Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting The best deer cartridge

So what? That's what talk forums are largely about.

I think "best" is what ya holding when ya deer huntin'...

I have a safe full of "best" deer rifles, from .223 to .375 H&H, not many "gaps" in between....

For a reloader, that's a bunch of options, a lot of "best" scenarios.

I don't typically shoot the same combo very long, often more than one round/load in a season..

Guess I'm more of a gun Loony, hunting is my test lab. And, I like to eat...

DF

Whatever is in your hands when you see the BEST buck you've ever seen.

"Best" is a concept for the inexperienced...

The simple answer for me is 308 and it's good out to 600 yards when I dial for drop.
The majority of cartridges are capable of much more than what the average hunter utilizes so in reality the extra you get isn't needed or utilized.
It's like saying " what's the best car to drive 50 mph? "all of them will do it, it's just your preference on what matters. Comfort, fuel economy or whatever. Rifles for hunting are pretty much the same, it's whatever floats your boat.

Yep.

I love the .257 Rob.

Best all around NA big game cartridge would have to be .30-06.

I like a .300 Win but the good ol 30-06 cant be beat 👍....Hb

.338 Lapua just in case you have to take a 1200 yard shot at the South end of a North bound buck to fill your tag. Don't want to be under gunned in that critical, now or never situation. It needs to be chambered in a 4 lb. rifle too cuz you need to figger in that 3 lb. 6-50X60mm tactical scope you'll need for those 1200 yard shots and you don't want to risk a strained muscle if you have to climb a mountain.

IMO mark (I don’t know him) has given the ‘best’ answer to the ‘best deer cartridge’ question.

Nearly all cartridges will kill deer under ‘some’ conditions.

?someone? Said “the rifle you had in Your hands when you killed your best buck”
In my case that would be my Win 70 Black Shadow in 300 WM AND it was the FIRST
morning I took it hunting !! True.

I do not own A short range deer rifle. I like a rifle that works at 12 yds, feet! < EDIT ----(my closest kill) out to
400 yds. That’s my comfort confidence distance. Many rifle/cartridges combos would fill that
scenario.

MY, repeat MY choice as best deer cartridge is 7mm RM in my Tikka T3X SS Lite.
I’m 70 y o and my choice is the result from deer hunting since 1972 with A LOT of
diff rifle/cartridges.

No one else has to agree. I don’t need anyone else’s permission or approval.
I’m satisfied & happy with my choice and that’s ALL that matters.

YOU should have the same serenity with your choice.

Jerry

Moot Point as I do not require "best", "adequate" is good enough.

Most deer I kill is with a CVA Wolf I bought at Wal-Mart.

Personally, I like my 6.5x55 or my .257 Bob for deer. I guess the 6.5 CM is the new hotness for the kids, at least that is what my 16 year old son tells me. Honestly, deer just aren't that hard to kill.

What he said.

Only, make mine a 150 Partition.

The boys on my deer lease say you must be some kind of commie if you don’t own a 30-06

Does it have to be an 03-A3 to avoid that label or does any 30-06 count?

168 Berger vlds for me

Better (or best) is the enemy of good enough. If only deer is on the menu, I’ll likely grab my .257 Roberts or 7x57. If a combo deer/elk hunt, whichever elk rifle is in my hand with no apologies. Last year I shot a good buck with my 7mm Weatherby due to it being my back up rifle for that hunt. My best deer ever was taken with a .300 Weatherby at 38 yards. He still ate well. My elk rig this year will be my .35 Whelen and deer rifles will be the .257R and 7x57. Happy Trails

Any ole 06 is fine, but extra points if you have an 03 or a Garand

The 06 is a great call but anything the 06 does, a 35 Whelen does better IMHO. I don't shoot deer much past 300 ever and normally am inside 200 when it happens. I just love some 35s of almost any configuration.

Lots of good ones. Its what makes the world go round.

45/70 4 me please.