Best Caliber
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easttndeer
Well-Known Member
7mm08 need i say more
Whatever you feel most comfortable and confident with.
For me, the absolute best short action caliber is the 7mm-08 Remington.
Long action would probably be the .280 Remington. If not that, 30-06 Springfield.
For me, the absolute best short action caliber is the 7mm-08 Remington.
Long action would probably be the .280 Remington. If not that, 30-06 Springfield.
Model70Man
Well-Known Member
hunt127588 said:
Ditto that. Some people can't hit the broad side of a barn with a 7mm Rem Mag. because they flinch before the shot. Find a caliber that you can shoot with confidence. That will be the best caliber for deer for your specific needs and not anybody else's.
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
I like the 30 30 for where I hunt. The longest shot I take is 100 yards and I can shoot this with the utmost confidence. I have spent alot of time at the range with this caliber and it is comfortable to shoot. It also has the claim of killing more deer than any other caliber. I use the Hornady Leverevolution ammo that can increase effective range for this caliber out to 200 yards, even further with practice. A Marlin 336W can be had for $320 at Walmart, Academy, etc and don't let anyone tell you these guns are not accurate. With practice, I'm able to keep up with other shooters with their high end bolt actions.
AlabamaSwamper
Well-Known Member
0.458
there's no such thing as the best calibur,the search for it is what is the best 
,energy transfer & hydralic shock is how guns kill animals & you have 2 diffrent methods that work,big holes with heavy bullets & smaller bullets moving at warp speed,both work but the old timers will tell you you can eat rite up to the hole with the older caliburs 45-70 444 ect,im glad we can chose what we want in this country although that may change 1 day,mike243 ps i shoot a 243 & a 300wm ,mice to moose
,energy transfer & hydralic shock is how guns kill animals & you have 2 diffrent methods that work,big holes with heavy bullets & smaller bullets moving at warp speed,both work but the old timers will tell you you can eat rite up to the hole with the older caliburs 45-70 444 ect,im glad we can chose what we want in this country although that may change 1 day,mike243 ps i shoot a 243 & a 300wm ,mice to moose
The 7x57mm is one of the best all around cartridges ever made, light recoil, great killing power and good bullet selection. The gun I hunt with varies during the year, anything from a 300RUM to a .223rem, but my best all around gun is a 7x57 (mauser) in a Ruger M77. An accurate and shootable gun is very important, especially if your recoil shy.
The best caliber is the one you kill your biggest buck with. They all work within their designed purpose.
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
What is the layout of the land you will be hunting? Will you have opportunities at long ranges, or will most shots be taken at closer ranges? That will help in making your selection. Of course the 30 06 will take any game in North America at short and long ranges. If you plan on possibly taking trips of hunting various plots of land, the 06 would be a good universal choice, as it is for millions of shooters. I like my 30 30, since I primarily hunt here in Middle TN, but I have a 30 06 that I might try next year when I match it up with a nice Leupold.
9 point
Well-Known Member
i like the 308 and 30-06
UTGrad
Well-Known Member
How versatile is the 308? I have been eyeing the 308 Marlin Express rifle.
the marlin shoots the gummy point bullets from hornaday,if you reload it will have to be round nose or hollow point.they may release the bullets 1 day but to shoot them now you have to buy factory ammo,good rifle but not as versatle as a bolt gun in that calibur,mike243
Model70Man
Well-Known Member
UTGrad said:
The 308 is a shorter version of the 30-06 basically. The 308 is about 100 fps to 250 fps slower depending on bullet weight. Also the recoil of a 308 is significantly less.
Gotta throw in my name...7mm08, same as the 7x57 mentioned earlier. 308 is a great round as well. Just depends on your pockets regarding ammo., which I am sorry to say will be a defining subject in the future depending on who gets elected. Probably way more 308, and 30-06 rounds out there than anything else.
tiecampdeerslayer
Well-Known Member
30-06 in long action, 7 mm-08 in short
nock
Well-Known Member
I prefer my 270. I've killed deer in brush and open fields with it loaded with 130gr pointed soft points.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
dt,
There are alot of great calibers available, as mentioned already.
