Heath
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Wich is better for deer .308 ,.270 or 7mm
.308 good for deer
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wanderinwalker
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All would work fine, but what kind of 7mm is it? A 7mm Remington Mag? A 7mm-08? A 7mm WSM? 7mm RSAUM? Which one are you thinking of? (Of course they are all adequate.)
Personally, I prefer sub-.30-calibers for deer rifles, but that's mostly because I am a wimp and don't like to get kicked around by my rifles. My current rig is a .260 Remington (6.5mm-08). Beautiful rifle.
Personally, I prefer sub-.30-calibers for deer rifles, but that's mostly because I am a wimp and don't like to get kicked around by my rifles. My current rig is a .260 Remington (6.5mm-08). Beautiful rifle.
Heath
Member
7mm remington mag that is the one i am talking about
This year I switched from a 300 WSM to a 270. I've used the 300 the last few seasons with handloaded 168 grain BST bullets and have lost way too much meat to the high-velocity bullet, even though the load was a minimum load. I must admit, I was romanced by all the press. The 300 WSM is really a 300-yard cartridge.
I'd say the answer depends on the range at which you hunt. For 250 yards and under, I'd use a .270. For 250 yards and over, I'd go with something larger.
I think the top 3 selling cartridges in the world are .270, 30-06, and 7mm Rem Mag, so you really can't go wrong with any of the three. I'd say .270 for short range, 30-06 for mid-range, and 7mm mag for long-range.
If it were me, I'd start with a .270 - the original flat-shooting cartridge.
I'd say the answer depends on the range at which you hunt. For 250 yards and under, I'd use a .270. For 250 yards and over, I'd go with something larger.
I think the top 3 selling cartridges in the world are .270, 30-06, and 7mm Rem Mag, so you really can't go wrong with any of the three. I'd say .270 for short range, 30-06 for mid-range, and 7mm mag for long-range.
If it were me, I'd start with a .270 - the original flat-shooting cartridge.
MrMurphy said:
i don't buy that argument at all. 7 rem mag is just fine for deer, as are dozens of other cartridges.
but, the original poster's question leads me to believe that his experience level maybe isn't enough to effectively handle a 7 rem mag. i'd suggest a 25-06. a 308 will work fine, too.
i really like a 162 grain hornady btsp over lots of rl-25 in the 7 mag. great velocity, outstanding accuracy, and an outstanding deer thumper. 7 rem mag is still my all-time favorite deer-whacker.
last year was my best big game season ever, and i hunted exclusively w/ a 300 wsm. went back to the 7 rem mag this year, and had a great antelope season. we'll see about deer - it hasn't opened yet, here.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
I've only driven through West Virginia; haven't spent any real time there. From what I saw, it looks like most shots would be under 200 yards. To me, the issue would be more about the type of rifle one prefers; most any of the accepted "deer cartridges" would do just fine.
I've killed 20+ deer with a .243, using the Sierra 85-grain HPBT. The great majority were neck shots. (Most folks using a .243 go with the 100-grain bullets.) I've killed about the same number with an '06, mostly with a 150-grain bullet. A few with the .270 and 130-grain bullets.
Inside of 200 yards, a heart/lung shot isn't all that difficult. Same for neck shots at 100 or so. Seems to me that the hunter's shooting skill is the main part of the deal; "shot placement".
Nothing wrong with the .257 Roberts, or the 7mm08. .30-30, for that matter. Bambi won't notice.
, Art
I've killed 20+ deer with a .243, using the Sierra 85-grain HPBT. The great majority were neck shots. (Most folks using a .243 go with the 100-grain bullets.) I've killed about the same number with an '06, mostly with a 150-grain bullet. A few with the .270 and 130-grain bullets.
Inside of 200 yards, a heart/lung shot isn't all that difficult. Same for neck shots at 100 or so. Seems to me that the hunter's shooting skill is the main part of the deal; "shot placement".
Nothing wrong with the .257 Roberts, or the 7mm08. .30-30, for that matter. Bambi won't notice.
, ArtThe .308 Winchester is woefully inadequate for deer.
And the 7mm Remington Magnum is a marginal performer. You need a magnum, man, and a big one at that! Something along the lines of the .30-378 Weatherby Magnum, which is most assuredly not a girly-man cartridge. As a side benefit, you'll save yourself the trouble of having to tenderize the meat after you blow both shoulders completely away. You get all the recoil, half the edible meat. Who wouldn't like that?
All this marketing of the big magnums for Bambi-thumping makes me wonder how our predecessors ever managed to put venison on the supper table, using something as archaic as a lever-action Winchester Model 94 chambered in that "anemic" little .30-30. They didn't suffer from Magnumitis, and still managed to do quite well.
If you didn't figure it out, I'm jabbing fun at the folks who need big belted magnums to hunt deer at 100-200 yards. The .308 Winchester is a wonderful deer cartridge, don't let anybody blow smoke up your a$$ and tell you differently.
And the 7mm Remington Magnum is a marginal performer. You need a magnum, man, and a big one at that! Something along the lines of the .30-378 Weatherby Magnum, which is most assuredly not a girly-man cartridge. As a side benefit, you'll save yourself the trouble of having to tenderize the meat after you blow both shoulders completely away. You get all the recoil, half the edible meat. Who wouldn't like that?
