Which would you use for whitetail in this situation?

[Captcurt]

JMHO.

I have been fortunate to try a bunch of different calibers. 243, 257 WM, 260, 6.5X55, 270, 7mm TCU, 300 Sav., 30-06, 300 WSM, 308 Norma Mag., 357 Mag., 44 Mag., 45LC, 45 round ball out of a muzzle loader, and 50 cal, both Maxi-ball and Sabot loads. All of them worked, but the majority, over 30 deer and antelope, have been with the 270. In this scenario I would go with a 25-06 or a 270.

As far as the DRT goes, it is a crap shoot. I have had deer go 100 yards with a well placed shot and the next deer hit in the same spot might drop like a rock and this is with the same caliber. The type of bullet places a big part. I usually try to hit 1/3 of the way up and tight behind the shoulder. Sometimes they drop, sometimes go 50 yards.

I am with H&H when it comes to brush busters. When I was a teen we ran some test by shooting different calibers and bullet weights through a Sumac patch. The only load that consistently made it to the target was Buck Shot. Preferably 00 and then it was iffy when the range was over 35-40 yards.

 

[Bang!]

I always try to take the broadside double lung shot. May be because I bow hunt, too. Often pass on deer if I can't get that shot. Definitely pass with bow. Just see lungs as the biggest target. In my experience, deflate both lungs and they're not going far. Midsize TN deer.

High shoulder sounds interesting. Sounds reasonable enough. Keep that in mind this season.

 

[Sun Tzu warrior]

H&H, Yeah I guess we are talking apples/oranges here.
If you re-read my posts it was done with bow hunting in mind. I clearly stated that a high powered rifle might change the game so-to speak.
I guess I should not have given my input being a bow hunter, when the OP was talking rifle.
That said, Yes, I do wait for a quartering away shot.... the only ethical shot with a bow. Also with that shot placement I do take out the diaphragm as well, Hard the breath with a hole in the diaphragm.
You seem to be implying that I'm lying about my personal experiences. The following information provided by Colorado State University references the human liver, but human and animal liver functions are known to parallel each other very closely and in fact most liver research is done on pigs. "The liver receives approximately 30% of resting cardiac output and is therefore a very vascular organ. The hepatic vascular system is dynamic, meaning that it has considerable ability to both store and release blood - it functions as a reservoir within the general circulation.

In the normal situation, 10-15% of the total blood volume is in the liver, with roughly 60% of that in the sinusoids. When blood is lost, the liver dynamically adjusts its blood volume and can eject enough blood to compensate for a moderate amount of hemorrhage." 10-15% of the total blood volume is pretty significant, and as you can see, the normal reaction of the liver is to release blood when it senses a drop in blood pressure, so particularly when the vena cava is cut, the result can be a rapid loss of as much as 15% of total blood volume and a diversion of said blood.


I have proven results, and the mounts to show for it,
albeit not the black death.
H&H, shoot them wherever you like, and I will do the same.
To all you other folks out there, don't believe me, or H&H...........
go on line and search "Liver shot deer" then formulate your own opinion.
Yeah some go a ways like H&H said, but in my personal experience, they have not.
STW

 

[GRIZ22]

Shot placement has more to do with it than caliber.

I knew a Navy Chief that grew up very poor in Oklahoma. He said he always did head shots on deer with a 30-30. No deer, no meat. Maybe not a good way if you're looking for a rack to hang your wall.

 

[Nature Boy]

Like a few of you guys, I'm become a double-lung shooter. Less meat damaged and if the right bullet is used there's generally a lot of blood.

This is from a double-lunged buck I killed last year. 180g .308 Nosler BT. Stevie Wonder could have tracked this trail.....



.....and it only went ~35 yards

 

[MCgunner]

You don't list a rifle caliber I own, but mine are pretty much no better than the ones you list. i have not had problems with my .257 Roberts, my .308, or my 7mm Rem Mag (don't much use this one anymore as I now hunt woods). I do concur with H&H....

"High shoulder shot or neck shot. Caliber is insignificant in this situation. Pick the rifle you shoot best."

As for dragging out deer, I have never had a problem with my dirt bikes, but I just got my hands on an Arctic Cat ATV which does make things easier.

 

[MCgunner]

Like a few of you guys, I'm become a double-lung shooter. Less meat damaged and if the right bullet is used there's generally a lot of blood.

