primetimearcher

What is the best caliber for long distance deer hunting. I don't understand the deal with caliber so how dose that work.

Thanks

bigbulls

Caliber is the diameter of the actual bullet in thousandths of an inch. However many times there is absolutely no rhyme or reason for naming some of the cartridges made today.



Here is a short list that was taken from Chuck Hawks web site.

The following list shows correct bullet diameters in thousandths of an inch and rifle cartridges that use bullets of each diameter. For an expanded list showing more bullet diameters and more calibers see the "Expanded Rifle Bullet Diameter List" on the Tables, Charts and Lists Page.



.172" - .17 HMR
.223" - .22 Short, Long, Long Rifle
.224" - .22 WMR, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22-250 Varminter, .223 WSSM
.243" - .243 Winchester, 6mm Remington, .243 WSSM, .240 Wby. Mag.
.257" - .25-06, .257 Wby. Mag.
.264" - 6.5x55, .260 Remington, .264 Win. Mag.
.277" - .270 Winchester, .270 WSM, .270 Wby. Mag.
.284" - 7mm-08 Remington, 7x57 Mauser, .280 Remington, 7mm Mag. (all)
.308" - .30 Carbine, .30-30, .300 Savage, .308 Winchester, .30-06, .300 Mag. (all)
.311" - 7.62x39 Soviet, .303 British
.321" - .32 Winchester Special
.323" - 8x57JS Mauser
.338" - .338-57 O'Connor, .338 Mag. (all), .340 Wby. Mag.
.358" - .357 Magnum, .35 Remington, .35 Whelen, .350 Rem. Mag.
.375" - .375 Mag. (all), .378 Wby. Mag.
.416" - .416 Rigby, .416 Rem. Mag., .416 Wby. Mag.
.429" - .44 Rem. Mag., .444 Marlin
.458" - .45-70, .450 Marlin, .458 Win. Mag., .460 Wby. Mag.

As you can see some cartridge names such as the 44 calibers do not match up with the actual bullet diameters.


AS far as a long range deer cartridge goes you would be hard pressed to beat the standard .270 Winchester. It will shoot as flat as anyone would need it to shoot.

I would caution you against shooting at live animals until you have done a lot of practicing. I say this because too many people are getting into this "magnum" craze and want to shoot animals at ever greater distances and do not put in the time that it takes to actually be proficient at extended ranges. The fact is that most deer are taken well inside 200 yards with rifles. I only mention this because you stated that you do not know much about bullet diameters and such and that leads me to believe that you have done very little shooting with rifles.

primetimearcher

I know it will take a lot of practice but i am buying my first gun so i want to make sure it will do what i want

primetimearcher

Dose that chart go from biggest to smallest. Sorry just don't get it.

jcb9901

the bigger the number the bigger the bullet for rifles and hand guns .125=1/8" .250=1/4" .500=1/2"
and the opposite for shot guns .410ga. being smallest 20,16,12,10ga. being biggest

Virginia7

The answer, in part, depends upon what you consider "long distance". Some, with a good deal of practice, use of range finders, etc., will attempt shots to 400yds. + (approx.
1/4mile). Too far for me. Personal max is 300yds. There's just too many variables
involved, the hardest of which is wind deflection. The deer deserve as "humane"/quick
a kill as possible.
I'd recommend a 270Win., 280 Remington, or 7mm Rem.Mag. AND LOTS OF PRACTICE!

stubblejumper

The caliber refers to the bullet diameter only with no reference to the case.The cartridge takes into account the bullet diameter and the case.

RedAllison

Whats long range? The answer lies in the shooters own definition.

If its 300yds, then anything in the 25/06, 270, 280, 30/06 etc range will do.
If its 400yds, then anything in the 264mag, 270WbyMag, 7mmMags, WSMs, 300mags will suffice.
If its 500+yds then look into the "super mags" like the 7mm/300 UltraMags, 30-378Wby, 308 Lazzeroni Warbird (my personal choice) etc...

Now before anyone says, "But I kill deer @ 7000yds with my 270" I offer the chart as a "take what shot your offered" solution. I dont wait for deer to stand still and pose perfectly broadside. Sometimes you gotta reach the heart via the rear end (aka Texas heartshot) or you gotta drive deep through the chest diagonally. Any of the cartridges at any of the ranges mentioned will do that. But the higher and farther up the chart you go the more expense, recoil, blast and "special situations" you must deal with.

Nothing is perfect (tho I suppose a 24" 300WSM of about 6#s with a quality 4x12+ scope is about as "all around" as I can think of!)
RA

James B

The 280 will kill deer as far out as anyone should be shooting at them. This 500-600 yard shots on game animals in BUNK IMO. Its mostly dumb luck past 400 yards. As someone said, there are to many variables involved.

crimedog

It depends on the shooter, my good Uncle Sam taught me to shoot 1000 yds, can I kill the deer at 1000yds, yes, will I find that deer before the vultures, maybe. I don't need any deer that bad to chance it, but at 500 yds with my 300 I can make the shot with no more concern than any other person with a 30.30 at 100yds. I practice at 500yds and more, 1000 rounds a year with multiple guns at those ranges, 2 inch groups with my 300Win Mag at 500yds I can easly drop the deer. But this is the one problem, unless you have a spotting scope on the deer you can't judge the deer, because bino's don't have the power to tell how many points the deer has and considering most deer, bear, elk are shot in lower than optimum light you may not be able to tell if another animal is behind the one your shooting. I don't recomend shooting over 300yds for most people with any round, my rule is the 308 Win has an effective distance of 600yds and the 300 Win Mag has an effective distance of 1000yds, derate those numbers and say the max distance for the 308 is 300yds and 300 Win Mag is 500yds. Below is my MAX recomendation for deer, but remember production guns need a good gunsmith to tune them before I would try this.

30.30----------150yds
308------------300yds
30.06----------400yds
300 All---------500yds (except 300 Savage)
25.06----------300yds
7.08------------300yds
280-------------400yds
7MM Mag-------500yds (All including STW)
270-------------400yds