Whats The Best Deer Caliber

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 4:54 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

On that, Grimel, I will agree with you...How else are us granfathers going to teach our grandchildren how to shoot...And ground squirels make such fine targets for .22s

grimel · Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 160

Yup, I'm considering a cricket for just such work.

Bushmaster · Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:40 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

I steal off with my wife's Marlin Mod 81. It's been around long enough that it was not given a serial number and it hits dead on at 100 yards using CCI Stingers. It has a 22 inch barrel, an adult stock and it was made before Micro-groove.

Bushmaster · Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:55 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

Oh yeah...And I use the Ruger 10/22 for the granddaughters. At preasent I have 6 granddaughters and only two grandsons. The girls seem to take more of an interest in shooting then the boys. Not sure why, but I do not question it. It's fun having the girls on the range. Only man out there with herd of young ladies following him around tittering.

Aceoky · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 9:50 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

Oh Boy!!! This is a good one!

I don't know how to define"best"; but after shooting many; and loving them all; I'd have to say for deer.......I'd be hard pressed to find a better one.....than a 7mm-08!!! Just look at the "numbers" on the 139 Hornady, (SP or SST) and with the factory "Light Mag" loads, it's outstanding!!

Light recoil, accurate, very flat shooting(without the need for a "mag") what's not to love???

Since buying my wife an Encore in 7mm-08;(24: barrel, but still shorter than a 22" bolt rifle) Smile

I've fallen in love with this round, and honestly can't see any need for "more gun" including Elk and Black Bear(at least) Very Happy

There are many GREAT choices and they all work very well, but to find a better balance of power,recoil,accuracy, "flat shooting"ease of shooting,(and in a "short action" no less!) etc. I for one would be "hard pressed" to find a "better choice" for "most hunters" at least!

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Aceoky wrote:

I don't know how to define"best"; but after shooting many; and loving them all; I'd have to say for deer.......I'd be hard pressed to find a better one.....than a 7mm-08!!! Just look at the "numbers" on the 139 Hornady, (SP or SST) and with the factory "Light Mag" loads, it's outstanding!!

In retrospect I wish I had bought my wife a 7mm-08 instead of her .243. While she has had awsome results with the .243 I think the 7mm-08 would have been a better choice. It will probably be the caliber I pick for my boy when he gets ready to hunt way down the road.

-DallanC

longwalker · Posted: Thu Aug 25, 2005 2:43 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

The one you have in your hand at the time. The best is such a subjective thing. muzzle loader - loudenboomer. They will all do the deed. Its more a matter of how you want to do it. Some people like to talk about long range shooting. Others like to get close. Some need food for the table, others want horns for the wall.

Be honest about what you want to do and what you have to do. Then pick your poison.

longwalker

robfromaz1977 · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 5:17 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

longwalker wrote:

The one you have in your hand at the time. The best is such a subjective thing.

I'M WITH YOU ON THIS ON LONGWALKER. EVERYONE HAS A FAVORITE RIFLE. SOMETIMES THEIR CHOICE OF CALIBER AND SYTLE OF GUN MAY BE BEST FOR THE AREA THEY HUNT. IF YOU NEVER TAKE SHOTS OVER 100 YARDS YOU DONT NEED A LONG BARRELED MAGNUM TO MAKE CLEAN KILLS. JUST THE SAME IF YOU LIVE IN AN AREA WHERE YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES AN IRON SIGHT 30-30 MAY MAKE GETTING A SHOT QUITE A CHALLENGE. MY PERSONAL FAVORITE IS A MODEL 70 30-06 THAT I TOOK MY FIRST DEER WITH. I HAVE GREAT CONFIDENCE IN THIS GUN SO THAT MAY BE THE MAIN REASON I GRAB IT MORE THAN ANY OTHER THAT I HAVE.

Coyote_Hunter_ · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

I generally hunt elk and deer at the same time so I tend to use bullets that are heavier than really necessary if I was strictly hunting deer. Even when I hunt separate seasons I use the same bullets - good practice for elk season!

If I had to pick one gun to hunt deer with for the rest of my life (no elk, etc.) it would probably be the .257 Roberts.

But that ain't going to happen and I'll continue to grab the leverguns in .44 AMg, .375Win, .30-30 and .45-70, the bolt guns in 7mm Mag and .300 Mag and the .50 muzzlestuffers. And the Ruger revolvers in .357 Mag and .44 Mag. They are ALL perfect.

1895ss · Posted: Fri Aug 26, 2005 9:17 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

There are many great calibers for deer hunting. Myself I like my 25-06 for deer. There are some great bullets available for the quarter bore and it works great for the long shots and recoil is no problem at all.

Aceoky · Posted: Sat Aug 27, 2005 7:40 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

Dallen; I think your son(and you, and your wife too)

will be very happy with that choce(when you get to make it).... although; you COULD buy one now for the wife to use "'till the son is old enough! Just a thought...that way he could start out shooting the .243 for awhile(targets etc.) and move up to the 7mm-08 right away!

When we bought the one for my wife; I didn't think I'd really care for it, for myself, being a bolt gun guy, and an /06 fan for so many years, but honestly, I'd not feel "undergunned" with it for all hunting (especially in the lower 48)...There's just something about those 7mm's

Southpaw · Member Joined: Sep 12, 2005 Posts: 51 Location: Saskatoon

Now come on guys, you all Know then only Cal. worth useing is a the 30-06. the Rest are just nice toys to own. he he he

Rick_Teal · Member Joined: Apr 02, 2005 Posts: 29

Southpaw:

You're a breath of fresh air! Evil Devil

Most of the guys I know from the prairies wouldn't hunt with anything that didn't have "magnum" in its name and sported at least a 20 power scope. Twisted Evil

Welcome aboard!

Southpaw · Guest

Most guys with mags don't kill game cleanly either. Shocked

mikekuzara · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 9:26 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

It is whatever you can consistently kill a deer with at the ranges you typically shoot. I have hunted with my fathers (now mine) Remington manufactured Springfield 30-06 for 25 years. I have rarely had to shoot more than once on deer, antelope, and elk from 30 yards to 350 yards.

I once watched a group of guys who were going sheep hunting sight in their "super magnums" and then have a go at the 500 yard gong at our rifle range. They were able to put 1 out of 5 shots on the gong from a sandbagged rest. My friend, shooting offhand, with his match grade M-14, was able to hit the gong 10 out of 10.

In most cases it is the Indian, not the arrow.