How many times have we seen that, or some version of it, plastered all over the cover of a hunting/shooting magazine?

We have a handful of different deer species/types here in North America. Whitetail, blacktail, mule deer and variations of those. Yes, I'm leaving out elk, moose, caribou, zebra and unicorns.

Arguments rage. Tempers flare. Thousands are spent on new rifles. New cartridges. New bullets! Handloaders tinker with loads, refining them from .55" groups to .50" groups and rejoicing! Water jugs are blown up, punctured, defiled. Ballistic gel is smashed. Engineers and marketing types debate over the best color of plastic tip to adorn the latest bullet... Rifles are made in stainless, blued, and even camo-dipped finishes....

It's all kind of silly. But an awful lot of fun. Deer fall, as they always have, to a well placed hit. From pretty much anything. Personally, I have used, or seen used:

.223 Rem
.243 Win
6mm Rem
.25-06
.257 Wby
.270 Win
7mm Rem mag
.30-30
.308
.30-06
.300 magnums of various designations
.350 Rem mag (kind of a short, belted Whelen?)
.44 mag revolver
.45 ACP 1911
.45/70
.50 muzzle loader
12 ga slug

The remarkable thing about that list? The deer all made it to the freezer, just fine. No cartridge failures. No bullet failures. Just meat on the table, and antlers on the wall if so equipped.

Pick the rifle, handgun, shotgun that makes you smile when you pick it up, when you just think about taking it afield, and in which you have confidence.

There ya go - Guy being realistic this morning. Meanwhile, back to coffee!

Guy

I would pick .308... because its smack dab in the middle of the list!

It has some velocity, has some mass, most people shoot it well, it comes in many rifles and different actions, affordable to shoot, lots of accurate components from target shooting industry... Plenty of power for a deer, but no one questions if its enough.

Plus it one of my favorites! In a bolt action or one of my sexy curvy savage 99's ;-)

PS. .300 savage is acceptable in a sexy curvy savage 99 too. Little less recoil, just as effective. I shouldn't have sold my savage 99 .300 ;-(

For deer and smaller, I would go 257 Roy

Even though I use a 308 or 30-06 for just about everything up here, I've often thought that for a dedicated deer cartridge you couldn't do much better than a 260/7-08 in a short action or a 270/280 in a long action.

You forgot the 280RSM (7-08)! I've taken them with 270, 7-08, 30-06, and hope to soon take one with a newly acquired 308.

Pick one right now, 270...but I'm glad that I don't have to confine myself to just one.

Maybe not the best deer cartridge, but I've used a 270 when hunting whitetails for the last 40 or so years....

The best one is the one you have in hand when there is a deer encountered that needs shooting.

I have shot deer with bullets from .243" to .458" in diameter, and really didn't notice a lot of difference in the effect.

I generally lung-shoot, the deer bucks and runs 20 to 50 yards, and dies.

The smaller bullets leave lesser blood trails.

Speedy bullets screw with them in a big way. These are the ones that seem to get the most reaction to the shot, and the shorter runs. They also destroy more meat, but that's a trade-off that's part of the deal.

It's the gun itself more than the cartridge for me. I have several that have not been christened but I like to shoot, so not sure if they will be a new favorite. It's plain Jane but I would not want to be without an 06 for deer hunting. If I was advising a new hunter though for a deer cartridge for most hunting ranges, it would be a 7-08. The one I owned is gone now and only got one deer with it but I think it's a nice balance of power, bullet weight, and low recoil.

Even though I am a .257 Roberts fan I agree that the .257 Weatherby is a fine quarter bore and an excellent deer cartridge especially for longer shots and mule deer. The cartridge I have used most in the deer woods is the .35 Whelen loaded with 225 gr. Sierra or Noslers.

For me, it is something of .25cal to .30cal shooting a spitzer of moderate BC and SD between 110 and 160 grains at a speed between 2,700 and 3,100fps. In a bolt action, the middle of the road would be a .260 or 7mm-08 (short action) or .270 (long action). All three of those, or their ballistic equivalents with alternate headstamps, say "deer rifle" to me.

Most of my deer have been taken with a 7 mag or 25-06 but that being said my Daughter Sandi has taken 3 Bucks in the last 3 years on public land in CA (which is not an easy task) wiht a Tikka compact 7mm-08. All one shot kills. Finally had to break down and get one and love it.

Have shot deer with everything from the .22LR though my .45-70.. Plan to shot one with my .375 H & H this fall just because.. My favorite deer cartridges are the the .30's..
.30-30, .300 Sav., .30-06, and the various .300's..

I also have a soft spot for my current .270 and my late wife's old 7mm Rem. mag.. Have a 7mm-08 and have used it on several deer and some antelope.. But I would have to say I like the old .300 Savage better..

My favorite is the 250-3000 Savage loaded with 100 grain Win. Silvertips.
Has always worked good for me. Thin skin deer can't swim out of it if heart or lung shot. Especially a quarting away shot.

