Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Biggest thing you've used for deer

I bring this up since I hunt deer and recently acquired a .340 Weatherby. I know regardless of whatever else I do with it I'm going to take it deer hunting. The vast majority of game I've taken has been with a 30/30 or 7mmRM but hey, I got a 340 so I'm gonna hunt with it. What "overkill" have you used on a deer and what were the results? (If you've got a good .577 vs marmoset story you can throw that in too)

I used a 338 Win Mag for a while when my rifle choices were limited. It's not too bad at shooting up the meat due to the tough bullet construction.
Neck shots can be pretty explosive if the energy gets transfered to the bones. I've a picture around here somewhere that shows a small buck with small entrance and exit wounds, but a hole you could put a softball in where the bones were blown out the back of the neck

A buddies little Ford Ranger...........

Overkill....hardly. Couldn't say who or what got the worse end of the deal.

This was 'before'..

I don't have the 'after' pix anymore but it was a $7,000 kill...

Didn't even think of that. I've got one friend that's a frigging deer magnet in cars. He hit 3 in a two year span. Fortunately none were at high speed or really dead-centered but still...

Tracks got me thinking that where you live might play a big role. I mean, I've never been to grizzly country but I don't know if I'd ever be comfortable without a .338 class bolt/45-70 class lever. That alone would have me overgunned for deer size game.

338WM... But I am prbably gonna try either my 375 or 458 this year just for fun...

Go for it!! You will love it. I use a .375 H&H for my main hunting rifle now and with mine & my brother's .375 I have taken several deer, antelope and 1 calf elk. Generally it doesn't tear up as much meat as my .300 did.

I don't have any marmoset stories but I have used the .375 on prairie dogs. It is hilarious.

338 RUM, 338 lapua

358 Norma...and another Ford Ranger.

375,416

In 2001/2002 timeframe I hit two deer at NAS JRB Willow Grove, PA on takeoff roll in a DC-9. I weighed 102,000 pounds and was going about 100 knots (115mph). I haven't done the energy calculations but I will say that both deer literally exploded. The biggest piece left was a deer head. I'd say it confirms the big/slow projectiles really do kill.



In case you meant a rifle - .54cal ML with a 405gr bullet.

RH

50 cal ML - 300gr. bullet

.375 H&H

338 and 35 Whelen.
Not because I needed to but because I could.

Well, I think we have a winner in the "non-rifle" category. My calculations put that impact at 45,292,630 foot pounds with a 714,000,000 grain projectile.

tree hunnret wedderbee.


I've carried a .450 marlin for deer but never had a chance to trip the boomer.

I guess .50 cal ML too. But the .300 WBY has been used a couple of times & with "bigger" shock & awe than the haff inch smoke pole.

Hit a nice 8 pointer facing me right in the chest from about 50 yds & he went straight over backwards like he was hit with a swinging wrecking ball. straight over backflip deader than heck. his antler tines were stuck into the dirt like yard darts.

Best bang flop ever!!

Dave

Bloodied my .458 Lott on an Axis doe!

A Ford 350 with a Roo Guard. No damage. With firearms a 54 caliber muzzleloader with round ball. Impact was quite spectacular. I tried a Ford Ranger at work once. With just $50.00 more damage, they would have totaled the truck. Bumper grill, radiator and fan, hood and both front fenders. I squared it at just under 70 mps as it burst from the sagebrush. I got the foot off the gas, but was no where near the brake on impact. 1Minute

Oh my...was there anything left?

Fords are racking up a serious count in the non-rifle category.

Oh, a question off the orginal idea. When I do go afield looking for deer with the .340 what would be the best bullet? Obviously there'd be no need for the heavier bullets available but wouldn't the 180-210gr pills go off like C4 at 340 velocities except at extended ranges? I mean, I'd like to have at least a little bit left for chili. 225 TSX a good balance? Something else?

A 7mm STW which was ......yawn...I bought this..why?
My 35 Whelen which is......giggle....that was cool.

My 01 Cummins Dodge has racked up 3. $4500 for the first, pushing $10k for the second, (then wised up and got an Ali Arc), $2k for the 3rd which was cut in half by the bumper and hind end pinballed down the side of the truck.

The 2nd was a massive 12 pointer that the top of his back was above the front of the hood.

He wasn't on the side of the road for more than 10 min before someone scarfed him up. I would of done it but I was fighting to get the truck pulled off on a side road......insult to injury