There seem to be alot of topics about "the best deer round" out there. I have killed deer with .410ga, 12ga, .222, .30-30, .243, .270, 7mm, 8mm, .300, .300wsm and .308. There is no rite or wrong caliber for whitetail deer. The only factor you need is the RANGE that you will be shooting. Any of the above rounds will kill ANY whitetail deer you happen to come across. I killed my first deer with .410 slug at about 30-35yards. 12ga out to 75-80yards. I killed deer out to 150yards with my .243 and my 30-30. My .270 has a few out to 200-225. while my 300 and 308 gotten them out to 300. Where I hunt I dont have the big 1000yard shots everyone thinks they need there guns for. I would suggest you get a gun that will fit your range. Then go out and learn to shoot it. dont just put 10rounds threw it to site it in and be happy. Learn the recoil, so your not scared when its time to pull the trigger. Learn bullet placement and how different shooting stances change bullet impact. Learn your gun and make good clean kills with one shot.
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Any day outside is a good day. Sometimes you have to stand up for whats rite, even if your the only one.
It all comes down to personal preference too. I prefer .30 caliber guns over anything else because .308" diameter guns are just about perfect. I read in a Field & Stream artical awhile back called "The 500yd big game rifle is a reality" and they said a bullet bigger than .30 caliber wouldnt have the ballistic coeficient or aerodynamics and a bullet smaller than .30 caliber wouldnt have the power out to longer ranges.
Look at what diameter the most popular calibers are nowdays. .30-30 Winchester .308 Winchester .30-06 Springfield .300 Win Mag .300 WSM
And so on....
Where I hunt its mule deer and they are pretty large bodied deer. My shots are seldom under 150 yards(Prairie Hunting). The average shot is 200-225 yards. There is really never a reason to shoot at a deer past 300 yards where I hunt and I have only done it a couple times in 48 years of deer hunting. I have shot quite a few with the 250 Savage(Wifes Rifle). but I feel better with the 25-06 and bigger for those kind of shots on that size of deer. I have shot about an equal amount with the 6.5x55 and 308 Win. I have shot some with the 30-06 and 300 Win Mags. A few with the 7 Mag and several with the 280 and 270. I feel that the 280 may be just about the perfect deer gun for where I hunt. That said, I have never had to fire a second shot with the 6.5x55. Its been my best one shot every time deer rifle. The 308 has done just about as well. Never shot one with a shotgun as I have never lived where we had to use them. I shot quite a few with the 30-30 and a few with the 22 Centerfires. A few with the 243. 25 Cal's are the minimum now.
Your analogy sounds good to me, no matter what your shooting,getting to know your gun on what it can and can,t do!!!! Bullet placeament is the key to making a good clean kill on anything!!!! vangunsmith
DeerHunting
