.222 turning back the clock

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

I remember back when we were culling the Rangitoto Range inland from Otrohonga, at the time there was a fencer working on the farm we had our base camp at. Any deer we shot that we didn't use were traded for Veges. I can still hear him saying What canon did you use to shoot these deer, when we showed him the 222 round he didn't believe us as he said most of the deer he processed he lost the front shoulders from blood shoot meat. I don't really know why they kill so well as when you look at the energy figures and compare them with other deer calibers most people wouldnt consider even trying to use one. Back then the little trebly was carried 7 days a week and you got to know how to shoot it and it just plan worked.

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I remember those days Brian

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

I remember back when we were culling the Rangitoto Range inland from Otrohonga, at the time there was a fencer working on the farm we had our base camp at. Any deer we shot that we didn't use were traded for Veges. I can still hear him saying What canon did you use to shoot these deer, when we showed him the 222 round he didn't believe us as he said most of the deer he processed he lost the front shoulders from blood shoot meat. I don't really know why they kill so well as when you look at the energy figures and compare them with other deer calibers most people wouldnt consider even trying to use one. Back then the little trebly was carried 7 days a week and you got to know how to shoot it and it just plan worked.

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I’ve shoulder shot them with the 222 (rarely) and been amazed at the haemorrhaging for such a small pill


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Attachment 161453
From left to right 70gr Speer, 63gr Sierra, 62gr Barnes. I have also used 55gr Sierra, Hornady and Nosler ballistic tips. I only have a wee CZ now so I would be leaning towards the 50gr Barnes.

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Originally Posted by top of the south

I remember those days Brian

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Well you should they were some of the best days we could ever experience. Would love to be able to buy a Sako Vixen with Sako rings and a Weaver 4 X for $ 240 brand new again.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

I don't really know why they kill so well as when you look at the energy figures and compare them with other deer calibers most people wouldnt consider even trying to use one. Back then the little trebly was carried 7 days a week and you got to know how to shoot it and it just plan worked.

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The answer to the question in the first sentence is answered in the second sentence!

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

I remember back when we were culling the Rangitoto Range inland from Otrohonga, at the time there was a fencer working on the farm we had our base camp at. Any deer we shot that we didn't use were traded for Veges. I can still hear him saying What canon did you use to shoot these deer, when we showed him the 222 round he didn't believe us as he said most of the deer he processed he lost the front shoulders from blood shoot meat. I don't really know why they kill so well as when you look at the energy figures and compare them with other deer calibers most people wouldnt consider even trying to use one. Back then the little trebly was carried 7 days a week and you got to know how to shoot it and it just plan worked.

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@Mooseman if you don’t mind me asking, which station up Rangitoto were you based at? I hunt up there occasionally and it’s a magic spot with an interesting history. There were some hard yards put in when that land was broken in from bush!

Attachment 161515Attachment 161516

A small entry whole can be seen on shoulder in the first pic and the mess it causes when the small pill hits bone,second pic.
This was a favourite angle shot I and others used on deer etc while they were moving down hill as such.

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Originally Posted by 7.62

@Mooseman if you don’t mind me asking, which station up Rangitoto were you based at? I hunt up there occasionally and it’s a magic spot with an interesting history. There were some hard yards put in when that land was broken in from bush!

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The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

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Originally Posted by doinit

Attachment 161515Attachment 161516

A small entry whole can be seen on shoulder in the first pic and the mess it causes when the small pill hits bone,second pic.
This was a favourite angle shot I and others used on deer etc while they were moving down hill as such.

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Looks awfully familiar to the damage I can remember.

Good stuff Nathan. I think you have clicked on to the fact that in many cases more people are realising that using more gear and more tech takes something out of the hunt. Tahr hit that nail too when he talked about the pleasure of hunting simply with a calibre that requires you to do your bit. I have shot a lot of deer but these days I often use a 223 by choice. Just because. I don't over think things and generally use factory loaded Hornady training ammo with the 55gn SP or the Federal blue packet 55gn. Both work well on deer. I would however add some experience based learnings I have made through just being 'out there doing it'.

