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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
I wouldn't use less than a 45 cal, Put them down quick and hang them up quicker.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
I shot one this year with a 338 win mag, hit it right behind the front shoulder, exited 2" hole, a little farther back, and the thing still ran about 50 yds.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
ORIGINAL: Dozen Arrows 243 bolt action is the smallest that I will go. That said, I used to shoot a 30-06 but sold it in favor of a 7mm Rem Mag based on what I've seen it do at 210 yards. I just wasn't really impressed with the 06 after that.It was a good clean shot but most likely only took out one lung due to the lack of blood trail that I witnessed. The doe ran a good 700 yards into the next property over before it gave up the ghost. The owners denied that they seen it although there was blood all over next to thier cabin and I did some scouting on my own after hours. Oh well, I can't prove anything and only come off as paranoid. I hear that the 7 Mag really puts them down in thier tracks and with the extra terminal velocity I figured I could not go wrong.Yeah I know, I hear a lot of arm chair quarterbacks on the web say that a 30-06 will take them down fast at distances well past that but I don't really know about that. I round that turns the lungs and heart into jelly and produces a soft ball sized exit wound is the round that I want to use! It puts the animal down as quickly as possible. Yeah, it's a mess but it's nothting this old survivalist Marine cannot handle. :)  In response to the original question, my personal minimum when hunting for bucks is .243. I've also used a .30-06, and 7mm Rem Mag. Next fall, I plan to take a doe or two with a .223 AR15. I had planned to do it this year, but didn't get it scoped and sighted in before the season. |
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
The smallest I personally hunt with is a .308. I would not have a problem using a .243. I did buy my son(7 year old) a 22-250 this past season and heused it just fine. I don't have a problem with using any gun that will get the job done. What I mean by that is not only the gun, but the shooter putting in the time to make sure he/she gets it done too.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
this year i killed 2 does and 1 buck with a 50cal mzl ldr, 1 doe and 1 buck with a 100gr 243, 3 does with a 125 gr 30-06. all but 1 shot, were in fairly thick forested areas, longest shot was 130yds with the 50 cal in a field all the others were no further than 75 yards. the 243 deer were a dbl lung shot and a solid heart shot, both ran about 25 yrds. all the other deer died in thier tracks. all my guns will kill with a well placed round.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
.222 my dads buddy used one for years until he gave it to his son. He has killed hundreds of deer with it. Now he uses a .243.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
I killed them with a 222. Knocks them down for the count. Wouldn't be my caliber of choice, but I was removing them for a local farmer with nuisance permits, and it was his rifle. One shot to the front shoulder and they were dead in their tracks. I think the farthest I shot was about 125 yards.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
I have heard alot of stories about people killing deer with .22's. I think most of the time it is a load of crap made up. I am not saying that it has'nt happened. I am big time against the use of under caliber weapons for big game. I myself came upon a yearling doe wich had darted and jumped into a wooven wire fence and had broke her neck, I figured I would just shoot her with the .22 and put her out. So i preceeded to shoot her point blank in the head in the temple with my .22 long rifle with high velocity ammo. I shot her 3 times in the head and she was still trying to get up, it din't do crap, I than precceded to shoot her twice in the heart before she finally expireded from them last two shots. Don't ever shoot a deer with a .22 it is not enough. After experiencing this myself firsthand I think most of these stories of shooting deer with .22's is a bunch of B.S. and stay away from it.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
Hey guys, what is the smallest caliber you would use for deer hunting these are mine, .22 at 20 yards or less, .222, .223, .22-50, .243. I have not and will not use anything bigger than a .243, |
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
Even though this thread died rather fast I will still chime in with my thoughts.
Traditionally most smaller caliber rounds were labeled varmintroundsso they were loaded with very frangible (explode on impact) bullets which aren't suited for deer. Over the past few years the bullet manufacturers have started loading a lot more factory ammo with good quality solid bullets in small clibers such as the .223. A 62gr BARNES X bullet loaded in .223rem will take out any deer in the United States if the shooter does his job. |
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
What ammo were you using? Solid jacket, Hollow point or solid point lead, and what brand?
