In light of IdaRed's recent thread on the favorite Rifle , it caused me to think what everyone's three favorite Whitetail chambers are...

(Disregarding all other big game and considering whitetails ONLY!)

The following would be my preferred list:

1: 7mm-08
2: .358 Win
3: 6.5x55 Swede

Grasshopper

30-30
25.06
260 rem

Esox357.

7mm-08
7mm-08
7mm-08

firstshot
----------------------------
Make your first shot count!

Really too many great cartridges for whitetail to list the three "best". Every caliber from .243 Win to .300 Win Mag will kill any whitetail that ever walked, A whitetail ain't that tough, but just for fun My fav's are #1 .308 Win followed closely by 7mm.08 Rem and then probably the most popular caliber in North America, the good ol' 30.06 is hard to beat, I choose the .308 and 7.08 first because I like a short action rifle best for Myself, they just make a neater package, they don't have that long sloppy action that the 06 clones do..................547.

280AI

25-06

7-08

Grasshopper has three very good selections...

300 win mag
.308
30-06

but its like the bcs pole 270 pretty dang good and like 547 said .243 all the way to 300mag pretty good

In most of Iowa it's either a 12 ga. or 20 ga. slug. My preference is the 20. kwg

.270 win
.270 win
.270 win

the three best listed above...

my "favorite" would be

.270 win
25-06
35 rem

Dave

.264 WM
.308 Win
7mm/08

1. .280 AI
2. .300 Winchester
3. 6MM Rmington

25-06
6.5x55
308 Win

308

270

30-30

50 caliber flintlock
30-40 Krag
20 gauge slug

7mm08

35 Rem

12 gauge

.25-06

7mm-08

.300 Savage

.243
7mm-08
.308

7-08
30-30
308

.30-30
.270
.308

Favorites are:

.270
.280
.270 WSM

Lou

270 win
308 win
30-06

Hot Soups got it going!

Dobro

Here's my 3

An Easton 2114, cap dipped white, 4 fletch (75, 105) with 4" Parabolic True Flight feathers, tipped with a 125 grain Razorcap (or Wensal Woodsman)

260

30-06

I've stacked up 95% of my big game with those 3

Dan, do you ever get into Ronan sports and western?

Dober

Not since Dan Toelke quit... I'm really lusting after one of his longbows.

Do they still have a few dakota 10's sitting around?

I do miss chattin with Dan, slam dunk the most knowledgable gun guy I ever met behind a counter!

And I hear good things about his bows as well, wouldn't of expected anything else from him.

Dober

30/06
.270
7x57

257 Roberts
270 Win
7x57

ddj

.260 Rem
.257 Roberts
.270 win

His longbows have got to be the smoothest shooting ones I've had in my hands yet. Hard to tell its not a Schaeffer Silvertip recurve. They're that friggin smooth... A buddy from work will be in Ronan all weekend, you want me to have him stop and see if they've got any Dakotas? All I gotta do is call his cell in the morning.

25.06
30.30
7mm-08

Walking and stalking...250 AI
Long range sniping...257 Wby
Don't know what to expect...270 Win

yes please do

Dober

.250-3000
7x57
.30/06

270.

I've shot them with lots of stuff and under lots of conditions.Nothing works better than this;why bother with 3?;you only need one.

6.5x55 Swede
275 Rigby aka 7X57
30-06

The last has killed most of my whitetails including the very first. The last two have proven to me I was probably a tad over gunned for many years.

Close .....

257Roberts
270Win
308Win.

SC

.25-06 - for those Texas critters
.270 - for those far shots out west
.30-06 - for closer quarters in the north

7-08
284 win
308

270 WIN
308 WIN
257 RBTS

.257 Roberts
6.5x54 MS
7mm-08
.308
.358
.350 Rem Mag

I couldn't stop at 3!

35Rem
280Rem
25-06Rem
:GRIN:

lawn dart
nine iron
22lr

OK,I'll add the 30/06 and 7/08.