Steve

For me it is a 300 Win because it is rare (never) that there is not at least the possibility of seeing something besides a deer that needs shot at, might be a coyote or wolf at extended range, could be a grizzly or black bear that has a bad attitude and lord knows with all those sasquatch out there running around a potent weapon is certainly in order any time one takes to the field. The biggest reason is that most times I am hunting deer I have an elk tag in my pocket too. If I ever start hunting in a place with no bears, lions, wolves, elk or sasquatch I may consider something else, but I doubt it... I know OP said elk was not part of the conversation but out here it is hard to talk deer hunting without mentioning elk and sasquatch, anyway the 300 gets the nod for me based on versatility...

Obviously you and your friends have just been lucky to shoot old deer just as they toppled over from old age or some other malady as you did not list a single 6.5 caliber round or the 7x57 or my favorite the .257 Roberts . What are you some sort of dandy that gets his picante sauce from New York City ???

Taking meat wastage into consideration, yet still wanting a good blood trail, for me the .358 is the best I've used for my close-range blacktail killing.

In more open terrain I'm enamoured with the 7 WSM. Very capable cartridge to say the least, and in a short action as a tangible bonus.

But as the OP says......... pick one, lace up the boots, and go hunting. I could've killed every animal I've killed with the first hunting rifle I ever bought, a 30-06. And my wallet would be bursting with all the money I didn't spend since then, screwing around with rifles <g>.

308 Win

This. Its available in GI surplus form for as low as fifty cents/round. Affordable practice.

Trick question.


There is no "best deer cartridge".

Oh, Guy! You just had to get them going didn't you?

That's pretty succinct and accurate.

Howdy Guy -

I had to travel today to a family funeral, but I almost had time to post this shortly after you initiated this thread.

THE best deer cartridge is the one IN MY HANDS when I hunt.


I refuse to 'own' or 'hunt' an inferior cartridge.

That's as far as I'm going.


Jerry

What ever is in your hands when hunting deer.

I didn't forget a doggone thing - my list is only of those I've either personally used, or have personally witnessed being used.

Regards, Guy

Laughin' here. That's awesome!

You're right, I've NEVER seen a 6.5 of any kind, or a 7x57 or a .257 Roberts kill a deer! I am sure that they're all fine deer killers too.

Obviously, I need to get out more...

Regards, Guy

A 7mm-08 has to be close to ideal.

Yeah - IF it wasn't in a midget case!



Jerry

Laughin' here. That's awesome!

You're right, I've NEVER seen a 6.5 of any kind, or a 7x57 or a .257 Roberts kill a deer! I am sure that they're all fine deer killers too.

Obviously, I need to get out more...

Regards, Guy

Seriously I havne to agree with you 100%. My response on the subject of suitable deer rifles is you can kill them with about any centerfire cartridge the hard part is finding one to shoot at.

Ah yep.
Shot a bunch with 8x57, .260, 7x57, 6.5x55,.20ga, and .54 ML too.

My current favorites are 220Swift, 220 Wilson Arrow, 240Wby, and 257Wby. Of course, these are the 4 cartridges I own in Pre-64 Model 70s.

Coincidence?

Little or big, fast or slow, it doesn't matter. Close your eyes and pick one. The only acquaintances who toted rifles more "magnum-fied" than '06's were also coincidentally the guys who had the most trouble knocking them down for keeps- because they were afraid of their rifles and couldn't shoot them worth squat. One fella I knew swore by his shiny Weatherby .300Mag. I witnessed him swoop down on a deer he had wounded that was trying to get back up, and since he didn't want to waste another of those expensive cartridges, whipped out his Bowie knife (of course a guy like that carries a Bowie knife) with the intention of cutting its throat. I bet that dumbass still carries the scars from that encounter. That 4-point wrestled him all over the hill side!

My pals and I have killed a bunch of deer with various magnum rifles.. And a bunch with non magnum rifles.. The mag.s, do have advantages, but you have to be able to shoot them also.. That takes some work.. The greatest crippler of game and all around poor shot I ever knew, shot a .243 or 6mm..
The two most outstanding deer hunters I knew at times used magnums, not always but at times.. They knew the advantages and could use them.. But these guys were also deer hunters.. They could track, still hunt or use a stand on the ground.. Both killed a number of deer in their beds while still hunting.. That takes some skill in the heavily hunted eastern mountains..

Wyo...thats a case of the Indian and not the arrow. Collectively the worst missers/wounders Ive seen were all shooting a 7 Mag.
Wonderful cartridge...just in the wrong hands.

A .243 for deer would honestly be my pick...but again, it depends on whose hands its in.

Yep!

257 Roberts
7x57
264 Winnie
30-06
300wsm
300 Weatherby
338-06AI
338 win mag
350 Rem Mag
358 Norma mag
375 Ruger

I think that is all on my list. I think the 350 magnum is probably my favorite, although it won't go the distance of some of the others. It usually knocks them flat and doesn't wreck hardly any meat.