ORIGINAL: patchholder I have heard alot of stories about people killing deer with .22's. I think most of the time it is a load of crap made up. I am not saying that it has'nt happened. I am big time against the use of under caliber weapons for big game. I myself came upon a yearling doe wich had darted and jumped into a wooven wire fence and had broke her neck, I figured I would just shoot her with the .22 and put her out. So i preceeded to shoot her point blank in the head in the temple with my .22 long rifle with high velocity ammo. I shot her 3 times in the head and she was still trying to get up, it din't do crap, I than precceded to shoot her twice in the heart before she finally expireded from them last two shots. Don't ever shoot a deer with a .22 it is not enough. After experiencing this myself firsthand I think most of these stories of shooting deer with .22's is a bunch of B.S. and stay away from it. |
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
You can shoot a deer with any caliber of rifle. You just have to recognize your shooting a smaller bullet and your shot plavement has to be precise. I shot a doe this year with a 22-250 with a 55 grain bullet just to proove to several of my buddies it can be done. I ran the bullet right through the lungs and she went two feet straight down.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
An old deuce-deuce to the dome should do just fine haha!
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
Where I hunt(Mississippi) the smallest caliber you can use legally is a .243.That's the lightest I would go personally.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
ORIGINAL: Rory/MO ORIGINAL: .243Heartshot None of you guys must of ever lived on a farm or went through rough times, all of y'all must think life is so easy. If it is the only thing you have use it. But if you can afford something else get the bigger rifle. But I was gonna ask you guys should I get a 10 gauge with buckshot for squirrel, the thing I was worried about is if it will have enough knockdown power, because I don't want to go hunting under gunned. Well maybe I'll go watch some pansy ass hunting shows and get myself a .50 bmg for deer. You guys can argue about .22 knockdown power all you want we have a permit to use rimfire. If ya'll did'nt read correctly we have to cull deer weekly or monthly year round. The deer eat our crops if we let them we'd be living in cardboard boxes and wiping our asses with leaves. I will continue to use any gun I want. http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=3287905&mpage=1&key=&#328790 5 That also looks like a pretty nice truck in the picture;) |
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
If you have all the answers why would you come on here and even post this question, It has nothing to do with how good your grandma can shoot, it has to do with bullet construction and a 40 gr unjacketed bullet is not designed to humanely take down a deer. You should be able to get .243 or .308 ammo on sale at your local WalMart for $10 a box is 50 cents a deer too much to pay. Probably can spend a few bucks on beer though !! Just a dumb question to come on here and ask if you already know all the answers.
BD ORIGINAL: DeerandbearhoG ORIGINAL: .243Heartshot None of you guys must of ever lived on a farm or went through rough times, all of y'all must think life is so easy. If it is the only thing you have use it. But if you can afford something else get the bigger rifle. But I was gonna ask you guys should I get a 10 gauge with buckshot for squirrel, the thing I was worried about is if it will have enough knockdown power, because I don't want to go hunting under gunned. Well maybe I'll go watch some pansy ass hunting shows and get myself a .50 bmg for deer. You guys can argue about .22 knockdown power all you want we have a permit to use rimfire. If ya'll did'nt read correctly we have to cull deer weekly or monthly year round. The deer eat our crops if we let them we'd be living in cardboard boxes and wiping our asses with leaves. I will continue to use any gun I want. |
RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
my nerf 3 in 1 shotgun gets the job done.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
Actually I once lived in Mississippi, and it is perfectly legal to use a .22lr on deer a lot of people use it there like farmers. I asked the game warden, go look at the regulations, you will be surprised there is no restriction on how small of a caliber you can use. One shot between the eyes with a quality solid point 22lr it will be as dead if shot with a .375 Ruger. But this is only on private land it is the truth go check it out.
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
6mm - 243 cal. Smallest I would go. And keep the bullet in the 100 gr. range. Personally I like 30 cal. ... specifically 30.06 Spr., 308 Win. or 300 Win. Mag. (for longer range).
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
.243 def
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RE: Smallest Caliber For Deer Hunting
.243
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