If you break the shoulder, the deer goes NOwhere. What little meat is lost is just grinding meat anyway. I'd rather waste a few ounces of meat than have to blood trail a deer in the dense woods in the dark. I see 'em "wait 'til morning" on TV a lot, fine if there's snow on the ground. It's been since Christmas 2004 that I've seen snow on the ground in south Texas. It's usually 85 degrees in January. If you like rotten, bloated meat, I guess you could "wait till the next day".

I've taken up bow hunting, blood trailing being the standard rather than the exception. I prefer to hunt mornings and leave my afternoons for dove hunting or something during bow season. I don't want to lose a deer in the dark.

 

[H&Hhunter]

H&H, Yeah I guess we are talking apples/oranges here.
If you re-read my posts it was done with bow hunting in mind. I clearly stated that a high powered rifle might change the game so-to speak.
I guess I should not have given my input being a bow hunter, when the OP was talking rifle.
That said, Yes, I do wait for a quartering away shot.... the only ethical shot with a bow. Also with that shot placement I do take out the diaphragm as well, Hard the breath with a hole in the diaphragm.
You seem to be implying that I'm lying about my personal experiences. The
STW

STW,

I was not implying in the slightest that you were lying. I apologize for coming across that way. What I was implying is that to get the quick kills that you are describing you MUST have hit more than the liver. Which is exactly why
I asked you about rear quartering shots. And you answerd my question. With a rear quartering shot you are getting liver, lung and probably some massive cardiac vasculature.

Mystery solved, question answered. That is an extremely deadly and fast acting shot especially with an arrow.

And we will remain in disagreement about the comment on heavy slow bullets not defecting on brush. It simply doesn't work that way. Any bullet can and will deflect after hitting an obstruction. The old "brush buster" thing is a fairy tale.

 

[buck460XVR]

They all kill equally well. I'd take the one that was most accurate.

This, best answer on the first reply. Only thing I would add is "most accurate for you". Any of the calibers listed will do what you are asking. The issue is not with the platform or the caliber, but with your limitations and proficiency with them. Non of us are better judges of that than you.

 

[FL-NC]

There's no "waiting till morning" to recover a deer where I live. You can do it if you want a lesson on what coyotes can do to a deer over a night, but all you will see is a mess and a wasted deer.

 

[Nature Boy]

If you break the shoulder, the deer goes NOwhere. What little meat is lost is just grinding meat anyway. I'd rather waste a few ounces of meat than have to blood trail a deer in the dense woods in the dark. I see 'em "wait 'til morning" on TV a lot, fine if there's snow on the ground. It's been since Christmas 2004 that I've seen snow on the ground in south Texas. It's usually 85 degrees in January. If you like rotten, bloated meat, I guess you could "wait till the next day".

Can't argue with any of your logic MCgunner. I've taken deer with shoulder shots too.

And it's always prudent to be more discriminating on the shots you take on evening hunts, regardless of where you prefer to place you crosshairs. I'm in Texas as well and the hunt for a crippled deer can't wait till morning. If the heat doesn't get ruin the meat, the 'yotes will.

 

[MCgunner]

I'm in Texas as well and the hunt for a crippled deer can't wait till morning. If the heat doesn't get ruin the meat, the 'yotes will.

That's a fact. I bow hunted successfully last season for the first time. I hunted with a crossbow and only made morning hunts for this reason. I think this season I'll bow hunt the morning, grab my shotgun and go dove hunting in the afternoon. Sounds like a plan.

 

[ericuda]

I picked the 45-70, that is what I have from the list. Scoped and loaded with 405 grain going at 1600 would be a good fit for distances shown. On a side note I would bone in the field and not drag the whole deer home.

 

[entropy]

In the photo with the red dot on the deer, the dot is 4" high and 2-3" in front of the aorta. I've hit the aorta on all the deer but one that I've killed. (That one was at 125 yards with a .50 ML; I over corrected and hit 2" high, through both lungs-she went 20 yards and dropped.)

The 'red dot shot' is going to ruin a lot of meat no matter where it hits-unless it hits the spot I usually aim for. Hitting the red dot spot will damage the lungs at their top, but you might be tracking that one-heck I took the aorta off a buck at 75 yards with a .30-06, and he flat out bolted 75 yards before ducking under a log. I shot right at dusk, had to find him the next morning. There are too many variables involved. That buck was running on adrenaline from being chased through a swamp. I deplore the spine shots I see on Outdoor TV; not because I doubt the guys on the show can do them-obviously they can. It's Elmer Six-Pack seeing that and deciding that's where he should be shooting his deer.....but not putting in the practice to be able to do that consistently.:banghead:

 

[brewer12345]

I'd vote for the .35, the .44 or the .45. Big bullet, big wound cavity, big entrance and exit holes. Lots of blood to track and very good knockdown power. At 150 yards or less, any of them would do a great job.