There is no such thing as the best deer cartridge. My favorite is the .30-30 Winchester. It'll do all that ever needs doing to any deer in the woods and the woods is the only place I hunt them.

For myself, they one I got deer with last year.. They all can work for the most part. The one I have taken the most deer with? A 8x57 WWII Mauser with a peep site.. Second would be a CZ550 in 9.3X62.. My favorite? A 6.5X55 Swede. Depends on the year and the hunting area. They are all good when one gets meat in the freezer..

I guess that would be relative to the era, climate, ranges, and size of the deer.

These scrawny hill country deer, well maybe a 223 or 22-250 would be all you need. Shooting under a feeder at know distances makes them shine.

Now go to the subzero, wind swept prairies with knee deep snow, then you might want a 300 mag. It's hard to get close to them in that crunchy snow.

308, 270, 6.5 X 55, 7 X 57, 7-08 it's a push. In the past 20 years of keeping records I have used 18 assorted cartridges to take whitetails from the 6mm's up to an including a 375 H&H. I'm a recovering magnum-a-holic and so I try to manage my condition better of late.

Interesting thread.

I seem to differ from the rest of you in that I couldn't care less if I had to use a brick to belt them over the head...probably should be pleased I do not have to though as a bag full of bricks carried for a days hunting would soon wear upon ones resolve.

There are a lot of best cartridges. Depending on where and what kind of terrian. I have shot a lot of deer with calibers from .243-.300win mag. My two favorites have become .260 and 7-08 in a 5.5 pound rifle. Short compact and light. With federal Fusions the Deer are DRT 99% of the time. And when they not they'd only go a few yards. little meat damage with great terminal ballistics. Little recoil they are a Dream to shoot and being very very accurate. JMHO

6.5 Jap.

Duh!

358

270 wby. Not that you need much power to kill a deer. But in South Texas where I hunt, you don't want to have took for him. Hasbeen

Yep, we all know how well armored them 150# corn fed TX bucks are.

Seriously dude, do you really think a 270 Webby actually kills a whitetail any faster than a 308 with BT's, Scenars, or Bergers?

I understand it shoots a bit flatter and will have a Max PBR a little further out, so if that is your goal, due to hunting Senderos, that makes sense, but "killing power"?

Absolutely!

Nearly any CF cartridge will kill deer handily within that cartridge's range of effectiveness. I've killed a bunch with a .243, and never lost a deer wounded with the cartridge.

Works for me . I hate thorns and snakes . Like my deer DRT. All the country looks alike. Really hard to find if the run a little way. How many S Texas hunts have you been on. Hasbeen

6mm

The one you have the most confidence in OR the one you have at the time.

This in spades.

Don't have a favorite so to speak, though I"m somewhat partial to my tackdriving 308 and my suppressed 300/221 lately.

One due to extreme accuracy, other due to quietness...

Deer are not hard to kill, if legal a 22lr would likely be high on my list of meat guns...

My favorite is 308 with 150 grain flat base interlocks.

The buck I shot this year was with a 223 with handloaded 65 grain Sierra Gamekings. I used it because I had just bought the rifle and had too many people telling me that I'd lose deer if I shot it with a 223. The handloads were actually made for an AR I had. I didnt have enough time to work up a load with anything else. I just grabbed a handful and shot a 1" group and went hunting.

Then you should try a Berger Hunting VLD in 243 or larger, high shoulder shot.

No kidding..... My little .260 drops them DRT every time. And these are Wisconsin swamp Bucks..... Much much larger than those tiny Texas Fawns, oops deer. But, if big gun helps than more power to you...... To each their own...

For all around deer hunting my initial response is the 25-06. Covers just about all the bases. But I do have a fondness for the 7mm-08 that we got for my stepson..

I'd throw my hat to a .308 with 150gr cup and core, but really its bullet/slug placement that does, or doesn't do the job with all in your list.

I started hunting with a .308 back in the early 70's back then many considered the 180 grain bullet was best. I took the best deer I have ever harvested with a Hornady 180 grain RN bullet. I later switched to the 165 grain bullet and used that for as long as I hunted with the .308, it always produced a clean kill.

Speed helps kill... so you say the fast 270 ain't it.... but dredge up a fast 243.... WTF.

DRT is always about shot placement to be 100%. Nothing more or less.

I shoot 308 a LOT with bergers... I've yet to see a DRT... FWIW... but then I shoot lungs and don't like wasting meat on shoulder/high shoulder shots...

I should clarify, I see a LOT of DRT with the 308 when I want to, but thats due to head shots.

rost, well said. Shot placement is what causes DRT.. I have to smile when I hear some of these comments.. Hunting antelope one gets to see clearly the reaction of the animal to the shot most of the time.. Deer often are hidden quickly by brush or trees.. A high shoulder shot puts them down, but as you pointed out ruins some meat.. A lung shot mostly involves the animal moving some distance..

