of mine who's father was from Alabama. He would go out every year a short distance from Bridegport, CA and bag a deer with his 22-250. Just like clockwork.db

[Pogo]

I know many people who shoot deer with a .223. Also one old guy who uses a .220 swift. Never heard of the bullet not doing its job, just the guy behind the butt pad on occasion. Like NVWalt said, proper bullet selection and proper shot placement are paramount to the size of the hole. Personally I feel a .243 is adequate even for large mulies. I'd rather take a .243 I've shot a bunch deer hunting than a 7mm that I don't enjoy shooting and haven't practiced with. It takes a lot of practice at the bench shooting before you feel comfortable and know the characteristics of a rifle/ammo combination. That practice in my opinion is much more important that having an uber magnum rifle.

[SStgQ]

Once again, IT IS legal to hunt deer with any centerfire rifle (Including 223 and 22-250), it comes down to personal preference and whether you personally believe 223 is adequate for that game.There is no contest on the importance of shot placement and the consistency of practice at the firing range. You must get to know your rifle and ammo combination and determine the bullet's behavior at different distances. Above all, that time at the range will help you know and understand your limitations...the last thing you want is to wound and animal and then track it down for extended periods of time. Just my two cents.

[peeker seeker]

(25-06. )Any rifle you feel confy with and can make good solid hits on game . Bullet type and marksman ship gets deer. 22cal can kill deer but if you got luck like me , that king of the forest is going to be 350yds out.