what calliber rifle should i get for hunting deer?

Question

i live in western pennsylvania and i am in the market for a deer rifle that can also handle elk. ive heard a lot about a 30/06 but im open to other opinions

Answer 1

You should get Rem 700 .308. It is highly accurate over long range and won't turn your trophy to hamburger when it kills it. That would be my choice, but there are also several rifles out there that will do the job. 30-06 is a good choice, as is a 270, or a 300 Weatherby. Whatever you choose, make sure it feels good in your hands. A weapon that is uncomfortable to hold will be uncomfortable to shoot. Also check the price of ammo before you buy the rifle. Some ammo is A LOT more expensive than others.

Answer 2

The .30-'06 Springfield and the .30-30 WCF have been THE DEER CARTRIDGES of the last 100 years and more.

You can kill an elk with either cartridge, if you get close enough and put the bullet in the right place. However I would not call either of them real elk cartridges. I'd prefer a .358 Winchester, or a .35 Whelen for elk.

The .358 Winchester is a fine all around cartridge for the Lower 48 States. It is not overly powerful for deer, and it has enough oomph for elk, moose, and even large black bear.

Doc

Answer 3

If i replaced into doing the paying for, i could purchase that style 7 in .260 Remington, that's clearly based on the .308 Win. case. This cartridge could have somewhat mild balk, yet nevertheless have the sectional density for good penetration on quartering photos. The a hundred and twenty grain weight will artwork properly on deer with desirable bullet, so will a hundred and forty grain, however the heavier bullet isn't mandatory. i could desirable it with some variety of Leupold 2-7x33 scope, or a similar scope from yet another high quality style. even perhaps a fastened 4x... rather intense magnification isn't mandatory for searching deer in wooded components, or everywhere else somewhat, nor could I mount an excellent scope on a trim rifle like the style 7.

Answer 4

too handle elk also i'd start at 260 rem, 270 winchester, 280 rem, 30.06, 308, 8mm mauser allhave moderate recoil an a flat trajectory
heavier recoil 7mm mag,7mm(winchester short mag wsm), 300 mag, 300wsm, 325wsm, (note that wsm cartridges are expensive unless you reload) shorter range 150yds and under 30-30,35 remington,444 marlin ,450 marlin, 45.70.
slug guns are good also especially since only a small part of area 2b you can use a rifle all above calibers are also good for black bear. best to look at your maximum shooting distance an recoil sensitivity an go from there the 30.06 with proper bullets will take any north american big game talk to friends family or join a local sportmens club and get people to let you shoot different calibers to see what you like nothin sucks worse than buying a rifle in caliber you think you have to have a getting beat with recoil and your accuracy will suffer the 270 has heavy bullets for elk and bear as well as lighter bullets for deer mine will shoot handloaded 130 grain hornady interbonds, factory winchester 130 grain powerpoints and handloaded 130 grain nosler ballistic tips in one large ragged hole all day at 200 yards unless you reload stick with established calibers not the flavor of the week

Answer 5

If all you're going to hunt is deer the .25-06 Remington is a stellar deer rifle. So is the .270 Winchester.

H

Answer 6

30-06 should be perfect for elk. It's way more than you need for deer, but that's not a consideration if it's going to be a dual-purpose gun. And you'll be joining the mainstream, who lately seem to need a lot more gun to kill deer than we did twenty years ago. I've even seen people buying 30 caliber magnums exclusively for deer, and they would have been laughed out of camp a few years back.

Answer 7

You can't go wrong with a .30/06; it is a great choice.

In existence for over 100 years, it is a proven caliber that is used successfully on all species in North America with exception to bear (I suggest something bigger for the great bruins). Although, some do use it on bear.

Factory ammo is plentiful, affordable, and available in various bullet types and weights. If you reload, you have even more ammo options.

If you were only to have one hunting rifle, the .30/06 is one of the top choices and, in my opinion, it should be the center of everyone's hunting rifle collection.

Then practice, practice, practice!

Answer 8

The old 30-06 is a fine weapon and would be a good choice. I like 30 cal. due to the fact that there's more combinations for reloading than any other caliber in existence. If your into reloading like myself, this can make things a lot simpler. Any of the 300's would be fine for elk (but not necessary) and will deliver mucho amounts of abuse to your shoulder (the Weatherby will hurt even more)
Just rememnbe, Theres no "one perfect gun", but you can get close.

Answer 9

It depends on your hunting territory. If your hunting wide open country, you'll want something that shoots long and flat with a more aerodynamic bullet for accuracy. If you're hunting thick hardwoods, you may want something shorter and lighter so as not to bang it on every tree branch in the woods. If you hunting area is anything like what we have here in most of Michigan, a combination of open and hardwoods, then a 30-06 is a fine gun. It has good down range accuracy, and also a heavier, rounder bullet so it doesn't deflect as much if you clip a small branch down range.

Answer 10

30-06 and .270 have long been the standard rifle calibers for white tail and mule deer. If your looking to shoot something bigger like Elk though, I would suggest getting just a bit bigger caliber. Not necessarily a heavier bullet, but one with a little more thump to it. Personally, I shoot a 300WSM at everything bigger than a chipmunk.