Preferred Caliber for Deer Hunting

[Rob R.]

7mag here.

Me too!

 

[AllOutdoors]

350 Remington Magnum. The rifle is a Remington 673 Guide Gun.

 

[WGK]

It is hard to beat an 30-06. Ammo is very easy to come by and with all the new modern bullets it is a very versatile caliber.

 

[bbuck14]

7mag or a 7mmWSM

 

[mike243]

300wm or 243,both are great deer calibers imo

 

[MUP]

Since childhood, my ol trusty 30-06 has sufficed in many a hunt. The frames may have changed a couple of times, but the caliber has remained the same.

 

[Hunter 257W]

257 Weatherby, 25-06 - if I had a 257 Roberts, I'd use it. Also use a 270, 7.62x39 and occasionally a 460 Weatherby (downloaded!). Love the 25's though.

 

[bowriter]

.308 for everything up to and including moose. Has been for many years. Now and then a .270.

 

[rrhoghead]

the age old question

 

[Winchester]

I own several and have used even more, all with good success. Accuracy is my #1 concern, and good glass and a good bullet are also important. I find myself carrying my 7 mag more often these days but mainly because my Son has laid claim to my favorite lil .308 mtn rifle.

 

[MattR]

I like my .243 but I would like to have a 7 mag or 300 wsm.


Oh, and my bow! :grin:

 

[Winchester]

I like my .243 but I would like to have a 7 mag or 300 wsm.


Oh, and my bow! :grin:

Ding ding we have a winner! I cant believe I left out my absolute favorite.... My BOW!!!!

 

[Brisco Darlin]

.308 but i'm really thinking about getting my dad's winchester 30/30 out this year to hunt with.

 

[muddyboots]

7/08

 

[BSK]

Preferred would be a bullet in the 7mm to .30 caliber range, and going close to 3,000 FPS.

Personally, I like the 7mm-08 and 308. However, many acceptable calibers and cartridges exist.

 

[Kevin]

7/08

x2

All though my dad had a Rem 742 Woodsmaster 30.06 when i was growing up, watched him shoot 20+ deer with it, and not a single one took a step after the shot.

I was in absolute awe of that gun.

 

[Hunter 257W]

45-70, 458WM. I hate tracking...

What load do you use in that 458 Mag? I have used several bullets in my 460 Weatherby for deer. The Hornady 350gr Round Nose and 300gr Hollow Point were the 1st I used. I have also tried and like the Barnes 300 gr spire point and like it a lot with one reservation. The spitzer tip does not center in the bullet seater die and you end up with very non-concentric bullets. I ended up making a seater plug myself to fix that. But back to the loads - these 458 calibers are really pleasant to shoot with 300 grain bullets contrary to what some people might expect and they don't ruin nearly as much meat as the typical dear rifle either because these big bullets don't blow up like smaller calibers. OF the bullets I mentioned above, the Barnes seems to be by far the softest. I had 2 out of 3 stay inside a doe one time just under the far side hide. Yes, I had to shoot a doe 3 times with a 460 Weatherby - 118 or 120 grains of IMR4350 and the Barnes 300 grain spire point. If you shoot enough deer you are liable to see anything no matter how unlikely or weird.

 

[Beekeeper]

.338 Win Mag

 

[DirtyBear0311]

270

 

[infoman jr.]

For the past few years, it's been .300 win mag.