Limits of a 22-cal

I have a 1:7 twist Krieger, stabilizes those 78 coppers no problem :-)

My target load these days is a 95SMK, but when I was load-testing a couple years ago I went a little silly with some H1000 and got 90gr Berger VLDs over 3,400fps and blew them up in midair from the rpm’s haha

Sure thing bud. I love the .224 diameter; with a decent amount of powder behind it it can perform pretty nicely. My 95SMK has a 0.6G1 BC; not quite top of the line anymore compared to some of the newer 6.5, 7, and 30-cal heavies out there, but still impressively flat and wind-resistant when it flies 3050fps out of the barrel. Love the fast-twist 22-250AI for targets and good on deer (last year took a big mule at 350yd, one shot through the boiler room), just not sure if it is ethical enough for something bigger…

Probably been more game killed with a less-than-modern .22 than any other caliber🤣!

IF your only 2 options are 22-250AI and the 6.5 CM, then I'd use the 6.5 (with some trepidation...). Shoot the heaviest well-constructed bullet you can find that will shoot accurately. If you have bigger options, use one of those.

I've never killed a moose. I have a half dozen friends who have. They used 7mm mag (160 gr partitions), 30-06, 300 Win Mag, and 300 WBY (180 gr partitions for the 30s). If you're willing to pick your shot angle and pass up anything that isn't PERFECT and REALLY CLOSE, you can kill darn near anything with small caliber guns. I believe in the school of thought that says "There's no replacement for displacement". Why eat tag soup because you can't take a shot that would be perfectly acceptable with a bigger gun?

JMHO
gd

FWIW, with the right bullet the 6.5 will work.

Its been a long time coming for us to use 22 cal centre fires for hunting, then at the same time they outlaw the 44-40 win as inadequate for hunting... go figure.

Many years ago I used to load 7 rem with 120gr barnes xbt over 3400fps. Under 100yds the petals would come off and go in 4 different directions but the core would punch on thru. Was devastating on whitetails and mulies. My buddy had an opportunity to go for moose. I told him NOT to use that load for moose, use the 160 gr partitions I loaded for him. Guess what? Huge bull under 100 yards in the willows and he hits it square in the shoulder knuckle with that 120gr bullet. He proceeded to shoot it several times in the head to finish it. He gifted me THAT shoulder so I would have some meat. The bottom half of it was bone chips and bloodshot so bad it was beyond saving. There was only one small hole that made it into the chest cavity. He wasnt sure if it was part of the bullet or a piece of bone. I never reloaded ammo for him after that and come to think of it we have never hunted together since. I guess what I am trying to get at is use a bullet that is constructed to break big bones. The 22 cal centre fires will kill a moose, first nations have done it with 22l.r., but you have to be sure of your shot placement. I have been drawn for moose in the Saskatoon management zone and have used a T.C. Impact with 290 Barnes and a Savage mlII using 325gr ftx with great results. I hope to get drawn there next year and I will be using 175gr Barnes tsx in my 7mm sml.

Dean

Yes a 7mm sml. So as not to derail this thread I will post some info at a later date. A quick note- the Barnes 175 tsx is movin along at 3180fps...

There is something about threads like this that I really like.  Never any 100% true answers.  I have always been a fan of someone who can use a very marginal caliber to succeed at a high level.  Not everyone has the skill and patience to make that work out.  At it's most simplistic, we can have 100% success in dropping a 1 ton cow/bull with a .22 LR.  The animal is positioned, the shooter has done this 1000 times and the spot to hit is known intimately.  Or a .375 Win mag on a whitetail that is running, moving, etc that escapes with a bad wound.  It is all about the shot placement.  When hunting the variables are infinite.
1) animals position
2) Bullet being used
3) hunters skill to recognize a certain opportunity/angle
4) ground conditions.  snow, rain, darkness
5) distance
6) confidence in equipment and ability
7) hunters understanding of anatomy
8) the actual intended target.  brain, heart, lungs, spine, bone structure
9) The ability to "know" you will hit the right spot that will work based on your equipment.  The targets and spots are limited with a sub bore.

So, if you want to drop a moose stone cold with a 22-250 Ackly IMP with the load you mentioned, I would say a knowledge of where the brain lies, a clear pathway to it, a still animal, at a range you can deliver the shot with 100% confidence and you'll be OKAY.  However, if you anticipate all situations such as shot presentation, range, bad weather, terrible recovery terrain, and impending darkness you want to consider your weapon and load more carefully.  You may be on a hunt of a lifetime that comes down to the last day.  Or you may be hunting on your home turf with many, many days to get your deer(s), elk or moose.  You may be able to snipe carefully or you may have time running out and the bull of a life time gives you a 5 second chance shot, quartering to you right at dark at 250 yds and not have a super solid bench rest but a good enough rest to hit a 10" zone.  If this happens I want a bone crusher.  It could be a SML with a stout bullet moving right along.  Or, a .338 Win Mag or .375 Mag loaded with copper or partitions.  These give you a solution for anything that comes up in the variables above.

Like others have said, I will not dictate what you or anyone should do.  Only discuss thoughts and reasons for what I believe based on my experience and thoughts on the matter.  I will say that a skilled rifleman with a strong ethical mindset and highly capable gun will kill more game of any size with a 22-250 than your average Joe using a big gun all day long.  That same skilled hunter who will never fail himself with a 22-250 will also increase his odds of having more opportunities to shoot effectively with more gun.  On a hunt of a lifetime?  A guide may not even allow the .22 cal.  

If you were a goose hunter or a turkey hunter and you thought you were 100% sure of an ethical kill and DRT results AND you used a .410, you would probably never shoot over 20 yds.  Yet if you had a 10 gauge and the same mentality, you would think nothing of a 40+ yd shot.

Just thoughts from an old head

I’ll check it out, thanks!

Sweet thanks Joel I’ll check it out. Got it downloaded now just need to give it a listen :-)