Author Topic: what is the best deer caliber in your opionin? (Read 2757 times)

270hunter · « **on:** April 22, 2005, 02:58:29 PM »

what is the best deer caliber in your opionin?

longwinters · « **Reply #1 on:** April 22, 2005, 03:19:00 PM »

270hunter, all of the above are excellent for deer . . . plus about 50 other calibers :lol: . The best caliber is the one you enjoy and have confidence in. I am guessing that is the 270. It is a fine caliber and one of the most popular in this USA.

Long

rickyp · « **Reply #2 on:** April 22, 2005, 03:48:39 PM »

I listed the 30-06 it will work for anything from varmint to the largest game in North America with the right bullet and load.

but the truth is there is no one best caliber. just the 30-06 will work on so many levels

Dave in WV · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2005, 04:44:53 PM »

I didn't vote. You didn't add what type of terrain, size, or species. Where I hunt all but the 30-30 is more crunch than is normally needed. That said, I have a .243, 7mm-08, .44 mag, and a 30-06. I like them all. The ranges I normally get a shot the .243 is great and with the 100gr loads I use I wouldn't hesitate to shoot any buck of any species no matter the size or weight.

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #4 on:** April 23, 2005, 01:41:43 AM »

Dave,

I don't wanna open up a 'small-caliber' debate, but I agree with you on the .243. People snicker when they hear of someone using it. Yea, come let them look at the 8-point on my wall and when they ask what I shot it with look at how they react. It wasn't a huge 8-point, but it's a trophy to me...30 yards w/ 100 grain Core-Lokts. But honestly, if I had to get another deer gun, it would probably be in .270. Just for some extra oomph.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 23, 2005, 02:54:38 AM »

I could not vote, I pick a 300 Win Mag. I no longer have any of the calibers you listed. I just use the 300 Win Mag for a lot of game. I just load it for my intended use.

jhm · « **Reply #6 on:** April 23, 2005, 03:55:16 AM »

Of the 5 you have listed I picked the old 06 just for versitility, I have used several of the others shown plus a few you havent.

JIM

rickt300 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2005, 04:08:29 AM »

The 308 and 30-06 are hard to beat but I hunt der with many cartridges.

rockbilly · « **Reply #8 on:** April 25, 2005, 04:03:28 AM »

:roll: I understand the need for some to "hawk" the big bores, but one of the most widely used and efficient deer guns is the .243. I have taken deer all over the USA and in some other countries with my Sako. My friend who owns a ranch near Cortez, Co. even uses the .243 for Elk. I gotta admit, I like something a little bigger for hunting Elk, but it works for him. Of the guns listed, I think I would have to choose the -06 because of the number of different loads you can produce for it.

Wynn · « **Reply #9 on:** April 25, 2005, 12:04:24 PM »

I won't vote either. Even though I have or have had all the calibers you have listed, I have come to prefer the 6.5 x 55 to all others for deer and have taken plenty of hogs with it as well. With todays choice of bullets and loads, they will all work.

Redhawk1 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 25, 2005, 02:19:36 PM »

Quote from: rockbilly

:roll: I understand the need for some to "hawk" the big bores

I don't get what you mean there. :?

Lawdog · « **Reply #11 on:** April 25, 2005, 02:51:07 PM »

I couldn't vote either. My vote goes for the .25-06 as the best for deer hunting. Effective clean kill range up to as far as one is capable of taking the shot. Extremely accurate and power enough to take even the largest Mule deer walking this Earth without being overly damaging to smaller deer. Lawdog

High Brass · « **Reply #12 on:** April 26, 2005, 07:11:30 AM »

I didn't vote because my "favorite" is what I'm using at the time. I've taken them with 243, 280, 6MM Rem., 30-06, 44Mag, 12ga. slug, and arrows. I've never shot a deer much over 150 yards and all but two have been inside 100 yards. I favor my 30-06 pump for most hunting if it's fair weather. If raining/snowing then I favor my 280 which is stainless/lam.

lefty o · « **Reply #13 on:** April 26, 2005, 06:45:26 PM »

6.5x55

gr8gift · « **Reply #14 on:** April 27, 2005, 04:37:04 AM »

Well in my case it is a .338 Win Mag. I have a .223 bolt for varmints and use either a Remington model 700 AWR 338 with 2.5X8 Leupold or a Ruger M77 338 with Weaver Grand Slam 4.5X14 for everything else. Seems to work just fine. Also did well when I lived in Alaska on moose. Will be good for Elk if I can ever get my stuff together with my brother and go Elk hunting.

James B · « **Reply #15 on:** April 29, 2005, 10:48:01 AM »

A couple months ago, Graig Boddington wrote an article about the perfect deer rifle. Taking all things into consideration. Size of deer, Range, Flat shooting. ME and MV. He picked the 270. He also said having picked the 270, that the 280 would have to be considered its equal. I can't say that I could disagree with his logic even though we all know that there are many calibers that will do the job well. One of my favorites is the 6.5x55 Mauser. I can't imagine anything being better but there are most likely some as good.

With this in mind I just put a new 270 on layaway. They were closing out the Remington ADL Synthetics for 329.00 the other day at Scheels. I couldn't pass it up. My thanks to Boddington for his artical that I showed my wife.