1. I shoot in the shoulder a lot. Just because. A lot of deer will dash and die. But they are well dead. Fact is though that a shoulder hit 223'd deer will often leave next to no blood trail. I have a good wee dog who makes things a lot simpler. A recent track on a stag running dead was 80m and the buggar sidled on a steep face when he should have been going down hill. If you don't have a dog then shoulder hit deer can sometime take some finding. Just keep it in mind before you pull the trigger and you will be fine. Think about the surrounding country etc. Sometimes I will head shoot just because I need it to drop where it stands.
2. Stay away from varmint bullets for deer. They will often slip between ribs and be spectacular killers, then hit some bone on a deer and let you down badly. Any basic controlled expanding bullet will be fine. Speer, Hornady, Remington and if you are rich Barnes 50gn.
3. As Phillip Holden said years ago. Range pulls the calibre up. I keep to within 200m and am fine. Inch high at a hundy and smack on near two hundy. Job done. Head shots are great if you know drop but then one day you will jaw shoot an animal and regret it forever. A hit in the crease equals dead deer.
4. Big stags in the roar are harder to put down.
5. I find if the animal is on to you then it often goes further when hit with smaller calibres. Adrenaline?
6. There is something about using a smaller calibre well and within its limits and minimal noise that greatly increases your satisfaction in a job well done. But be prepared to walk away from some deer and go find another more suitable. Nothing wrong with that either. Enjoy mate. You will love it. It can change the way you hunt too as your aware that you need to be sneakier etc. It can make you a better hunter. I think using a 224 is half way to realising what bow hunters have figured out. Harder to achieve equals greater satisfaction. We all have our own take on the line that suits us individually on that. Enjoy and report back.

.222 Brno circa 1968 meat hunting. 50 grn Sako and Hirtenberg (sp?) ammo. 4 x Tasco 'scope (Jap, they were ok). Deadly rifle and caliber. Wish I had taken more pics.

Mangahao Tararuas. 30 yards
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00760004.jpg

Ruahines coming off the tops. 150 odd yard shot during the roar. He was one of 2 fighting. Mate got the other.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00760001.jpg

Tararuas. easy shot at 100 yards and missed with the first shot :)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...370&fit=bounds

The last deer I shot and sold with that .222 - neck shot at what I thought at the time was was 275 yards. Probably closer. Up above the Waipakahi. Kaimanawas.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...370&fit=bounds

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Originally Posted by doinit

Attachment 161515Attachment 161516

A small entry whole can be seen on shoulder in the first pic and the mess it causes when the small pill hits bone,second pic.
This was a favourite angle shot I and others used on deer etc while they were moving down hill as such.

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Have you still got that BSA?

Is it just me Tahr or is it strange that your black hair as per last photo looks blond in the others in black and white? You haven't been dying your hair or surfing have you? :D:D Cool pics thanks. Love seeing older hunting photos. Reminds me of the time when life appeared simpler (at least in the rear view mirror) and reminds me why the original post is about recapturing that. Cheers

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

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Owenga..(sp) ..?? Was overlooking that country on Saturday arvo...


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Originally Posted by Hiawatha

Is it just me Tahr or is it strange that your black hair as per last photo looks blond in the others in black and white? You haven't been dying your hair or surfing have you? :D:D Cool pics thanks. Love seeing older hunting photos. Reminds me of the time when life appeared simpler (at least in the rear view mirror) and reminds me why the original post is about recapturing that. Cheers

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It got darker as I got older. Then in my 50's went completely white. The white seemed to coincide with my lads being teenagers. :)

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Originally Posted by tiroahunta

Owenga..(sp) ..?? Was overlooking that country on Saturday arvo...
Sounds familiar, the road forked further up but we were on the farm next to main bush, when hunting we had a Forest Service caravan which was parked closer to the areas we were hunting, Wesmecotts and a few other farms were up the other road which we also worked at the time.

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Don't know how my reply got in with the quote, strange.

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Originally Posted by Tahr

.222 Brno circa 1968 meat hunting. 50 grn Sako and Hirtenberg (sp?) ammo. 4 x Tasco 'scope (Jap, they were ok). Deadly rifle and caliber. Wish I had taken more pics.

