Whats The Best Deer Caliber

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

calsibley wrote:

t wonder if the 7/08 wouldn't also do the job on moose?
I would think so. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Is a 7x57 enough for moose? The 7/08 is the SA 7x57 just as the 260 is a short action 6.5x55.

Thanks BTW, now you've got me thinking about a 6.5x55.

slamfire · Rookie Member Joined: Feb 07, 2005 Posts: 19

grimel wrote:

That's an easy question:

Something from 243 to 338-06 ( the 7mm RemMag being the only loudenboomer in the bunch) shooting a bullet designed for med game that you can shoot well.

243 - 90-105gr
250 - 100-125gr
260 - 140gr
270 - 130gr
280 - 120-140gr
308 - 125-180gr
323 - 170-200gr
338 - 180-210gr

Well I see no reason to use the heavier bullets for deer. For instance the .260 is available in 120 and 125 grain bullet that will kill either whitetail, or mulies and do it quicker than the 140s. For handloaders who are hunting catch as catch can, a 129 Hornady gives you nearly as much velocity as the 120 with sufficient sectional densit to penetrate a lot of meat. I load mine with it at about 2700 fps muzzle velocity because deer, bear and hog seasons follow each other too closely to change zeros. Laughing

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

It really doesn't take a lot of gun to kill a deer.

I hunt the thick stuff in Ontario, and here the average shot is probably about 35 yds, and I've never seen a cartridge that failed to do the job (excluding "operator error").

The most devastating combo I ever used or saw was the .303 British using 180 grain Imperial CPE bullets (no longer made). These bullets invariably (in my experience) produced "Bang/Flop" results on deer, and took the steam right out of moose as well.

I've begun swaging my own .35 calibre bullets in a design that's largely derived from the CPE, and my results in my .358 Winchester are very close to those I witnessed with the .303.

In general, I prefer a good "middle cartridge" of 7mm bore or greater with a slightly heavy-for-calibre expanding bullets loaded to moderate velocities (2300 to 2500 fps so far).

In over 45 years of hunting, I've only seen one stationary deer start to run after being hit with this type of load, however, almost every deer in the hunting TV shows and videos does this - such is the legacy of magnum cartridges and "hard" bullets.

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

There's not another place in the world that has the vast option of calibers available to hunters as we have. Of course there's a great variance in the places we hunt. Everything from the dense woods of the coastal plains to desert area of the west. Combine that variety of landscapes with the various sizes of the deer we hunt, and boy we can see the need for a wide variety of choices. It's not uncommon for a northern farm deer to be twice the size of the smaller deer of the southeastern states. And that's not saying anything of elk and caribou, or the different abilities of the person doing the hunting. I have 4 different calibers I consider ideal depeding on where I'm hunting and could probably use another as well.
This is indeed a difficult topic to deal with. I wouldn't want to make a finite choice, to be sure. Best wishes.

Cal

longwalker · Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2005 7:29 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

Mt experience is as follows. .357 magnum and 44 magnum both very effective in Whitetail deer. Both killed the deer with rapid dispatch. The limited range potential does offer challange.

30-30 and 25-06 both have done the job on Whitetail and Mule deer. No complaints. The 338-06 however has really impressed me this past season. Three deer all dropped in thier tracks. All three shots were designed to protect as much meat as possible. One advantage of the 338-06 is moderate velocity. The periferal meat damage just is not there like the 25-06.

The 338-06 does the job for me, as it would for anyone. The disadvantage is when that once in a life time buck is standing out there at 350 plus yards, I will have to think a little more about bullet drop than someone with a 300 Wheatherby

calsibley · Super Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 317

I guess much depends on where you are. Who's to tell the guy in the lowland forests or swampy land of southern Maryland that a 12ga. slug gun or a .30-30 is not the correct weapon, Yet you'll rarely see either in the Appalachian mountains of the plateau of Garrett County where the .270, .30-06 and other similar calibers are king. Where Sharpshooter Joe lives in Cecil County might be an entirely different story. You're fairly close to the eastern shore. In the Delaware portion of it only shotguns are allowed. I wouldn't get rid of my slug gun. As we build subdivision in our formerly forest areas, human habitation is rapidly spreading, and shortly shotguns may be the only type of weapon allowed. It's already happened in several states. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

Flint54 · Posted: Fri May 20, 2005 1:01 am Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

The age old question, can there really be an answer?? To be honest there is no one answer. Its like asking how many campfires are there during hunting season? Everyone has their answer, to me its what will be the best for the area & conditions I will be hunting in and what do I have the most CONFIDENCE in using. Like many of you I really have too many to choose from as I enjoy shooting and don't limit myself to only a couple of choices. Do I need all the various calibers that I have, NO; Could I get by with only a couple of calibers, YES; Do I want to, NO!

I have shot many heads of deer, Mule & Whitetail. They are not hard to dispatch. Any cartridge will kill a deer with the proper bullet placement, even a .22LR. I know, I have done it more than once and never need a second shot. They were down for the count as easily as if they had been hit with a 2000 lb bomb. The key is placement, conditions that allow the placement, the ability to be able to place the shot and the confidence in your ability to make that shot. Yes, the .22 LR is legal for use here in NC, some counties don't allow any CF Rifle. Do I recommend using a .22 LR, NO! The conditions for each were beyond perfection and at the time it was all I had and taking home a deer was better than 5 or 6 squirrels.

