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Author Topic: WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?  (Read 2148 times)

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Offline BASIC

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« on: November 23, 2004, 01:47:41 PM »
Hi guys.I would like your opinions of what would be the best choice in a NEF/H&R rifle /caliber for meat hunting?I'm not concerned with the size of the deer,just the meat and getting it down as guickly and humanely as possible.Thanks for any help,BASIC.
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Offline quickdtoo

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #1 on: November 23, 2004, 01:55:10 PM »
Geez, that's kinda leaving the door open, but in reality, shot placement is more important than the caliber, for the most part.  That said, the .45-70 is a real favorite here as well as the .270, .280, 7mm-08, .30-30, .308 and .30-06. All are fine calibers and when used within their respective effective ranges, will kill deer very well and quickly. The .45-70 is the most fun to shoot, too! :wink:
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Offline Major

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #2 on: November 23, 2004, 02:06:56 PM »
I second everything quickdtoo said and will add that I am partial to the .30 caliber’s.
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Offline Fred M

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #3 on: November 23, 2004, 02:27:15 PM »
Basic

The trouble with your question is, that you don't say where you hunt, how far you expect to shoot and in what field or bush condition you want to hunt or other game besides deer you want to hunt.

That would make the selection of a rifle more effective and practical.
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Offline mag41vance

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #4 on: November 23, 2004, 02:45:00 PM »
GIT A .30-06! IT'S GOOD ON ALL GAME FROM MOOSE ON DOWN TO SQUIRREL! :wink: NOT FUNNY. GB
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Offline MSP Ret

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #5 on: November 23, 2004, 02:48:35 PM »
Hey mag41vance, That sounds familiar, you were never here under another name were you? Tell me it's not so!!!....<><.... :-D

No you couldn't have been, you have my haircut, and my winter moustache, and my winter beard...we squared away looking guys have to stick together you know...  :wink:
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Offline Major

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #6 on: November 23, 2004, 02:50:14 PM »
Quote from: mag41vance
GIT A .30-06! IT'S GOOD ON ALL GAME FROM MOOSE ON DOWN TO squirrel! :wink:


Thats funny... I wonder where you heard that  :)    :-D    :) ......  :wink:
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Offline MSP Ret

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #7 on: November 23, 2004, 02:52:48 PM »
Probably from some guy who uses "green box" ammo and has a "hefty" wife!!! May he rest in peace and never return.... 8)

gets me a little nervous just bringing up the subject, I have to go and put another couple of ice cubes in my glass, and maybe something for them to float in too....
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Offline Major

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #8 on: November 23, 2004, 02:54:54 PM »
While I do not want him to return, ever, I did get a laugh of two out of him.
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Offline safetysheriff

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #9 on: November 23, 2004, 04:47:32 PM »
For anything in the Lower 48 States I'd go with a .308 as a meat hunter.   The .308 is probably easier on the venision than the .270, .280 and maybe even the .30-06.    It's lower velocity will kill cleanly without destroying half the deer like some people get out of the .270 and .280.    It's cheap ammo' allows for practice.....which an ethical hunter concerns himself with so his shot will be properly placed.    It's somewhat slower velocities than the '06 allow for Long barrel life.  

If you're not out on the hunt of a lifetime after a trophy you probably don't need to take a buck at 400 yds'.    I think the .308 is perfect for a meat hunter, and it was the caliber used, incidentally, by Milo Hansen to take his former #1 Boone and Crocket buck up in Canada on a deer drive, I believe.     That's right, his kill was on a drive as I remember reading, not on a buck 400 yds' away that was found by glassing.    

The .308 will get it done.

Good hunting,

SS'
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Offline Donaldo

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« Reply #10 on: November 23, 2004, 04:54:23 PM »
Andy,  
Here, here on that something to float them in......YUM  YUM... :D
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Offline single shot shooter

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« Reply #11 on: November 23, 2004, 05:18:44 PM »
all dependson the range you are shooting ect.
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Offline BASIC

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2004, 12:52:54 AM »
Fred M and single shot shooter,sorry,I'd be shooting whitetail in the east,the states might be PA,NY,VT and/or VA(where ever we finally move to).I think the range would be anywhere from 50yds. to 150 yds. but mostly woods or right on the edge.Thankyou all again for the help,BASIC.
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Offline Mac11700

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« Reply #13 on: November 24, 2004, 04:45:34 AM »
Basic:

Any of the cartridges mentioned will kill deer cleanly and humanely...the real task is for you to be able to make the shot..no matter what range your shooting at..and as you can see everyone has their favorites...what rifles do you currently shoot?