If you don't disrupt CNS< its not DRT. Simple as that.

YOu can get DRT, IE dying in place and not moving, at other times but its not 100% reliable.

Just when we started to believe the 257 wtby had some magic to it, and no deer we had shot had gone over 20 steps.... bingo my buddy and I each shot one that went well over 100.... You never know. And then this past fall I shot the biggest buck I"ve ever seen, he did not make it 20 steps... like I said you never know. At least my buddy was happy I used the 257 instead of the suppressed gun since he was truly once in a lifetime buck.

I operate on the theory that an animal is going to run unless I"m head shooting. I prepare for that.

The inferior vena cava is the largest blood vessel in mammals, it is a very thin-walled, low pressure vessel that returns all of the blood from the lower body back to the heart. If you puncture it, you get an instantaneous/marked drop in blood pressure. Google Starling's Law to understand this.

A Berger, placed on or right behind the shoulder, will most often produce enough fragment to puncture the vena cava or the aortic arch, which will have the same result but probably take a few second longer for B/P to drop enough for the animal to go down.

You are correct that "speed kills", that makes modern bullets perform, but once you have enough for the bullet to work (IE 308) more ain't any better.

I have used from 20 gauge pumpkin balls (slugs)up to 300 WSM for White Tail; my favorite has been either my 25-06 or 7mm-08.

Now with the loads\bullets for the 6.5 Creedmoor available I could easily go with a 6.5C...

an efficiency expert will tell u that the best would be one that uses the least powder to do the job. so the short action calibers have the advantage. 308,7mm08,260,243, types.personally i now after 54 years of deer hunting use a 270,but the only mag i have ever used is a 7mm mag ,but just 1 year,i did use a 25-06 for 15 years,and a 30-06 for 10 years

243 netted me more non CNS DRT shots by FAR than I've EVER seen out of my 308. And I can shoot better with the 308 than I was capable of with the 243.....

185 berger around 2500 fps in 308 is more destruction almost than I care for.

I don't care if the deer skips off anyway, I actually prefer it that way even more now that I have a dog that trails... keeps him on his toes. Might have even thought about hitting a few a bit further back just for practice but luckily others that I hunt with manage that without trying...

Federal fusion 120's in the chest is almost always DRT..... Right behind the shoulder. I hate to ruin meat. I like neck shots also. Wished they would sell them to reloaders. Hard to find sometimes.

Some days I wish there WAS just one. Then again, there would only be 2 threads on this website.

"What did you get?"

"Fight with Big Stick"

No. 1 -



No. 2.




I started to point this out this afternoon BEFORE the last post, but this one did it.


EITHER you can get DRT without CNS or you can not.

Jeff - I don't know what you 'mean' but I do know that you CAN NOT have it both ways.


Personally I've had many DRTs WITHOUT hitting CNS but it is NOT 100% - I agree with that.

Where I'm hunting since 2012, I and the deer are TOO close to fences that I don't have permission to cross SO I always go for CNS whenever possible.

Head/Neck/Spine shots are 100% IF you connect.


Jerry

Interesting thread.

I would submit that it is the one you enjoy using the most.

There aint no "best"... but theres a chitload of darn good ones.

I let the platform dictate what cartridge.
Liked my 7 mag BDL, my .30-06 760, my .35 Rem TC, .44 mag ruger auto.
Even the most cool, odd or fun.........isn't the best (because interest changes, even within season).

Pick a few and have fun with them all

358 Win.

Ken

Personally ive shot deer with 270,280,30-06,7mm08,308,7 remmag,300winmag,3030,444marlin,& 45-70.

I own several diffrent calibors i use in diffrent situations but more and more i find myself toteing my rem 700 7mm08 loaded with 139gr interlocks. I honestly cant think of a better all around deer round that has the ability to take any deer from close to far and not beat you to death doing it.

I've spent most of my hunting career on the quest for the best. I used another different cartridge this year (along with some of the old stuff) and it killed just like all the others!

My first and only two with the 6.5x55....

Let's see, I stared in the early 60's.
1. 30-30
2. 308
3. 6/284
4. 25/285
5. 243
6. 270 win
7. 7m/m wby
8. 223
9. 357
10. 7m/m rem
11. 300wby
12. 270wby
13. 22-250
14. 257wby
I ve used all the above but my 2 favorites are to 6/284 and the 270wby. Both shoot really flat over 350 yards. Hasbeen

Guess I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.

These days, it's either 223 or 308 and when I have a wild hair, 243 Win (the not-AI).

I have had/tried

22-250
243 AI
260
6,5X55
6.5 Creedmoor
264 Win Mag
7mm-08
7X57
7 WSM
7 Rem Mag
7mm dakota
30-30
307 Marlin
300 Savage
308 win
30-06
300 Win Mag
300 Bee
300 H&H
300 Dakota
338 Win Mag
340 bee
340 Dakota
35 Whelan
375 H&H
375 Bee
9.3X62
375

My observation has been everything hit died, but with today's bullets (and a few shoulder surgeries), I just can't see any need to go over a 308 with 155 Secnars.

