Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Favorite Caliber for 200+ Yard Shots?

.243 will kill deer DRT and 22-250 doesn't play games either.

Although I use a 6.5 CM and a 243 these days, there has never been a better deer cartridge ever made than the 270 Winchester. If I knew that every deer I'd get a shot at would be in the over 200 yard range, I'd pick the 270 every time.

Very long list of cartridges that would work, might be easier to name those that won’t.

Get a good laser range finder. It’s far more important than the cartridge. Anything from 243 on up will work fine. I like a 270 with 140AB pretty well for what you planning to do but there are many many good choices. You could even get a CDS or turret scope if you’d like but really not needed for the ranges you’re shooting.

I try to zero at 200 yards. With a scope. 85 to 100 with iron sights

Except for the 45/70, 50 cal muzzel loader, 444, 38/55, 30/30 , 35 rem, 32 WS,12 ga slug, 20 ga slug, 22 , 22 mag.

They’re zeros are a little closer.

These have 200 yard zeros:

300 sav
284/win
356 win
270 win
3006
308 Norma
308 win
708
7 mag
6.5 x 55
7x57 8 x57

I like my 25/06 or my 270 Winchester, but recently bought a 7/08, and am looking forward to see how it does.

7mm-08 is my go to deer caliber, i have a numerous other calibers including 280s, 308s 257 weathebys and so on but i grab my little model 7 7mm-08 99% of the time

243 with 105s, 6.5 with 147s or 7mm with 180s.

Lots of good cartridges listed here. Anything from a 243 on the low end to a 300 mag on the top end. 200 yards is not that far. What's more important is what you are most comfortable with and what you shoot the best. Or I should say what you are most accurate with. For example, a 7mm mag will shoot a 140gr bullet fast and flat. But if you don't tolerate recoil well that might not be the best choice for you. Maybe a 25 06 or a 6.5 creed would work better. Deer are not hard to kill. just use a good bullet and put it in the right place. Personally I deer hunt with a 260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 270, 7mm 08, 280 AI, 300WSM. All very good calibers easily capable at 200+ yards. If I had to pick just one I guess it would probably be the 270.

CrazyCoot: The answer to your inquiry is.... the 270 Winchester.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

270 Winchester is my go to caliber. Never lost an animal and most are DRT.

A 7-08 or a 260 Rem would be high on my list

Crazycoot, do you handload? If you do, what caliber you can load, set up for? Got the components, etc?

Crazycoot, reason I ask this… you are using what now? You may have the gun you need already. Got ammo for it? If not shot a lot pass 200 yards you going to need to practice out to whatever and that going to take ammo…and have you got it and on and on. Give us an idea here of what you got…. if you think you can’t find ammo for all these calibers been suggested the gun you are buying do you no good. Again, do you handload ?

Not the caliber, but the gun. Lots of calibers or cartridges will shoot great at 200 +
I feel most confident at those ranges with my 300 Win Mag.

No, I don't handload.

Like several others have said, .270 is hard to beat. I myself like .25-06

I don't think it matters much

Lots of good ones out there. My favorite is 270

I use a .270 wcf for my sheep hunting, sheep season runs concurrently with the general multi species season here.
I have used many others, but cycled back after seeing no appreciable advantage with bigger chamberings.
Just use a suitable bullet. The selection is pretty wide.
The 150 Partition is my first choice these days.