If an ATV is not in the budget, how about a cart? You could also quarter/bone the deer in the field and make more than one trip with a modest load on a cart and not kill yourself.

 

[Gtscotty]

In the photo with the red dot on the deer, the dot is 4" high and 2-3" in front of the aorta. I've hit the aorta on all the deer but one that I've killed. (That one was at 125 yards with a .50 ML; I over corrected and hit 2" high, through both lungs-she went 20 yards and dropped.)

The 'red dot shot' is going to ruin a lot of meat no matter where it hits-unless it hits the spot I usually aim for. Hitting the red dot spot will damage the lungs at their top, but you might be tracking that one-heck I took the aorta off a buck at 75 yards with a .30-06, and he flat out bolted 75 yards before ducking under a log. I shot right at dusk, had to find him the next morning. There are too many variables involved. That buck was running on adrenaline from being chased through a swamp. I deplore the spine shots I see on Outdoor TV; not because I doubt the guys on the show can do them-obviously they can. It's Elmer Six-Pack seeing that and deciding that's where he should be shooting his deer.....but not putting in the practice to be able to do that consistently.:banghead:

If you'll read the earlier posts, you'll see that it has already been discussed what the high shoulder shot hits (not the spine), and what the usual result is (straight down in their shadow). If it's not what you're used to, that's fine, but those of us that have tried it know that it doesn't shoot up that much meat, works great, and usually results in no tracking job at all. I have no idea where the comparison to Elmer six-pack came from, but it's not very High Road.

 

[H&Hhunter]

Heres the deal. I know it works because I've used it on HUNDREDS of critters over the years. In Africa, Alaska and the lower 48. It works on big critters like Cape buffalo and it works on little critters like deer and the tiniest antelope. It works on hogs and it works on bears too. So either give it a try or not your choice. But there is no reason to get angry about it.

 

[DM~]

I couldn't vote, as there should have been a choice of, "any of the above". (for your purpose)

DM

 

[Bullseye]

I have decided after loading up some 117 gr RN flat based Core-lokt bullets for my 25-06 Ruger #1 that I am hunting with that.
It has a great Leupold scope and is very accurate and nice trigger pull.
The bullet is fast & heavy enough and has dead deer written all over it.
It was the ammo/rifle/scope combination that made up my mind.

View attachment 224038

 

[red rick]

I like your choice .

 

[jmr40]

How fast are you shooting them. That bullet is designed for 257 Roberts speeds and from a 25-06 may explode on impact giving poor penetration up close. Also, the RN design looses energy and speed FAST. In fact the better 30-30 loads will have more muzzle energy and drop about the same at 150 yards.

 

[Dog Soldier]

I prefer my Steve Zinn built East Tennessee flintlock long rifle. It is a .54 caliber round ball caliber. Loaded with a .535 round ball and 110 grs of Goex Ctg, Grade 2 X it will take out a White Tail at 200 yards, It also takes me back to another time.

 

[Bullseye]

jmr40 sez:

How fast are you shooting them. That bullet is designed for 257 Roberts speeds and from a 25-06 may explode on impact giving poor penetration up close. Also, the RN design looses energy and speed FAST. In fact the better 30-30 loads will have more muzzle energy and drop about the same at 150 yards.

I have 49 gr of IMR 4350 under these bullets and they should be going about 2850-2900 fps.
I don't doubt you that they may explode or expand dramatically but I'll bet the deer will NOT run away wounded. I can't imagine just a cratered broadside flesh wound and not an entry hole. Maybe a big one on the other side of the deer?

 

[Orcon]

That's about what factory Core-Lokt ammo runs. My brother and my uncle have killed a number of critters ranging from coyotes to elk with that very bullet, to great success. The more I look at those Ruger no.1s the more I want one.

 

[Sniper66]

Last weekend my buddy and I killed 2 does with a .243, not the model 70 Win that you listed, but a Rem 700 VLS. Both does dropped where they stood with a shot just below the chin at 100 yards. The shots were almost identical. We drove right to them, field dressed, loaded them into the truck and hauled them to the processor. I also shot one last year with my Remington 700 BDL .270. Different shot placement, blew out her heart, but the result was the same. The .243 was 100 gr Hornady and the .270 was a Remington 130 gr Core-Lokt. I am careful about shot placement and the deer location because at the age of 70 with bad feet and ankles I can't drag a carcass either. But, I can still shoot.