Patocazador
Member
The Hornady .312/.303 150 grain SP.
Best Whitetail deer cartridge 2023
- Thread starter horsemen61
- Start date
The Hornady .312/.303 150 grain SP.
If you learn how to hunt, then its hard to argue against a lever action in 30-30 and you won’t be limited to what walks by or what you happen to see from your truck window.
For those instances, the bolt gun in whatever caliber is probably better than the good old 30-30.
Some folks hunt the same 40 every year. Definitely not for me.
For those instances, the bolt gun in whatever caliber is probably better than the good old 30-30.
Some folks hunt the same 40 every year. Definitely not for me.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Like many hunters I started with a 30-30 and successfully filled tags. A couple years later I upgraded to a 30-06 and successfully filled tags. Then added 308 filled tags.
And like many of you I became a gun nut. I have been successful with 8 of the cartridges on the list. And a few that aren't listed.
Best cartridge for whitetails? Or best in a specific area or terrain?
As I mentioned earlier 7rm
I have filled more tags with it than any other. I do feel the 308win is probably the best all-around whitetail cartridge
And like many of you I became a gun nut. I have been successful with 8 of the cartridges on the list. And a few that aren't listed.
Best cartridge for whitetails? Or best in a specific area or terrain?
As I mentioned earlier 7rm
I have filled more tags with it than any other. I do feel the 308win is probably the best all-around whitetail cartridge
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Savage30L
Member
I voted 30-06 because a 3" magnum 12-gauge load of #1 buck wasn't a listed choice.....
Random 8
Member
I chose 30-06 because America!
Had we adopted a 276ish round for the M1, I would have chosen whatever Winchester called that.
Had we adopted a 276ish round for the M1, I would have chosen whatever Winchester called that.
daniel craig
Member
- Joined
- Dec 23, 2009
- Messages
- 2,815
The one you shoot the best. Literally all of these are more than capable of taking a deer. Pick the one you're most accurate with and can source ammo for the easiest. I don't hunt with any caliber on the list, but only because I don't have any of them. I'd be more than happy with literally any of these.
WestKentucky
Member
A lot of folks missed the part about not doing the “you didn’t list this” thing.
My vote is .270 because it’s fast, flat, and devastating without destroying a lot of meat. Light bullets work fine for smaller areas, heavy bullets are fine right up to bull elk when sensible shots are taken.
I pick it over the others because it’s a favorable compromise. Take the 30-06 (technically 30-03, but that’s irrelevant) case and neck it down a touch to get a faster flatter trajectory for long open ground shots. You lose very little for up close shots. You gain range and ease of making hits over other long action cartridges. You have more flexibility than short action rounds because you have more case capacity to play with if you reload. The power is there to overcome all of the hurdles that other rounds on the list tackle with the possible exception of 45-70 because it can shoot through thick heavy brush and still find its mark. The .270 will get there, but it may not work properly when it does, but 45-70 has awful trajectory over range and it’s comparably hard to get hits at extended range.
same could be said for 7-08 which would be my 2nd choice, and is likely my next rifle to purchase.
My vote is .270 because it’s fast, flat, and devastating without destroying a lot of meat. Light bullets work fine for smaller areas, heavy bullets are fine right up to bull elk when sensible shots are taken.
I pick it over the others because it’s a favorable compromise. Take the 30-06 (technically 30-03, but that’s irrelevant) case and neck it down a touch to get a faster flatter trajectory for long open ground shots. You lose very little for up close shots. You gain range and ease of making hits over other long action cartridges. You have more flexibility than short action rounds because you have more case capacity to play with if you reload. The power is there to overcome all of the hurdles that other rounds on the list tackle with the possible exception of 45-70 because it can shoot through thick heavy brush and still find its mark. The .270 will get there, but it may not work properly when it does, but 45-70 has awful trajectory over range and it’s comparably hard to get hits at extended range.
same could be said for 7-08 which would be my 2nd choice, and is likely my next rifle to purchase.
Captcurt
Member
I have to go with this. Even after taking deer with 13 different center fire cartridges, and 45 and 50 caliber muzzleloaders, plus a 12 gauge, I have to give the nod to the 6.5 CM.
Kingcreek
Member
Smallest I’ve used .243
Largest most powerful I’ve used .300 Win Mag.
Everything in between works just fine.
Largest most powerful I’ve used .300 Win Mag.
Everything in between works just fine.
BreechFace
Member
- Joined
- Mar 2, 2020
- Messages
- 3,513
Depends on environment I’m hunting. If open terrain 7mm08 if under 150 yards 450 Bushmaster.