7-08
7-08
7-08

.257 Roberts

.308 All-round

.270 Out west

Here in Kentucky I have taken over a hundred whitetails with the ,257 Roberts so that is really all I need.

Who know's what's best.

The most popular around here for a long time has been the
.30-30
.30-06
7mm Mag
.270

I personally have used all of the above and a few obscure ones too. My favorites are
7X57
.270

Terry

25-06AI
280AI
264 Win Mag

260
7-08
308

I'll second that....of course, I've never used anything else.

.25-06
.308
.30-06

7mm-08
270
308

RH

My favs:

.257 Roberts

6.5-06

.257AI

Hey Dober, Chad at Reeds in Walker is no slouch when it comes to gun knowledge either!

250-3000
6.5x55
7mm-08

Honorable mention - .358 Win & 8x57

You're absolutely right about Chad, when I get to Walker I always enjoy chatting with him! Hope to see him this spring or summer again.

Dober

25-06 Rem
270 Win
7mm Rem Mag

What do I use:
240 Wby
25-06 Rem
7 STW

280
270
30-30
and since 1 and 2 are basically the same I'll throw in the 30-06, I've killed a bunch with it also.

.260Rem
.7mm-08 Rem
.308 Win

25-06, 270, 7mm-08

308
7mm-08
270

7x57
300 savage
270

1. 7mm-08
2. .300 Savage
3. .50 Browning MG

1. .270 Win
2. .300 Sav
3. .35 Rem

270
300 win mag
35 Whelen

270 --- 30-06
270 --- 30-06

Or maybe just try the 30-06.

8x57/358Win./338 Fed.
308/30-06/280/270/30-30/35Rem./7-08/284Win.
350 Rem.Mag./260Rem./25-06/257Bob./6.5x55/6mmRem./243Win./300Win.Mag.
It's great to be able to have a choice.

Of the ones I've used on whitetails

30-30
30-06
7-08

1. 30-30 Classic Brush gun and good enough out to a 100 yards.
2. 270
3. 30-06 I would be UN-AMERICAN not to have a 06 on my list!!

Anything including and between the 250 Savage and the 375H&H.

well, yeah.....I mean, whitetails die easy, kind of boils down to what you like to carry and shoot.

I agree with Bob.

300 savage
308win
30-30

#1 .243
#2 .308
#3 As has been mentioned...any .223+ caliber with appropriate bullet will effectively take whitetails.

35 Whelen/350 Rem Mag (I own both and we all know there is no difference)
30/30 (yeah I said it)
30-06 or 308 (is there much difference? really)

.25-06
.308
7mm Rem Mag

Oh wait, those are the 3 deer rifles that I own

The 7Mag is a little much for deer, but it doesn't kill them too dead, so I guess I'll keep using it

7-08 Rem
6.5x55 Swede
280 Rem

.308 Winchester
.243 Winchester
7mm Remington Mag.(for reaching way out)

cur dog

25-06
260
30-06

Jordan: The big 7's are among my favorites as an all-round big game cartridge,and I've used it on whitetails many times,mostly in Canada;and of course on mule deer as well.The 270 works well with 20-22" barrels,making it a handier rifle in heavy cover,but still able to cover the occaisional long range chance.Where you live,long range is more common; the 7 mag is clearly a great choice.

DB: On my 3 cartridge choice? or on the 270,270,270?

The 7-08 has always been a bit of a favorite of mine;it's the only 308-based round I have ever had the slightest interest in,mostly because it gives 7x57 ballistics(handloaded) in a modern package.I have never loaded anything in it but 130 and 140 gr bullets.Lets the air outta these New England whitetails pretty quick I have Kimber Montana 7/08 on layaway,but don't tell anybody

Bob,
Plus, much of the hunting I do is where I may see WT or elk, at long or short range, so the 7Mag IS a good choice for my style hunting.