Between myself and regular hunting friends we have used all of the following: Recall two deer lost 6.5x55 and 45-70 go figure. All of the rest have been one shot and at most a 50 yd trail job. All std cup & core bullets or cast.

243
257 robts
250 sav
6.5x55
270
7x57
30-30
308
30-06
303
44 mag
45-70
577-450
450-400
577 martini
50 cal rb
54 cal cal rb
58 cal rb

Nice buck!

I have killed deer sized game with .243, 25-06,.260, 7mm mauser,7 mm rem mag.30-06,8x57 , .338 win.,.458 win. and .50 cal muzzle loaders. The most DRT I had were with the .260 and the .338. Similar performance and no tracking.
The least spectacular of all of them was the .458 . poked a hole through and they wandered off 50-75 yds.
Of course bullets and more importantly shot placement meant more then the headstamp.

The above bears repeating.

Guess I'm just an old fuddy-duddy.

These days, it's either 223 or 308 and when I have a wild hair, 243 Win (the not-AI).


My observation has been everything hit died, but with today's bullets (and a few shoulder surgeries), I just can't see any need to go over a 308 with 155 Secnars.

The .243 was voted best deer cartridge by NRA, SCI, DHA, GFC, MDHA, and BCBH.

I can believe that. As I said I love my .260's. Same case just alttle bigger bullet. Nice light, low recoil and compact......

My first deer was taken with an 06 at a little over 100 yards. Then I switched to the 35 Rem for a bunch of years. Then I bought my first Savage 99 in 250 and have used it for about 20 years. This coming year I'm trying for the Savage "Slam", one deer in each of the 4 Savage cartridges. The first one I'm taking out is a 1912 model in 22 Hi-Power. One that almost got away was the first buck I ever heard grunt. He walked up a trail about 35 yards away dead broadside, but all I could see was his neck and head. I thought it was the biggest rack I'd ever seen. Took a rest and shot through the neck. He took off and ran about 50 yards and stopped on the trail I followed to my stand. Facing straight away from me, I shot him in the base of the neck, DRT. Turned out to be 98 pounds dressed. The giant rack was about the size of your hands spread with your thumbs touching, and pinkies pointing straight out, maybe 9 or 10 inch spread. The first shot poked a big hole in one side and out the other side of the neck, but missed the spine. That was my Marlin 336 in 35 Rem. That was the only neck shot I've ever made that was not a DRT, Joe.

Yep, my boss claims neck shots kill instantly every time... ONLY if you hit it right...

My son shot a .308 in his early years and it impressed me sitting beside him.

A wonderful short range round is the .38-55. We used them in the Mississippi primitive season for a while and four of us killed 40+ deer with the .38 and never lost one. Very little recoil.

You know what they , the second thing to go . I forgot these
1. 303 Brit
2 6/47
3. 25-06
4. 30.06
5. 357 Max
6. 218 Bee
Hasbeen

For whatever reason- me too. I wouldn't dare argue it as the definitive rule but compared to everything else I have used it is uncanny.

kenjs1 - Wyo said, "260 AND 338"



Wyo - I have had DRTs with many diff cartridges and you are ALSO correct about 'placement'.

I have had more DRTs % since 2012 than before BECAUSE...

where I'm hunting I NEED to hit CNS because of Private Property boundaries. When you connect with CNS regardless of cartridge/caliber it's all over but the WORK.


Jerry

And I agreed on the 260 bit. I can't comment on the 338.

(You don't think he used them simultaneously do you? )

I don't take head or neck shots, I always try for double lung and think that was rather implied by the OP.

kenjs1 -

Honestly - I am not interested in 'arguing'.
Below is the OP. Guy did not mention rib/lung shots.

This DRT facet has entered after the OP. I didn't read to find out WHEN it did, it's not that important to me.

And I'm NOT dissin the 260 either. I've had DRTs with virtually every cartridge/cal I've used and NONE can be counted on 100% EXCEPT with CNS.

That was my main point.



Jerry

Argument?
Honestly no argument from me Jwall. Sorry if it came across that way. Your last post of course is compeletely true. None are going to 100%

I read the posts and thought of course you get DRT with CNS so no reason to question that so I figured ribs were 'implied'. Didn't take it as you dissing the 260 at all. I don't get balled up if someone has a different favorite than mine anyway. Be pretty boring around here if we didn't. I just have no info on a 338 but have weirdly consistent results from a 260 -and honestly can't explain why. Of course all future deer I shoot may run for miles with it and things will even out. Hope not but..

All the best.

ken -

I didn't think you were arguing. I just wanted to say that I was NOT arguing either.

We are good.


Jerry

I have used a bunch from small fast to big and slow and in between....the 30-06 and 7-08 have preformed the best day in and day out....but I must say the swift with heavy bullets is like a lightning bolt...

