Caliber survey

[Tenntrapper]

22/250 REM ( lots of kills)
243 Win ( lots of kills)
25 Souper
.270 Win (k)
.280 REM (k)
7mm REM Mag. (k)
30/30 Win. (lots and lots of kills)
.308 Win (lots of kills)
7.62 Russian
30/06 (lots of kills)
.300 Win Mag
7.7 JAP
8x57 Mauser (lots of kills)
.35 Remington (k)
.375 Winchester (quite a few kills)
.44 REM Mag ( lots of kills)
.444 Marlin (lots of kills)
45/70 (quite a few kills)

There are probably more that I've hunted with due to a friend years ago having an extensive collection, but I've probably forgotten them. That was waaayy back in the '80's.

If I had to settle on one bolt gun for deer, it'd be a .243 Win., and for a lever action it'd be either a 30/30 or .444.

The more that I've killed with different cartridges, I've learned that they kill far more alike than differently. That has been a long and expensive, but fun lesson that I've had to learn.

If you're going to blame something with a cartridge, blame poor shot placement or poor bullet selection.

Any spectacular kills have been strictly from shot placement, nothing more.

I was once curious about the 25 Souper. Almost went down that rabbit hole. I like the 308 based cartridges. I think though that if I ever went with another 25 cal, it would have to be a Roberts.

 

[Remi]

I've killed with

243
260
6.5 grendel - hogs
708
3030
3006
35 rem
358 win
45-70

Maybe a few I'm forgetting


Have hunted with

257 roberts
7 rem mag
7wsm
300wby
35 whelen
350 legend


Regardless of cartridge bullets into heart/lung with no bone hit 50-100yd track

Bullets into bone and cns tracking from 0-25yds average I'd say

 

[Gravey]

I've hunted and killed with all of these.

.303
.308
.30-06
.243
.270
.300WSM

Hope to add the 30-30 next year to the list.

 

[ImThere]

243
243 WSSM
22-250
270
280
357 mag
308
3006
30/30
45 long colt
All my guns have been bloodied by deer.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

.308

I've only ever owned one deer rifle and don't see why I'd need another. Ask me about bows that I own/owned and I'll have to plead the fifth; in case my wife reads this.

 

[Tenntrapper]

.308

Keep it simple..

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

30-30-k
.35rem-k
44-k
280-k
308-k
30-06-k
300-k

i love all my rifles, but my go to rifle is probably my 308, reasons being is lightweight and easy on my shoulder after rotator cuff issues

 

[EastTNHunter]

My kids and I have used the following (that I can remember):

.223 rem - k
.243 win - k
6.5G - k
.270 win - k
30-30 win
.308 win - k
.30-06 - k
.300 Roy - k

Underwhelmed by performance of .223 and .243, but the .243 was a small sample size. .223 left very little by way of blood trail with 62gr Barnes bullets even when perfect shots were administered. 65gr SGKs were better. I know that some have experienced different, but that was the case over several deer.

308 win has yielded a few bang flops with youth loads (125 NABs and NBTs, 110 TTSXs). 6.5G the same, but full house loads with 123 SSTs and Amaxes, 100 and 125 NPTs.

.270 win has killed with consistent authority (bang flops) when using 140gr Accubonds, but I have not experienced a single bang flop using 140gr Interlocks at similar or higher speeds (4-5 kills), but always get pass throughs and short tracking. Have also used 140 SGKs to similar effect as Interlocks. Blood trails are always impressive, and I have not used a 140gr Accubond in several years since they have been so hard to find.

30-06 has killed with consistent authority when using 165gr Accubonds, but like above with the .270 I have gotten very few bang flops out of Interlocks. Always get pass throughs and superb blood trails.

300 Roy was a sample of 1. 180gr Accubond, bang flop.

Dang it, I forgot 45/70… I killed several with it using mostly 420gr hard cast boolits from my RCBS would using water quenched wheel weights and a touch of lino. I'm sure that I've forgotten some more

 

[EastTNHunter]

IMO .243 is all about the bullet quality. Federal Fusions have been awesome. Just a thought.

I was actually using Federal Fusions, and I think that was the only deer that I have ever killed using factory ammo in any gun. Small sample size though

 

[Tenntrapper]

I was actually using Federal Fusions, and I think that was the only deer that I have ever killed using factory ammo in any gun. Small sample size though

You need to try my Rosie....

 

[EastTNHunter]

You need to try my Rosie....

Ironic thing is my daughter's dog is named Rosie. She is the fattest goldendoodle you will ever see… kinda goes with the theme doesn't it?!?

 

[Tenntrapper]

Ironic thing is my daughter's dog is named Rosie. She is the fattest goldendoodle you will ever see… kinda goes with the theme doesn't it?!?

Ummm, not exactly..


Oh wait...I thought that said "fastest".
So yes...you were correct...

 

[Snake]

30-30
270
45-70 (k's)
25-06
7mm mg (k's) stayed with this if it ain't broke don't fix it . Got other caliber guns but just can't seem to put this Ruger M77 down . Every now and then pick up the Encore with the 7mm mg. just to try something different. Have took my Remington 300 win.mg.as backup before but never actually hunted with it .
P.S. only caliber I might be interested in would be something in a short action like 7mmWSM or a 300 WSM . Maybe a .308 because I've never had one . To me the 7mm mag. gives you all you should need in a gun that's why I can't seem to put it down. Literally killed hundreds of deer with it alone . The 45-70 was my gun until I started hunting middle Tennessee where we had fields on our lease henceforth the 7mm.mag .

 

[arctic_cat]

35 Remington- killed first 2 deer with it
30-06- favorite caliber and killed most of my deer with it
223 Remington- killed a bobcat and 2 deer
308- still waiting to break that one in on first deer
350 Legend- daughter killed her first deer with it. Still waiting for my first

 

[Jcalder]

You need to try my Rosie....

I don't think anyone, but you, wants to try YOUR Rosie

 

[Rammer Jammer]

Killed with
.270
7mm rem mag
30-06
7mm-08
6mm ARC
25-06
.280 Remington
.308
6.5 creedmoor
30-30

7mm-08 with Barnes 120 TTSX is BY FAR my favorite. Most all are bang flops.

 

[Deer Assassin]

Killed with all

30/30
35 rem
270
30/06
308
7saum
7mag
7stw
7/08
280
280AI
458 socom
44 mag
357 mag
223 ............. 53 barnes 60 partition 64 nosler bsb 70 accubond
450 marlin
300 rum
460 s&W
300 Black out

 

[Crappieaddict]

30-06 I don't wanna track!
.223 multiple hogs

 

[EastTNHunter]

Dang it, I forgot 45/70… I killed several with it using mostly 420gr hard cast boolits from my RCBS would using water quenched wheel weights and a touch of lino. I'm sure that I've forgotten some more

Oh yeah… .338 WM. 225 SSTs, and believe it or not she ran. Good bloodtrail though

 

[Lost Lake]

I was once curious about the 25 Souper. Almost went down that rabbit hole. I like the 308 based cartridges. I think though that if I ever went with another 25 cal, it would have to be a Roberts.

I love just about anything based on the .308 case.

There's just something sexy about a .257 Roberts. I'd love to have one built on a Mauser action.