You have to ask yourself, what type of terrain will you be hunting in the most with this rifle? How far are you comfortable with shooting & what would be the max. distance you are able to shoot in the area? (just because a caliber is capable of 700 yds, it doesn't mean the shooter is)What is the average size of the deer you would expect to take on a regular basis? (It makes no sense to shoot 125lb deer with a 300 Weatherby Mag.) It's overkill!
I am fortunate enough to have my choice of most and own most of the calibers mentioned already with the exception of a few. For different area's I hunt here in NY. I have taken at least one deer with every single rifle I own. But, my all time favorite is my .300 Savage. It is no longer a popular caliber, but back in its day.
It is very versatile (meaning, in the brush & long range)It kills them real well, without killing me.
You can narrow the field alot by answering the questions that have been presented, but the best answer is the one you choose to buy. If you can, try and shoot a few calibers if you know some folks that have one you are interested in. Also, make sure you it fits you well, it is does not fit, you will hate it until you trade or sell it off.
FDXX75
There are alot of great calibers available, as mentioned already.
You have to ask yourself, what type of terrain will you be hunting in the most with this rifle? How far are you comfortable with shooting & what would be the max. distance you are able to shoot in the area? (just because a caliber is capable of 700 yds, it doesn't mean the shooter is)What is the average size of the deer you would expect to take on a regular basis? (It makes no sense to shoot 125lb deer with a 300 Weatherby Mag.) It's overkill!
I am fortunate enough to have my choice of most and own most of the calibers mentioned already with the exception of a few. For different area's I hunt here in NY. I have taken at least one deer with every single rifle I own. But, my all time favorite is my .300 Savage. It is no longer a popular caliber, but back in its day.
It is very versatile (meaning, in the brush & long range)It kills them real well, without killing me.
You can narrow the field alot by answering the questions that have been presented, but the best answer is the one you choose to buy. If you can, try and shoot a few calibers if you know some folks that have one you are interested in. Also, make sure you it fits you well, it is does not fit, you will hate it until you trade or sell it off.
FDXX75
Read an article on this one time. 
7mm rem mag
7mm rem mag
TennBuck
Well-Known Member
if i had to choose 1 deer rifle it would be the .270. i use a .308 simply because i dont need the distance of the .270.
---------------------------------------------------------------
here's an interesting read from F&S;
Deer are small, fragile animals that are almost always taken at close range and don't require a cannon to put them down. This selection of deer cartridges will delight and amaze you with both their good manners and their efficiency:
The .270 Winchester made its debut in the 1920s, but it is still an unbeatable combination of ample power, flat trajectory, and minimum recoil. It will handle anything from antelope to elk and has dropped more deer quickly than anything else I've used. I took one to Africa in 1988, and it did just fine. (A friend of mine used to hunt African lions with a .270, and he's still alive.)
The 7mm/08 is a .308 Winchester necked down to .284. It has minimum recoil and is absolutely deadly at ranges out to 250 yards, beyond which its modest velocity makes the .270 a better choice. The best 7mm/08 loadings I've used are the Winchester Supreme cartridges with either the 140-grain Ballistic Silvertip or the 140-grain Fail Safe bullets.
The .308 Winchester (see above) is best used with any quick-expanding 150-grain bullet. You will smile; the deer will not.
The .30/06 is actually too powerful for all but the biggest deer, but how can you omit it? The best bullets are quick-expanding 150- and 165-grainers.
---------------------------------------------------------------
here's an interesting read from F&S;
Deer are small, fragile animals that are almost always taken at close range and don't require a cannon to put them down. This selection of deer cartridges will delight and amaze you with both their good manners and their efficiency:
The .270 Winchester made its debut in the 1920s, but it is still an unbeatable combination of ample power, flat trajectory, and minimum recoil. It will handle anything from antelope to elk and has dropped more deer quickly than anything else I've used. I took one to Africa in 1988, and it did just fine. (A friend of mine used to hunt African lions with a .270, and he's still alive.)