Mangahao Tararuas. 30 yards
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00760004.jpg

Ruahines coming off the tops. 150 odd yard shot during the roar. He was one of 2 fighting. Mate got the other.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00760001.jpg

Tararuas. easy shot at 100 yards and missed with the first shot :)
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...370&fit=bounds

The last deer I shot and sold with that .222 - neck shot at what I thought at the time was was 275 yards. Probably closer. Up above the Waipakahi. Kaimanawas.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...370&fit=bounds

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Great old pictures which bring back good memories , during my days culling and meat hunting the old instamatic camera I had just didn't cut it, I have very few pictures from throughout the 70s , wasn't till the early 80's when I got an Olympus camera that I got good photos

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

Great old pictures which bring back good memories , during my days culling and meat hunting the old instamatic camera I had just didn't cut it, I have very few pictures from throughout the 70s , wasn't till the early 80's when I got an Olympus camera that I got good photos

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Those pics were taken with a Russian 35mm film camera that was a copy of the early Leicas.

Another 222 oldie from the roar. Both shot roaring at under 30 yards.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00740017.jpg

Another from the Tiritea Water Reserve. .222 20 yards
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00760003.jpg
@Nathan F will need one of these packs.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00740014.jpg

Hunting mate coming off the tops in shit weather with a mate to the one I shot with the .222 when they were fighting (in the first lot of pics).
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...Picture204.jpg

In the Pouranaki with a .222 and stag neck shot at about 50 odd yards. We had come over from the Rangi side so it was a big carry back up and down to the car. By then I was using hand loaded 52 grn Sierra hollow point match (forerunners to Barnes :) )and BLC2 powder. A powder measuring spoon and nut cracker hand press.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...Picture152.jpg

That will do. I got a bit carried away there. Someone might enjoy the history.

Pikai pack?

Don't stop posting those photos.

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Originally Posted by zimmer

Pikai pack?

Don't stop posting those photos.

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Like this. This is me up the Pari in the Ruahines.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...Picture678.jpg

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Another 222 oldie from the roar. Both shot roaring at under 30 yards.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00740017.jpg

Another from the Tiritea Water Reserve. .222 20 yards
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00760003.jpg
@Nathan F will need one of these packs.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...s/00740014.jpg

Hunting mate coming off the tops in shit weather with a mate to the one I shot with the .222 when they were fighting (in the first lot of pics).
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...Picture204.jpg

In the Pouranaki with a .222 and stag neck shot at about 50 odd yards. We had come over from the Rangi side so it was a big carry back up and down to the car. By then I was using hand loaded 52 grn Sierra hollow point match (forerunners to Barnes :) )and BLC2 powder. A powder measuring spoon and nut cracker hand press.
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...Picture152.jpg

That will do. I got a bit carried away there. Someone might enjoy the history.

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best thing I've seen on the forum in a while Tahr
keep them coming

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Great pic's Tahr love those old ones, keep them coming.

Couple of old ones I found
Attachment 161607 Our old Forest Service Caravan it sure was luxury compared to the tent camps I started working from.

Attachment 161608 First deer I shot with a 222 it was one of three he waited to long and I shot in the shoulder and thought i might lose it but it went about 30 yds then went down.

Attachment 161609Deer taken with my old Vixen 222

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Originally Posted by Tahr

Have you still got that BSA?

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Hell no..that one came and went,then a BSA Hunter,and lastly the Fox.
I still regret not buying the wee Vixen and loopy scope for sweet bugger all at the time when culling.

Couple more pic'sAttachment 161612

My best stag to date shot spotlighting with my Mohawk 222 and a 50 gr Winchester, they don' argue with a bullet in the head.

Attachment 161614

Jaw from the boar I shot first day on the job up Moehau Coromandel, shot him three times ,twice in head then in heart before he died. Range was about 30 yards. I was using my Rem Model 788 222 and Sako 50 gr bullets.

I had a BSA Monarch (terrible full length action) and then an Anschutz 222.
Through straight out inexperience I never got the best out of my 222s so sold and replaced with a 22-250.
Already had a Forester 308 which was much more forgiving.

Old USA ad below but NZ prices were probably similar.
I paid £59 17/6 for my Forester. 6 weeks pay at the time.

