Best Deer Cartridge.

[Picher]

The 30-06 is the most popular and probably the best all-around hunting cartridge in the world. It will shoot through a 6" tree and still kill a deer standing behind it. That's one of the reasons it's great for deer hunting around wooded areas and within 350 yards.

I used the cartridge for about 30 years and found it is very flexible and powerful. Trajectory and energy, wind-bucking out to some pretty long ranges helps make it so popular.

I've use .22 Accelerators, 110, 125, 130, 150, 165, and a few 180s for various sports and game. It's never failed me, if I did my part. When using the proper bullet for the game, it doesn't damage any more meat than any of the cartridges listed. The Accelerators weren't a good round for me, but fun to blast water jugs, etc.

That said, I now prefer the .270 Win because we have a great ground blind location that provides clear shots out to 450 yards and have shot deer that far. The .270 provides a bit better long-range trajectory/point-blank range than the '06, but similar wound characteristics.

That's not to say that any of the cartridges in the list can't be used successfully; the question was what is the best? The best is really the 30-06. The .308 Win is fine, but isn't as good beyond 200 yards, due to worse trajectory and remaining energy.

I've killed deer with .22-250, 20 gauge slugs, 30-06, .270 Win and have seen deer killed with many other cartridges, including buckshot. I don't recall that recoil played a factor in any hunting shot, for anyone I know. That includes shooting groundhogs with an '06.

 

[Bud Tugly]

I live in the deep north woods where just about the only clearings are power lines. A .30-30 or shotgun with slugs is all a person really needs since shots are almost always far less than 100 yards.

Lots of folks do use a .308 or .30-06, but that much potential range is totally unnecessary here IMO

 

[bryank30]

.308 Winchester.

 

[Eb1]

There is no way a .25-06 is to small for mule deer. Even at 300 yards. There is a guy I know that shoots them with Berger VLDs @ 300+ yards out of a .25-06. I believe he uses 115 grain Berger bullets.

I use the 115 grain Win. Ballistic Silver tips. Which is a Nosler BT with coating. I shoot it out of Marlin XL7, and there isn't a deer that I have shot with it that did not drop on the spot. The bullet penetrates good. The tip blows a nice see through hole, and the base tumbles on through just devastating any organ within ten inches of the permanent cavity. I have a recovered bullet if anyone wants to see it. It was from a 300 yard angle shot into the collar bone area of a large deer. Found the bullet behind the rib cage on the opposite side.

The .25-06 is not to small for any "deer" family animal. Flinging a 115 grain "premium" bullet @ over 3000 feet per second is to small? Gimme a break.

 

[JohnD13]

.30-30 Winchester
.375 Winchester
.260 Remington
.44 magnum in a carbine.
.41 magnum in a handgun.

 

[Ed4032]

300 Savage

 

[Mags]

Since there was no 30/06 I went with the short action 308.

 

[aka108]

30-06 out West, 30-30 here in the South East. Old cartridges but old for a reason. They do their job well and are available almost anywhere.

 

[HGUNHNTR]

allow me to clarify I am a recoil sensitive shooter 30-06 has proven to be a bit too much for me to shoot accurately. I'm leaning towards the 25-06?

better pull the .270wsm, and the 7mm rem mag from the list then.

 

[dprice3844444]

big ed,it that a bullet,suppository and or what size batteries does it take?

 

[shaggy430]

Not a valid poll without the 30.06 in my opinion.

Agreed. No 30-30 also.

 

[Rmiller31]

how can you not have the 30-30 on the poll. It has probably taken more whitetail then any other caliber.

 

[Georgia Gunner]

I go with 25-06. Accurate,fast, and not much recoil.

 

[dzelenka]

You need to add the .260, 6.5x55, .280 and of course the .30-06. For the recoil conscious, I would go with one of the moderate 6.5s. They don't kick very much and they work really well.

By the way, although ammo may be a touch hard to find, the 6.5 Creedmoor does come with hunting bullets and would be a great choice if ballistics were the only consideration.

 

[Eb1]

.25-06

I had to vote again.

 

[Sunray]

There is no best anything. However, if you're going to use a .243 make sure you use a deer bullet and not a varmint bullet. Deer bullets tend to weight 85 grains and up. No match bullets either.

 

[CoRoMo]

What is the best [strike]deer[/strike] cartridge [strike]readily available[/strike]. [strike]Not[/strike] to be used for anything [strike]else just deer[/strike] what 1 cartridge would you choose.

Looks better this way. Now, always, and forever... .270 Winchester!

 

[Legionnaire]

Voted .308, 'cause it's what I use. But I don't think there is a "best" cartridge; there are, on the other hand, a fair number of "really good" deer cartridges.

 

[shaggy430]

This poll is like asking what's the most popular ice cream flavor and leaving out chocolate and vanilla.

 

[exbiologist]

weird list of cartridges

 

[Arkansas Paul]

you are particularly worthless

Seriously?
Kozac6 has posted the best response of anyone, and that's your response. Very High Road.

 

[wankerjake]

I'd say the lightest recoiling options are the 243 and the 7mm-08. I shoot a 243 and love it. In my opinion, 243 thru 270 and the 30-30 are all gravy for deer. There is a plethora of "perfect" deer cartridges.

Also, I basically agree with old Paul. Kozac6 called your poll worthless because there are seriously like a thousand posts that ask this exact same thing. To really get the best answer for YOU, you should include deer size and what your average shot distance will be and so forth.

 

[6.5swede]

Deer aren't hard to kill and therefore, reasonable "light tackle" floats my boat. My preferences, although I'd be content to hunt any of them as they will all do the job with the right bullet placed where it needs to be

#1: 6.5's - 6.5x55, 260, many other flavors as well (Grendal included)
#2: 7mm-08
#3: quarter bores - 25-06, 257 bob, 250 savage
#4: 270 Win - my first rifle
#5: 243 works too

 

[wlewisiii]

None of the above. Either 7x57 with .30-30 a very very close second.

 

[d2wing]

30-06