.358 is pretty sweet

Yes it is, but for all ranges up to 400 yds?? Not my pick.


Jerry

6.5 Swede.

.240 Weatherby is my favorite. 30-06 would be my second favorite.

8x57 is my favorite cartridge and my favorite rifle to carry is a .308 Win(Savage 99e) but, nothing I've used on deer has put them down as fast and clean as my .270 Winchester so I guess I'll vote .270.

I been using a 30-06 all my life for deer but i took the leap into a 7mm08 for my primary deer rifle. Havent hunted with it yet on deer but so far my range work has went well and I am enjoying shooting a rifle with less kick. I have few worries about its ability on deer based on the feed back from those of you who have used it.

9.3 x 57. 257 Roberts and 8mm Mauser get my blood flowing, but my new favorite is the "potato chucker".

After decades of deer killin', I'm pretty sure the deer DGAF what you shoot 'em with.

I almost agree w/ya Bob.

The 270/280 can't be beat!! Others come close, even neck & neck, but none beat them.

And ratsmacker is right, deer would rather you NOT shoot them.

Jerry

Best deer cartridge? That is kind of a who knows question. Any rimfire is a bit light, but, ok under carefully contolled conditions such crop damage control. They work great for finishing wounded animals also. At the other end things such as 458 win, 460 Weatherby, any of the big British cartridges, and 50 bmg are a little over the top. Anything in between should do the job. Specific conditions can play into it of course. If I had to walk into a gun shop and just grab a rifle it would be minimum 24 cal with 100 grain bullets and maximum cal of 35. Any thing in that range could arguably be the "best deer cartridge"

I have lots of dogs in this fight, but if forced to choose, I would vote for 308......and I don't even own one right now! Maybe I should go shopping....

The best deer rifle is whatever the best deer hunter has in his hands...

jwall: There is no "best" but there are a lot that work really well..

Which is why I rarely use anything other than a 270 anymore. Others kill as well but no better out to 400 yards, so I just stick to the 270, mostly.

22lr

That's my point. None are 'better' from 0--400 yds.

Jerry

Yes Brad the cartridge does not make the hunter!!

Jerry

It depends on a lot of were you hunt. Where I hunt short action light recoil compact is king. That's why I like something in a .308 cartridge. .260 or 7-08 is very hard to beat. Shots are 10-75 yards and sometimes a rare 200 yard shot might present itself. A lot of hard walking in swamps and thick timber. Smaller the rifle the better.

Deer only would include Antelope and the same kind of country they live in. I'm thinking that a

25-06 with 115gr Partitions would knock the crap out of deer near or far and beyond.

Today that's my answer.

To illustrate:

Lipstick on a pig doesn't make it a beauty contestant!

A bikini on Rosey....ooh, nevermind.

A SORRY hunter carrying a Colt Sauer still is a sorry hunter.

et.al.


Jerry

One of the best

308, 7mm-08, 243 are on my list, 284 Win is at the top.

Yeah, we should all be able to list 20+ ideal deer rounds.

I would say the one, above a 22, in the rifle/cartridge combo that the hunter shoots most accurately.

As someone who HAS hunted South Texas, I completely agree. Maneuvering through mesquite thorns, cactus, snakes, etc is a good way to lose a deer if it goes very far. In the brush country, I'll take velocity and quick expanding bullets.

I've been hunting with a .270 Wby for 20 yrs. Kills like lightning. Great cartridge.

YEP!

I've killed with:

223
243
260
6.5 CM
270 win
7-08
7mm rm
30-30
308
300 WM
300wsm
350 rm

My fav is 7-08 and 6.5 cm

Pstores--- Bingo - hit the nail on the head for me--- depends on the woods or AO you hunt --- I'll take his .308 ,7-08 , .260 and other short actions in 18" -22" tube

Pstores

You do realize that S A rifles w/22" blls are a whole 1/2" shorter than a LA ??

IfN you're looking for a shorter handier rifle it has to be a SA Carbine.

Not only is the OA length JUST 1/2" shorter the nominal weight difference is only ~4oz.

For woods hunting I had a Ruger tanger UL-- 308 w/ 20" bll. That was truly a HANDY rifle for woods terrain.

I guess it's what you get used to. I am very comfortable w/ L A, 270, 06, 7 Mags. No muss No fuss

Jerry

Absolutely I know that. But they are heavier, and most come with 24" barrels in those calibers. So 22.5 - 24 = 1.5" plus another 1/2" for the action. Is 2". Might not seem a lot. But every 1/2" matters in the thick stuff. And they point faster. I use a small light scopes 1-6 or 2-8 is nice. EO Tech hollosight works very well on small fast shots. Every inch and ounce matters when your doing hard walking. I like a nice 6.25 pound gun when hunting the thick timber and swamps. JMHO

I own and have shot deer with .270, .270wsm, 06, 7mm, .300.... I prefer the small short actions.

not to mention the cartridges are longer, so there is more weight there in brass alone! then you have the powder. it all adds up...

