best cal. for deer in the south

[tblt]

Best cal. for deer in the south

 

[The Deer Hunter]

I don't hunt in the south but I hear the .243 is really good because the deer aren't as big and bulky as up here in the northlands.

 

[[email protected]]

deer rifle

I have used a 30/06 for over thirty years. You can tailor any type of load for it no matter what you are hunting!

 

[SoonerSP101]

No 30-30?

 

[osteodoc08]

Given the selection you have given, I chose 270 Win withthe 30-06 a close second.

I chose the 270, because it has a good bullet selection, shoots flat, less recoil than the '06,and it is easy to find rifles and ammo for.

 

[aka108]

X2. No 30-30? Old round but totally all that's needed. Of those listed the '06, as stated above, can be loaded for anything. I've seen guys with 7mm mags out in the woods but what do you need for a 140 or 50 pounder taken at under 100 yards?

 

[Heavy Metal Hero]

.30-06 is a do all round, no matter what part of the country you are in.

EDIT: And yes, our deer are smaller. It has something to do with the soil (limestone maybe?) and the fact that we have more competition for food down here.

 

[smee781]

30-30 or 308 but I voted for 30-06 from the list.

 

[MCgunner]

How can I vote with no .308 for a choice? How about .30-30. There are goin' to be a lot of miffed off lever nuts.

 

[Crystal River Charlie]

30-30
Crystal River Charlie

 

[Rokman]

I think any caliber that you have listed would do the job. I doubt there is a need for the magnum unless shooting at a long range. I personally have used the .30-06, .25-06, & .270 with excellent results.

 

[tblt]

30-30 or 308

I would not buy a 30-30 or a 308

 

[R.W.Dale]

all of the above!

 

[Frog48]

Yes, the deer are smaller down here.

I'm partial to .30-06, regardless what region you're hunting.

 

[Shawnee]

There is no "best".

My 1st choice would be the .243 Winchester, but then, that's my 1st choice for every state in the Union..

 

[S&Wfan]

Hi,

All of the above . . . PLUS the addition of the venerable 30-30, 7mm-08 and the 308. Actually, you don't need a flat shootin' 7 mag down here, it tears up too much meat. The 270 will do quite well as a long range "field gun."

My main rifle (and my vote) is chambered in the flat shooting .270 and my back up rifle in the slightly harder hitting 30-06. These will both put 'em in the dirt fast.

For deep woods though, ya can't beat the 30-30 though, and lots of hunters I know grab theirs instead of their 30-06 or 270 when "going deep."

IN THE END . . . it's BULLET PLACEMENT that plants 'em best, and shooters who don't put the bullet exactly where its supposed to go lose plenty of deer . . . and thus create beliefs that certain calibers are better than others from within the group of calibers listed.

T.

 

[paintballdude902]

.30wcf

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

.30-30 win, .260 rem, .243 win, or .44 magnum - these are good balances of recoil, handy rifle platform (levergun or short action), and killing power. Any are fine, though. No "best".

 

[longtooth]

My Mom's 25-06 is on there but how did .308 get left off a Texas Deer rifle poll???

 

[MechAg94]

If you are looking for a minimum caliber, then .243 I guess. But common calibers like 30/30 or 30.06 will work well.

My Uncle showed me his new rifle over Christmas. It is a Ruger Mini14 in 6.8 SPC. I imagine that caliber would do quite well.

 

[kBob]

I voted .30-06 for its flex ability and ammunition availability, in like hardware stores, service stations and such.........

But I will say that the folks that actually take deer in the South east at least seem to greatly enjoy the performance of the .30-30 and the deer do not.

I can not count the number of times I heard some pick up driving venison eating good old boy snort at just aboiut any thing on your list and grunt "too much gun for the job"

I suppose if you are just hunting and shooting for the gee wiz factor of your rifle and caliber some of those other rounds might do, but the .30-30 has its place.....and that place is hunting deer down here.

After the .30-30 not on your list and .30-06 my choice would be .308, also not on your list, then .243 ( just for availability again) and the 7x57 Mauser. The others? what do they do that one or the other of the five I listed will not?

The fact that you off handedly state you will not buy a .30-30 or .308 and included neither in your list tells me you are more interested in having the most gee-wiz gun in camp.....so why not go for the top grade 6.5-.284 manlichier super duper custom and be done with it?

-Bob Hollingsworth

 

[birdbustr]

I voted 30-06 due to the fact that it is the "do-all" of big game hunting calibers. I am from South Carolina, and have killed no less than 20 deer there, and all but 1 was DRT with a 150gr Federal Sierra Gameking BTSP bullet. The one was a quartering away shot that I slightly missed my mark.

Since then I have started reloading and I have sold mine and opted for a 7mm-08 for normal distances and stalking and a 7mm STW Sendero (approx. 11lbs) for hunting over large fields or power lines. A 7mm can kill just as cleanly as a .30cal can anything in North America. I've since killed 4 deer (2 with the 7mm-08 and 2 with the 7mm STW) all DRT.

Still, if I could only have one big game rifle and didn't reload, it would be the 30-06.

 

[slzy]

if folks can hit 'em with a bow and arrow, a shot gun works well in most places.

.243 otherwise. they say you can take some long shots in bean fields,but i would not want to shoot that far in flat country.

 

[chunk]

30-30 winchester...

 

[Vern Humphrey]

.30-06 is a do all round, no matter what part of the country you are in.

Absolutely -- I can hunt deer here in the Ozarks, or in the swamps of Tidewater Virginia, or in Georgia or Lousiana with a .30-06, and then use the same rifle for elk or mulies in Colorado, or take it to Alaska for griz.