Mac

edited...my preference for a all around cartridge ...the 308...easy to get all the great components for a handloader...and the selection of factory ammo is simply the best...not to mention they are accurate out of a Handi...
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Offline Fred M

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #14 on: November 24, 2004, 05:56:09 AM »
Basic.
My first choice would be a 7mm-08 and my second a 308 that is in a Handi. In a bolt gun it would have to be a wildcat for sure. The bigger o6 type calibers Handi loadings are for the He-man :-D These wee guns kick with the larger  powder consumers.
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Offline muzzleblast525

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Which Cal?
« Reply #15 on: November 24, 2004, 06:20:44 AM »
Last year I shot three deer with my 22-250.  Talk about no meat damage at all.  All three were shot right behind the shoulder in the boiler room, went maybe 20-40 yards and dropped.  Its all about shot placement and taking the right shot.

Bob
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Offline MSP Ret

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #16 on: November 24, 2004, 06:48:51 AM »
Of the currently available H&R calibers the 7mm-08 is the answer. It's great with factory ammo and superb if you reload....<><.... :grin:
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Offline single shot shooter

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #17 on: November 24, 2004, 09:24:41 AM »
sounds like a job for a .308  or a 45-70 , both good meat rifles and will downa  deer out to 200 yards
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Offline Major

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« Reply #18 on: November 24, 2004, 10:39:45 AM »
single shot shooter,

Basic didn’t state if he (she) was a big or small shooter (or young or old) and could handle recoil well so I will stick by my first statement of favoring the .30 caliber’s.   If basic is like me, I would just love a .45-70 but my shoulder just can’t take it any more.
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Offline Brett

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« Reply #19 on: November 24, 2004, 10:43:50 AM »
Any of the .30 calibers  or 7mm's will do the trick.  Many parts of the North East are shotgun only territories so check ahead.
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Offline MSP Ret

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« Reply #20 on: November 24, 2004, 12:06:46 PM »
A lot of good info and views here. If all is wanted is the one gun that can put a deer down in every state and a "meat gun" at that, the overall choice (if you could only have one gun) is a 12 gauge smoothbore with screw in chokes,  an added bonus would be having it drilled and tapped for a scope rail. Slugs, Brenneke, Terminators, sabots, buckshot from #4 to 000, chokes from cylinder to x-full, that one gun can do it all if meat is what you want, a true survival gun...unless you want to shoot 250-300 yards of course....<><.... :grin:
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Offline JPH45

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« Reply #21 on: November 24, 2004, 06:59:58 PM »
The 308 or 30-06, especially if you intend to or are reloading. I'm gonna go further out on a limb and suggest that a 200-220 grain bullet at 2000-2200 fps would be nearly perfect deer medicine. ths trick will be getting a bullet that is not too hard, but that should not be a great trick, just stay away from the premium bullets. Use the bullets from the standard product line of the company. The exceptions might be the Nosler Partition, and the Hornady Interlock series. You want a heavy yet relatively soft bullet that will expand readily. The advantage of these over their cousins (270, 7-08 25-06) is bullet selection. the 30 cal probably has the widest selection of weights and styles of bullets as compared to any other caliber, as well there is nothing their cousins will do that either of these two will not. No matter how hard we may try to replace the 30 with other calibers, there is a reason that the 30 caliber has become and remains the most popular caliber amoung shooters and hunters.
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Offline hellacatcher

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« Reply #22 on: November 25, 2004, 01:36:39 AM »
I kind of like the 44 mag. It will sure make a deers eyes go cross.
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Offline safetysheriff

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« Reply #23 on: November 25, 2004, 02:48:01 AM »
Quote from: JPH45
The 308 or 30-06, especially if you intend to or are reloading. I'm gonna go further out on a limb and suggest that a 200-220 grain bullet at 2000-2200 fps would be nearly perfect deer medicine. ths trick will be getting a bullet that is not too hard, but that should not be a great trick, just stay away from the premium bullets. Use the bullets from the standard product line of the company. The exceptions might be the Nosler Partition, and the Hornady Interlock series. You want a heavy yet relatively soft bullet that will expand readily. .


