Preferred Caliber for Deer Hunting

[TLRanger]

If you are going to have only one rifle, the best one would be the 30-06. You can find ammunition anywhere, it is the most reasonably priced ammunition, and you have a choice of everything from 110 gr to 220 gr bullets.
But, who has only one rifle???????????

 

[UTGrad]

0.308

 

[Rubberduck270]

.277 and larger. 270 Win and 30-06 are the most economical to own since ammo is everywhere and it's reasonably priced. If your heart is set on a short action gun the 7mm-08 is hard to beat.

 

[woodchuckc]

Used a 30-30 for many years, a 270 for about a decade and for the past 5 years a 30-06 most of the time. I believe I'll stick with the 30-06 as my primary centerfire caliber, as it can handle any hunting situation I will encounter.

 

[rem2506]

25-06 or .300 saum. both in rem. 700s or possibly 7mm-08, 7mm mag,.308,30-06, .270. or I may try my 7x57 ruger 77 this year.

 

[Dean Parisian]

I like the heart shot.

With any legal caliber.

 

[muddyboots]

Lets expand on this. These are the ones i have owned in the order i prefer them:

1. 7mm/08 - that caliber just keeps on impressing - deer just die right then when shot with this caliber
2. 7 mm/ mag - awesome but was heavy
3. 30/06 - killed a bunch with but kicked like a mule
4. 270 - just not for me
5. .300 mag - once shot a doe 3 times in the chest at 50 yards and deer still went 150 yards - sold it the next day
6. 30/30 - Not flat shooting
7. 243 - tracked alot of deer with it shot right in the good spot that went along way. Not for me.

These all of course are just my own personal observations. Not knocking anyones chosen caliber. They will all kill!

 

[dmonty]

270

 

[Barnes Ridge Rambler]

Killed my first deer 17 years ago with Dad's 7 mag. Since then I've killed dozens with it, his .270, my .243 WSSM , and most recently my .308. I love the power that the 7 mag produces, but I've learned that you don't have to have 3, 000 ft lbs to lay one down and that accuracy trumps power most of the time. So for now, I'd have to say that my .308 is my practical favorite and dads 7 mag is my sentimental favorite.

 

[Trapper John]

I've been using a 7mm-08 for the past 18 years. Can't find any reason to change. Accurate, minimum recoil, and deer keep dying. Just my personal favorite, though.

 

[jmlost]

243... Probably not the best. But I shoot my 243 so much better than my other rifles. I just have a lot of confidence with this particular gun.

 

[RUGER]

Ok here is why I couldn't create a poll. Of the responses down to jmlost there were a total of 34 different calibers suggested.
Some people suggested up to like 5 different ones all in one post.

Of all those 17 only got one vote.
6 got two votes.

The top three were, 7mm rem mag, 30-06 and the .270.
Oddly enough they all got the exact same number of votes.

So, there ya go.

 

[RUGER]

Yes, I was bored and had nothing to do so I created an excel spreadsheet and tracked it all.


In my opinion the clear winner was the .300 win mag

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Lets expand on this. These are the ones i have owned in the order i prefer them:

1. 7mm/08 - that caliber just keeps on impressing - deer just die right then when shot with this caliber
2. 7 mm/ mag - awesome but was heavy
3. 30/06 - killed a bunch with but kicked like a mule
4. 270 - just not for me
5. .300 mag - once shot a doe 3 times in the chest at 50 yards and deer still went 150 yards - sold it the next day
6. 30/30 - Not flat shooting
7. 243 - tracked alot of deer with it shot right in the good spot that went along way. Not for me.

These all of course are just my own personal observations. Not knocking anyones chosen caliber. They will all kill!

The .308?

 

[Nealmeally]

270

 

[@fulldraw]

About 400 gr of Beman and Rage. :grin:

 

[HOOK]

100 grain Muzzy.....

 

[infoman jr.]

In my opinion the clear winner was the .300 win mag

Couldn't have said it better!

 

[RUGER]

I converted my son last year.
He said, I never realized if you shoot through both front shoulders they just go down right there.

Love my .300

I have only drawn blood on one deer that I lost and that was totally my fault, skimmed his back.

Simply devestating round.

 

[muddyboots]

Lets expand on this. These are the ones i have owned in the order i prefer them:

1. 7mm/08 - that caliber just keeps on impressing - deer just die right then when shot with this caliber
2. 7 mm/ mag - awesome but was heavy
3. 30/06 - killed a bunch with but kicked like a mule
4. 270 - just not for me
5. .300 mag - once shot a doe 3 times in the chest at 50 yards and deer still went 150 yards - sold it the next day
6. 30/30 - Not flat shooting
7. 243 - tracked alot of deer with it shot right in the good spot that went along way. Not for me.

These all of course are just my own personal observations. Not knocking anyones chosen caliber. They will all kill!

The .308?

I have never owned one so I cant comment on it.