Deer Calibers

[Duckingit88]

What is the smallest caliber you would shoot a deer with and what is the largest. I am asking this because of an upcoming law that might come into the picture next year with DNR with restrictions on caliber use.

 

[Stack]

I've shot deer with everything (almost) from a .223 to a 270 Weatherby mag but I'd say stick with bullet diameters from .243 through .308. In general I've gone with a 25-06 and recently I started using the 6.8 SPC on hogs. Others have had great success on deer to 300 yds with it.

 

[viking499]

Smallest - 243
Currently - 6.5x55

 

[dak0ta]

22lr can take deer. I'm sure 17HMR or 17HM2 would too.

 

[OhioChief]

My buddy uses .243 and .270, they both work great. I use .308. Once used my .458, I don't recommend it. Seemed to waste a lot of meat. ) Just had to do it once.

 

[OhioChief]

Although here in Ohio all you can use is a shotgun or black powder. Both of those leave a pretty big hole, so I'm not really sure what the upper end would be.

 

[303tom]

In the state of Missouri we can legally use any center fire round...........

 

[highbrow]

Here there are no caliber restrictions. I usually use a 308. Have shot them with a 223, worked ok. Have used 7.62x54R, 8mm Mauser and 30-06 with excellent results, however they borderline on overkill. Shoot them in the ribs and no meat is lost, even with a 458.

 

[morcey2]

I won't hunt them with less than a .243/6mm. Mule deer out here get pretty big. Legally, we can hunt them with any centerfire rifle with an expanding bullet. Unfortunately, that means some people lacking better judgement use 204 Ruger with varmint bullets since that fits the legal definition.

I currently use 30-06, 8x57, and 7x57. I'm building a 257 Roberts/6mm Rem (haven't decided yet) and a 6.5-06. At the moment, I'm partial to the 7x57.

Matt

 

[shiftyer1]

Back home I used a 12 ga but hunted with a lady who used a .410 with good results. Here i've used a .38, it was season but I wasn't hunting deer at the time, stumbled onto the perfect shot around 30 yards. It worked alright, .357 works well out to around 80 yards. Thats with a carbine. I prefer 30-30. I don't have anything bigger than 7.62/54r. <<<<At the ranges I shoot at it's overkill! I know some folks use .22 short or .22lr with good results but that a different story. (don't know how to make a sighing smiley, so pretend one is here)

 

[Inebriated]

If you actually mean caliber, then 30 cal.

As far as cartridge goes, 7.62x39 is the minimum I'll use, but .308 is my favorite.

 

[R.W.Dale]

I've killed deer with everything from. 223 to 450bushmaster.

The thing they all have in common is that all a person needs to do is put the bullet where it belongs. Fail in this task and they're all pretty ineffective.

posted via tapatalk using android.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

In the real world I would shoot a deer with anything that was legal. If that be a small bore cartridge, I would simply adapt my hunting technique and pick my shots.

If we are talking evil hypothetical, then I would shoot a deer with anything I had at hand when the shot presented itself. A head shot with a .22LR will do the job out to 50 yards.

With proper shot placement, virtually anything will drop a deer. In real world hunting situations, literally anything your state DNR allows you to use will have plenty of power provided you do your job and shoot within reasonable parameters.

 

[juk]

The smallest that I would personally use on a deer is 223. I have a friend that hunts exclusively with it and does well. Last year he took a doe at 180 yards, so the little round definitely has the power to kill. You just have to pick your shots carefully. My main go-to hunting rifle is a 308. I do not have any doubts regarding the lethality of my 308 out to any range that I can reliably (and ethically) make a shot.

 

[Dr T]

The only deer I have ever wounded and lost (out of 50+) I shot with a 223.

I restrict my deer hunting to 243 (6 mm) and larger, but that is intellectually because of the bullet construction (and emotionally because of the lost game animal). The largest rifle bore, I would use is a 50 caliber muzzleloader (but that is because it is the biggest bore I own).

 

[Picher]

The smallest deer cartridge I'd use is a .243 Win. The largest to date was a .30-06, which took about 20 deer over the years, but now use a .270 Win.

 

[Legionnaire]

Although .223 has been effective for many, I've never used it. My minimum threshold is .243 Winchester, although I generally use a .308.

Highest? Don't know. I'd hate to see the DNR restrict that just on size alone, especially for reloaders. Personally, I'd probably not use a centerfire rifle cartridge bigger than the .30-06 on deer, but that's taking energy into consideration; I'd happily use a .35 Remington or a .45-70. But what about pistol cartridges, including the .500 S&W? What about muzzleloaders that go upwards of .70 caliber? I'd hate to see any of these restricted.

 

[Beak50]

Probably 18 yrs. ago my wife came running in the house after leaving for work.She had dragged a Deer that had been hit by a car off the road and wanted to get it out of it's misery.So I just grabbed the .22lr went and had to shoot the deer in the head at point blank 9 time's until the thing died.I can't see anyone using that caliber for Deer.

 

[Moose458]

Anybody that would hunt deer with a .17 or .22 caliber should be taken out and horse whipped. Just because a small bore CAN kill doesn't mean it's the right thing to do. Real hunters try for a clean kill with enough gun to do the job!

 

[LeonCarr]

Remember its placement, not power when shooting deer. Yes, you can take a deer with a .22LR, but in most places it is illegal and usually done by poachers using eyeball shots and spotlights .

I would also consider the .243 a sensible minimum.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

 

[mdauben]

What is the smallest caliber you would shoot a deer with and what is the largest.

Smalest? Probably .243 Winchester. I'm not terribly comfortable with the .22 centerfires for deer size game.

Largest? Probably .30-06 Springfield. I find most of the .30 magnums and certainly anything more powerful to be overkill on deer.

YMMV.

 

[jerkface11]

Anybody that would hunt deer with a .17 or .22 caliber should be taken out and horse whipped. Just because a small bore CAN kill doesn't me it's the right thing to do. Real hunters try for a clean kill with enough gun to do the job!

What counts as enough gun and what counts as a clean kill? Dead right there? Runs 100 yards and dies?

 

[Shadow 7D]

great aunt hunts with a 10/22
she's 75 and calls anybody who hunts with something bigger, well, you just have to know where to shoot,

of course she is backed by her husband and sons
but... she's taken more than a few trophy class bucks

OH, but she hunts on a varmint permit since she lives on a farm.

 

[trex1310]

smallest = .243
largest = 30.06

 

[lowerunit411]

smallest: .243
Largest: 45-70