Legionnaire
Contributing Member
Maybe the late adopters are predominantly young guys who don't hunt? If I were starting out now, I'd probably go with a 6.5 Creedmoor. But I've been hunting for 30+ years.
Best Whitetail deer cartridge 2023
- Thread starter horsemen61
- Start date
The 6.5 PRC I used this past season actually did perform admirably on the one deer I shot with it. If I were looking for a one gun hunting solution and didn't already have several other options, it would definitely be in consideration.
It also probably has a lot to due with the fact that most of the "new" cartridges that have came out are marketed more towards precision shooters vs hunters, with a few notable exceptions.
mcb
Member
I think that speaks more to the age of the majority of our forum members than anything else. Of all the cartridges on that list I have only used two and one of those is the third newest (450 BM) on that list. The only other cartridge on the list that I used to harvest a deer is 270 Win but I hunted with that rifle for sentimental reasons given the rifle was bought by my grandfather in 1956.
courtgreene
Member
I voted 7mm-08. I don’t own one, because it’s too close to things I already have. Defending my position, I think it is more efficient in regards to terminal performance, ballistics, and cost. .243 would probably get my vote were it not for the reputation as a barrel burner.
troy fairweather
Member
Oh I love my 6.5 prc and shot a bunch of deer with it, just thought it funny no one picked any of the new rounds. all new rounds listed here were pretty much just made for hunting the prc does lean more to target/lr then the others tho.
Old Dog
Member
I think most of the younger members of the forum don't look at the Fudd threads. You know, the threads in which we talk about old guy stuff, like hunting, rifle-shooting that does not involve ARs, stuff that's not tactical...
Hugger-4641
Member
Next to 30cal choices, 6.5cm probably has the best availability and selection for ammo and projectiles. 10yrs ago if was starting out a young/new hunter, .243 would have been what I put in thier hands. Today it would be 6.5cm.
Chuck R.
Member
I agree 100 (red's mine)
Without getting into the specifics on the "conditions" said whitetail will be shot under, I can't (won't) list a favorite. Today's favorite for over-watching a row crop field will be tomorrow's "left in the safe" when I'm sitting a stand because I don't want to put a bullet into a deer at 3000+ FPS at 40yds.
Captains1911
Member
Hey when I gave my answer, I had my AR10 in mind. No Fudd here.
Old Dog
Member
AR-10? For whitetail? Sacrilege, I tell you! Heresy!
Just kidding. You should've been on the forum back in '07 when Outdoor Life Jim Zumbo got in deep doo-doo for disparaging the use of ARs or AKs for hunting... His career never fully recovered.
What he said:
I must be living in a vacuum. The guides on our hunt tell me that the use of AR and AK rifles have a rapidly growing following among hunters, especially prairie dog hunters. I had no clue. Only once in my life have I ever seen anyone using one of these firearms.
I call them "assault" rifles, which may upset some people. Excuse me, maybe I'm a traditionalist, but I see no place for these weapons among our hunting fraternity. I'll go so far as to call them "terrorist" rifles. They tell me that some companies are producing assault rifles that are "tackdrivers."
Sorry, folks, in my humble opinion, these things have no place in hunting. We don't need to be lumped into the group of people who terrorize the world with them, which is an obvious concern. I've always been comfortable with the statement that hunters don't use assault rifles. We've always been proud of our "sporting firearms."
This really has me concerned. As hunters, we don't need the image of walking around the woods carrying one of these weapons. To most of the public, an assault rifle is a terrifying thing. Let's divorce ourselves from them. I say game departments should ban them from the prairies and woods.
We had lots of lively discussion on the internet about this, hoo-boy! And the term "Fudd" became forever engrained in the firearms community collective consciousness.
For the record, I am not one bit opposed to using an AR for hunting (I love ARs, but alas, am stuck on using my French Walnut and blued steel creations for hunting cervidae, specifically Odocoileus virginianus).
I now return you to your regularly scheduled thread. (Did I mention that I like the .30-06?)
Obturation
Member
We've evolved from shotgun to straight wall here in IL , so 45-70. The king of the straight wall. Not the best on earth but for a short range thumper, eat up to the hole cartridge it'll do. Now if I could just get my load settled...
stillquietvoice
Contributing Member
Picking one is tough, I went with 7mm08 cause it's been my go to for several years.
I don't like to play the "what is best" game. Almost any cartridge 24 caliber on up will kill whitetails just fine. I'd even use a 22 centerfire with some range and bullet choice limitations. I'll tell you what I LIKE and why. But I won't argue with someone who LIKES something else better.
After that it becomes personal preference. And factors such as how far do you want to be able to take deer, how much recoil do you want to tolerate, cost, and availability play into personal preference.
I hunted for years with 30-06, and it is a classic choice. And never a bad one. But for me I concluded it was just bigger than I needed for whitetail or even black bear. I made the move to 308 a dozen years ago and LIKE it. Not that it is the BEST choice in every category. But when, recoil, cost and availability are factored in it checks off a lot of boxes.
