Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
01-18-2009, 02:55 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location:
Posts: 25
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
regardless of caliber, a 100 grain bullet should be the lightest you go...this is the lightest. you are taking a big chance of wounding and losing a deer to suffer, if you don't make a near perfect shot with anything smaller..270 and larger calibers aren't that much more expensive to shoot, when it comes to humane hunting...
you can kill a deer by hitting in the head with a 22lr; but if you miss by a couple of inches, you hit the jaw...the deer starves to death over the next few weeks..
you can kill a deer by hitting in the head with a 22lr; but if you miss by a couple of inches, you hit the jaw...the deer starves to death over the next few weeks..
01-18-2009, 06:54 PM
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location:
Posts: 1,785
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
I have killed deer with 223, 22-250, and 243, and though I just bought a Sako 75 Finnlite in 243, I won't be deer hunting with it. The smallest caliber I will use is 6.5x55 with 120 gr bullets.
01-18-2009, 07:14 PM
#16
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Coralville, IA. USA
Posts: 3,802
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
I wouldn't use anything smaller than a .243 Win, but I wouldn't hesitate to drop the hammer on a deer with a .243 either. My current deer rifle is a .30-06 (in addition to my .50cal muzzleloaders), but I'm considering getting a lighter cartridge for deer. IMO, at ranges less than 400 yards, the old -06 is borderline overkill for whitetail deer. There are a lot of people who might disagree with me, but then there are those who insist that a magnum is bare minimum to humanely kill a deer. To each their own... but I like having a little meat left if I clip the shoulder.
Mike
Mike
01-18-2009, 07:26 PM
#17
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: N. Illinois
Posts: 527
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
Why not 6mm?
ORIGINAL: .243Heartshot
Hey guys, what is the smallest caliber you would use for deer hunting these are mine, .22 at 20 yards or less, .222, .223, .22-50, .243. I have not and will not use anything bigger than a .243, personally I have been out with a .22 when money is tight so did all my uncles. father , grandma, etc. Remember in Tennessee where we live it was legal at the time and during hunting season. But we were all very good shots being able to hit a nickel at 50 yards with open sights.
Hey guys, what is the smallest caliber you would use for deer hunting these are mine, .22 at 20 yards or less, .222, .223, .22-50, .243. I have not and will not use anything bigger than a .243, personally I have been out with a .22 when money is tight so did all my uncles. father , grandma, etc. Remember in Tennessee where we live it was legal at the time and during hunting season. But we were all very good shots being able to hit a nickel at 50 yards with open sights.
01-18-2009, 07:26 PM
#18
Fork Horn
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 103
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
LMAO.....so while you guys who were hard up for money were poa...err using .22's was "YA'll" sharing the batteries in the spotlight or did ya have a car with a functional cigarette lighter????
shooter.....just callin like it probably went down.
shooter.....just callin like it probably went down.
01-19-2009, 06:58 AM
#20
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2007
Posts: 144
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
Using a .22 rimfire is illegal in Tn but they did make all centerfires legal a couple years ago. Which IMO was a stupid idea. We now have idiots with .17 cal and .204 shooting at deer. You hear all the lovely stories from the guys shooting small calibers shooting a big buck but they couldn't find a decent blood trail just a few drops. The buzzards usually find them in a day or two.Personally I won't use anything smaller than a .243
