Best short range deer caliber?

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Best short range deer caliber?

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Im looking for a rifle for 75 yards or less.
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There is no such thing as "best" and frankly at the ranges you will be hunting at, it really doesn't matter. Any round suitable for whitetails will do the job just fine at that range.

It all comes down to what you "like best". ;)

So pick whatever one makes you happy and go kill some deer.
 
I've killed over a dozen deer with my 44 MAG carbine and none got away. Same is true for my older 30-30 carbine. 30-30 has twice the lethal range and typically a little more accurate, too.

TR
 
.270, .308 or .30-06. 30 30 are all good.
Just to throw some confusion in the mix.
A CZ 527M Carbine in 7.62 X 39 would also be a good choice to.
 
I agree... everything mentioned will kill deer very well at short range. SOO I would start looking at more than just what will "kill better."

I'd look at versatility, fun factor, load options, and things like that. Maybe pick something different from what you have, or something that shares ammo or loading components with what you have.
 
I took my first 16 whitetails with a Marlin 30-30 using 170 grain core-lokts.From 20 to 150 yards.Most were at about 60 yards.
 
I have killed dozens of deer with dozens of cartridges. They all work but some are better. Of those you mentioned, the 30-30 is by far the best. My first choice at any range is high speed over 2500 fps soft point jacketed bullet. These are always the most effective. I have shot many with slugs. Shot placement is much more critical with the slow bullet because they do not as big a wound channel regardless of caliber. You have seen lot's of bs by lots of people that either cannot place shots or lack adequate experience with a wide variety of weapons. Bigger and faster is better, correct bullets and shot placement is best of all regardless of what you shot.
 
I have used soft point 7.62x39. If you hit the heart they will go a few yards just like very other caliber at close range. Sometimes deer with DRT with heart shots, sometimes they will go up to forty yards regardless of caliber. When you just hit the lungs or have a bad shot, is when speed and energy make a difference.
 
urbaneruralite said:
.357 from a rifle will work fine. .44 would be better. A good pattern from a heavy load of 00 applied to the neck via a modified choke would work, too. .30/30 would be last on the list because it is specialized to deer, but wouldn't work as well for anything else.
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Actually, I've found the .30-30 can put holes in all kinds of stuff. "Specialized to whitetail" would be news to all the pigs I've also killed with it. Throw in a few dozen coons, even got me a porcupine last week, and I am fairly certain it can handle other game. I've even heard tell of a few mulei deer, elk, moose, and other stuff it can kill.:)
 
75 yards ? That`s about any gun that`s legal for big game

Don`t know anybody that builds a 75 yd or less weapon. Said, tonque in cheek.
 
I have it narrowed down to a lever gun. like i said, a cowboy action/hunting would be good too. Maybe a 44mag for or 454 (and use the 44spc or 45 colt for cowboy)

357 seems to be just a little light...
 
There is no disadvantage to using a longer range cartridge up close.
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Nonsense. There is more recoil, more muzzle blast and more rifle. If you don't need the range of larger, high velocity rifle cartridges, then it's a waste. But then some people think a .30-06 with a 3-9x scope is the answer to every question. :rolleyes:


Is this postage stamp size parcel of land the only place you plan to hunt for the rest of your life?
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I would say it probably has nothing to do with the size of the parcel (cute postage stamp comment) and more to do with the terrain and vegetation. I don't have any need whatsoever for a rifle to shoot much over 100yds due to rolling hills and 30yr old hardwoods.


Then let's not tell all of the hogs I've dusted with mine.
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I'm fairly certain that any deer reference can be assumed to include similarly sized critters of other types. :rolleyes:
 
I hope you like it. It will do the job. I would assume you will practice so you can hit the heart. Good luck.
 
I only use my 45-70 less than 200 yds and I have never killed a deer too much. That said a LOT of rounds will work at close range. "Best" is subjective, need to fill in the blanks to narrow the list.

The .357 out of a 6" revolver will do the job and it gains quite a bit out of a 16" barrel. I would call it the "best" if you want one rifle to play SASS and hunt with. Just don't use the same load if you want optimum results at both.
 
My .30-30 is a 12" contender pistol. It's no less a game caliber than in a rifle, good for 200 yards with a 150 Nosler BT traveling 2050 at the muzzle. Furtherest I've killed with it is 90 yards, but he was dead so fast, fell in the grass, thought I'd missed. Was a high lung shot.

.30-30 ain't specialized for anything so long as you are 150 to 200 yards or in.
 
3030 with a peep or 1-4 scope is what I would pick. I've never been a big fan of slugs but they'll get the job done no doubt.

That being said a 3030 carries like nothing else. A winchester in particular is like carrying an ax handle, very slick in the brush and hasn't failed me yet (except when I missed a big buck hopping along without a care).

HB
 
another vote for a 44mag , maybe a 1894, or a SASS Approved Henry Big Boy ,I was just on there web page looking at one to go with my Marlin 1894 44mag
 
I killed exactly ONE deer, with my .44mag Winchester. Kilt her real dead like, real quick like. In fact, she was down before I could even see which one I'd hit. Convinced me that I didn't really need to stress over which gun to use.

Since I'd never shot a deer before, I was surprised at the loud WHACK of the bullet impact. Wasn't expecting to be able to hear it hit!
 
So far the "best" for me has been, .357mag, .44mag, 45LC, .308win, .260rem, 7.62x39, and 6.8spc all in rifles. In hanguns .357mag, 44mag, 45LC, Ruger Old Army is my favourite.

Get what you and do your part. As mentioned earlier the "best" is where you place it.
 
There is no "best" gun at the specified ranges. You are actually in archery range (assuming you practice a lot).
Pretty much any rifle will do the job on deer at 50 yards. Heck I have killed plenty of deer at that range with 22 WMR! Back when we had nuisance permits we normally shot a 22 mag at night. If I read correctly you do NOT want a lever gun? The 44 mag is an excellent round to consider.
Again, at 75 yards you can't be "wrong". If the cartridge is legal in your state then it will suffice.
 
3030 with a peep or 1-4 scope is what I would pick. I've never been a big fan of slugs but they'll get the job done no doubt.

That being said a 3030 carries like nothing else. A winchester in particular is like carrying an ax handle, very slick in the brush and hasn't failed me yet (except when I missed a big buck hopping along without a care).

HB
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Well, my 92 Rossi (a 92 Winchester clone) in .357 magnum is probably slightly more handy than a 94. Has a shorter action, anyway, compact little rifle, and light, and more appropriate for CAS since that seems to be one of the criteria. Of course, the same gun can be had in .44 mag, .45 Colt, and even in .454 Casull which is a sledgehammer at woods ranges. The .454 would be appropriate at the OP's ranges for anything that walks the lower 48 and can still handle .45 Colt CAS loads. :D
 
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