Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 30-06 too much for deer?

I used a .30-06 for 11 years straight w/150-180 gr bullets, mostly 165s, it always killed quite well.

I could see how it would be "too much" for some hunters who can't handle the recoil, but I tend to think "too much" has a lot more to do with handling recoil and being able to shoot a rifle accurately than anything else, some guys buy rifles that kick too hard for them so their peers don't think they're a "puzzy".

I've never had that problem, I've always shot what I like, and the .30-06 was my first love, I got it because I wanted it, then I learned to shoot it because I wanted to. I never thought the recoil was that bad, especially compared to a 12 gauge and slugs, the first "deer rifle" that I owned.

Some guys can and will use a .375 H&H on deer to great effect, that's too much for me though, my dad has been killing mature Wisconsin bucks every year with a .243 since 1976, he's also used a 7 Mag on 7 or 8 Mule Deer, but has since gone back to the .243 for all deer without any problems.

The reason he switched back, lots of surgeries left him weaker than he once was, his tolerance for recoil has gone down, plus he doesn't like dragging that heavy, long-barreled 7 mag around anymore, this hasn't affected his success rate one bit though.

On the other hand, my grandpa who's a towering 5'7", used a .300 H&H on deer and elk until he was 80, he can't hunt at all anymore unfortunately due to arthritis, but he was a hell of a shot with that old rifle.

Hell No!

Too much, no. Are there better rounds for deer, yes.

No it is not to much for deer. Although, I prefer a 350 Rem mag, 338-06AI, or my newest favorite 300 Weatherby. I like them to drop in their tracks when lung shot.

Don't count on that, no matter what you shoot them with.

Prefer my 257 Roberts or 308 for the most part.

Why would you say something ridiculous like that?

I lung-shot three deer this year, one ran 80 yards, One 60, the other 110. I have lung-shot them with .45-70 loads that generate well over 3000 ft-lbs of energy, resulting in 60-70 yard sprints. They do leak REAL good with that rifle (and the .44 mag), though,

I have come to two conclusions over the years.
1: It doesn't matter what you (lung)shoot them with, they can run some distance.....and will.
2: Kinetic energy, as a measure of lethality, is worthless.

CNS or "Runnin' gear" shots generally drop them.

Two of the fastest drops I've seen were done with a .300 WinMag at 40 yards (no surprise), and a .30-30 at twice the distance. The common denominator was they were both shoulder shots. Of course the .30-30 was easier on the meat.

It isn't ridiculous. Lung shot deer can go pretty far, even when shot with a powerhouse rifle.

Projectile and shot placement matter........everything else is for the dogs.

Shot deer with everything from a 223 up to the 300 Win Mag - can't say any one is better than the other . Put the bullet in the cranium, neck or heart / lung and its "Goodnight Dick"!!!!
Gus

You pretty much said what I did, but with a lot less words...

Like Boxer said, "the .30-06 is the worst cartridge based on the .30-06 case". That pretty much settles it.

While the .30-06 is more than enough for deer, that's different from saying it is too much for deer.

Steve.

Best quote I have ever heard!

I liked it so much I robbed it for my sig line.