.308sniper · « **Reply #16 on:** April 29, 2005, 10:49:41 AM »

Only deer gun I have and killed a pig and ram.Lots of blood and damage and ram droped like a box of rocks. I hope to kill a couple deer with it and see what it will do.

It is not the size of the hle it is wher it is! :gun4:

Camper · « **Reply #17 on:** May 03, 2005, 10:07:32 AM »

Well some may think this is an outdated Cartridge but it is my personal favorite for deer (Maybe not the best but does deserve an honorable mention). .300 Savage model 99 Great gun for the bush and nice for the smaller to medium fields 250 yard max. I chose the .308 it's got a little edge on the .300 Savage and more bullet options if you don't reload.

Camper

PEPAW · « **Reply #18 on:** May 04, 2005, 03:23:19 AM »

Of your choices, I picked the .270. Flat shooting, hard hitting, low recoil.

Of my choices, a .260 with 140 grains seems perfect.

pepaw

SLAVAGE · « **Reply #19 on:** May 04, 2005, 07:28:15 AM »

add another vote for the 243 from a pa guy :0)

JPSaxMan · « **Reply #20 on:** May 04, 2005, 10:28:28 AM »

Quote from: SLAVAGE

add another vote for the 243 from a pa guy :0)

:yeah: :toast: :gulp:

Norseman112 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 04, 2005, 10:33:40 AM »

Of those choices I would have to pick .270

Slamfire · « **Reply #22 on:** May 05, 2005, 08:58:32 AM »

None of the above, but the 7mm-08 is only .o40" too big. :lol:

mountainview · « **Reply #23 on:** May 09, 2005, 07:36:09 AM »

I voted for the 30-06 but would not feel undergunned carrying any of the listed calibers and, quite a few of those not listed, in the woods.

Savage .250 · « **Reply #24 on:** May 31, 2005, 01:55:22 AM »

Quote from: 270hunter

what is the best deer caliber in your opionin?

I know it`s a little late for this but what the hell............I`d be re-miss if
i didn`t pick my .250 savage 99 for "my" best deer gun.
Not only will it kill-um dead but you also look good in the process.
Guys, oops, folks( to be politically correct) who own/shoot a savage
know what i mean.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience".

clodbuster · « **Reply #25 on:** June 03, 2005, 03:06:22 PM »

250 Savage I couldn't agree more!!!!!! my 99A with 4x scope I can and do kill big buck just as dead as I want. So pretty that little carbine I almost hate to expose her to the weather, But I look too cool leaving the parking lot with it that temptation overcomes. No one else's gun even comes close and so many want to see it I feel like a celeb.

Mac11700 · « **Reply #26 on:** June 04, 2005, 08:04:14 AM »

Well...I wouldn't vote either...they are all excellent deer cartridges...and each will drop deer cleanly at varied ranges.There is a difference in ammo and bullet types for each...and depending on what type terrain you were in could make a difference...but ...then one could choose the appropriate ammo for each gun....

I would say...whichever one shot the best with the intended ammo to be used...

Mac

Jimi · « **Reply #27 on:** July 01, 2005, 12:38:01 PM »

Chiming in on the small caliber debate... I have absolutely no doubt that any number of deer are taken with small caliber rifles. However, I also know that I have taken at least 2 deer with my .300 Wby that had small caliber wounds... either .243 or 6mm, in my estimation. No one seems to talk about wounded deer that get away... and it's fine to go on about what great shots we all are... but the undeniable truth is that a larger, more powerful cartridge is more likely to kill an animal than a smaller bore, less powerful one, all other things being equal. I will buy the argument that a shooter is more effective with a caliber he/she is comfortable with, but come on. I guess you could say that us guys that shoot the more punishing caliber are willing to take that punishment to increase the odds of a clean kill. Well... that, and it helps compensate for our small penises ;-)

Besides, I like the big BOOM!

jacobtowne · « **Reply #28 on:** July 02, 2005, 08:55:53 AM »

I won't vote because the caliber I use, 12 gauge, isn't there. :grin:
JT

Slamfire · « **Reply #29 on:** July 03, 2005, 02:42:17 AM »

Quote from: Jimi

Chiming in on the small caliber debate... I have absolutely no doubt that any number of deer are taken with small caliber rifles. However, I also know that I have taken at least 2 deer with my .300 Wby that had small caliber wounds... either .243 or 6mm, in my estimation. No one seems to talk about wounded deer that get away... and it's fine to go on about what great shots we all are... but the undeniable truth is that a larger, more powerful cartridge is more likely to kill an animal than a smaller bore, less powerful one, all other things being equal. I will buy the argument that a shooter is more effective with a caliber he/she is comfortable with, but come on. I guess you could say that us guys that shoot the more punishing caliber are willing to take that punishment to increase the odds of a clean kill. Well... that, and it helps compensate for our small penises ;-)

Besides, I like the big BOOM!

It ain't the guy with the biggest gun that takes the most game, its the guy with the cool, deliberate aim that does the trick.

Poll

What caliber is better for deer hunting?

Author Topic: what is the best deer caliber in your opionin? (Read 2757 times)