Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I know you guys get asked this a lot, but exactly what is your guyz'z favorite deer caliber of all time. Me and my buddy want to know. Cause theres a lot of arguing going on over this subject.


Sorry if you caliber is on there.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

For me it is the 30-06 150 gr and the gun I currently use. I am pretty dang good with this gun.
To me most of the time it is the shooter and not the gun.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I would say it depends on where you are and the type of hunting you do. But to me the most versatile rounds are the 270 and the 30-06 and my nod goes to the 270.

The only ones on your list I have problems with are I think the 300 mag (if that is what you meant) is a bit big for deer, but it will work. And the 22-250 is a little light. I am surprised you listed it in a poll for the BEST deer cartridge. But I believe it will work on deer with a well placed shot. If it was all I had I would use it without hesitation.

My personal favorite for my type of hunting would be the .243 though.

Paul

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I would have to go with the .270, because that is the only rifleI own!!!!:D

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I know. Your right the 22-250 is light for a deer. The only reason that I put it on there is because if you go to the guns forum, the 22-250,270,25/06 and 308 seem to be the most popular. Personally i think the CZ 6.5x55 and the 260 rem are my favorite for big game.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

of course it's the 270.i love the 270 useing 150 grainremington core lokt's and i think in my opinion it is great for all rifle.i shoot coyote's,deer and my uncle kills elk,antalop,sheep,bear and he also goes on moose hunts with his wheatherby 270.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I like the 7mm08

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

7mm for me... To the point of the .22-250 being light, it isn't even legal in all states for deer....

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

Sorry a pet peeve of mine but you are not asking what caliber we think is best by your poll but rather "What Cartridge".

Ie: listed are 4 .308 caliber cartridges - 3030, 308, 3006 and 300. All use the same diameter bullet therefor making them all the same caliber!

As to your question I have used a number of cartridges but being I hunt more then deer each year the 7mm rem mag is the one that has stuck (for now at least);). If deer were the biggest quarry my caliber choice would be a .257. (Cartidge 25-06rem or 25-06AI)

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

To me it is the .308 with any of the variations in bullet size/weight.

.243 Winchester
.257 Roberts
.260 Remington
etc.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

.270.....just cuz thats what i shoot

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

The Roberts did not originate from a .308, it was actually around about 30 years before....

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I voted for the 270. I've shot deer with a lot of different calibers and I keep coming back to the 270.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

Well, I said .270 cause I shot it for years, but in 1997 switched to 6.5mmSwede.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I just read an article on this very subject in F&S. The author went through the most common rounds & came up w/the 270 as the best overall deer caliber. Surprisingly, he took out the 30-06 & 7mm Rem mag. I use both of those rounds, & nothing has ever walked away. I like the versatility of the 7mag, because you can use it for both med & lg game. The odd6 is probably the "classic" deer hunting caliber. 270 definitely shoots flatter & is a great gun for out west.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

Or Power Line Clear Cutsin any State!!......:)

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

Living in indiana and not being able to use rifles. (until the recent legalization of rifles firing hand gun cartridges) I would have to say that the 12 gauge sabot slug is the best :D

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

the 270 has been my choice for years,over 100 whitetails and still counting. i've owned 2 rem 700 bdl's and now a tikka t3. they have all shot 140grn hornady and seirra bullets great. i would guess i have killed atleast a 1000 groundhogs with the 2 remingtons. i used to load them down to 90-100hp bullets for varmints. a great all around caliber.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

not again!

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

For all round cartridges or for the person that might only have one rifle,any good shooting7mm-08 Rem., 270 Win., 280 Rem.308 Win. or 30-06 Spr. will work fine in most conditions. [/align]

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I marked 30-30, but my .50 cal is a very close second.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

My father-in-law used .243 to take deer for years. He has passed it on to me to use. He had to give up hunting in the late 90s due to cancer treatments. They really messed him up. Now he has to use a walker or a cane to walk. He has always been there to offer advise or a tale from his days hunting. He has seen and taken his share of deer. To keep him in the hunt for deer, I now carry some of his gear with me. I thank God that I have a man like him I can turn to when I need advice about hunting. He is still planning to go hunting again next year.

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

Wow what a loaded question!!!

I chose the 30-06 it will kill whatever at whatever range!

IMO to break it down...

Shots 75 yards and closer top picks are: 30-30, 444 Marlin, 45-70, Slug gun, or hangun if you are proficient
Shots 75 yards to 150+ yards: Inline 45 or 50 cal, all short actions
shots 100 to 250: all '06 family, 308, 7-08, 260 rem
shoth 200+ to whatever your max range is: Mags, '06 family, any other gun you shoot well!

There is really no "perfect" IMHO! Thats what makes it fun!

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

308

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

I had to vote for the .270... I used my .270 with 130 grain bullet for 6 years now and just love that gun... very easy to handle and very accurate...Haven't had anything walk away as of yet![/align][/align]

RE: Best Deer Hunting Caliber
 

My view is that the .25-06 is the best deer cartridge. I have a .243 and two .30-06 rifles. The .30-06 will certainly take deer reliably, at any range I should be shooting at deer, as well as substantially larger game. But the question was best deer cartridge. In my aesthetic, the lightest cartridge that reliably, predictably gets the job done is better than the heavier cartridges. Heck, why not take deer with a .416 Rigby? a .375 H&H Magnum? These, too, will take deer reliably. Anyway, so, in my opinion the .25-06 will reliably take big mule deer at 300 yards with appropriate loads and enjoys the benefits of a flat trajectory. Sure, the .270 is also good, but it is more than is needed. Indeed, the .30-06 is good, but it is more than needed. The .340 Weatherby magnum would be a good deer killer . . . but it is more than is needed. I think the .25-06 probably has the edge on the .243 which may be questionable on big mule deer at 300 yards. Sure, some people swear by the .243 on all deer, but others consider it marginal at these longer ranges on heavier deer.