A .224 high powered bullet of a fragile nature into the lungs of a deer will kill it quickly. Also of course a brain or spine shot.

Bell appears to have been an expert and cool marksman when hunting. Most hunters are not. What he did, others usually can not do.

I DO use my .222 on fallow deer a lot. But in my farm paddocks. Where if shot incorrectly they can't run away too far. For field hunting, ie real hunting, not shooting farm deer, I use a 6.5 or .30.

But NZ hunters often did and probably still do, use .22 centrefires for deer. I remember an article about a Kiwi flying over to Sydney to buy a .22 Hornet as his next wonderful red deer venison rifle.

Legal minimums are often decided upon because of dickheads using lesser calibres, and not the marksmen who can use them.