As many have said, whitetails don't take much killin'. My favorites would probably be the 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, and 300 Savage. No flys on the 270, 7-08, 7x57,308 or any of a host of others. I just like to fit the cartridge to the game and the first three I named just seem to say deer hunting!

#1- 260
#2- 308 or 6.5x55
#3- 6.5x284

Lets see, I've shot them with the following:


243 Win

30-30

270 Win

7mm Rem

308 Win

300 Wsm

300 Roy

338 Win

They all killed dear dead no doubt about it, but none planted them like the:

270 Win
7 Mag
300 Wsm
300 Roy
338 Win mag

So I'm trying to say that I can not pick only three as so many work so very well.

But there is a 308 and 338 in the gun rack now.

And hopefully BobinNh will leave me a pre-64 model 70's in 270 win. in his will

.260
.280
.308

The .257 Weatherby would also make the list if I could add a fourth.

300 H&H
7mm-08
30-06

308 win
35 rem
300 savage

30-30
7-08
308

30-30, 260 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag

Powerguy:I only have four,but I can add you to the list of contingent beneficiaries.... Why do you want one of those old things anyway...?

Because they are all classics.

.257 Roberts
7x57 Mauser
8x57IS

Anything that is in my hands.

JW

.338 Win Mag with 250 grain Sierra GK's....kind of a "Go Big or Go Home" thing.

250 savage
300 savage
303 savage

7mm 08
25 06
30 06

308
7mm WSM
270

In no special order:
6.5X55
.308 Win.
.358 Win.

Right you are my Friend!
I was just joshin ya all with that .338 crack!

Cause they are just that damn good, and if You own it then I know it's a shooter.

243 Winny
7 Whizzum
260 Rem

Many other have already stated that it is not that hard to put a WT on the ground.

My list wil vary from time to time, depending on my flavor of the month.

MO

I've got to break it down to answer this. We rifle loonies always over-analyse.

Tree stand/short range: 7-08
Longer range: .280 AI
All around: .30-06

Powerguy: Three of the four are drills.The 4th has yet to be fired,but I picked up some Fusions today to try it out;need a trigger job but we'll see how she does!!

They are pretty damn good;but my real attachment to them is as much emotional as practical.There are a lot of good rifles out there today What you like and shoot best is the thing to use.

Since it's a vote:

300 sav
250 Sav A.I.
ought-6

308 WIN
270 WIN
30-06 SPRG

.308
.25-06
.250 Savage

For the 20th century, my vote would be:

30-06
270
30-30

For the 21st century
260
25-06
280

.300 savage (first deer, of course it's my favorite)
.308 win (in a 99F, I find nothing it won't do well)
.284 win (it's an old-school orphan, new to me, and full of potential)

223AI, 250AI, 223AI

270
270
270

Limiting this to three is really tough:

1) .300 Savage
2) 7mm-08
3) .35 Remington

my second three would be:

.260 Remington
.250 Savage
.30-30 Winchester

My third three:

.243 Win
.257 Weatherby
7x57

257 Bob
7-08
8x57

.257 Bob
.257 Roy
.25-06

7-08
270 Win
25-06AI

With a 7-08 in a Little Sky in the race, my 270 and 25-06AI have a hard time getting out of the gate...grin.

DJ

7mm08
243
308

Only ever killed whitetail with .243, 7x57 and .375HH so they will have to do for now. Would prefer 7x57, .308 and 30-06.

My vote mirrors Doc Encores'"21st Century" list. Even down to the same order!

260
25-06
280

.30-06
.270
.308

257 Roberts
6.5x55
7x57

7mm-08
260 Rem
280AI

6mm Rem
350 Rem Mag
35 Whelen

This year I have killed
2 with Mathews bow
2 with 25-06 Rem
2 with 22 hornet
1 with 50 cal. Encore

So I guess the 3 best for me this year so far is
Mathews
25-06 Rem
22 hornet.

my trusty tc triumph and the 270win.