It is a contradiction in terms/concepts to expect a heavy-for-caliber, jacketed bullet to be "relatively soft" in a .30 cal'.......because they are put out there for use against much tougher critters than whitetails.    In a .30 cal' the deer bullets run up to 165 gr's, and even the 180 gr' variants are already toughened up enough that they are used against much larger animals.   Many consider the 180 gr' bullet to be the real energy-maker in the .30-06, and use it against elk, moose, grizzlies, etc.    They will punch through a whitetail generally leaving too small of a permanent wound channel to put the deer down as quickly as the lighter, faster-moving bullets.     The permanent-wound-channel concept is important in picking a bullet for game from white-tail size on up, in my opinion.    Otherwise someone else may put a tag on your animal and claim it for their own.      

Do yourself a favor and get a jacketed, faster-moving bullet in whatever you shoot, that is in the lighter-for-caliber range.......unless going down to a .224 or .243 diameter.     They need mid-range weights, generally, to get the job done without bullet blow-up on the surface of the critter.     In the .25-06 and .260 Rem' calibers I'd go with faster 100 gr' projectiles for whitetail.  

Good hunting,

SS'
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Offline Longcruise

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #24 on: November 25, 2004, 05:02:59 AM »
I vote for a 30-30/rifled 12 gauge combo.  As was said earlier, some of the states you named have shot gun only regs.  Years back when I hunted in VA, the counties decided what could be used in their jurisdictions.  Come to think of it, you should have a third barrel.  A smooth bore 12 gauge since some areas may require buckshot rather than slugs.

The Handi 30-30 loads a little warmer than the lever guns making it very effective at 150 yards.  Especially with a quality bullet that will expand across the 30-30 velocity range without blowing up on a close shot (you said meat gun and to me that means kill efficiently without wrecking the meat) :-)

The 45-70 is a good choice too.  With the right bullets, the adage "eat right up to the hole" is true.
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Offline Mac11700

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« Reply #25 on: November 25, 2004, 05:05:39 AM »
The Nosler Partition...is proably the best all around bullet for any caliber made...they open readily and expand great...and hold together thanks to their construction...usually penatrating all the way thru...the 150 grain partiton gold for any of the 30 cal...it would be my choice of bullet...


Mac
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Offline Longcruise

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #26 on: November 25, 2004, 05:13:40 AM »
Quote
The Nosler Partition...is proably the best all around bullet for any caliber made...they open readily and expand great...and hold together thanks to their construction...usually penatrating all the way thru...the 150 grain partiton gold for any of the 30 cal...it would be my choice of bullet...


Mac, agree almost 100% :grin:   I'm partial to heavier bullets and while I recommended the 165, my own choice in the Handi 30-30 would be a 180.  No real good reason for a deer application, just my own preference. :-)

I don't know why the partitions aren't used more in the slower velocity calibers.  Much better penetration and a good wound channel.  Everybody seems to want to kill deer with exploding bullets :eek:
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Offline MSP Ret

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WHICH CALIBER FOR MEAT RIFLE?
« Reply #27 on: November 25, 2004, 05:15:56 AM »
Longcruise seems to have hit the nail on the head, a 30-030/12 gauge combo gun (2 barrels) would cover anything in the Northeast...My vote would be for the 24" smoothbore shotgun barrel with screw in chokes and either rifle sights or a scope rail added. Turkey, deer meat or Goose, your table would never be empty.... <><.... :grin:
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Offline DanielWGriggs

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« Reply #28 on: November 25, 2004, 05:32:43 AM »
I don't know about anyone else but this topic and it's discussion has given me valuable insight as to which bullet types and weights to start reloading for accuracy for my meat rifle. A -308 handi ultra rocky mountain elk foundation medallion youth model. This truly is a handy rifle that shoots well with 150gr remington corlockts. I feel that with it sighted in 2" high at 100 yds I can take deer sized game out to 200/250 without holdover. from one end of the field to the other is lazered 220 yards if he comes in that field he is mine.... if my snoring doesn't spook him. lol thanks for the info.  

Basic good question got these fellars talking.
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Offline Deadeye47

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« Reply #29 on: November 25, 2004, 05:38:16 AM »
Quote from: mag41vance
GIT A .30-06! IT'S GOOD ON ALL GAME FROM MOOSE ON DOWN TO SQUIRREL! :wink: NOT FUNNY. GB
  :-D and wife(275) can handle it too
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