Favorite caliber for deer

I've been using a 7/08 the past couple of years and gotten quite fond of it. I had clean kills on 5 whitetails this past year ( all neck shots) with it. Lately I've been playing with a 6.5 creedmore and I think it will see service this year. It shoots great groups and from what I've read should work well on deer. It better, I'm already out of hamburger from last year.....guess I better get more made up this year.

I've killed more with a 30-06 than all others combined, but have been mostly using 308 for the last few years. But at this stage of my hunting career have come to the conclusion that unless moose, elk or larger bear are commonly hunted a 30-06 or similar class of cartridge is just way more than needed.

If I were advising a young hunter that only planned to hunt deer size game to seriously consider a 243. The 6.5's are interesting and while I'd use a 243 on elk size game, I'd feel a lot better with one of the 6.5's on larger game. Any of the 6.5mm options might just be the perfect round for 90% of North American game.

I'm a fan of the 6.5 mm's. I've used the 260 Rem, 6.5x55, and the 6.5 creedmoor. Also killed a lot with the 270 win. I believe anything from the 243 win through the 30/06 will be perfect for the size deer you are hunting.


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I'm fan of the "classics" - .30-30WIN, .35REM, and .30-06 SPRG.

I grew up in a .30-06 family. I have many of them and they work well. Honestly they are more than you need for deer. The .243 and 6mm never seem quite enough.

I do not own one, but the .7mm-08 is plenty for the whitetail I hunt. If I was not into reloading, that is what I would have purchased late last year. The ammunition is very available.

Because I am a handloader, I purchased a 6.5x55SE. It is perfect balance of power and lesser recoil. If you are a handloader, all the 6.5's would work great. .260 Rem, 6.5cr and the 6.5x55SE. I was at the range last weekend knocking holes in a 6" square metal plate at 200 yards shooting without the leadslead.

As I go to the range today, I am taking the Swede, my Abolt in .30-06 and my .30-30 bolt gun. I doubt any deer wandering onto the range would make it very far regardless which of the rifles I have out of the case.

Swanee

My brother has killed dozens of white tails with his Ruger #1 .243. Never having hunted deer before, I killed my first deer last season with a .270. I'm eagerly awaiting deer season this year.

,275 Rigby
(7x57)

My favorite standard caliber is the 7mm-08. It very accurate and just plain hammers deer.

My favorite "oddball" caliber is the 7mm Valkyrie in the AR-15 platform a 120gr Nosler Ballistic Tip @ 2782 in a 20" barrel has accounted for a bang flop 100% of the time it's hit a deer.

12 Guage and .44 special gets my vote.

My favorite is an old .30 WCF. .30-06 would be my second and then .308.

I've mainly used .308 and .270, but will be carrying a .243 this year for the first time.

.270 Winchester. Sixteen white tails at ranges from 50 to 300 yards, all one-shot kills with factory ammo.

What more could one want?

My 30-06 has been my "favorite" in the sense that I've gotten the most deer with it.

I've taken many large mature whitetail and mule deer with the 25-06, 270 Winchester and 30-06. About 25 years ago I noticed that every time I went deer hunting I was carrying a 30-06. It kind of came as a surprise to me but over time I found the 30-06 to be the perfect big game round for me. It does everything right without a down side.

6.5x55 or 7/08.

We hunt the hardwood forests of Mifflin County, Pennsylvania each Fall. Organized drives, sitting, or still hunting: we do it all but shots tend to be 75 yards or less. 30-30 carbines rule at our cabin but there are a couple pump action 30-06 hunters, too.

I've hunted in western South Dakota many times with my 30-30 and had good success because I stalked close for a sure shot. But one year I hunted with my elk rifle which is a Savage lever gun in .308 shooting 180 grain core-lokts. This rifle has significantly more reach than my 30-30 carbine and I like it, too.

TR

Fact is, a hole through the lungs is quite effective. What you make said hole with is a pretty flexible choice.

10mm auto!

30 w.c.f.

The wife's favorite is 250 Savage in her model 99 Savage . She killed her first deer with it 30 years ago this fall. Once in a while she uses her bolt action 308.

My current love affair is also with the 250. I had E R Shaw build one a couple of years ago. Past favorites were 30/06 and the one I have taken the most deer with the 7x57. Wish I could
afford a 7x57 that had 275 Rigby stamped on the barrel.

My favorite for deer is the splendid and wonderful .250/3000 Sav. I have two rifles in this caliber and started hunting with the .250 about 40 years ago. I reloaded for it but never tried to soup it up because it is perfect as is. I find factory level velocities to be ideal. I load for a Ruger M77 and for a Sav. 99A. Can't begin to count the deer I've taken with them. For the longest shots I like my 30 year old .257R. Though some will call it "overkill", I have taken many with a Remington M700 .350 Rem mag hand loaded with 200 grain Hornady spire points.

I've used the .357, .41 and .44 mags to take truckloads of deer. Of these three I prefer the Ruger BH .41mag and consider it the ideal for handguns.

I need to be honest, however. For the past 10 years I've hunted exclusively with flintlocks. My favorite has been a late Lancaster flinter which has killed the most deer for me. While I've also used the .50 as well, I'm enjoying shooting round ball in my early American flint smoothbore .62 more and more.

favorite caliber

Hard to say, like most here have several choices to choose from. 243, 6mm,6.5x55, 25 06, 308, 308 mlr, 7 mm rem. Love to shoot them all, and do. No real favorite, just grab whatever and go. All have 200 yard zero so all basically shoot the same. Oh almost forgot walking weapon, now don't laugh at me, but love walking with my Marlin 38/357 mag lever loaded with Hornady hollow points,only shot one deer and one coyote with this one. I find that if you are comfortable and confident with the weapon all will work out.