The 3 most underrated hunting calibers.

I'd say .223. I've taken many deer with 55 gr SP's. I know it works. Yet, I read many opinions that say it isn't up to the task.

Accurate shot placement is the key - no matter what the caliber.

 

The #1 most under rated hunting round is undoubtedly the .22wmr. Back in the day when it was permitted I took countess squirrel, turkey and yes deer with .22wmr. A well placed shot in front of the ear dropped deer every time with no need for tracking.
I still believe it should be allowed for turkey at least.
It does put more onus on the shooter, and did require some scouting and stalking skills but it was very effective for me.
Flame on.

 

7x57
8x57
.30/06
30-30
300 Savage
6.5x55
.308
.35 Remington

I pretty much hunt deer and hogs exclusively with 30-30 and 35 Remington these days.

 

I think there are a lot of extra boxes of rifle ammo stock piled away.

 

Under-rated

6mm Rem - awesome round, Remington almost killed it, marketing as a varmits, barrels rifled for light, fast varmit bullets. With s quality, deer bullet, 6mm will give you 100 fps over .243.

.257 Roberts - over shadowed by .25-06, but great round in it's own right.

.280 Rem - over shadowed by 7mmRemMag and the belted mag craze.


Honorable mention: .223 - I prefer the 62-64gr SP or HP bullets. Have taken 17 deer, 1 shot, from 70-235 yards, all DRT! Shot placement is key, but it ALWAYS is.

 

The 243 is underrated my a lot of hunters, as is the 25-06 the 280 just has been forgotten and it is a great deer caliber !!!

 

I used a 222 for a while---a state ranger was sitting on my trailer hitch--I told him to come in as it was warmer inside. asked him why they give us a hard time on using a 222. he said state of MI buys about 30,000 rds of .222 for management of deer in winter. " WE ARE MUCH BETTER SHOTS THAN YOU HUNTERS--THATS WHY WE GIVE YOU A HARD TIME"---WHATEVER !!

 

8x57is, 8x57js, 8mm Mauser...pretty much anything x57 is underrated, but, the 8 is probably the best hammer in the shed.

 

How about the 8mm Remington Mag?

 

It interests me, don't know if I'll ever get around to one, right now I'm on the fence between a 9.3x62 and another 8x57...have a 1908 action to play with.

 

I like how the author complains that the 7mm rem mag doesn't quite achieve magnum velocities but still has significant recoil, and then turns around and knocks the .280AI even though it just about matches the 7mmRM velocity with less recoil.

 

True.
Now they're both "also mentioned" cartridges.

 

That 375 winchester is a real dandy of a cartridge. In a lever and bolt gun.

 

Welcome to The High Road!

 

257 Roberts
280 Remington
7mm Weatherby Magnum

 

The 22 short, 44/40, and 284 win.

 

I'm in that "minority" as well. And that's the main reason why I stated in my post (#48 in this thread) that the good ol' 30-30 could just as easily fit in the overrated category when it comes to hunting rounds in this country.
Note: I'm not wishing to start a war here. I like the good ol' 30-30 - mine has worked just fine every time I've pointed it at a deer. But it's not a great choice for everything from pronghorns to moose out here in the west where 250 yard shots are not uncommon.

 

I have no experience with the 44/40, but I killed a lot of jackrabbits with 22 shorts in my younger years, and I'd love to have me a Model 88 Winchester chambered for the 284 Win.

 

Speaking strictly for my geographic area…

243
30-30
7mm-08

Seems like I’m seeing less and less of those. Used to see 243 and 30-30 a lot in the past

 

I have a 1909 Argentine sporter that shoots 7.65 Hornady 139 gr. bullets accurately. I have only used it on deer once but it dropped it DRT. The equivalent of a .30-06 IMO.
Old school does NOT mean ineffective.

Most of these new, wonderful calibers are made for plastic AR-15 type rifles which I abhor. A real rifle is made of steel and wood not aluminum, pot metal and plastic.

 

100% truth