a caliber for deer and target/varmint?

[mainecoon]

Are there any deer rifle calibers that could conceivably be used for target/varmint shooting as well? Assuming the rifle was around 8-9 lbs without scope, not super light but also not as heavy as a standard target rifle. I'm more of a paper puncher than hunter but would like something that could be used for both.

 

[Abel]

243 or 25-06

 

[allaroundhunter]

Actually, a .243 will be able to handle both quite well. It might pack a bit too much punch if you are looking to save pelts, but if you are looking for one rifle to do both, it is a great choice.

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[meanmrmustard]

.223 rem.

Can be loaded with the lighter, faster pills that the barrels twist rate can handle for varmints.

Target rounds can be hand loaded, or some factory stuff works nice (black hills).

Up the ante for medium sized game with heavier expanding bullets (HP or SP), the heaviest you can accurately fire from your rifle with tight groups. Winchester Power Points, rem psp, and Barnes Vor-Tx are a few I've used with great success up to a measured 188 yards on a 200 pound doe.

Bullet placement is king for all three activities. Bullet design/weight is queen. Choose accordingly, and it will perform your tasks.

 

[loose noose]

What's wrong with a 6mm, you have a lot of different bullet weights you can use, especially if you reload. It is ideal for deer, as well as for varmints with the lighter bullets. Uses the same bullets as a .243, but can also shoot a slightly heavier bullet.

 

[kludge]

.260 Rem

and

6.5 Creedmoor

would top my list as a Deer/Target/Varmint rifle.


Others:
7mm-08
.25 WSSM
.25-06
.257 Roberts
.250 Savage
.243 WSSM
.243 Win
6mm Rem

 

[Kachok]

The 6.5 quadruplets (260 rem, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x55 SE, and 6.5x47Lapua) take 1st place without a doubt but the 243 and 25-06 are nipping at their heels for performance and are much more common.

 

[meanmrmustard]

The 6.5 quadruplets (260 rem, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5x55 SE, and 6.5x47Lapua) take 1st place without a doubt but the 243 and 25-06 are nipping at their heels for performance and are much more common.

Hope OP varmint hunts without intentions of keeping pelts!

 

[Maverick223]

It's not ideal, but can be done with either a large budget (using a carbon fiber bbl, to keep it fairly light weight while having a large profile so it heats more slowly, and high erector ratio optics, so you can have low magnification for hunting and high magnification for varmint use) or by compromising on performance in one area or another. IMO the former choice is ridiculously priced (and affords no gains over two separate platforms), so I just bought rifles that were suited to the task at hand. You said that you mostly punch paper, does this mean that you already have a dedicated target rifle?...I'm assuming not considering that you mention also using it as such, but if so that may very well make a decent varmint rifle, in which case you can focus on a rifle primarily dedicated to hunting (which can be lighter and have lower powered optics and still be quite effective).

As to the cartridge choice, it too is a sliding scale (you can have one ideal for either task, but there aren't any ideal for both IMO), but a decent compromise would be a 6.5CM or .260Rem.

What's wrong with a 6mm, you have a lot of different bullet weights you can use, especially if you reload. It is ideal for deer, as well as for varmints with the lighter bullets. Uses the same bullets as a .243, but can also shoot a slightly heavier bullet.

It requires greater precision with bullet placement and performs best with well constructed (costly) bullets. It'll work, but my 6mm will stay a varmint rig.

 

[planetmobius]

6mm Rem in a model 788. Very accurate, plenty of bullet weights. I have had lots of luck with mine on deer and coyotes.

 

[Kachok]

Hope OP varmint hunts without intentions of keeping pelts!

A 6.5mm at 3000fps won't blow up any more then a .257cal will at 3200fps. If someone is that worried about pelt integrity just use non-expanding bullets for pelt worthy game.

 

[T Bran]

My preference would also be .243 as an all purpose rifle Vmax for target and varmit TSX for everything else.
With todays excelent bullet selection the .243 is not such a compromise.

 

[dubbleA]

The 223 would do the trick for sure. Plenty economical to shoot at targets, with today's premium bullets it will work on deer nicely, varmints easily with a bunch of bullet styles, rifles in 223 have a huge selection to choose from, ammo will be available everywhere, low report and low recoil so even a small child can use it.

 

[jimherb]

Like Abel said.

 

[Kachok]

223 is darn near perfect for varmint, but for deer hunting it is marginal, poor ballistics and lackluster penetration limit the 223s effective range too much for many hunters. Where I hunt I could get away with it (Northwestern FL), but for those who regularly take shots in excess of 150yd or hunt larger then average deer the 223 is a BAD idea. 243 is a MUCH better choice for deer and long range paper punching.

 

[56hawk]

I'm not much of a hunter, but I really like my 243 Winchester. I got is as a target and varmint rifle, but it's plenty powerful for deer. A friend of mine uses a 243 WSSM for deer hunting and says it does an impressive amount of damage.

 

[firesky101]

.243 would be my first choice, but I would feel ok with 22-250 where legal for deer.

 

[snakeman]

22-250, 243, 308.

 

[One_Jackal]

The 223 would do the trick for sure. Plenty economical to shoot at targets, with today's premium bullets it will work on deer nicely, varmints easily with a bunch of bullet styles, rifles in 223 have a huge selection to choose from, ammo will be available everywhere, low report and low recoil so even a small child can use it.

The .223 is a great varmint load but it is very under powered for deer.

One load no one has mentioned is the .270. It makes no compromise for large game. Yet the .270 shoots flat enough to hit groundhogs at 600 yards. One doesn't need an expensive rifle for the .270 to shoot well. The Savage 110 or Savage 10 if you demand a short action will work.

 

[T Bran]

If you go .223 be sure that it is legal for big game in your state since some have minimum caliber restrictions.
.223 is great in regard to ammo costs as well but I dont reccomend it unless your state allows it.

 

[Patocazador]

I f you choose a 6 mm or larger caliber, loading with FMJ bullets will reduce pelt damage considerably. These bullets are illegal for game animals .. only expanding bullets are legal for game.

 

[Sniper66]

.243

I would use the .243. There are many bullet/load options. I shoot 58 gr Hornady for p-dogs and there are several heavier options for deer. I have seen deer killed handily with a .223 and it is a favorite varmint round, but is illegal as a deer round in some states that require a minimum of .24 cal for deer. You really should have 2 different rifles or several if you can afford it. The .243 is a bit large for p-dogs. I only use it for 300+ yd shots; otherwise I use smaller calibers.

 

[gkdir]

.243win[ Thats about all you need to know!
G

 

[mainecoon]

The Les Baer Tactical Varmint in .243 -- well, I can dream...

 

[meanmrmustard]

The .223 is a great varmint load but it is very under powered for deer.

One load no one has mentioned is the .270. It makes no compromise for large game. Yet the .270 shoots flat enough to hit groundhogs at 600 yards. One doesn't need an expensive rifle for the .270 to shoot well. The Savage 110 or Savage 10 if you demand a short action will work.

Tell that to those that fall to my .223rem. Humane kills, very little meat destruction. It's bullet design, and in the case of those who believe more bullet trumps bad shots, where you put the bullet that counts. Deer are not armor plated, nor difficult to slay, unless you have a 30/06 and can't shoot well.