whats a good deer caliber?

Question

preferably under a .30 cal.

Answer 1

Personally, when rifle hunting, I prefer to use Remington 180 grain .30-06 CORE-LOKT fired from my M1-Garand. While this is a .30 caliber round, the fact that the Garand is gas operated lessens the recoil.

I always wish to bring down the deer with the first shot, and can't remember the last time I failed to do so with this round. I'd hate for a deer to suffer and therefore want to use a round that I'm sure will accomplish the desired results with the first shot.

I'm not sure that a round smaller then .30 caliber could bring down a deer with the first shot.

Answer 2

My choices would be 25-06, 7mm-08 or 243, and the 25-06 would be my first choice.
I am not a 270 fan because I have the 25-06 and 30-06 and the 270 is between the 2 and offer me no advantage over the two I all ready have, and I feel with what I have, I have the best of both worlds.
The 25-06 is flatter shooting over the 270 or 30-06.
Where as the 30-06 is harder hitting over the 270 or 25-06.
And in light of the fact I reload I can make the 25-06 or 30-06 do anything I wont.
But you stated you are not interested in any 30 cal.
So I would say the 25-06 and 243 will get the job done in an impressive manner, and get you farther away from the 30 cal diameter.
These two calibers work very well for deer and as so fun for Varmint hunting.

D58

Answer 3

For deer a good rule of thumb is nothing smaller than a .243 Winchester. Good deer calibers:

.25-06 Remington (a stellar deer caliber); .270 Winchester; .308 Winchester; .30-06 Springfield; and as long as you keep the shots at short distances (up to 150 yards) the old .30-30 Winchester.

H

Answer 4

A .243, a .25-06 or a .270 are all good bets. If you aren't dead set against a .30 caliber, look at a .308 or a .30-06. Anything bigger than a .30-06 is overkill and you don't need the extra recoil that they would give you. Many places anything in the .22 caliber such as the .223, etc are illegal because they don't have enough energy to make a good clean kill every time.

Answer 5

Bound's hubby here:

You do not identify whether your hunting will be limited to close in bush and brush or open fields. Therefore, I will recommend a multi-purpose cartridge. Look at the .270 Winchester. Not the new fangled .270 Short cartridges, but the old .270 that is built off of the .30-06 cartridge. The .270 in a good rifle can put most North American game on the table reliably and will ease.

Good luck.

Answer 6

The 7mm Mauser (7x57) has a fine reputation going back to its introduction in 1892. Easy on the shoulder, with its 175 grain bullet it's killed thousands of elephant and with lighter bullets it's flat enough shooting for almost any situation. The 7mm08 has identical ballistics, and I've bought three of those for family members. Likewise the old 6.5mm MS with its long, skinny bullets has an enviable reputation, and though you're not likely to find one of those these days, the 6.5x55 Swedish and the 260 Remington (aka 6.5 Panther) will be very satisfactory. The 243 and 6mm Rem. will work, but you'll have to be selective with your shots (I used one for over twenty years). And the 257 Roberts deserves more popularity than it has now.

Answer 7

Lots of people of smaller stature like the 25.06 or .243 or .270 calibers. They are perfect for whitetail deer.

My 11 year old daughter uses a .270 Remington. She is only 5ft tall and it works well for her.

I prefer more knockdown. I hunt with a .308 Mossberg ATR 100.

Miketyson26

Answer 8

Seems like the 270win. is popular with the other answers to your question. I own several different rifles for deer hunting ad I all ways seem to pick up my Ruger 270 I've killed a truck load of deer with it .270win is a good choice because ammo is affordable and easy to find.I use Winchester 130gr.ballistic tips.Hope you have good luck finding a gun and hope you have a safe and fun time hunting.

Answer 9

243 or 30 30 or 260 or 25-06 or 7mm-08

Answer 10

A .30-30 also called a .30 Winchester Center Fire is the best deer gun with light recoil. It is often thought of as a beginner's deer rifle. These are usually lever action.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.30-30