Overall best caliber for deer sized game

[jack19512]

I know this is a very hard question to answer and there are going to be a lot of personal favorites, but my son wants me to recommend a good caliber for deer sized game.

I myself use a 30-06 and have thought about recommending the fowling calibers, 30-06, 270, 308, and I have heard a lot of talk about the 25-06.  But I cannot tell him why one is better or worse than the others.

I know there are more calibers than these to choose from but I do not know enough about them to be comfortable in mentioning them.  I had one guy recommend the 300 WSM of which I know absolutely nothing about.

I doubt the rifle will ever be used on anything larger than say 125-200 pound deer and at distances no greater than around 200 yards.  So, any input from others would be appreciated.  Thanks

[Crudders32]

I would recomend the 7mm-08.  Plenty of power and accuracy for deer sized game within 200yds.  Lots of good bullet selection and relatively easy to find factory ammo.  308 sized casing so it will fit in a short action.  All of this and it has very manageable recoil.  Ask almost anyone who uses a 7mm-08 for deer and they will all say that they love them.

[myarmor]

They will all do the job with the right shot placement, and a decent bullet. The ones you mention are good choices. I will be taking the 30-06 out tommorow, but have taken them with a 7.62x54R Sako M39, and 308Win, and even the 243 will do a fine job with a good shot.  From 223-where legal...to 45-70, they all will do it, just depends on the amount of killing you want to inflict.
Personally I like the .30cals, but that's just my personal preferance.
243, 357, 30-30, 44Mag, 7.62x39, 7mm-08, 25-06, 270, 280, 308, 30-06, all of these are good cartridges in their own right.
Take your pic :toast:
-Aaron

[WashPa]

I agree with Crudders32, you can't go wrong with a 7mm-08.  Jeff

[bladerunner]

3rd vote for 7MM-08  

[mjbgalt]

on paper it looks like the .260 remington is the best to me...even outdoes the 7mm-08 at longer ranges...


i am looking into getting my rifle rebored to this caliber from .243.


-Matt

[JPH45]

I vote the 7-08 too. I've been studing this one as I recently aquired a Remington Model 7 so chambered. With 130-140 grain bullets it performs as well as the 308 or 30-06 does with 150's With 175's it is an easy elk cartridge and the ballistic twin of the original loadings that made the 7X57 famous the world over. It probably doesn't have the popularity of the 308 or 30-06, probably not even that of the 270, but it will hold it's own with them. The Speer 130 SPBT driven at 2700 fps has a point blank range of 250 yards and doesn't rise or fall more than 3" from line of sight. That's one flat shooter.

[Mac11700]

I doubt the rifle will ever be used on anything larger than say 125-200 pound deer and at distances no greater than around 200 yards. So, any input from others would be appreciated. Thanks

If this is a true estiamte on poundage and yardage...and if your wanting a Handi rifle..then I say go for either a 30-30...or a 30-06...here's why..

1) Ammo can be purchased in just about every location without having to order it on-line..Most sporting good stores carry a pretty extensive line of ammo...and Walmart carries quite a-bit as well

2) Both calibers are pretty accurate out of the box for the Handi's with out much fiddling around to find a deceant shooting load...

3) You can handload great shooting loads for each...you can load the 30-30 down or up...same too for the 30-06...and both lend themselves to using cast bullets which are readily available which increases both's versatility and lessens the cost of practice ammo...and there is a plethora of loading data for the both of them..

4) With the new Hornady ammo they are making..it extends the range of factory 30-30 ammo considerably

5) The managed recoil loads of Remington makes shooting the 30-06 a breeze with very low recoil and good performance on deer sized game for small statured folks or those who are recoil shy

6) The 30-30 will always be a very versitle deer getter and it has probably taken more deer than all the rest..and the 30-06is too...it is a rifle he can use now with the right loads and as he  grow older..he can use full house loads for it....and besides...wouldn't it be great  for him to use the same caliber gun as Dad... Doing so..would lessen the cost of purchasing different dies and brass making your handloading more economical.....  


Mac

[Muddy05]

.270 winchester gets my vote. But i also agree with everyone else. The .270 is just my personal favorite.

[Couger]

Jack,  Of course you posted on a single-shot forum ......