250
6.5
30-06

Brush - 358 win.

praire or desert - 257 weatherby

mountain - 7mm-08 in a light weight rifle

all around - 270 win.

oops - that's four

338 Federal for the mountains
280 for most other
257 Weatherby for way out!

.358 Win
.308 Win
7X57

7mm-08 most of the time.
280 Rem if I needed more distance or needed to destroy more meat.
50 cal muzzleloader for dinosaurs and other larger than 280 game, or to get an extra 2 weeks of gun season here.

338 ultra mag

300 ultra mag

300 win mag

.300 Savage
.308 Win.
7X57

7X57
30-30
30-06

Welcome TerryR.

.30-06 Sprg
.308 Win
.300 Sav

7X57
.30/30
.35 Remington

.257 Roberts
7mm-08 Remington
.308 Winchester

6.5x55
7x57
30-06

-

My favorites are...

270
30-30
30-06

0-150 yds 35 rem
0-300 yds 250 sav
0-WTF out there 257 weatherby

I honestly think that perfection in a general purpose Whitetail cartridge lies somewhere in the neighborhood of the following:
1. .260 Remington
2. 7mm/08 Remington
3. .308 Winchester

I love the .25 caliber cartridges for deer as well, but if I were saying that deer from 60 pound does to 300+ pound monster bucks were a possibility, at ranges to 400 yards, any one of those three would work like magic.

That said, if I didn't handload, and I figured on shooting only one centerfire big game rifle for the rest of my days, I think I might lean toward the .270.

You realize, though, we are talking about minutia here. <grin>

.30-30
.45-70
6.5x55

Close......

.308 Win
.270 Win
.35 Rem

270
308
270 WSM

308
284
7X57

for whitetails:
.250-3000
.300 Savage
.270

I like to make my burger AFTER I skin em

243 Winchester
358 Winchester
270 Winchester

Anyone seeing a pattern here

Three best: .308, 7mm/08, .270

Three favorites 30.30 (Grandpa gave me the gun)
.303 Savage (Grandpa used it so well)
30.06 (The gun can do it all)

*Honorable mention .444 Marlin (Puts them down fast)

.280, 7mm/08, 25-06

30-30
308
300 sav
..

oops add this one to the list

35 rem

..

.308 Winchester
.270 Winchester
Any .35 cal lever action

25-06
.308
.270

Well based on what I've used so far:

243
280
30-06

7mm/08
25-06
30-06

My favorites...

.35 Remington
.250 Savage
.358 Winchester

.260 Remington
7-08
.257 Weatherby

I have good luck with my Mauser 338-06

[img]http://http://photo1.walgreens.com/slideshow/AlbumID=53035623/PictureID=1540900141/a=15636673_15636673/t_=15636673[/img]

[image}http://http://photo1.walgreens.com/slideshow/AlbumID=53035623/PictureID=1540900141/a=15636673_15636673/t_=15636673[/image}

I am having serious problems figuring out how to post pictures!!!

I would probably vote for:

.260
7mm-08
.308

in no particular order.

John

.270 Win
.25-08
.264 win mag

1: 30-30
2: 300 Savage
3: 7mm-08

30.06, 270, 308.

.264
.260
6.5x55

270 Win.
.30-30
.30-06'

6mm Rem
260 Rem
270 Win

What they said...I can't be limited to three calibers..I have a rifle problem,it's court-ordered,my doctor agrees...I have a Hat and a T-shirt that says something about rifles...Let's move on to the next subject........

30-30
25-06
308

I will bite ... but I will add which rifle they are in also

1. 308 (20" bbl bolt of your liking and variable scope of your choosing)

2. 44 mag (16" barrel 1894P Marlin with fire sights opens sights)

3. 25-06 (24" barrel bolt set up for long range stand with good scope)

The 308 is the General Purpose (GP) rifle, the 44mag is the dig them out of the thickets rifle, and the 25-06 it the long range rig.