Getting back to the main question though, my personal preferences range from a .25 cal using a well constructed bullet from 100 - 120 gr, a 6.5MM 120 - 140 gr, 7MM 120 - 150 gr, .308 130 - 180 gr, .338 160 - 225 gr, .35 180 - 220gr, .444 265gr & .45 300 - 405 gr. these are for both CF rifles and Custom CF Pistols that I have and shoot.

For standard handgun rounds, .357Mag 158 - 180 gr, .41 Mag 210 - 275gr, .44 Mag 240 - 300 gr, .45 225 - 300gr. These have worked well for me.

Muzzle loading, I've used .50 cals with RBs, Maxi, Real, and Sabots with 45cal 260gr; .54 cal, RBs, Maxi, Great Plains, Real & Sabots with 260gr & 300gr 45 cal bullets.

I don't have a belted magnum anymore, I did not like the excess distruction that they caused and the ammounts of edible game that was ruined from the shot. I also don't care that much for them in the hands of many people because, 1) IMO, most of them are afraid to shoot them enough to get to a level they need to be at to have confidence in the rifle thy are shooting. 2) IMO - most of the people I know that shoot the magnums shoot at deer so far away the chances that they will hit them properly are slim to none because they are afraid to go out and practice. 3) Kind of the same as 2 many think that they don't need to study ballistics because "I don't need to cause this Magnum shoots flat to 600 yards, I just have to put the sights on it and pull the trigger and the hunt is over. Also, I don't need to worry about the wind, the bullet is going to fast for the wind to affect it." Yes I have had a few belted mags, a .264 WM great rifle especially with the 160gr Hornady RN, a .338 WM in Alaska, loved the old 210 Nosler Partition, it was the only bullet I loaded and also a .458 WM also in Alaska I didn't feel undergunned when I assisted several guides in tracking wounded bear, loaded it with 510gr RNSP Hornadys. Only had to shoot one, one shot all done.

Anyway, IMO the best is what you feel most confident with in the conditions and area you are hunting in. Simple answer isn't it???? Wink

GroovyJack · Member Joined: May 21, 2005 Posts: 621 Location: Bama

HHHHmmm have taken em with stuff up to 458 winnnie and Lott ...
So far it's my current slayer a .375 H@H Ruger 1 with 220FP or 235 Hot Cors ..
Jack

Gil Martin · Posted: Sun May 22, 2005 5:48 pm Post subject: It depends

It depends on what you like, can handle well and is permitted where you intend to hunt. I have several preferences : .270, .280. .30-06 and 8mm Mauser. All the best...
Gil

texassniper · Rookie Member Joined: May 24, 2005 Posts: 4

i use my .270win in winchester model 70, senthetic stock, 12 power scope this is the only gun i need for all my hunting, takes deer sized game at about 400 yards easily.

Bushmaster · Posted: Mon Jun 13, 2005 7:00 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

There's a problem here??? This is easy as far as I'm concerned. If I am working heavy brush or timber and need a fast rifle and the ranges are 100 yards of less---Why. Of course..30-30 winchester. If the ranges that are expected are more then 100 yards, then my Browning .30-06...Next question? By the way...Some of you are over gunned. We are not shooting a thick skinned animal here. By and far, Deer are rather easy to kill even with a .22 at some range. And I can only afford two rifles for hunting North American big game. I have to have some money left over to support two shotguns and 9 pistols/revolvers. Some of which I also hunt with.

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

Bushmaster wrote:

And I can only afford two rifles for hunting North American big game. I have to have some money left over to support two shotguns and 9 pistols/revolvers. Some of which I also hunt with.

Then you are wasting money with the 30-30 and 30-06. Get a 22lr and a compact 30-06. Sheez everyone knows ya have ta have a 22 rifle.

Bushmaster · Posted: Tue Jun 14, 2005 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: Whats The Best Deer Caliber

Sorry Grimel...Forgot to mention 3 .22 rifles and a .22 pistol. One Ruger 10/22, Marlin Mod 81 (old), Marlin Mod 60 and a Colt Woodsman 2nd generation. I'll not let this oversight happen again. I promise......L O L

falow deer · Guest

I like to use a .243 ackerly improved with which i have shot 212 deer since the 15th of Jan this year. i hasten to add i live in England and control deer full time for a living. The smallest out of the 5 species of deer i hunt is the muntjac 20-40llbs and the largest the european red deer that is similar to your elk although about 20% smaller. This calibre coupled with 95gr combined technology bullets is a devastating performer out to 300yds with the round usually exiting on even the larger species! due to its low recoil and accuracy i have the comfidence to place the bullet exactly where i need to ensure a quick humane kill. I must also add that coupled with a reflex sound moderator it is lethal against groups of marauding deer, with up to 7 being taken with consecutive head shots on one occasion without the deer having much clue as to what was happening!

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

It's okay Bushmaster, we can forgive such an oversite. We get some younger ones here every now and then so we have to make sure they understand a 22lr is like air - you HAVE to have it.