Choice of Hunting Caliber

For Deer hunting, which is a better caliber?

 

In general, or between several you're interested in?
What is the mean range you will be hunting?
What location do you frequent? Fields, woods, mountains?
What are the average size of the deer you hunt? Your location in the US can have an affect.
Are you recoil adverse?
Do you reload? If not, what is your max for spending on a box of rounds?

Let's get started.

 

That's a loaded question. Of the three, one will only make deer dead, but the other one will make them deader, and the last will make them the deadest. Either way, you got meat in the freezer. I'd just get the same caliber my buddy has and shoot his ammo at the range. You can learn windage and trajectory from any of these calibers, which will only vary slightly. All of them should have enough energy to kill a deer out to 600+ yards; if you can make the shot. Factory ammo cost to shoot any of them is the same.

 

well that's not a lot of info to go on. I assume you hunt in a state that allows rifle. I prefer .308 Good for the limited amount of shots I can get at 200 to 300 yards. But also effective and accurate from 100 to 200, which where I hunt is about all you get a clean shot at. Pay as much attention to the ammo as you do the gun. Quick expanding .308 at 150 yards puts them down pretty good.

 

They are all VERY close. I voted .308 because I don't shoot over 200 yards and I prefer short actions. The 270 would be best for even farther than that but if you learn your rifle, you will never tell the difference between the 3 on deer. Larger game, larger/smaller bullets, different discussion.....

 

Ok, I am in Arkansas, and the range i will be hunting atmostly under 150 yards. I will be in the woods. The white-tails here are good sized, depending. I've seen good sized bucks, and some large does. I have absolutely no adversity to recoil. The max amount I am willing to spend doesn't particularly matter. In a without rule of law situatioln, I've been told that .308 is abundant since it is a NATO round.

 

This is not a loaded question. The answer is, it doesn't matter which of those three you use.

 

All three are lethal to Bambi if you make a good shot. Doesn't even have to be a great shot.

 

Trick question....7mm-08 and 6.5x55 are not included

Seriously of those you listed none is really better than the other for plain old deer hunting.

 

Then I suggest one not listed.

30-30 Winchester. Inexpensive, readily available, and light kicking. It's deadly to deer within the range you've specified. The other three, well, they're good but not really necessary.

.243 Winchester. Same as above, but offers more range if needed. Short action, light, and handy rifles make this one shine.

7.62x39. 30-30 ballistic equal (sort of), and is also cheap. Hunting capable fodder can be had at most LGSs, and it penetrates well inside of 150 yards.

But, having to choose from your 3 listed, I went .308 win. Lesser of three evils.
Okay, so I added more than one.

 

7x57 Mauser or .30-30 depending on if you like bolts or levers.

 

The .30 caliber...............

 

wanted to mention 270 wsm. Haven't shot anything with it yet but stoked about the possibilities.

 

My lifelong friend shoots wsm. It tears deer up, but death is really quick.

 

You left out 30-30. I'm guessing that 30-30 ammo sales are way up there compared to any other cartridges on earth.

TR

 

Ok, I neglected to mention that I have a lever action 30-30, but I am looking at calibers for a bolt action rifle.

 

I chose the 308. On paper the 270 is best. From personal experience I've had the best luck with 308. I like 30-06 and 270 as well. I've just taken more deer with 308 than anything else. It just fits me...you know?

 

Apologies.

Then, .308 aside, for your uses I'd go 6-7mm for deer.

 

For deer there is no difference. With the best loads any of the 3 duplicate the other. For larger game the 30-06 offers a tiny advantage.

Just for deer I'd pick the 308 only because it can be chambered in a smaller lighter rifle. But not based on performance.

 

Ok, to clarify, is 7mm too much?

 

Absolutely no reason to choose one over the other for 99.997% of deer hunting applications. All will reach out and kill a deer as far as you can accurately shoot it. Short action, long action, light recoil, heavy recoil, ammo types and availability, they all have an advantage or a disadvantage of some sort compared to the other calibers.

I chose 30-06 because, of the three choices it is what I shoot the most. I would be happy with a 308 or 270 if that was what was in my hand. My main two hunting buddies shoot 30-06 because that is what I ususally carry and we can exchange ammo.

 

No. But neither is 6mm.

 

Thanks guys, I got all the info i wanted. I am leaning toward a 30-06.

 

All the choices will work.

 

I picked the 30-06, only due to the wide variety of loads you have available for it and if I was only to have one gun. There is nothing right or wrong with any of those calibers.