I have no favorite Whitetail rifle as about any half decent caliber from the 25-35 on up will kill a whitetail easily. I have used a 6x45 with 75 gr. Barnes X bullets on many of them from a stand where shots can be picked..

I guess if I were to get pinned down, then I would take a 30-06 with 180 gr. Noslers.

Simple really;
1. The one you have in your hands.
2. The one you brought as back up (in the truck or at camp)
3. The one you almost brought with you, but the other two won out.

For me that changes very frequently. At last count I have no less than 13 different caliber of rifles in my safe, which are suitable for deer hunting.

1. 30-06
2. 280
3. 270

.308 and stop looking

300 Savage
35 Remington
45-70 Govt

1. 7mm-08AI
2 .280
3. 280AI

My List

1: 30-30

2: 257 Roberts

3: 30-06

.257 Roberts
7X57
.35 rem

6.5x55
7x64
358 Win

.270
30-06
7mm08

257 Weatherby
243 win
7mm Mag

6mm
280
35 Whelen

.257 WBY
.280
.308

Flip a coin for the .30-06 or .300 WSM for a fourth!

6.5x55
7x57
30-06

7RM, is there any other?

loder

.308 Marlin Express
12 gauge sabot slug
35 Rem.

7mm-08
30-06
25-06

260 Rem
7mm-08
280 Rem

30-06, .308, 300 win mag

Three best cartridges only for whitetails? The 260, 7mm/08 and the 270.

256 Newton
260 Remington
25 WSSM

260 Remington, 7mm-08 Remington, 308 Winchester........My personal favorites, 243 Winchester, 30-06 Springfield, 7mmWSM

270, 308, 30-06

7x57

30-06

35 Rem.

This year it would have to be the .357 Mag in a Ruger GP-100, others would be 6.5X55, .243 Win, 7MM Rem.
6.5 SWEDE.

280
30-30
30-06

.257 Roberts
.25-06
.257 wby

6.5x55
.270
30-30

30-30
308
30-06

Wrong! That is not the best whitetail chambering! (But it IS the best chambering of all cartridges, of all time!)

7-08
280 AI
257 Wby

In that order.........


X-VERMINATOR

257roberts
7mm-08rem
260rem

7mm/08
270
6.5x55

CT...two out of three ain't bad..

7mm-08
6.5x55
7x57 ........Duh...



Ingwe

( You see...even though the validity of your .270 as one of the picks is impeccable...we can't be endorsing that cartridge if we think Dober might be watching )

.30-30
270 Win.
.30-06'

270
270
and .......uuhhh.........270



Everything else sits so far down in 5th place(there is no 4th),not really worth discussing......

.308 Win, 7.62x51, no others!

30-30
308 Win
280 Rem

6.5x55
6mm
and a Hoyt flinging G5's

the 7x57 and 6.5x55 and the 257 Roberts in no particular order

.308
30-06
300WBY

Close, medium, far.

like seseme street... or something.

270 WSM
7mm WSM
300 WSM

257 Roy
270 Win
408 CheyTac

270 Roy
405 WCF
10 GA.

30-06 Anywhere;
280 AI Western and open country shooting, and
358 Win. Northern, Eastern, and heavy cover work.

Everything else might work, or might be lacking, OR be excessive.

Rem 260
270 win
30.06

Why? The best reason of all....

I've HAD ONE!!!!!!!!

30-30
270 Win
308 Win

30-30
7-08
300WBY

Cause dat's what's in the safe.

You're right, shoulda known that he and Bob would take up for the .270 as well. I don't even own one right now, but I have a hard time keeping it out of a top three list for whitetails.