Attachment 161615

I loved my Vixen so much that I bought a Forester 243 while in the Forest Service. Can't remember how much I paid but it was probably around those prices in the add above. I used to take it for hunts from time to time for a change from the 222 but had to buy my own ammo. I used the Forester 243 during the meat hunting days. Both rifles very accurate.
I sold the Vixen to my now brother in law when he went culling in the Kiamai's after we finished meat hunting and I then sold the Forester for funds to get married. Two rifles I would really like to still have.

@Tahr I do have one of those old school Pikaus somewhere. I’m pretty sure there’s also an old trapper Nelson pack laying around too. Young James is due back here tomorrow if they. They have been over Stewart island the last 10 days. He’s right into it too. Woollen gears cooking with fire. Old 303:)

@Tahr I’m just home from two nights away. I shot a stag on last light last night. Was 9:30 pm before i began the 90minute trek back to camp. Right on cue it started pissing down. Was quite glad I had the Swazi ultralight jacket not the old green swannie. Big donkey of an animal.

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Originally Posted by zimmer

I had a BSA Monarch (terrible full length action) and then an Anschutz 222.
Through straight out inexperience I never got the best out of my 222s so sold and replaced with a 22-250.
Already had a Forester 308 which was much more forgiving.

Old USA ad below but NZ prices were probably similar.
I paid £59 17/6 for my Forester. 6 weeks pay at the time.

Attachment 161615

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I saw a couple of those Anschutz .222 being used. Light little rear locking action. On the barrel was stamped "use factory ammunition only". Neat little rifles.

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

The property we were based on was John Oliver's , forget the name of the road but we went in on the south side of Otrohonga under the rail bridge and headed up there to the edge of the native bush. You are right it's a neat spot, back then we had numerous old logging roads to get access way back, these had lots of skid sites which were grass covered and a magnet for the animals. When we shifted there these grass areas were cropped right down by the goats and deer , when we left there was grass up to your knees in most places, these became great spots for an easy deer. What are goat and deer numbers like nowadays for interests sake?

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I know which property you’re talking about. The Oliver’s own half the north king country but Owawenga Rd is the place you’re referring to. Yeah there’s still pretty good numbers of deer up there, the Pureoras act as a feeder for the local farmland so there’s always deer coming out. Down the Waimahora end it seems that fallow are dominant, but further north it’s all reds. The block I hunt gets constant sustained pressure, so the deer are real cagey, basically nocturnal, not the easiest place to knock over an animal! Goats are thin on the ground as well due to regular culling operations. But yeah its a magic spot with some great views of the central Waikato basin

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Originally Posted by Tahr

I saw a couple of those Anschutz .222 being used. Light little rear locking action. On the barrel was stamped "use factory ammunition only". Neat little rifles.

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Attachment 161635

hey man i had a slight urge like yaself to tackle game with light cals.. my go to fox gun is a sako a1 222 .....

was reloading the 55gr projies an preferred SP , but this at 2700 or so fps actually helps the little round penetrate a tad better as opposed to violently opening up (which they still do)

the larger deer Hinds were felled just in the arm pit aiming for the heart, over in NZ with the reds id rekon neck shots could be in order and all hinds covered with good placement, it addds to the hunt aswell, not shooting alarmed deer and being patient to get the shot on the unalarmed deer is very satisfying.

disclaimer, would i ever advise someone to use a sub appropriate calibre - No. it is for a specialist application-

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Originally Posted by Nathan F

@Tahr I’m just home from two nights away. I shot a stag on last light last night. Was 9:30 pm before i began the 90minute trek back to camp. Right on cue it started pissing down. Was quite glad I had the Swazi ultralight jacket not the old green swannie. Big donkey of an animal.

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be keen too see a pic of this stag an the 222? fella

2pm and Im out of here for a hunt. Its a bit windy, and the antlers are hard. Ranges will be out to 300 yards - last one there was 220.

My brain says take the 270wsm - and it was packed. But then I saw this thread and my heart kicked in. Now its the trusty old Savage Lightweight .223 and 64 grn Noslers that are packed... :)

We will see...

Attachment 162173

Well done,

Looks like the 223 did the job ok Bruce