Three Favorite Deer Cartridges

[KMart]

25-06, 7x57, 243

 

[Hino895]

Am I the only one that uses a 45/70?
In that case 45/70,45/70,35 whelan.

 

[JPMurph]

Only need one and it’s the 270. I am surprised at the number of 270s listed. It’s not one of the more common I’ve seen in the various hunting camps.

 

[dolek]

6.5 x 55 Swede ....257 Roberts... .308 Win ... all with Nosler BTs ...

All 3 bring back some great memories ,if I could pick a 4th it would be 35 Whelan... Probably because I made this shot once...oh to be young again.

 

[thekriebles]

250 Savage, 7mm-08, .30-06

 

[jghoghunter]

257 roberts
7x57
45-70
all depends on how I feel when I get up

 

[mmcu]

270 WSM
7mm-08
30-06

 

[snert]

357 Herrett TC, 243, 7 rem mag

 

[clunker]

Not a single vote for 6.5 Creedmoor, huh? Too bad 'cause that's the only appropriate deer hunting rifle I own, and I bought it specifically for hunting. The other calibers I considered were .270 or .308. 140gr Accubond or Partition should do the trick.

 

[HTSmith]

Not a single vote for 6.5 Creedmoor, huh? Too bad 'cause that's the only appropriate deer hunting rifle I own, and I bought it specifically for hunting. The other calibers I considered were .270 or .308. 140gr Accubond or Partition should do the trick.

It will do very well. I've shot quite a few with a 260 Rem, the uncool cousin of the 6.5 Creedmoor.

 

[426nut]

30-30 carbine in Brazos brush country and 7mm rem mag in west Texas. E.

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Not a single vote for 6.5 Creedmoor, huh? Too bad 'cause that's the only appropriate deer hunting rifle I own, and I bought it specifically for hunting. The other calibers I considered were .270 or .308. 140gr Accubond or Partition should do the trick.

OH...I thought that was a given...

 

[br1111]

Not a single vote for 6.5 Creedmoor, huh? Too bad 'cause that's the only appropriate deer hunting rifle I own, and I bought it specifically for hunting. The other calibers I considered were .270 or .308. 140gr Accubond or Partition should do the trick.

I worked with a rifle builder and shot deer with everything from 22 br to 300 win mag. just about any cartridge will do the job when bullet placement is where its supposed to be. I screwed on a 6.5 creed on my atlas and shot 4 bucks with that this year , and it did an excellent job but since its a creedmore, you need to be at least 500 yards from the deer or there is too much meat damage and with the creedmore, you can hit the deer in the foot and he is dead right there!

 

[Barlow]

220 Swift, 257AI, 6.5x55 or 7x57. Barlow

 

[Rsadams]

6mm Remington...

 

[Murray Brook]

25/06, 7mm/08 , extra long range 257 Weatherby

 

[K22]

One that will deliver about a 1,000 ft/lbs of energy at the max distance I anticipate shooting because in the real world just about all center fire rifle cartridges , 6mm or greater will do the job quite well with proper shot placement. Also bullet choice is important, one that will provide a balance between penetration and expansion.

PS> I've taken white tail with a bunch of calibers from .357 magnum pistol (not recommended) to a 30 -06. A lot depends on where you hunt and the distances you anticipate shooting. Here in the eastern deep woods, shots over 150 yards are rare. I've hunted deer for close to 50 years now and never shot one beyond 185 yards. I never lost one either to a 243
Win.

Too many hunters debate the merits and demerits of various cartridges. While this is fun to do it has little practical value. They all work if the shooter does his / her part. Learning to be a good shot in the field is much more important than the caliber you select. I can remember the debates in our hunting camp in the old days, the 270 vs. the 30 06. Give me a break, they both are outstanding, the deer will never know the difference if you hit them in the vitals.

 

[Bill K]

22-250, 25-06 and 30-06. A whole lot of big game has fallen between those three, for me, depending on what and where I am hunting.

 

[cinch29433]

I used to get out of the truck, rub sagebrush all over my clothes and hat, walk over to the edge of a draw and look for a game trail or some deer and then after a little walking and sneaking shoot a decent buck with anything from a .25-35 to a 8mm Remington Mag. My favorite deer harvests were with a .45-70 or .45 Long Colt. I was always jealous of Costner who could slide a bull bison with a rimfire and have his follower all the way toward empty while doing it, but for me a .45LC inside of 75 yards is pretty cool.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

30TC 150 gr sst