Everyone has their preferences.30/06-length actions and cartridges work fine everywhere deer are found.

Having used both short and "long" actions over the years I have found the short action "thing" to be mostly myth when it comes to shooting quickly and accurately ,and a well designed, properly balanced rifle is more important than action length when it comes to shooting fast in thick cover.

These were killed by a bunch of pretty good riflemen in Maine with 270's on Remington, Mauser 98,and Winchester M70 actions. 22-23" barrels. JMHO.

If it fits - YOU - and you like it, use it. Handle many rifles. Some fit individuals better than others. SHOOT many calibers, and find what YOU shoot best. Recoil can be a detriment to shooters. Sometimes less Recoil is a nice bonus and enhances shooters confidence and skill, not to mention range time

Pick a good load/ammo, practice, put thru vitals.

Not more complicated than that

Like ice cream, many flavors to please a variety.

Short action rounds kill just as well as long action rounds, proven time and again. Good bullet - threaded thru vitals...

BS. I was hunting in some thick cover one time with a 24" barrel and had to turn around and go home because the barrel was too long.

Stuff happens.

Yes 1/2" + 4 oz, wow, how could anyone hunt woods with those handicaps??




I would NOT know when that became the norm.
MOST S A I'm familiar with have 22". 243, 260, 7-08, 308, et.al.

Maybe the manufacturers have adopted 24" as standard in recent years. Not that I know of.


OTOH -- I really like the magnums, L A, 24-26" blls, however I want them in Lite configurations.
Not many guys like/prefer that OR at all.

Jerry

My first deer rifle was a Remington M742 in 308. It worked fine. I sold it, and bought a Remington 700 in 25-06, as I was then shooting woodchucks and deer. It worked fine on both. I liked it especially when I sniped deer across a field, but didn't like it as much when sitting in a tree stand or still hunting. Next came my Remington Model 7 in 7mm-08, the original style with 18-1/2" barrel and walnut stock. I still think it's about the perfect woods rifle, but would reach for a 270 if I had to hunt open fields again. Of course, now I have a selection of rifles to choose from....

I'm amazed that some mutherphuqqers can even tie their shoelaces.

THEN I speculate ( not assume) that your first post was sarcasm ?

Jerry

You guys are way behind the times. Cartridges don't matter. You just need a bullet with a BC above 0.5 or you might as well stay home.

Satire.

Now that's funny right there......

I've never used any bullet with a BC at .5 or above...so..

I guess ALL those deer I brought home since 1972 were NOT dead.

Best laugh I've had in a while.

Jerry

PS: If cartridges 'don't' matter...did you THROW those bullets by hand?

Sometimes it hard to tell the difference in print. <grin>

Jerry

.425 to .485 BC at 2,950 to 3,000 fps is the sweet spot.

You know about 'steel traps' don't ya ?

Jerry

Figured when I checked back that this thread would have gotten interesting.

I'd bet good money I've piled more deer up in the woods with an old ADL 22" 270 than most have with everything else. Never seemed to be a problem. Stacked quite a few with a 24" 30-06 too. Guess I never knew I was not supposed to be able to hunt the woods, thickets, and mountains with such rifles.

1NUT: I am not surprised.

A lot of lightweight bolt actions SUCK for still hunting/driving/tracking in the woods. They're too damned butt heavy/muzzle light {in other words poorly balanced} for offhand shooting whether at moving or standing targets, particularly if you're a bit winded from walking/exertion. The old 18.5" barreled, walnut stocked Remington model 7 was one of the worst "woods rifles" ever foisted off on ignorant hunters for that very reason. Give me a Marlin 336 over one of those any day ending in "Y". With a mag tube full of cartridges it balances perfectly and holds steady for offhand shooting. I practice with mine offhand all the time and can handily punch 2" 3 shot groups from 65 yards over and over. I've killed a couple big truckloads of deer in the woods with it, 90% offhand and many of them on the move and have never wished for a lighter bolt action with more power or reach.

I'm gonna wait for the Tikka T3x to come out, then get me one in a .270. I've never had a .270, and figure I prolly oughta try one.

In the meantime, I should be picking up a Ruger American compact all-weather lefty in 7mm-08 on Thursday. Since it appears to be a special run, I figured I better go ahead and get one if I wanted one. I've never had a 7mm-08, either, so looks like I'm fixing to scratch some itches.

243 is the first choice most times. Although a 12 gauge in close with buckshot does a great job when 1/2 dozen or more pellets meet the mark at reasonable ranges.

I've thought for many years that a 6.5X55 is the perfect deer cartridge if a man hunted only deer: One rifle for all of the deer in North America, from little island blacktails and Coues to massive Canadian mule deer, from thickets to wide open spaces. The 129 grain Hornady would be a sweet match.

7mm08 is probably a more practical generic ideal.

