I'm sorry guys, I don't dislike your choices of rifles!! Your right--you can kill a deer with a .22 with a well placed shot!! I just like the added insurance--"IF" I should get a less than perfect shot. I live in central Missouri where you only get 75-100 yards if your lucky. Most hunters here use a .30-.30 or a .35 Remington.
I've killed deer with .30-06 and 7 mm as well! I bought the .300 for my all around gun---(whitetail--elk--and mulies!)----Sorry if I offended anyone!!! This is just like Taste GREAT---Less FILLING!!!! LET'S ALL HUNT!!!!

IN THE KILLZONE!

i myself am partial to my 30-06, i got it from an old girlfriend back in '81-'82 for my birthday, i took it out and shot the sh!t out of it and now it's like my right arm, i know it inside and out.

what i'm trying to say is that whatever you get learn it, shoot it alot, clean it alot but most importantly is TAKE CARE OF IT, and you'll have it a lifetime and probly pass it on to your kids also.

my wife once told me that i look at BETSY like i'm in love with it,,,,and i told her that BETSY never tells me no!!!!!!!! but thats another story. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

IF IT IS TO BE......
IT IS UP TO ME......

I second what Tumbo said. I have:

22-250
25-06
270....Jack O'Conner loved this round
30-06
375H&H mag

22-250....don't use on deer
25-06 will kill most any deer that walks this Earth to 400 yards
270 will kill any deer, elk, bou out to 400 yards
30-06 anything in North America including Grizz & moose
375 H & H mag....To big for PA.

Don't get caught up in the magnum crap....... Don't get caught in the neck shot crap either......you'll wound one one day.


True shots don't pass through. A shot that passes through wastes energy. You want the bullet to mushroom and land under the skin on the other side of the deer after it passes the lungs and possible the heart.

If you are really interested in learning about calibers here are some books that I think you should get:

&quot;Modern Sporting Rifle Cartridges&quot; by Wayne Van Zwoll

&quot;Lymans Guide To: Big Game Cartridges&quot; by Edward Matunas

&quot;Cartridges Of The World&quot; by Frank C Barnes

These authors pretty much say the same thing about most of the popular rounds that are out there. I'd say they know what they are talking about and are not bias. I would read them and then make your mind up.

Tifford

Hold Steady

OlMossyhorns

Listen to Tifford,he has some good advice here,read the books he suggests,search for info on the calibers on the net,talk to the gunshops & people at your local shooting range if you can.

He is correct,if your bullets are passing through your overgunned or using the wrong bullets,all that does is waste meat,some of the bullets energy is wasted,you want it all used in the chest if possible.

All of the cals listed are accurate & have heaps of knockdown power.
25-06,270,280,30-06,260,7mm-08& 308,all would be suitable,however if you don't handload the 270,30-06 or 308 might be the best choice.
No need for magnums,you could even use a 243 if you place your shots very carefully & pass on ones that you are not able to place perfectly.
Remember if you over gun,your deer wont know the difference but it will cost you more money & waste meat.

My personal fav for whitetails is my 7mm-08. It is so accurate and the recoil is so light! But regardless of what my fav or anyone else's fav is, you have to find your own fav. Anything from 243 to 30-06 will work great for deer. I think the magnums are a little unneccessary...why put up with that recoil and muzzle blast? You dont need it! Like most people are saying, get something you can shoot confidently and accurately, and then get to know and love your rifle...make it your best friend, and she will never let you down, as long as you dont let her down. Practice with it and get to know it....and good luck!

PigDog

a marlin 45-70. its got the range, its got the power, its got the classic look, though a ruger #1 singleshot in 45-70 would also be a good choice. at those distances dont get a magnum they will ruin more meat than a standard cartridge. me personally i use a ruger gp-100 in .357magnum. some argue its not enough but you can argue with a bullet that passes thourgh the deer and out the otherside. double lung shots are the only ticket for the cartridge though, i wont try any other shots. actually anothe good choice for you is the ruger deerfield carbine in 44mag. plenty of power in a light package, and its auto loading if you like that sort of thing

propmahn
save the world, reload your brass