When hunting white tail & pronghorn I’ve used 22-250 with old Winchester 55 grain bullets to 300 Win Mag with 180 grain bullets, plus many cartridges in between. Off hand - 25-06, 270, 280, 7mm RM, more than others listed below besides the 30-06.
I shot more with the 30-06 than any other cartridge using 170 grain hollow point cast, 150 grain, 165 grain and 180 grain jacketed.
I shot four with 300 Savage and a couple with a 308 Win with 150 Interlocks in the last couple of years.
This last time out I brought a 300 H&H with 168 grain GMX and 358 Win with 200 grain Interlock SP’s, but only saw bucks and I had doe tags.
Others I’ve used, 7.92x57, 7x57, 303 British, 257 Roberts, & 6mm. I shot a few with a 54 caliber muzzle loader with round ball and with maxi-ball - the 54 anchors them quite soundly with either.
I shot a couple of does with the 300 Win Mag through the heart. I thought I’d be shooting at a distance which is why I brought the 300 as it was both were less than 20 yards when I shot. One ran a hundred yards or so and the other flopped over.
I shot one doe in the shoulder with a 30-06 and a 165 grain jacketed bullet that the manufacturer said was a “Game” bullet. The shoulder stopped the bullet - it never entered the chest cavity.
I shot a large buck antelope through the lunges six times with a 6mm and 105 grain bullet before he dropped. That bullet was a poor choice!
I plan on using a 44 Magnum & 45-70 with cast bullets next year, if I’m able.
All the above will work with white-tail. I only shot one deer with the 22-250, I’ll not use that cartridge again - I was a hungry college student and that was what I had. I know that other people use 22 calibers for deer and they are welcome to do so.