In the last few years I've added a 6.5CM. On paper it is a better choice than my 308. And I do like it, but I'm heavily invested in 308 rifles I like, and I've spent time, money and effort developing loads for. I'm not going to change at this point in my life even if something better comes along. But for younger guys, I'd tell them to go for it.
After that it becomes personal preference. And factors such as how far do you want to be able to take deer, how much recoil do you want to tolerate, cost, and availability play into personal preference.
I hunted for years with 30-06, and it is a classic choice. And never a bad one. But for me I concluded it was just bigger than I needed for whitetail or even black bear. I made the move to 308 a dozen years ago and LIKE it. Not that it is the BEST choice in every category. But when, recoil, cost and availability are factored in it checks off a lot of boxes.
In the last few years I've added a 6.5CM. On paper it is a better choice than my 308. And I do like it, but I'm heavily invested in 308 rifles I like, and I've spent time, money and effort developing loads for. I'm not going to change at this point in my life even if something better comes along. But for younger guys, I'd tell them to go for it.
C.R.
Member
How about a 12 Gauge ? Plenty of deer taken with a shotgun. Lots of places that's all you can have. Im sure lots of people started out like I did , with a 12 gauge .You can hunt for anything with one so they are a good choice as a first firearm being versatile . Just the thing for an aspiring outdoorsman on a budget.
Armored farmer
Member
I hear you....a mower/conditioner has claimed many deer too.
Very effective.
Poper
Member
My point seems to have been mostly missed. It was intended as a semi-humorous response to "what has killed the most deer" argument. When harvest time comes around, the number of deer killed on the nations roads, highways and Interstate Highways is enormous. The poor critters are rousted out of their beds and their entire environment gets turned inside out. They flee and run to fields, woods and shelterbelts well beyond their known habitat.
It has been said that there are many times the number of deer in North America today than there was when the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock because of our water conservation efforts (flood control and hydroelectric dams) and agriculture. I.E. permanent water and much more plentiful and higher quality food and the control/elimination of predators.
Anyway, I still favor the .308!
the one YOU like the best......I like most of those, and ive USED most of those, within their limitations they all work fine on deer size game (ive killed more deer with a .22 than anything else).
I chose the 280AI from the list simply because its what ibe used the most lately, but thats more gun related than cartridge.
I chose the 280AI from the list simply because its what ibe used the most lately, but thats more gun related than cartridge.
Old Dog
Member
Good point. The military once put me on an island in a "game management unit" that was shotgun only. Bought a Mossberg Trophy Slugster at Wal-Mart and went out in the field, way out of my comfort zone. For those that've harvested whitetail with a 12 gauge, my hat's off to you.
Now that's one cartridge I've never fired, only read about. Gotta get out more...
Its a good one, really no better than any of the others for MOST condition and shots, but a very solid option.
My handloads effectively duplicates factory 7mag loads upto 160gr, and in many cases the 175-180s as well.
Patocazador
Member
Out of a total of about 200, the most deer I've killed with a certain caliber met their demise with a 7x57 AI. However, in the the last 3 years I've killed one or more with a .50 cal. Hawken, a .25-06, a 7.65 x 53 Mauser and a 6.5 x 54 M-S.
Asking for the best whitetail cartridge will generate as many different answers as asking for the best ice cream flavor (Mine is peach).
Asking for the best whitetail cartridge will generate as many different answers as asking for the best ice cream flavor (Mine is peach).
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troy fairweather
Member
What bullets you been using in the 7.65 for deer.Out of a total of about 200, the most deer I've killed with a certain caliber met their demise with a 7x57 AI. However, in the the last 3 years I've killed one or more with a .50 cal. Hawken, a .25-06, a 7.65 x 53 Mauser and a 6.5 x 54 M-S.
Asking for the best whitetail cartridge will generate as many different answers as asking for the best ice cream flavor (Mine is peach).
d2wing
Member
- Joined
- Nov 10, 2008
- Messages
- 6,431
I have shot several deer with 12 gauge slugs. The only deer I never killed and recovered were with 20 gauge slugs. It was able to escape into a nearby swamp where I couldn't track it. A poor choice in my opinion. 12 gauge slugs are better but still a poor choice compared to a centerfire rifle if you have a choice. I hunt 200 miles away so I can hunt with a rifle.
WisBorn
Contributing Member
Blue MoonOut of a total of about 200, the most deer I've killed with a certain caliber met their demise with a 7x57 AI. However, in the the last 3 years I've killed one or more with a .50 cal. Hawken, a .25-06, a 7.65 x 53 Mauser and a 6.5 x 54 M-S.
Asking for the best whitetail cartridge will generate as many different answers as asking for the best ice cream flavor (Mine is peach).
