Hunting Experience with 22 Creedmoor

I am a big fan of the 22 creedmoor, and actually have one that I built and enjoy shooting. However, I have a friend that is pretty much a 'heavy magnum kind of guy'. I am helping him make a decision on his next rifle, and he has never built a rifle before. I am wanting him to consider something newer, kind of flashy, and has good terminal performance on whitetail deer sized animals. He already has all of the traditional cartridges, so I am only seeking terminal feedback on the 22 CM. Thanks in advance, pictures welcome.

Coyotes, hogs, deer all died with my 22CM AI. As with any cartridge, shot placement will win every time. None went more than 10 yards.

75 grain swift scirocco on top of h4350 have been very deadly. I haven't had anything but pass throughs so I can't say anything about expansion.

White tailed buck
22CM 18" barrel
250yds
MV 3050 (mild)
80gr eld hit rib bone on both sides and the bullet wash stuck in the hide on the far side. Deer ran 50yards. Lungs were toast


Coyote down hill shot 150 yards. Hit low blew a base ball size hole in the sternum and her guts out. Ran 50 yards somehow


Have shot a few pigs with it to and same result. Also have a friend that hunts with one and is seeing similar results.

The short barrel works pretty good out to 600-700 yards and I can run 80gr elds at 3200 on the top end. Factory ammo is a plus as well 80gr eld factory run at 3070fps

I shot deer with alot of cartridges in 22,6,6.5,27,30,and 338 cartridges. 22CM has been my new fav and what Il be using next season. I like being able to run a suppressed rifle just over 8lbs with minimal recoil to spot shots in improvised positions. Not to mention it makes the ultimate predator rifle running 62gr eld vts at 3625fps out of an 18". It's on the smaller end energy wise but regardless put your shot in the vitals and the animal won't make it far.

Bang4theBuck said:

I am a big fan of the 22 creedmoor, and actually have one that I built and enjoy shooting. However, I have a friend that is pretty much a 'heavy magnum kind of guy'. I am helping him make a decision on his next rifle, and he has never built a rifle before. I am wanting him to consider something newer, kind of flashy, and has good terminal performance on whitetail deer sized animals. He already has all of the traditional cartridges, so I am only seeking terminal feedback on the 22 CM. Thanks in advance, pictures welcome.

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Well let's just say I've used 22-250 for 30 years on whitetails without hesitation. The last 5 years I've been running 22 creeds. I still have my beloved 22-250 but the creeds are spectacular on deer also. My one food plot is 300 yards off the deck so I got plenty of trials during season. Now I was comparing my 257 wby mag performance in same food plot. I'm not cutting it up but for almost twice the powder consumption well I no longer have the Roy or plan on another one in the future if you know what I mean. Longest poke on white tail for me has been 300 yards which is a chip shot but in western NY hill country that's about all we can get safely.

Bullet selection is important for game.

Hit an average sized hog in the shoulder with a 75gr ELDM at 3400 fps and it just splashed, very little penetration. Luckily with such little recoil, the follow up shot was quick and effective.

Since then I've used Barnes 77gr LRX and have dropped everything with complete pass through. Very happy with the performance.

I'd say stick with bonded or copper alloys if you want to have more margin for error. If using anything cup & core, keep it away from bone...

Tagging

shot the buck in my profile pic at 150 yds with the rifle pictured, 22CM, shooting 80.5gr bullets (MV about 3400). High shoulder. No exit but only went 15-20 yards before he piled up headfirst into the dirt.

Here is a video from the Horizon Firearms guys. That last one on the muley is pretty cool. Look at the blood loss.

Warning: Loud, relatively obnoxious music.



My .22 Creed is still in the build phase. I will be using it for deer and black bear this year provided I get it completed in time to get a few hundred rounds down the tube before the season starts.

I've only shot magnum rifles for like 4 years now. Just this year my gunsmith talked me into a 22 CM. That has got to the most fun, but very capable little cartridge i've ever seen. I've been having a blast with it! It shoots 10 shots groups in the .5-.6" range with 80 ELDM's at 3300fps, and absolutely torches coyotes. I also shot a 300lb boar with it at 300 yards and it was about a baseball sized hole through his lungs. I already got a second barrel haha.

I've got a 22Creed in the build faze also, but it won't do anything that my 22-243 hasn't been doing for 30 years. I've got a load of Alpha brass and Berger bullets sitting here waiting for that build to get completed. LOL

FWIW - my 22-243AI with launch a 75gr (moly) A-Max bullet at 3,670fps with unbelievable accuracy. I only used the rig for LR groundhogs. Those critters had nowhere to hide.

Fast stepping 22s are a lot of fun.

Over on another forum, they're killing all kinds of stuff with a 223 REM/556. The 22 CM shoots a heavier projectile way faster and farther than a 223/556. So…

I would have no problems using this cartridge on big game. The problem I have is I don't own one…yet.

I've only taken an antelope doe with my 22 Creed so far, but it made quick work of her. 88 gr ELDM going 3200. I shot the buck in my profile with my 22-250 AI and 88 ELDM with similar performance.

Will likely be using the 22 Creed for at least a few of my tags this fall.