All this marketing of the big magnums for Bambi-thumping makes me wonder how our predecessors ever managed to put venison on the supper table, using something as archaic as a lever-action Winchester Model 94 chambered in that "anemic" little .30-30. They didn't suffer from Magnumitis, and still managed to do quite well.
If you didn't figure it out, I'm jabbing fun at the folks who need big belted magnums to hunt deer at 100-200 yards. The .308 Winchester is a wonderful deer cartridge, don't let anybody blow smoke up your a$$ and tell you differently.
rbernie
Contributing Member
The 270 was designed as a flat-shooting long distance (open range) cartridge. It's got lots of power and boom and flash. If you need a 250+ yard thin-skinned game killer, the 270 is a great choice. The 7mm Mag is even more of a hot-rod than the 270, and will provide a flatter trajectory than the 270 at the expense of a considerable increase in noise and recoil. The 308 is the well-balanced cartridge of the bunch - decent range, a reasonably flat trajectory to 250+ yards, and just a wealth of ammo choices. Between these three, I'd pick the 308 every time. Of course, I'd probably really want to start with a 7mm-08 (7mm bullet in a 308 case) - but that's just me.
On the other hand, as Gewehr98 suggests, you can always use a 375H&H.
On the other hand, as Gewehr98 suggests, you can always use a 375H&H.
Okiecruffler
Member
It never fails to amaze me that everytime I'm at the range there are at least 2 guys there, sighting in at 50yrds with their 7 or 300mags, and hootin' and hollerin' over their 3 inch groups. Now I have nothing against either cartridge, would like to have a 7 mag myself if I ever get around to shooting rifles again, but wouldn't these guys be better suited with a 308, or even a .243? Some of them I've watched would probably be better suited putting the guns away entirely and taking up knitting before someone gets hurt.
FWIW, my favorite 7mm has always been the 7X57, although I'm really into this new 7tcu barrel.
FWIW, my favorite 7mm has always been the 7X57, although I'm really into this new 7tcu barrel.
Jack O' Connor once wrote an article on the .270, .280, and the .284. Said a major reason why all do so well on deer, etc. is that they don't kick so hard that a reasonably seasoned shooter has recoil problems with them.
He was renowned for his love of the .270, but conceded that the .30/06 made a better all-round rifle, especially when something large needed to be shot in brushy country.
Having said this, he cheerfully killed both moose and big oryx (gemsbok) with the .270. I think it will suffice nicely on deer...Of course, it's also a top round for pronghorn "antelope". (They're not true antelope.)
Lone Star
He was renowned for his love of the .270, but conceded that the .30/06 made a better all-round rifle, especially when something large needed to be shot in brushy country.
Having said this, he cheerfully killed both moose and big oryx (gemsbok) with the .270. I think it will suffice nicely on deer...Of course, it's also a top round for pronghorn "antelope". (They're not true antelope.)
Lone Star
Fumbler
Member
If you sight your rifle so it's +/- 3" then all three can be used on deer with no holdover out to 270 yards, the .270 only gains about 15 yards and the 7mm about 40 yards with no holdover.
To the great majority of american hunters it won't matter which cartridge you pick. With good shot placement dead is dead. People need to spend more time learning trajectory and learning how to shoot than having people tell them what caliber they need.
If you're a beginner, I wouldn't get anythign more powerful than a 30-06. You will get discouraged or develop a flinch from anythign more powerful. Honestly, the 30-06 is a handful for most people who don't shoot much.
Don't forget ammo prices and availability. The three you mention are easy to find and relatively cheap. Don't go for a magnum or a relatively uncommon caliber like a 25-06 unless you want to spend the money.
I picked a .308 for my deer gun. I love to shoot and can get cheap NATO ($5/20 rounds) ammo to shoot for fun and for practice. I also have some 165 gr BTSP .308 Hornady Light Magnum ammo, this load gets a little more velocity than a 30-06. If the 30-30 is responsible for killing more deer than any other caliber in america than this .308 load is more than sufficient for deer.
To the great majority of american hunters it won't matter which cartridge you pick. With good shot placement dead is dead. People need to spend more time learning trajectory and learning how to shoot than having people tell them what caliber they need.
If you're a beginner, I wouldn't get anythign more powerful than a 30-06. You will get discouraged or develop a flinch from anythign more powerful. Honestly, the 30-06 is a handful for most people who don't shoot much.
Don't forget ammo prices and availability. The three you mention are easy to find and relatively cheap. Don't go for a magnum or a relatively uncommon caliber like a 25-06 unless you want to spend the money.
I picked a .308 for my deer gun. I love to shoot and can get cheap NATO ($5/20 rounds) ammo to shoot for fun and for practice. I also have some 165 gr BTSP .308 Hornady Light Magnum ammo, this load gets a little more velocity than a 30-06. If the 30-30 is responsible for killing more deer than any other caliber in america than this .308 load is more than sufficient for deer.
cracked butt
Member
None are very good for deer at all. In fact one of the worst things for a deer is to get hit with any of the above.
rbernie
Contributing Member
cracked butt said:None are very good for deer at all. In fact one of the worst things for a deer is to get hit with any of the above.
CrackedButt - you just made my day.
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