When shooting a single-shot rifle and loading each round by hand, size of the cartridge in regard to handling it and inserting it in the chamber - IN MY OPINION - is moot!

But in a bolt action rifle, or pump or lever gun, the short cartridges like the .308 Winnie or 7mm-08 Remmie definitely have their place.  Plus in a bolt rifle you get the camming and tighter action lock-up from the bolt.  Shooting a shorter cartridge makes sense to me in those situations.

GO WITH THE .30/06 AS YOUR SON'S NUMBER ONE CHOICE FOR ALL AROUND, DEER AND BIG GAME CAPABLE CARTRIDGE!

The .30/06 along with the .30-30 are the two most popular .308 cal rounds in the US, and are ALWAYS available where ammo is sold.  Plus the .30/06 can kill ANYTHING in the contiguous 48 states.

But if your son will reload, my all-time all-around single cartridge choice would be the .280 Remington.

The .280 is superior (for the reloader) to both the .270 Win AND the 7mm-08.

But if you son is only going to shoot factory ammunition, the .30/06 would make an excellent #1 choice, followed by the .270 Win and 7mm-08 in that order  Actually I'd substitute the .308 Winchester for the 7mm-08.

And as good as the 7mm-08 is, it only gives about 95% of the performance of the .270 Win in factory rounds (taking into account bullet weights X velocity to generate foot/pounds of energy in the bullet), and the .308 offers near .30/06 performance with the same bullets it uses on a 1/2" shorter case.  (Hence it's great appeal in short-action rifles.)

So if shooting a single-shot rifle, pick the cartridge with the most flexibility, versatility and overall power/potential.  That falls on the .30/06 of the cartridges discussed. But in short-action bolt or other repeater, as good as the 7mm-08 is, I'd choose the .308 Winchester - for many of the same reasons I like the .30/06 (popularity, versatility and its capable of killing elk and moose - not just deer or pronghorn size game).

My $.02.   :-D   Luck!

[poncaguy]

Really hard to beat the good ol' 270............

[fuzzy]

If your going to spend good money for a rifel why not get something that will do double dudy 25-06. you can shoot 75 g- 120. you got your deer gun. And a varmit rig for the off season

[bladerunner]

the 30-06 is a fine round,but on deer @ 200 yards or less,IMHO,is overkill and is not going to be practiced with as much as something with just 2/3 the recoil...the 7MM-08,30-30 and for that matter,243 will kill a deer just as dead without all the recoil in one of these light little guns.
having said that....the 30-06 is VERY versatile and potent   :grin:

[Haywire Haywood]

As you can tell, that question didn't open a can of worms, it's more like a bucket of snakes.  LOL

You didn't mention how old or stout your son was.  That plays into cartridge choice as far as how much recoil he can take comfortably.  Don't choose something that will make him flinch or be reluctant to practice.

Do you or your son reload?  That also plays into the choice because you aren't limited to what you can find readily at the stores.

Personally, I favor larger caliber straight-wall cartridges.  This weekend I was hunting with my 357 Maximum, altho that's a 100yd gun and doesn't fit your needs.  I have a 38-55 or 375 Winchester in the works also (still undecided which :?), but unless you reload, ammo might be a concern.  A levergun in 35 Remington would fit the bill if fitted with a good recoil pad.  A 2.5" high zero at 100 is about 2.5" low at 200.

Ian

[jason280]

.280 Remington.

[.308]

.280 Remington.

Ditto,

[Harold50]

I have a brother who, when it comes to calibers, doesn't get excited about the possibilities. He wants to shoot and have the deer fall. If his son came to me and asked the question (see above) for use in a single-shot rifle I would say 30-06.

1. As a pup he can start out with the reduced recoil rounds being marketed. :roll:
2. He can buy ammo anywhere. :lol:
3. If he decides to handload the bullet selection is enormous and there will always be brass available. :wink:
4. The 30-06, properly loaded and aimed, will kill nearly anything (avoid the grizzly :shock: ; grizzlies have been shot with 06's but is a stunt I'm told by people who know).

Best Wishes,
Harold

[Hildy]

The 25-06 kills like lightening on deer sized game. I think this is mostly due to its high velocities which in turn sends a wicked shock to your game. Go with a 100 grain Barnes TSX for a good all around bullet.  

