perfect deer cartridge
 

what is the best whitetail cartridge, and why? sorry about all the posts, these questions have been weighing on me for a while.

The gun costs money, the clothing, the bullets, the scent killers, everyone costs money. but a good hunt is priceless

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

if you are gonna just hunt deer i would have to say go with the 270win. 130gr. bullets.
i perfer the 308win with 150gr's myself.

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RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

I'd go along with the .243 (as an absolute minimum) up to whatever you can shoot accurately and without discomfort. The deer really isn't going to know the difference as long as the shot in the the vitals. One thing to keep in mind is the non magnums will generally have less recoil, muzzle blast, and cheaper ammo.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

There is no such thing as the perfect deer cartridge. No matter how hard you try you can't lump cartridges into a "one size fits all" group because hunting situations, terrain and personal preferences are just too varied. That is one reason we have so many factory chamberings, not to mention wildcats. There are a few cartridges that come close to being ideal, but none perfect. The first that comes to mind is the 7mm-08 with a 140 grain bullet. Light recoil and it carries a slight advantage over a 150 grain bullet from a 308 Win past 200 yards. Although the 308 Win is a fine cartridge in its own right. So too the 243 Win, 270 Win, 260 Rem, 6.5X55mm, 280 Rem, 25-06 Rem, 30-06 Springfield, 45/70 Govt, 444 Mar, 450 Mar, 250 Savage, 300 Savage, etc....

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Ditto to what Frizzelr says

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Ditto to what oldelkhunter says. <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

ditto to what Borch says <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Would it be redundant to ditto prairie boy???<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>

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RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Everyone has his own perfect deer cartridge. It's one you are comfortable shooting, is legal to use for deer, and one that will cleanly kill a deer at ranges you are confident in shooting. My perfect deer cartridge is the .308.

You can't eat what you miss!

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Open any Reloading Manual and go the the first page of the first 6mm/.243 cartridge. Any of those cartridges and on up until you get to the 505 Gibbs or 600 Nitro, ought to be PERFECT for deer! <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>



Edited by - 1SHOT_1KILL on 08/20/2002 07:34:51

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Seriously, like someone else said there is really no such thing as a &quot;perfect&quot; deer cartridge. Perfect in the sense that it is the absolute best in any and every hunting situation. There are some good rounds out there and then you have some very good rounds out there. But the same round that would rule the plains and fileds of the mid-west, would be almost useles in the thick swamps here in southeast. On the other hand the rounds that anchor deer on the spot here in the swamps would not have the range neccessary for the plains and fields of the mid-west. Then you have some rounds that are suitable for both, but not the most effective at either one.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

i personally tend to look for the perfect whitetail gun as opposed to caliber. dependin on where you hunt, 80% +/- can be hunted successfully with in my opinion the handiest rifle around marlin/winchester lever action carbine.

althought i haven't done any hunting with my savage 99 yet so that opinion may change..

the thrill of the hunt is more important than the kill

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

..30-06..The best for me....:)...

..JESUS IS COMING BACK BE READY...

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Ditto the .243 on up!......
The one that you can shoot well!

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

The perfect cartridge for any game is one that kills it quickly.

Know your game - smaller deer will can be taken humanely with the smaller calibres. Bullet construction is more important than the calibre.

That being said it would be a waste of your time and the animal to really overpower the task. (.50 bmg on squirrels wouldn't leave much meat).

I spoiled some meat on a 200lb whitetail when I drove a 180 gr coreloct from my 30.06 through the shoulder into the heart and lung area at 80 yds - but I'm glad I had the power to take that shot - the deer died instantly. There was plenty of unspoiled meat.

Another time I used the same gun on a 180lb black bear at 100 yds with a 180gr premium partition. Bears are tougher than deer and I needed all the power I had.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

The perfect cartridge for any game is one that kills it quickly.

Know your game - smaller deer will can be taken humanely with the smaller calibres. Bullet construction is more important than the calibre.

That being said it would be a waste of your time and the animal to really overpower the task. (.50 bmg on squirrels wouldn't leave much meat).

I spoiled some meat on a 200lb whitetail when I drove a 180 gr coreloct from my 30.06 through the shoulder into the heart and lung area at 80 yds - but I'm glad I had the power to take that shot - the deer died instantly. There was plenty of unspoiled meat.

Another time I used the same gun on a 180lb black bear at 100 yds with a 180gr premium partition. Bears are tougher than deer and I needed all the power I had.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Any one of the 7mm mags. for mule deer. Good luck.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

i feel most comfortable with a the 7mm-08 so thats where i'm heading. found this out recently

The gun costs money, the clothing, the bullets, the scent killers, everyone costs money. but a good hunt is priceless

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

..Whitetailer06,Question? Where did the 06 come from,will it be 08 next,LOl...:)...

..JESUS IS COMING BACK BE READY...

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

maybe so:)

The gun costs money, the clothing, the bullets, the scent killers, everyone costs money. but a good hunt is priceless

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

GO WITH THE 30-30
THEY R CHEAP, AMMO IS LOW PRICED,
I HAVE BEEN HUNTING DEER FOR 8 YEARS AND I'LD SWEAR BY MINE.
I GOT A MARLIN AND A WINCHESTER THE WINCHESTER IS CUSTOM MADE

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Marlin 444 lever action handloaded with 300gr. hornady xpt works well for me.

Take a kid hunting,for they are the future of the sport.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

I just got my first deer gun. A 30-30. And I love it. It is perfect for where I hunt (thick woods). There in no perfect gun for everyone. Just one for you.

Guns cause crime, like flies cause garbage.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

There is no perfect deer cartridge only the one that is most suited to each persons conditions.I hunt open fields and ranges can be anywhere from 25 yards to over 400 yards.I have settled on the 7mmstw due to these conditions.Many of the cartridges others like such as 30-30,444 and 45-70 would be useless to me due to their range limitations yet they work well at short range in the thick woods.

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Ditto what fight4yourguns said.

Brian

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Yes whatever works well for you& your conditions would be a good choice :) Lotsa guns can shoot 25-400 yards well enough. 30/06 & all its off shoots cal to start with.

But i dont think the navy & army etc chose the 45-70.govt because it was a short range brush gun.Believe there where some 1,000 yard shooting compations, comparasons & tests done before it was adapted.
Fly like a brick...its the landing part thats ez.
&lt;'&gt;&lt;

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Anybody know what the effective range on a 45/70 govt would be on deer size game would be off hand? Not that it wouldnt make a good close up brush gun too... But i think the navy etc chose it for it long range ability to deliver a large bullet & its penatrating ability down range a bit.
&gt;&lt;*&gt;

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

well the 45-70 has been rumored to have killed buffalo out to 1000yards. now that is story it may be real or not i dont know. i believe with those heavy bullets it might take deer out 500yards. but only if you can hit the deer out there. as for off hand? it depends on how well you can shoot


propmahn
you can never have too many guns

RE: perfect deer cartridge
 

Right how well i & my rifle could shoot etc ... not the flatist trejetry etc, as long as it gets there & on target. I belive it could kill buffs at 1,000 yards& more(ez) from those navy test done 100 years or so back. that be old loading data - not like for new high pressure firearms.
Guess its not Just a short range brush gun then ?<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
&gt;&lt;'&gt;
Guns or ppl arnt nessarlly inacurate or no energy just cuz there old right .[;O]