nevadabrass
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- Oct 4, 2013
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- 4
Can anyone tell me the favorite deer hunting caliber, that caliber should be comfortable to handle by everyone?
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Favorite deer hunting caliber
- Thread starter nevadabrass
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Grunt
Member
.308 Winchester.
This is Shotguns not Rifles or Hunting !...................
Hunterdad
Member
I like 308, but a 243 should fit just about anyone.
dprice3844444
member
308 shorter action,less wight to carry.
Arkansas Paul
Member
Since this is posted in the Shotgun forum, I'll keep it to that.
I think the 20-gauge is very underrated. If you get a gas operated auto, the recoil should be manageable by nearly anyone. And a 3" 20-gauge load is plenty powerful for most game. I'd not hesitate to use buckshot on deer out to 35-40 yds or so if it patterned well. I'd prefer a slug because of the extra range they provide however. With a rifled barrel and optics, you can shoot deer out to 125-150 yds and be well within its limitations.
I think the 20-gauge is very underrated. If you get a gas operated auto, the recoil should be manageable by nearly anyone. And a 3" 20-gauge load is plenty powerful for most game. I'd not hesitate to use buckshot on deer out to 35-40 yds or so if it patterned well. I'd prefer a slug because of the extra range they provide however. With a rifled barrel and optics, you can shoot deer out to 125-150 yds and be well within its limitations.
I like the 308 for versatility and the ability to use it on larger game. Strictly for deer sized game a 243 is probably as good as it gets. While I have never used either, the 260 and 7-08 are contenders as well.
On paper at least the 7-08 is probably better than the 308. But I ain't changing. A 30-30 will work, but why limit yourself when all of the above choices do everything better with about the same recoil or less.
On paper at least the 7-08 is probably better than the 308. But I ain't changing. A 30-30 will work, but why limit yourself when all of the above choices do everything better with about the same recoil or less.
Boostedtwo
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- Joined
- Oct 30, 2012
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- 163
im trying something different this year, 358 hoosier.
interlock
Member
7mm08
for me with 139gr hornady bullets
for me with 139gr hornady bullets
Many 1 shot kills with my 30-06. I cant imagine needing more firepower for anything in NA. Trying 460sw this year and I hope it will be my new favorite. In Nj where I cant use rifle a 50cal inline does a very nice job. To pick a favorite I think you need to define the circumstances a little better.
Long range: 6.5x55 Swede
Short: 30-30
More will work, and even less will sometimes work, but these have a good tradeoff in power and recoil. I would say these err on the side of more power than needed since .243 routinely takes deer.
Short: 30-30
More will work, and even less will sometimes work, but these have a good tradeoff in power and recoil. I would say these err on the side of more power than needed since .243 routinely takes deer.
351 WINCHESTER
Member
.30-30. Not sexy like a .243, but still ready willing and able.
courtgreene
Member
I really love an 8mm mauser. And ridicule me if you must, but I also like .223 remington. I've taken them with many different cartridges, most with a .308 win. but once I started reloading these two stood out. There's a lot you can do with both of them if you reload. During muzzleloading season, .50 calibers are pretty nice. But when it's rifle time, I like using milsurps, and the 8mm and .223 have great rifles with which to hunt deer.
Kachok
Member
Overall the 6.5x55 has it, though hunting in the dense brush I like my 308, larger holes in case I ever have to blood trail one. I also split the difference and got a 7mm-08 which I really like as well, anything in that range will easily and ethically harvest any deer out to any reasonable range without excess recoil or muzzle blast in a compact handy rifle, what more could you want?
Arkansas Paul
Member
Well my favorite is a .30-06 hands down. I just love the versatility of the round. But full throttle .30-06s can be a handful for some shooters. However, with H4895 and 125 grain BT bullets I can make it recoil like a .243 and still ethically take game out to 150-200 yds with no problem. So it gets my vote.
morcey2
Member
243 win, 6mm Rem, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 6.5x55, 260 Rem, 6.5 CM, 6.5-06, 6.5x57, 6.5x47, 270, 7mm-08, 7x57, 280 Rem, 7-30 Waters, 30-30, 300 Savage, 308, 8x57, 460 Weatherby.
I like the 57mm-length rounds listed above as good general-purpose medium game rifles. I have a 7x57 (x 2), 257 Bob, and a bunch of 8x57 rifles. A 6mm rem is in the works this winter also. The most flexible one of the bunch is probably the 7x57. Very manageable recoil and plenty of punch.
Matt
I like the 57mm-length rounds listed above as good general-purpose medium game rifles. I have a 7x57 (x 2), 257 Bob, and a bunch of 8x57 rifles. A 6mm rem is in the works this winter also. The most flexible one of the bunch is probably the 7x57. Very manageable recoil and plenty of punch.
Matt
wgaynor
Member
.30-.30
MCgunner
Member
My favorite kills deer no deader than anyone else's, but it's my favorite because it was my grandpa's rifle and I killed my first deer with it at age 11. It's an old Remington M722 short action in .257 Roberts and, yes, if you can't handle the .257 Bob, you need to turn in your man card. It's a flat shooting round that's good to 400 yards, theoretically, properly handloaded. It pushes a 117 grain bullet to 3050 fps or my favorite 100 grain game king to 3150 fps. The rifle is rather light and handy, too, despite the 24" barrel.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I would love to have a Bob. Always had an interest in them but never experience.
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