However, in my heart of hearts, especially since I like to hunt mule deer, I'd make my perfect deer rifle a .280.

280 should kill as well as the Swede. An article years ago was published. One good bullet was the title as I recall. Fella used the 125 Partition in Swede and -06. Killed Mulies and Elk regularly along w other game.

All dead A 129 nigh duplicates in terminal performance at modest speeds.

What bullet will you run in the 280?

I've killed deer big and little from New Brunswick and Northern New England, to Alberta and the Central Canadian Provinces;and most of the Rocky Mountain states from 4000-10,000 feet,with a 7 pound 270.

Never found it wanting in the slightest,and noticed a 130 Partition made very short work of all of them,no matter the angles as long as the bullet was directed into vitals.

I've used other more and less potent cartridges and bullets in the exact same places. Nothing worked any better.

I've found killing deer to be ridiculously simple. Getting a shot at a big one is the hard part.

Now Bob, you know that's not true.......


Sad thing about 270's and 30-06's is everyone knows that they could have stopped the search for the holy grail long before they started.


Guilty as charged.......

Yet recoil and blast reduction has it's benefits

Now about the benefits of short actions

Now that's some funny schit.....

Bob,

You reckon a 7-08 coulda killed all them deer as well?

I know what I think...

bludog

Bluedog: No doubt....but some were killed before the 7/08 existed. Even after I bought a 7/08 (and have killed with several) I never saw much difference except on a chronograph.

With bullets and loads of the day I might have had to hold skosh higher on the 400 yard stuff.....but I watched a companion dump a big buck off a mountainside at about 375 yards with a a 140- 7x57. The 7x57 was "our" 7/08 back in the day...... So.....


Like I am fond of saying out to 300-500 yards many of these cartridges have been so much the same.

There just isn't a whole bunch of difference terminally between cartridges and bullets in that category.Most important thing is knowing your rifle, how to hit under the circumstances and that boils down to round count and range time plus field experience.

The more I look at ballistic tables, the more convinced I become that the best mule deer cartridge is probably a .264 Winchester Magnum. It is a fairly easy shooting cartridge and with a 140gr bullet it has great energy and accuracy out to 500 yds.

There are dozens of other cartridges ballistically similar to this, but they all seem to have some trade off (more recoil, more expensive cartridges, etc).

JMO

BH63

I like the 264 also, but IMO, for deer, a good 125 or 130gr is plenty and the recoil is even less than with 140s.

I also agree that there is MUCH overlap in performance with a lot of cartridges, and one could, if blindfolded, not tell the difference in the field. Didn't "someone" say "Boolits is more important than headstamps"

270

270 win. Talk about beating a dead horse.... Geesh..

270?? "everybody" knows the 280 is far superior.

Especially the AI version. Hell, it whips the 7mm rem mags azz, if you ask its supporters. Been thinking about buying one and throwing all my other rifles away...

50,000+ threads on guns and how to kill stuff, 4,800 on how to cook it.


Interesting....

Boy that's a fact! People are funny....

Yeah, Deer are easy to kill, yet people will spend hours discussing and arguing the best way to kill them, spend thousands to produce $150+ per pound venison, then make dry hamburgers and crappy chili with it.

Deflagrate

In your Sig line, is that an honest question? about C U P / psi. ?

I have an equation from "Denton" for converting C U P --to PSI.

If you're serious I'll post it.

Jerry

Mostly tongue in cheek. It goes back over a decade to some forum discussions where people had no clue what C.U.P. and piezo electric measurements are yet thought themselves expert enough to help others blow their faces off.
I'd be interested in seeing Denton's formula as I've never seen a single one that powder companies would agree work. Maybe because of liability lawyers, maybe they have no need to do conversions, I don't know. I'm curious though.

First off, I take no credit for this equation except to say I got (copied) it from Mr. Denton B

He has written about it more than once SINCE 2010 when I joined the 'fire. Hopefully he will chime in to define it's dependability. I've read it from him, but don't remember exactly.

It goes like this:

C U P X 1.516..-17902= PSI

my example only...50000 CUP X 1.516 = 75800

75800 -17902 = 57898 PSI
--------------------------------------
50000 is roughly 86.3 % of 57900
NOTE - I take NO credit just THANKS to Mr Denton.

Jerry

Thank you. I'm going to do some comparisons from different data and satisfy my curiosity.

You are welcome.

In answer to your question, How many PSI in a CUP, it's more than 100% <grin>

Even tho this subject had been briefly discussed here on the 'fire, I found that equation when I Googled, PSI/CUP. It brought me to Mr. Denton's discussion/presentation.

There you'll find much more info FROM him.

Jerry

My favorite last year was a .243 Improved and 6-06 Improved. The year prior was a 7WSM and a 7-08, I'm in contemplation what will spark my interest this year. I have a couple light quarter bore barrels that may have a purpose.

Bottom line: Most any caliber with a good bullet is the best on any given day, it's just fun to build and switch things up a bit.

Have Fun

Rob