Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Is a 30-06 too much gun for deer?

Having used the 06 on many deer I sort of feel it is a bit more powerful than needed for under 200 pound deer, anyone else?

Kind of depends on where you hit it, doesn't it?

And whom you ask and from what era.
dan

Rickt300---- If you were a guest in my Deer Hunting camp and walked in the door with a .243 and a 30-06. I would encourage you to use the 30-06.

Shore killed alot of nazis

A more likely situation would be that it is too much gun for some hunters. (Which is not meant as a put-down.)

If your woods hunting a 308, 7-08, or my personal favorite the 358 works just fine with less kick and the same performance.

Spot

Is this a serious post? I shot a small doe with a 350 rigby, 250 gr @ 2700 fps, at about 15 yds. Neck shot, and a blam flop.

There really isn't such a thing as too much, or too little gun. Just the wrong bullets for the application put in the wrong spot.

BTW, I'm using a 223 this year.

I'm using my 338RUM maybe its too small. Should be looking for a BMG. Does it really matter as long as you are hunting, I don't care what anybody else uses as long as he uses it correctly. My son is getting psyched up I just got him a new 243 so we will have to see if it fits him if not the 788 is coming out. He really likes the 788 as it is snow camoed. He thinks he is cool. HAPPY HUNTING

Yeah. But it always works and really thats all that counts.

dude, i shoot blacktail deer with my 30-06, i love the performance.i will continue to use the 30-06 till i die. i feel comfortable using this caliber for anything on the planet. load it right, and you can tackle anything from ground squirrels to elephant. buy one and keep it forever, and use it all you can. love that history rich caliber like it was your wife, and it will never fail as long as you do your part well.

Don't get me wrong, I have two 30-06 rifles at present and I like the cartridge. I have noticed that the common 150 grain cup and core factory loads or full power reloads really do a number on our Texas deer. I tend to shoot at least 165 grain bullets and even use 180 grain bullets if the shooting is going to be real close. I have of late been thinking about loading it down to 2700 fps and using 150 grain bullets for my general deer hunting. This is 300 Savage power level, or the equal to my 150 grain loading I shoot out of my 7x57.

too much? matter of opinion

more than needed? yeah, probably so.

works well? of course

Nope.

One of the best all around calibers of all time. excellent for deer. You can never have too much power but you can have too little. a great choice.

Millions of dead deer if they could talk would say yes!!!!

Battue

An '06 can make a mess of a deer with a bad hit or an explosive bullet that is for sure. If you like to avoid meat loss both of the suggestions seem to help us.

The load it down to a 300 Savage [my brother in laws approach]using a 150 Hornady and around 44 gr of I4064 is a sweety.

I use a harder , heavier bullet than usually recommended for deer [i.e. 180 grain Core Lokts/Noslers]. It doesn't work quite as well but I don't rezero for elk.

I finally quit using 165 grain boattails on deer due to what I feel is excessive amounts of bloodshot meat, etc.

The 30.06 is plenty to be sure.......................and actually a bit of overkill...................but if you use 180 gr bullets, or bonded bullets, you limit the damage.


Besides, "deer" is relative. Where I live, Bucks routinely top 200 pounds, 250 pounds and occasionally 300 pounds.

It's those 300 pounders that make you glad you have the '06.

Dancing Bear---------- You hit the nail on the head when you said bad hit. They happen all the time. I'll take a bad hit on a deer any day with a 30-06 vs a bad hit with a .243. I am not bad mouthing the great .243--- just in my opinion. I have shot a hand full of bucks with a 6mm Rem. Web

It all boils right back down to the old "it ain't what you use, it's how you use it."