What rifle caliber do you hunt whitetail with?

[tmanbuckhunter]

For years I have used a 1st year Remington Model 700 in 25-06 loaded with the Sierra 117gr. BTSP game king, for a few years went back and forth with my Marlin 336c in 30-30 and XL7 in 30-06. I have acquired so many different rifles and calibers, that it is honestly hard to figure out which one I would like to use, but will probably be settling with my 25-06 again after a 2-3 year hiatus.

 

[Picher]

Almost any medium-weight bullet designed for deer-type animals will do just fine in cartridge energies ranging from .223 Rem to 30-06, at "sane" ranges. Controlled hunting club statistics have proven that fact. Premium bullets out of magnum cartridges don't result in more deer killed, or quicker kills.

Then, the three things people need for quick kill are: placement, placement, and placement!

 

[bikerdoc]

I also have a Winchester 94 .357 I am wanting to take a deer with.

I have used my Marlin 1894c in 357 with DRT results out to 75 yds.

 

[Dr T]

Over the last 35 or 40 years, I have taken deer with:

300 Weatherby Mag
30-06 Springfield
308 Win
30-40 Krag
7-08 Rem
270 Win
6 mm Remington

I have taken more with the 6 mm Remington than all of the others put together (but I was using it to feed myself and my roomates in college). The #2 cartridge for me (in terms of whitetails taken) is the 30-06. I used one in high school and early college, picked up a bad flinch, and got the 6mm to cure the flinch.

I am still looking for the ideal rifle (but I have a couple that are close).

On the other side of the coin (and this is a personal nightmare), the only whitetail I have wounded and lost was one I shot with a 223. NEVER AGAIN will I use a 22 caliber centerfire on a medium game animal.

 

[Legionnaire]

My go-to gun is a Model Seven in .308. But I've also taken deer with .30-06, .243, .30-30, .44 Mag, 12 gauge ...

 

[kemper]

308, 7mm Rem. Mag. & 300 WSM

308, 7mm Rem. Mag. & 300 WSM in that order usually. Like others have said it all depends on where I am hunting. If I am hunting a tower stand overlooking food plots on a pipeline right of way where I can see for 500-700 yards in two directions then I go with the 7mm mag or the 300 WSM, but if I'm in a south arkansas/north louisiana hardwood bottom then I usually go with a 308

 

[empty hull]

I love the 30-06 for deer. I am trying to talk my daughter into a 25-06 though. Tim

 

[Abel]

These numbers are interesting. The 30-06, 308, 30-30, & 270 are smokin' hot for deer. I have used all of those successfully on deer except the 270.

 

[fracit]

big is better

i use a 50 cal. some say is a little extrem but it is a lot of fun watching people when you pull it out.

 

[kemper]

Notice that the 308 is the only short action cartridge among the 30-06, 308, 30-30, & 270

 

[leathermanwave]

I have killed them with .270 win and 7.62x54r but at various times I have carried .308, 12ga, .357, and even 380 ACP once.