Also applies to the easily obtainable. Stuff like 30-30, 30-06, 308... should you run out, a local gas station might have a box compared to trying to find a box of 348 win in podunk deer town usa
So... I have a theory that a small cartridge kills whitetail better than a large one. I have gathered this after shooting 30 some with anything from a 223 to a 300 weatherby. Perfection being a 243 or 6.5 creed.
What id like to do, see, or read about is measured exit velocity from shells...
Last I knew, 6.5cm was the #2 chambering, right behind 223. IMHO, the 6.5 creed is an awesome deer shell just heavier than the 243 & just faster than 308, mild recoiling and accurate. It killed the 260 rem though.
Decided to try these on deer myself, quiet happy with it. 50yd almost straight on, maybe quartering shot, head on. Bullet ran the length of the body cavity, but stayed inside. Very little meat damage. Deer ran 30 yards maybe, quite happy with a clean kill. Blood trail was minimal...
I actually just sold a savage 110 apex hunter i had due to the barrel being to thin to thread. .58 at the muzzle and I need 5/8 x 24, there is 1/2 threads but that's an awfully thin barrel...
So the Apex hunter went to a high school buddy for his kid, and I'll find a trail hunter or simular...
My score sheet is heavily in favor of a 243... that being said, a 300 aac with a 190 hornady subx bullet is pretty awesome. If you can handle the drop, it can handle the rest.
243 is since retired, now a safe queen. 22-250 & 223 are my night guns for predators. Looking for either a 6.5 cm or prc currently for use on the occasional yote, deer, or steel plate.
Having sent at least 25 whitetails to the afterlife with a 243win, I would take that over the 22 creed. That being said the 22 creed is a 22-250 with a new sticker and should do well, just prefer the 6mm mainly cause great results with that and poor results with .223
Personally I like a bolt gun in something fast and flat. 22-250 speed wrecks fur on fox, 223 speed does better. Hear in n.w. pa 223 is about at little as you wanna go for good yote kills. A buddy shoots a ar10 243 with good success.