Good Deer Caliber
 

Im fixing to turn 18 and on my birthday i want to go buy a new rifle that would be good for whitetail. I already own a 7mm mag, 30-06, 30-30, .243, sks, and a .270 win. I don't need a caliber as big as the .300 because the average shot is no more than 50yrds, however at times it could be up to 400 yards. What do yall believe would be a good caliber to purchase?

Well, for years the .308 Win. was a favorite of mine. That is a very effective caliber, as are any of the one you already have listed.
I guess, I might go for a 12ga slug gun. If you don't already have one.

Lol, you listed the majority of the answers everyone is gonna post. A 7mm-08 would be fun. But it won't do anything better or worse than the ones you've listed.
-Jake

You have several more than capable caliber guns as it is. It doesn't take much to kill a deer if you can make a good shot.

I'd go shotgun so you can do some bird hunting as well.

As far as making a 400 yard shot goes, well, the 7mm mag with the proper optics will do the job just fine. So would the .270 come to think of it.

youve already got a couple of great deer guns but i second the 7mm-08, i like mine

25-06 or my new favorite round the 270wsm that round is accurate and powerfully. Also a slug gun would be a good choice

With the cartridges you already own I'd spend some money on soem good optics instead.
If you really MUST purchase something the .308 would make the most sense for practicality, and the 7mm/08 or a .260 or 6.5 X 55 would also fill in the nitches of your battery. But with the 30-30, .243, the .270 and the 30/06 as well as the 7mm Mag, you are pretty well set for whitetail.

Buy a better scope or a good set of binocs instead, unless you MUST have another gun.

+1 looks like you should have it already covered.Unless you just have to have a 25-06.;)

I think you already have the perfect deer rifle, in my opinion for deer it doesnt get much better than a 243. I have seen more deer dropped in there tracks with the 243Win. and the 6mm Rem. than any other round that I have been arround.

Youve got pleanty good deer guns.Iwould sugest 20-06 all the way.very accurate and powerfull

I like .257", .277", .284" and .308". Caliber of the bullet/bore is important, but have you given any thought to which cartridge?

Is this going to back-up your back-up?

I understand......no one can have enough guns. LOL !



I think the best suggestion is a dedicated slug gun. Sconnyhunter

.257 roberts or a .44 magnum marlin lever action, there is a group of men up where i hunt and all of them have one!!!

Marlin 336C in .35 Remington.

Thanks yall for the replys, and i was thinking about possibly buying new optics as well. I'm fixing to graduate so i should have enough money to buy both :). I forgot to mention that i do have a beretta over and under and a remington 1100 sportsman 12ga. I was looking at possibly a 25-06 or a .270wsm, however i didn't think about a .308. My friend recently got one and is in love with it. And i dont really know much about the 7mm-08 or 6mm, are the strong enough that if i have to take that long shot that they will get the job done quick?

I havent thought of that one haha

I was really leaning to the .270 wsm but if i was to get the .308 i already own the dies to reload them with.

haha well honestly my parents bought me a gun cabinet and its looking kinda empty so i thought id fill it up with something i could use.

I've never heard of that caliber, is it reliable?

Yes! This is a great suggestion, just so you have something different. You'll love the .35 for deer. And if you're like me, you'll love the feel of the 336. I have one in .44mag and a .30-30. Both are great shooters out to 100 yards. and the .35rem is way more than capable for deer and black bear and even elk out to certain ranges.
-Jake

I will look into it, thanks alot jake.