The 7mm/08 is a .308 Winchester necked down to .284. It has minimum recoil and is absolutely deadly at ranges out to 250 yards, beyond which its modest velocity makes the .270 a better choice. The best 7mm/08 loadings I've used are the Winchester Supreme cartridges with either the 140-grain Ballistic Silvertip or the 140-grain Fail Safe bullets.
The .308 Winchester (see above) is best used with any quick-expanding 150-grain bullet. You will smile; the deer will not.
The .30/06 is actually too powerful for all but the biggest deer, but how can you omit it? The best bullets are quick-expanding 150- and 165-grainers.
Hawkeye5
Well-Known Member
Add the .243 and 30/30 to the above list and you have some of the best deer calibers available. You don't need super hi-tech bullets for deer either, so Winchester power point, Remington Core-Loke, and other lower tech expanding bullets will do just fine.
The real question, as posed several times already, is which caliber/rifle combination do you shoot well and feel comfortable using. I have a ultra-light synthetic stocked .308 that will beat the stuffing out of you at the range, but another .308 standard rifle with a laminated stock that is very mild. Caliber is not the sole consideration, but from a pratical point of view I see no need for the short and long mag. calibers for deer in Tennessee.
The real question, as posed several times already, is which caliber/rifle combination do you shoot well and feel comfortable using. I have a ultra-light synthetic stocked .308 that will beat the stuffing out of you at the range, but another .308 standard rifle with a laminated stock that is very mild. Caliber is not the sole consideration, but from a pratical point of view I see no need for the short and long mag. calibers for deer in Tennessee.
Tikkabuck
Well-Known Member
easttndeer said:
Ditto,and for long range work I'll take the 270wsm please.
FLTENNHUNTER1
Well-Known Member
This:
kdxdude
Well-Known Member
I believe the 7mm-08 is the best caliber for whitetail deer in Tn. I believe that the 30-06 is the most versatile caliber there is, you can use bullet weights small enought to varmint hunt with or bullet weights big enough for moose & grizzly.
FULLDRAWXX75
Well-Known Member
I read an article this past week with the same question being asked, the general reply from the experts was most of the guns in the 30 cal category. Now, don't get me wrong, they mentioned alot of other calibers as well, but the 30 cal group was the favored.
I once again have to say it depends on the terrain and style of the hunter using that particular gun.
I hunt with a variety of different calibers, 7mm, .300 Savage, 444 Marlin, 12ga slug guns.
One thing I have observed and corrected with my set ups it the proper bullet weight for the job, when I first bought my 7mm, the only bullet weight available locally was 175 gr. I shot a few deer with that bullet weight but was not impressed with the results, I was getting hard hits, but straight pass throughs with small exit wounds. I finally was able to locate 150gr. and the performance was much better.
I started handloading and that is when the entire ball of wax changed dramatically. I was able to experiment with many different bullet styles and weights. I now have a great combo worked up for nearly all my rifles that dispatch a deer nicely.
So, my point being the caliber alone is not the only fact on what is best, better and so on.
FDXX75
I once again have to say it depends on the terrain and style of the hunter using that particular gun.
I hunt with a variety of different calibers, 7mm, .300 Savage, 444 Marlin, 12ga slug guns.
One thing I have observed and corrected with my set ups it the proper bullet weight for the job, when I first bought my 7mm, the only bullet weight available locally was 175 gr. I shot a few deer with that bullet weight but was not impressed with the results, I was getting hard hits, but straight pass throughs with small exit wounds. I finally was able to locate 150gr. and the performance was much better.
I started handloading and that is when the entire ball of wax changed dramatically. I was able to experiment with many different bullet styles and weights. I now have a great combo worked up for nearly all my rifles that dispatch a deer nicely.
So, my point being the caliber alone is not the only fact on what is best, better and so on.
FDXX75
