What is a good caliber for deer hunting in 300 to 600 yard range?

Answer 1

Although that 300 yards is pushing it, let alone 600 (it would be more repsonsible of you to get within a reasonable range of about 200 yards or less) a .30-06 or 7mm Rem. mag will do well. Or even a .300 Win mag.

Or better yet, don't hunt if you want to shoot game at those distances.

Answer 2

For the vast bulk of shooters, shooting much beyond 300 yards should not be considered. While in some places it can be extremely difficult to get in close, unless you are a superb marksman and field shot, you should not consider shooting at a big game animal anywhere near 600 unless you are trying to put down one that is wounded. It is simply unethical, not necessary, and just a stunt. If you want to do long range shooting, get a .22-250 or a .220Swift and take long shots at prairie dogs.

That being said, long shots at big game must deliver enough energy to get the job done and must be on target to a vital area. I would not consider anything less than a .30 caliber and for the extreme would most likely want a 180 grain bullet.

But remember that rifle that will shoot one inch groups at 100 yards can be expected to shoot six inch groups at 600 yards and assuming that the kill zone on a deer is about 8 inches or so, you have almost no margin for error.

If you want to show some skill, get an iron sighted .44 magnum revolver and stalk to within 20 yards before shooting.

Answer 3

if your going to be shooting beyond 300 yds then i am assuming you are in flat country where there is considerable wind also. you should use the 30-06 or a .300 winmag. you could also use the .308 winchester but you will have considerable holdover at 500+ yds compaired to the .30-06 or .300 win mag. basicly stick to a .308 or larger caliber with atleast 2800 fps muzzle velocity and use ballistic tipped bullets. and spend a LOT of time at the range. even the slightest mistake at that distance can cause you too miss your mark by many many feet. use a rifle with a VERY good trigger and get a really good scope also.
good luck and i hope you nail one a long distance but be very careful that you do not just wound a deer because you tried to shoot beyond your capability. no caliber bullet can make up for a lack of practice and basic shooting skills.

Answer 4

First, as some folks have said with varying degrees of sarcasm, you need to be able to train at this distance before you start shooting at game at this distance.
.308Winchester or .30-06 would be bare minimum. I am not aware of anything below .30 caliber that will give you both the range and the terminal energy/bullet weight to make clean kills that far out. Any of your .30 or larger magnum cartridges will do this as well.
For a rifle that will consistently shoot well enough to take this shot, expect to spend $1000. For the optics to let you see to take it, expect to spend the same. Once you get beyond 300 yards it really is more rifle than cartridge, and beyond 500 it's all you...
Good Luck. I'm interested in where you're going that 300+ yard shots on deer are even possible...

Answer 5

Nor the .30-30 nor the .44 Mag. carbine are going to take deer at 600 yards. Neither is the 12 gauge. For that distance you need a .25-06 Remington, 270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield or a magnum caliber like any of the .7mm Mags.

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Answer 6

If you can't get any closer than 300-600 yds, you don't need to be hunting deer in the first place! Most field shots on deer are taken inside of 100 yds, and at that range, any high-power rifle or long barrel shotgun is sufficient, if you're good enough a shot to hit your butt with both hands.

Answer 7

I would like to invite pathfinder to gather up his entire arsenal of weapons he listed and meet us at the range. We'll start at 200 yards, and see if he can hit anything but the ground. Any of the common 30 calibers, or 25-06, .270, 7MM-Mag etc.will take down a deer out to 300 yards. Get much farther than that, and if you haven't practiced a LOT at those distances with the same rifle, I see it as irresponsible.

Answer 8

Up to 300 yards, any of the common (non-brush) calibers from the .243 on up are fine as the trajectories are relatively flat up to that distance. Once you get beyond 300 yards something in the range of 7mm Mag up is needed along with the means of accurately estimating range and ability to evaluate the wind. In addition to trajectory estimation, the remaining momentum of the bullet must be adequate (many people look at energy, but it is the momentum that is most important in assuring adequate terminal bullet performance). Practice and a shooting platform adequate to deliver the precision needed to hit a vital spot is necessary.

Answer 9

For shooting at those kind of ranges I would use a gun that I am comfortable with the 30 caliber is to me a good starting point because of the energy of the bullets at the distances you are talking. Practice at the distances you plan on using your gun. Use bullets that has the energy and will expand at those distances. A steady rest of some sort would be almost necessary because a hair off when you shoot can be feet at the other end. Good Luck

Answer 10

When I read the question my first thought was the "Phase Plasma Rifle in the 40 watt range!" :-)

While I would never attempt a shot at a game animal that far (500-600 yds) the .270, 7mm mag, .308, .30-06, and .300 Win Mag would do the trick.
For Big Game hunting I have a Remington 700 LSS chambered in .300 RUM (Remington Ultra Magnum) that will reach out and touch something. :-)

If you intend to hunt at those distances then you need to practice at those distances.