RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

Well between the 30-30 and 30-06, I would imagine that it would be around 35 to 40% of NA deer taking over that period.

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

270 weatherby mag and NEVER looking back. Its my favorite by far.

Brian

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

For hunting in heavy brushed wooded areas, I would use a 30/06 with 180gr.

For hunting in open country, I would use a 25/06, or 270win. If cost is not a factor for you, I would recommend a 257 Wea., or 270 Wea.

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

35 Whelen, Go big and slow, no tracking, minimal meat loss, effective out to 200 yards and just plain out FLATTENS deer. I could swear that if I hit the hillside the deer would flat out die from shellshock<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle><img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>!

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

Here's my list (in descending order)

1 - 30-06
2 - 280 (or 7x64)
3 - 270
4 - 6.5x55 and 7x57
5 - 30-30
6 - 243
7 - 7mm or 300 Mag

Funny, but most of the time I end up using my pet .375 H&H. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

I'm currently very happy with two guns, .257 Roberts and the .25-06.

If I didn't own a gun and had to buy one just for deer hunting, it'd be a .260 Remington

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

whats a good model .270 to get?

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

How about the one YOU are comfortable with?

Ron<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

There is no best in my opionion,all of the cal's will take a deer in it limits,I have never had a deer to tell me which it had rather be shot with.I think it is what YOU want to use and know its limitations.
If you don't like the recoil as I don't get a non magum,get some thing mild and what you can shoot the best,take it to the range ,put it on a rest and find out the best groups that it will shoot,shooting good off the rest means less errow when you shoot off hand.
In my life time I have taken deer with 22,410 and up to 30/06,haven't used the 22 or 410 in over 40 years though because earned enough to buy a 30/30.For me I guess I would have to say the best for me would be the 30/30 and the 06 because I have taken more deer with them.Now I usually cary which ever rifle that suits my fancy that day.
Good luck on your choice,we can argur cal choice all day,but this is my opinion,am no expert on cal ,but I have taken probably 200 deer with a bow,black powder and rifle and all of them has worked for me.

http://www.hunting-pictures.com/memb...ght&encore.jpg

RE: in your opinion, the best deer hunting caliber...
 

30.06, 308win/7.62X51, 30/30win; all calibers are readily available, your requirement dictates-brush, distance, bullet weight, etc., and they are all proven.

Availablity is a major concern when you look at some of the new whiz bangs. Ammo is priced affordably. In .06 and 308, you can use it for ground hogs to Elks; .06 if you got the cahones polar bear.

270win is probably another favorite; but imho it does not do what it meant to replace 243 or 30.06. Many folks will say its the greatest thing since canned beer; like anything else that compromises it is just that a compromise cartridge. It is no where near as versatile as an .06 or flat shooting as a .243.