Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Most miserly cartridge for whitetail

I realize I may be painting with a broad brush initially, but what whitetail cartridge uses the least amount of powder and will still cleanly and ethically kill a whitetail in Eastern Hardwoods out to 200 yards?

ETA: components for said cartridge must be reasonably easy to obtain; current situation aside.

22 long rifle if you drill em’ in the ear.

As I understand it, it's difficult to reload a .22lr, but point well-taken and I agree, although a .22 Mag is a bit better option IMO.

I was thinking along the lines of a 204 Ruger or 22 Hornet, but wanted to get opinions here.

To me, based on cost and availability of all components, a 223 is the slam dunk objective answer, in my opinion.

This is slightly different than you asked, but cast bullets work well with certain fast powders and really do fairly well. An example is I use 12 grains unique in my 358 Win under a 160 grain bullet which propels it to 1650 fps. Some guys do something similar in a 30-06 pushing a 170 grain bullet to maybe 1800 fps. Cast out of lead that is not too brittle and with a hollow point that would be very effective out to 200 yards. So if you are looking purely at powder savings, that would be a viable option.

223 is probably my answer here. It has worked for me. Still, I'd rather use something with a bit more mass, like a lightly loaded 6.5CM/7mm-08 or a full-house 6.8spc/6.5Grendel, as I like a decent blood trail on a lung-shot runner.

Yup, that would get my nod. 25 grains of powder and a 55-77 grain bullet work decent.

6.5 Grendel or 6.8 SPC, either one a better choice than any of the 22's.

I would say 223 as well, but not knowing all the laws in all the states on 22 caliber, I'd opt for 6.5 Grendel or 250 Savage

A .50 lead roundball and some FFF or FF, prolly in for about $0.25.

Some of seafire’s blue dot reduced loads may qualify here. I’m using 19.1 grains in a .260.

Cast loads in a 30-30

I would say a 223 as well

6mmx222 or 25x222. Pretty slim appetite for powder.

I'd go with the Grendal also... I have one...its only handloaded....

28 grains of 3031....

Hornady brass is holding up real well also...

have one batch of 10 rounds that I have now reloaded 20 times...
neck sized, body die, and annealed each reload....

Ruger American Predator.

who??

does that actually count?

Pure lead projectile in a muzzle loader - perhaps the cheapest.
223 with a non-varmint bullet of perhaps 55 grains. I would not go with smaller than a 222 with jacketed bullets.

When I was young we could only afford cast bullets and the rifles were $10 Springfields - it worked. Any 30 caliber cartridge from 30-30 on up would work as well. With the cartridges I have on hand though I think a 375 Win with cast bullets would be my choice or perhaps my muzzle loader.

If you’re going to shoot cast, I think 30 caliber to be minimum (maybe 7mm). The larger the caliber the better to a point for effectiveness.

218bee
22 hornet
222
223


Any of those are fine with a well placed bullet

Good point. And if you are stretching things to 200yds, some of the 4198/RL7 light-loads are good too. A 120gr 6.5mm or 7mm at 2500+/-fps with 30-ish gr of powder is right there with a 6.8spc or 6.5 Grendel load, but may allow you to use a rifle you already own. They are fun to shoot but still deadly, I know that much.

I’d say a 223 with a Bear Claw bullet. I’ve hit 200 lb pigs at 225 yards, gone through both shoulders to parts unknown. A 62 Barnes will also. 26 grains of CFE 223. I wouldn’t be nervous about deer hunting with a 223 out to 200 yards, but have bigger toys to use.