30.30
.308 Marlin Express
30.06

.308
.338 Fed
.270

250 savage AI
Thirty ought-6
300 savage

50 caliber Hawken

arrow made in your lodge

50 caliber Pennsylvania rifle

Your thinkin of the Civil War?

just adding some levity

.300 Savage
7x57
.30-06

7mmWSM
7mmRemMag
280

6mm - mine
270 - dad's
308 - my son's

and 243 as a backup - my daughter's

It isn't the caliber its where you hit them. The last four deer I have killed were with:
.45 Caliber RB Kentucky rifle
.22 Hornet 45 gr. Barnes
.45 Colt 270 gr. Keith @ 1,100fps
.44 Special 250 gr. Keith @ 1,000 fps

308
50 cal - my best whitetails have been killed during ML season
insert your favorite chambering here....I'm covered

.257 Roberts, 7x57, 8x57
or
.25-06 Rem, .270 Win, .30-06
and a 9.3x62

Doooooood.......


Ingwe

.30-30
.270
.243

7mm-08 Rem
308 Win
270 Win

7mm-08
260
280

Ok,ok,.....but I have to break the rules cause I can't pick just three;there are 5 in my mind that are just outstanding depending on "where" and what kinda rifle...270,280,30/06,7x57,7/08 and 7 RM. I could never really pick a "best" from this bunch,and all are so close I just use a 270

Whatever the Benoits use, which I think is the .270 and .30/06 plus I'll throw in the .280, my personal favorite.

.308
7mm08
25-06

I would have to go with.

243 win
257 weatherby mag

308
30-30
30-06

270
30-06
270

.280
.280
.280

308
30-06
270

.280...Hmmmmm...

Good on 'ya that you included the ".270 Improved"....


Ingwe

35 Remington
308
270

Ingwe: I like to tease the 280 guys,but that don't mean I don't think the 280 is fabulous....cause it IS!....just like the 270WCF Why,if there were no 270,I'd use the 280.......

.243
6.5x55
7 Rm

.30-30
.45-70
.270

Incorrigible.......




Ingwe


( but I am the same with my 7x57... )

Can't we all just get along
280 is also the 7x57 improved

Harumph...

Harumph...

Harumph...


You young people.....






Ingwe

7mm-08
.30-06
.308

.270 Win
.25-06 Rem
7mm-08 Rem

7mm-08
30/06
25/06

what's the total so far?

7mm-08
270
25-06

30-30
300 Savage
30-06

Generally speaking, any 25 to 30 cal. loaded with a premium bullet and place in the boiler room. Were not talking elephants here

.284
.308
.358

win win WIN!

.257 Roberts.
.25-06
.257 Weatherby

270, 257 WBY MAG and, 30/30

7mm-08
.280 Rem
6.5x55

My favs...... 270 Win, 7x57MM, and 6.6x55mm.

7x57
6.5x55
257 Roberts

22mag
308
376

257 Roberts
270 Win
308 Win

I can't remember if I voted on this or not. I'll bet my vote has changed some if I did but for today it is

.270 Win (Duh!)
25-06
300 Sav (nearly identical performance as a 308, but much less recoil, at least in my experience)

220 Swift
257 Roberts Std or AI
6.5x55 Swede or 260 Rem

30-06
270
358

30-06
270 Wby
25-06

A 7x57 and a 338 Federal would be an interesting combo.
And of course a 270 Winchester!

A 760 Remington pump in 30/06 for prying them out of deadfalls in New England swamps, a 270 for buck hunting in the plains states, and a good 223 for (as Ingwe puts it) getting Bambi for Barbque.

Fred...these dudes are tryin to talk me into a .223AI for Bambi on the Barbie....
What do you think???

Ingwe

BBQ'd Bambi sounds good right now!
(223AI might work in a pinch....grin)

Sam...we had a piece off one of the dinks I shot last night....good chewin'!

Ingwe

To paraphrase the late, great Finn Aagaard; "the world is full of good deer cartridges."

44 Mag
270 Win
6.5 X 55

Or, "the best whitetail chambering is whatever is stamped on the barrel of the best whitetail hunters barrel."

Ingwe
"Fred...these dudes are tryin to talk me into a .223AI for Bambi on the Barbie....
What do you think???"

Two things: your're lucky to have such good friends and you should be looking for an action!

Fred

.375 Win - Brush
.284 Win - All Around/General Purpose
.270 Weatherby Mag - Long Range

10-4 I'll start by talking to the Big "A"

Ingwe

the ones i have seem pretty good.

6.5x55
.25-06

and after that? dunno. 308?

I'm not saying they're the best, but I like them.

308 Win
30-06
45-70

35 Rem
280 Rem
257 Roy

But anything from a 17HMR on up will do in a pinch.

.35 Remington
.30-06
.45-70

My favorites that are in my stable are :
T/C Hawkens 50 cal
Ruger Mini 30
358 Win
These 3 firearms have taken 50+ deer.

Ken

Ingwe

I broke this down into three levels... Long Range, Short Range and Do All....

Long range gun would be the "Bean Field/Sendero" kinda rifle that would take a deer as far away as you can see and shoot accurately...for me that would be a .257 Weatherby.

Short range gun would be a fast handling carbine that will put a large deer down in it tracks before it can run off into the deep woods or swamp and be lost...that would be a .350 Remington Magnum.

Last would be a do all caliber. Something that was very accurate, could be used as a back up gun/caliber to the above two and ammo available anywhere. That for me would be a .308 Winchester.

Bob

7-08

35 rem

30-06

7mm-08, (or the nearly the same in .260 rem). This will kill deer cleanly out to MY effective range. Anything faster will not extend MY range.

.358 Winchester. Super versatile. I like to download to .35 Remington velocities for practice and shorter range hunts.

12 Gauge. Where required, but also where shots aren't going to be over 125 yards. Love it for hunting the thick stuff, and in bad weather.

#1 - .270 Win
#2 - .270 Win
#3 - .270 Win

30-30 Win
30-06
7x57

Right now I would say:

243 AI
280 AI
375 Win


Joseph

30-30 for close shots and nastalgia
270 win for the do all end all rifle
300 wby for the I don't like front shoulders anyway rifle

Ingwe

.223
6.5X55
.45-70

.350 Rem Mag
.308 Win
7mm-08

30-06 7-08 35rem

25-06 AI
7mm WSM
35 Whelen

308
25-06
30-06

.243
.270
7mm/08

270, 7-08, 308

Such a loaded question...... Here are the three I like
30-06
7mm-08
45-70
But to just have one and only one for DEER to take care of distances from 0-400+ I would wisely load the 7mm-08.

30-30
6.5x55
.270

Shoulders are over rated and are a pain to roast unless you have a huge roaster. I use them for sausage so, blowing the bejesus out them really doesn't matter. I've made one to many "poor" shots trying to save them and found out it was a foolish cause.

300 H&H Mag
7mm-08
30-06

243
270
30-06

30-30

.270

25-06

my three favorite rounds
25-06
280 rem
30-30

30-06
.308
.270

.280 Rem
.260 Rem
.30-06 Sprgfld

I was gonna start this off by asking, what is it that you guys don't understand about the word "Best"? But, I decided not to ask...
Best, like beauty, is in the mind of the observer...
If you were to ask me this question 65 years ago, I would have said:
35 Rem
30-06
270 Win

Today, my answer is:

270 Win
30-06
35 Rem

280 rem
308 win
270 win

1) In the timber, i mostly use one of my 45/70's or the .350mag

2) all around use, have to be the 7mm/08, but dunno if i could live without a .257roberts too.

3) hunting large plots, 25/06

7-08
7-08
7-08

270 win.
308 win.
257 R

It appears time for some enterprising soul to add up and decide the most popular deer round, looks like 270 to me.

Used 4 different 270's and had trouble holding them on the spot. So I finally settled on these three.

280AI

280 Rem.

25-06 Rem.

7-30 Waters
.300 Savage
.38-55 Winchester

What does this mean?

Sounds related to knock-down power, and likely involves see-thru mounts...

Ohh.....I get it;270 doesn't kill them fast enough....yeah I've noticed that ,too.

But the 280 does....sure....

Funny....

