rugerman
Member
.270 just like Jack O'Connor, been my go to gun since the middle 70's.
Favorite rifle/caliber for deer
- Thread starter Dylon Fisher
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MrDig
Member
30-30
30-06
.308
.243
A lot of kids start out with a .243, or a 30-30. More people of my Dads generation shot with a 30-06, and a 8mm Mauser because of so many Mil-surp' guns and bring backs. Many of my generation started with a .243 and moved up to a .308 I think again that has to do with our Dads wanting better for us than they had so they would surprise us with our first guns NIB. Keep in mind my dad was a WWII Veteran, and of that generation that came through the depression and then went to war. Military Surplus was ok for them but they always wanted better for their Kids. Generally not all of us grew up in "Ward Cleavers" house.
There I go waxing nostalgic, Those are my favorite deer calibers. Sometimes you need to take a long shot deer hunting, My sisters neck of the woods (North Dakota) you see shots that a 30-30 would never handle 250-300 yards is easily possible and you better have a flat shooter that will remain lethal out that far, 30-06 and .308 cover that for me.
30-06
.308
.243
A lot of kids start out with a .243, or a 30-30. More people of my Dads generation shot with a 30-06, and a 8mm Mauser because of so many Mil-surp' guns and bring backs. Many of my generation started with a .243 and moved up to a .308 I think again that has to do with our Dads wanting better for us than they had so they would surprise us with our first guns NIB. Keep in mind my dad was a WWII Veteran, and of that generation that came through the depression and then went to war. Military Surplus was ok for them but they always wanted better for their Kids. Generally not all of us grew up in "Ward Cleavers" house.
There I go waxing nostalgic, Those are my favorite deer calibers. Sometimes you need to take a long shot deer hunting, My sisters neck of the woods (North Dakota) you see shots that a 30-30 would never handle 250-300 yards is easily possible and you better have a flat shooter that will remain lethal out that far, 30-06 and .308 cover that for me.
mdauben
Member
People talk about .270, .308, and .30-06 as great "all around" cartriges, and I don't think you could go wrong with any of them. However, if I was looking for the optimum cartrige for deer sized game, I think I would pick something like the .25-06 Remington or one of its close companions (.257 Roberts or .257 Weatherby).
YMMV.
YMMV.
Wow, I thought I was the only one who used a .280
I've been hunting for several years now but have yet to take an animal. I keep running into deer durring elk season, and elk durring deer season. Except my last hunt, ran into a herd of antelope and a bunch of does for deer season, but never did find any bucks...
Anyway, my favorite rifle/caliber combo depends on where I'm hunting. In open areas I like bolt action rifle with a scope in .280 Remignton. In dense areas with lots of brush I like lever action, open-sighted rifle in .30-30 winchester.
I've also got a .30-40 Krag, haven't decided if I'm going to hunt with it or not, but I think it might be a good black bear gun with 220gr bullets. I've only gone bear hunting once, and took the .280, but thought that a heavy bullet might be nice.
And although I haven't shot one before, I think the .257 Roberts would be a good choice as well (for deer and smaller, not elk or bear). If I ever have $$$ to burn I might pick one up and try it out...
I've been hunting for several years now but have yet to take an animal. I keep running into deer durring elk season, and elk durring deer season. Except my last hunt, ran into a herd of antelope and a bunch of does for deer season, but never did find any bucks...
Anyway, my favorite rifle/caliber combo depends on where I'm hunting. In open areas I like bolt action rifle with a scope in .280 Remignton. In dense areas with lots of brush I like lever action, open-sighted rifle in .30-30 winchester.
I've also got a .30-40 Krag, haven't decided if I'm going to hunt with it or not, but I think it might be a good black bear gun with 220gr bullets. I've only gone bear hunting once, and took the .280, but thought that a heavy bullet might be nice.
And although I haven't shot one before, I think the .257 Roberts would be a good choice as well (for deer and smaller, not elk or bear). If I ever have $$$ to burn I might pick one up and try it out...
BoilerUP
Member
260 Remington.
DNS
Member
H/R single shot 223 with a Bushnell fixed four.
Still Shooting
Member
My go-to for deer is my Ruger 77 in .257 Roberts. It did its first 2 animals in NE Montana - antelope and muley buck - both DRT. It has since taken a number of whitetails, and all with a single round in the boiler room. With a 117gr. Nosler partition, it's typically a 2" exit wound, and not too much meat lost.
-But now I have my Dad's Remington Mod. 14 in .30 Rem.
-And my Granddad's 6.5x55 Swede, done into a short carbine in the early 1950's - a bughole puncher.
-And a Ruger 77 in .270 Win. that I love, but my wife loves it more!
-And I guess if I wanted to, I could take out that 1949 vintage Win 94 in 30-30 that sits in the safe...
They're all good, somewhere, at some distance, for deer.
But after my .257 bob, I like the 6.5x55 best, especially if I have to carry it all day.
-But now I have my Dad's Remington Mod. 14 in .30 Rem.
-And my Granddad's 6.5x55 Swede, done into a short carbine in the early 1950's - a bughole puncher.
-And a Ruger 77 in .270 Win. that I love, but my wife loves it more!
-And I guess if I wanted to, I could take out that 1949 vintage Win 94 in 30-30 that sits in the safe...
They're all good, somewhere, at some distance, for deer.
But after my .257 bob, I like the 6.5x55 best, especially if I have to carry it all day.
Jon Coppenbarger
Member
I have shot more deer in my life with a 308 win and have used many more over the years.
Now most of the time I hunt deer its also elk season and truely love the 30-06 but last year I used a 300 WSM and it worked just fine on that deer.
Now most of the time I hunt deer its also elk season and truely love the 30-06 but last year I used a 300 WSM and it worked just fine on that deer.
T.R.
Member
For the forests and foothills, my 30-30 carbine is tops!
My shots rarely exceed 125 yards.
TR
My shots rarely exceed 125 yards.
TR
Ridgerunner665
Member
My vote is the 30-06...but the 280 would do just as well.
Kachok
Member
You can go as far as you like on the caliber worship thing, but truth be told any cartage that can put a 100gr or more bullet through their boiler room at speeds in excess of 2800fps you have the potential for rapid kills even on the largest of deer. everything else at that point is the bullet construction. If there were ever a full fledged on game ballistics study I am willing to bet the difference between the .257 cal .264cal and .277cal with similar bullet and energy would be so small it would not be worth mentioning. That said my 6.5x55 walks all over your newfangled 270win LOL! JK. 
RevGeo
Member
I have shot several whitetails and blacktails with a .228 70gr Hornady over 33gr of H380 in a 22 Savage HiPower AI and it has never failed me. I don't use it for shots over 200 yards and I make sure I hit the boiler works.
I try not to recommend calibers to others. What they use is their business, but I know what works for me.
I try not to recommend calibers to others. What they use is their business, but I know what works for me.
lovethosesooners
Member
.270 Winchester Sporter
30-06 Remington 700
25-06 Savage Weather Warrior
Love em' all!
The 25-06 is kind of my all around rifle though
30-06 Remington 700
25-06 Savage Weather Warrior
Love em' all!
The 25-06 is kind of my all around rifle though
WTBguns10kOK
member
.243 or .30-30 depending on the range and what not. There's never a need for anything bigger than either of those in the U.S. for whitetail or mule deer.
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