[swiftman]

If I had to pick one beside the 30-06 it would be 280 rem with 24 or 26 inch barrel would almost do anything a 7mm rem mag would do with less powder.  Would be a hand loading round since ammo is not on every street coner like the 30-06.  But the 30-06 will handle bullet wieght to handle anything from ground hog to moose, but that is not as big an issue with the premium bullets that are availible now adays. Still need to use acailiber that is up to the task of breaking bone to get where it has to if need be.

[jack19512]

Thanks to everyone for your opinions.  Recoil should not be a problem for him.  I recently got into reloading but I do not think my son will reload at least not for some time so he would be shooting factory ammo.

I mentioned he probably wouldn't be hunting anything but deer sized game but who knows what he may decide to hunt in the future.  We do have elk here in my area of Ky.  Thanks again.

[GeorgiaDave]

Hello from Georgia,
   Actually this question is quite easy to answer. As far as the best all round deer cartridge the 30/06 is the one. It has adequate power to take and deer species on earth at 300 yards. This is also the most versital of all cartridges being able to shoot everything from 100 gr. plinker carbine bullets to the big ol' 220 gr. grand slams. All of which can be loaded from a "managed recoil" level to max loads. This is also one of the easiest guns to find ammo for. My personal choice is the .308 Win. but it is not able to do all the things the '06 can.

   If you were to aquire a good 30/06 I am sure that it would serve every deer hunting need you would ever have and do a very good job.

   Good Luck !
   Dave

[RemingtonMagnum]

HI Friends

I vote the 30-06 it has been a standard for some long it is being over looked by many new sportsman. The 06 is an extremely versatile rifle with extreme range of loads. Using max and minimum loads you can replace just about any other caliber in ballistics. The availability of ammo is extremely wide and offered by most who sell medium to large caliber ammo.

Then there is the simple fact that it is still out selling many of the  other ammo choices and rifles after so many years.

Of course you cant say I have the NEW ? caliber rifle because it has been around for a century.

Don Jackson Remington Magnum

[Fred M]

All the above mentioned calibers are good deer rifles including the ones I own now. For more than 25years my all time favorite was a 300 Wby MkV custom stocked. I have gone to lesser calibers now, but that does not change the fact that a 300Wby is one of the most versatile hunting rifles.

What you believe and what is in your mind, you are right, In fact you are always right when you say I can or when you say you can't, you are right.
And so it is with deer rifles. You can only choose what is on your mind.
If you don't believe this you are right, if you do you are right too.

[WoodyP]

.260 Remington or 6.5x55 Swede.  both are about equal.  Very low recoil, good sectional density of bullets, great accuracy.  I just can't understand why they're not more popular.  
Woody

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

I must vote for the 45/70.  You can pick whatever bullet weight you want.  I prefer the 350gr for deer.  I've never had "too much killin'  " with my 45/70, but I've been dissapointed with my .308 Win.  And I've used the 45/70 out to 280 yards with open factory sights for a kill.  

I'm going against the grain here I know, but this is what works for me.

[DakotaElkSlayer]

Actually, a simpler question would be what would NOT work for deer!  I have a Handi in .280 and it shoots amazingly well.  The cartridge is really versitile for the handloader allowing everything from varmints to elk to be put down quickly.  Factory ammo will get you into deer and elk.
  That being said, with a 200yds. max, the only real deer hunting rounds you are excluding would be the .44mag and .357mag....just about everything else from .243 to 500 S&W would work.

Jim

[Mac11700]

.260 Remington or 6.5x55 Swede.  both are about equal.  Very low recoil, good sectional density of bullets, great accuracy.  I just can't understand why they're not more popular.  
Woody

Yep...and you can't get them in a Handi either...unless rechambering and reboring..

Mac

[myarmor]

Ahh...a 6.5 in a Handi...UMmmmm.......sigh
A man can wish, I suppose

[Mac11700]

Nothing a additional $300 wouldn't take care of :wink:

Mac

[myarmor]

True.
But you know what's funny?
If we ever did get a 6.5 by grace, it would only come in a 22"
configuration  :-D    :x  :cry:  :cry: