What calibers have you taken deer with?

[Hit_Factor]

I haven't seen anyone post they have killed a deer with a spear yet though.

I know a guy who killed one with an axe.

The story goes something like this. Deer ran into a tree, stunned itself. Axeman was close by, ran up and chopped it in the neck.

It's a much longer story, it comes up frequently during deer season.

My list...

9mm (as LEO)
.357 mag (as LEO)
.460 S&W Magnum (my preferred caliber in SW michigan)
.243
.308
.300 wsm
.45-70
.50 ML
Matthews Switchback bow

 

[mrtwister_jbo]

12ga mossberg 500 smooth bore
12ga moss 500 rifled barrel
20ga moss 500 rifled barrel(sst slugs)
.50 cal cva hawkins patch ball
.50 cva t-bolt 295gr powerbilt bullets
.50 cva wolf 240xtp's 2 50gr 777 pellets
.50 encore 250gr sst 2 pellets
357 ruger gp 100 friends gun not sure what load but it was HOT
44mag ruger redhawk 240gr xtp pushed by 24gr of 296powder
also xbow(horton exp)/recurve(#56 root) an bear whitetail hunter compound
thats in almost 45yrs of hunting here in ohio.
twister

 

[wyohome]

12 gauge
243 Win
45-70
45 Hawken
308 Win
32 Win Sp
1957 Corvette

 

[shaggy430]

.380 ACP
.243 Win
.308 Win
.30-06 Springfield
7mm Rem Mag
.50 cal Hawken
.54 cal Knight
12 ga slug

When I first started writing this I thought, "Man, I've killed a lot of deer with a lot of different guns." Then I realized that most of them were the same caliber.

 

[kimbernut]

Calibers used for deer taken

.243 Win
.270 Win.
7mm-08 Rem -my favorite and most taken

 

[sixgunner455]

1957 Corvette

That had to hurt!

 

[03Shadowbob]

30-06
30-30
35Remington
223
.357 mag (handgun)
12gauge

 

[wyohome]

1957 Corvette

That had to hurt!

Very expensive, I had no insurance on that car...very hard to get collision insurance on a Corvette at age 19.

 

[wankerjake]

30-30, 300 Savage, and 243.

 

[d2wing]

.357 pistol
20 guage slug
12 guage slugs, foster type and sabot
35 Rem
30-30 Win
.243
7.62x39
7mm mag
30-06
Ford station wagon.
my wife got 2 bucks with a Chevy Lumina.
that Corvette one is a story.
Several close calls on a Harley and several vehicles including a Mercedes.

 

[whetrock]

30-30 and .223 here. I own a plethora of other calibers, with that being said most all shots are incredibly close and in all honesty it's very easy to be "over gunned". I try and play it simple with a Marlin 336 and occasionally my XM-15. Also have taken one buck with a crossbow and hope to try it again in the future.

 

[Zombiphobia]

.22LR (only once)
.243 Win
.30-30 Win
12ga buckshot
12ga rifled 1oz slug
16ga buckshot
20ga buckshot

I like 000 buckshot for deer.

thomis:2005 Honda Accord

good one

 

[shafter]

The good old 30-30 and .260.

I've been trying with my 357 magnum levergun.

 

[Alaskan]

30-30
308 Win
223
30-06
1975 Ford Pinto X2
1976 Chevy Nova
1967 F150

 

[336A]

7mm magnum
30-30 Win
44 magnum levergun
12GA slug

2000 Ford F-150 aka deer bulldozer
2003 Saturn Vue, fragmented and came apart, poor choice.

 

[tahoe2]

Took my first Western Washington Blacktail today with a 280 Rem w/150 grn core lokt handload @2800 fps at about 50-60 yards.

It was 1 and done, @ 7:45 AM this morning on a 20% grade up hill shot head on,
bullet entered through the base of the neck just inside the left shoulder and exited the ribs on the right side
just in front of the rear haunches, innards were complet goo.
Was all great, cept I had to drag him about 300 yards to the road.

I took a Fallow Deer Doe in September in Eastern Washington with a sportered Yugo mauser in 8mm ,
another 1 and done with a 180 grn Ballistic Tip @ 2600 fps (another handload) broadside 130 yds.

Took a couple Pronghorn Antelope in Wyoming last fall with the above 280 Rem and 130 grn handloads @ 2900 fps. Both broadside @ 175 & 125 yds.

that about covers it !

Think I'll use the 7mm mauser or the 300 Savage next time, or maybe the muzzle-loader or the 30-30 or maybe the 375 win, Damn too many choices !!

 

[788Ham]

.264 Win. mag
.250 Savage '99
.300 Savage '99

 

[dubya450]

I'll go in order kind of:
Marlin 336 r.c. 30-30 circa 1948
Remington CDL 30-06
Browning BAR Longtrac oil finish 30-06
Winchester m70 Suoergrade (FN made) 300 winny
Kimber Montana 338 Federal
This season was my first to use the 338 federal and i took a nice doe opening morning with a double lung shot, deer didn't go 10 feet. Then i took a tall 7 point buck with the same rifle and it dropped like it was struck by lightening from a high double lung shot. First deer od over 25 that dropped and im very pleased with the Kimber Montana but even happier that it's chambered in 338 federal because that round using a 185 grain TSX load hits with authority! IMO its the best big game rifle/chambering/bullet I've found thus far. The rifle fits my walking style of hunting and the cartridge is pretty devastating.

 

[red rick]

Most with 12ga. 00 bk.
30-30
.50 cal. muzzlerloader

 

[68wj]

.243 win

6.8 spc

 

[shell70634]

22 Hornet
45-70
30-06
243
308
303 British
30-30
223
44 Mag
300 Weatherby

 

[HarcyPervin]

.22-250 x 1
30-06 x2

 

[Arkansas Paul]

.280 Rem
.30-06
.243
.50 muzzleloader

 

[morcey2]

My short list:

243 Win.
Chevy Silverado -- twice. Both on the way home from deer hunts.

 

[brnmw]

.270 Win.
.30-'06 Spfld.
.308 Win.
7.62X54R.
7.62X39mm.
.30-30 Win.
.45-70 Gov't.
(All have worked really well)