30-30
270
7mm-08

and whatever else may be in the truck that day...

I will jump in after a long hiatus from this board how about
The
30-30
250 savage
6.5x55
Carl
Merry Christmas and happy new year

Okay, I just had to know, so...
APPROXIMATE total through the first 10 pages (bored, but not bored enough to do more...).
Cartridge (total votes 1-3) (first choice votes)

308 (54) (14)
270 (46) (16)
7mm-08 (44) (17)
30-06 (35) (8)
25-06 (24) (12)
30-30 (22) (12)
260 Rem (18) (10)
300 Sav. (17) (6)
257 R (15) (11)
7x57 (15) (4)
280 (15) (2)

Merry Christmas all!

BobinNH
It means unless I head, neck, or spined the deer with the shot they took off running. Yes they died soon but still always ran a distance. I hunted with a Sako first, then two pre-64 Fwt's, then a standard grade 270 with the 24" barrel to see if that helped. Same results. Tried different 130Gr bullets then went to 140Gr. Same results. Bought a Rem 700 BDL-SS mid 90's in the 280 and had been using it till last year when I got a Cooper 280AI. I had the same results with the 280 TILL Hornaday came out with the 139SST. I have had more DRT with that combo than any other rifle I have hunted with in the last 51 Years. Perhaps had Horn. introduced the SST back in the early 90's when I was using the 270 my results would have been the same as with the 280.
Most all of us know that the 270 and 280 are 6 of one, half a dozen of another. I just prefer the 280 after my experiences with the 270. Sorry if I offended your favorite cartridge. Like a fellow told me one time "The only reason the firearms manufacturers make so many different calbiers is so we can set here and argue about them." I think maybe he was right. You have a Merry Christmas hunter718

243 Winchester
257 Roberts
308 Winchester

The list will change in a few hours! Ha!

.270 Winchester
7x57 Mauser
.30-30 Winchester 94AE

Hunter,no problem..Merry Christmas to you,too!

..you didn't offend my favorite cartridge at all...in fact I really don't have a "favorite"...having gone the same path as many others here,as well as you have, I have just never noticed a great deal of difference between a 270,280,7x57,7/08,30/06, 308, etc....and when it comes to deer sized game you can toss the 280AI and the 7mags into the pile as well.....I frankly have not had the pleasure of seeing a big difference in terminal effect with any of them.I think any difference lies more in the hunters head than anywhere else....and my experience has been that it doesn't matter what cartridge I use...I get about the same result with all of them....

Using any of them, I have not had deer go anywhere....but mostly down...that said,no cartridge and bullet can be relied upon to drop deer DRT every single time.....searching endlessly for a carttridge that always gives DRT reminds me of Don Quixote jousting with windmills or Jason seeking the Holy Grail.

Rather than confuse my life with a bunch of duplicitous cartridges that do the same thing(BTDT),I mostly just shoot a 270,because it is precisely the same as a 280 and 280AI...I could live my hunting life just as happily with a 280 or 280AI,but not because they kill any better....the people I know with a lot of experience with the 270 and 280 sorta stifle a yawn,thier eyes glazed over,when someone starts a rant about the supriority of one over the other.And how a 270(used by thousands of elk hunters every year;used by many Africans to shoot a LOT of plains game),can be a punk whitetail cartridge at the same time,is pretty humorous.....

So when I read accounts of deer running off as if stung by a bee after taking a solid hit from a 270(or a 280,7x57, etc), or that 280's drop 'em right there,while 270's let them run off, I have to consider it a fairy tale.....I ask myself "What's the liklihood that this guy has discovered something that hundreds of thousands of other shooter/hunters have missed"? Not too likely...

And sorry to differ but I seriously doubt that all these cartridges were worthless deer killers before the SST came out....I mean,think about it...

Here are my favorites:

358 Win
7.62x39 Ruger Mini 30
T/C Hawkens 50 cal.

The only 3 calibers I've ever shot deer.

Ken