The 257 Roberts thread made me think of this. I say it’s the 30-06 with the 270 close behind.

I sorta lean toward the 30-06 being an Elk cartridge and the 270 being a perfect deer cartridge.

Depends on where you are hunting deer. There is a world of difference in hunting deer along the river bottoms of AL and 12,000 feet up in the Rocky Mountains of CO. One involves shots measured in feet and the other could involve shots of 400 yards or more.

As for me, since most of my deer hunting is in the west, I'll take the 7mm Mag.

I am a huge fan of 30-06 for whitetail, but I'd be the first to say it is a bit overkill. Overkill is a good thing. If it was one of those "1-Gun Deer Battery Threads" that would be my choice.

If you're looking for the best, my nomination is the 300 Savage. Why not the 30-06? Here is my reasoning.

Most whitetail deer taken by most hunters are taken within 80 yards. At 80 yards, the 300 Savage is just starting to differentiate itself from close-in deer chamberings like the 44 Mag and 30-30. 300 Savage puts them down about as well as you can manage without a lot of recoil-- much less than 30-06

I've got 3 kinds of hunting venues at the farm. When I'm down pounding the ground in cedar thickets, I'm not too worried. Nearly everything works. My all-time favorite for that kind of work has been the 12 GA slug. However, my recently-acquired 44 Mag semi might take that slot. Ditto for my deep woods blinds and stands. At the other end of the spectrum are the few venues that offer a shot more than 200 yards. When I'm out hunting there, I normally carry my 30-06 or 8X57 Mauser. Previously, I also carried my 35 Whelen, but it's honestly too much thunder for too little additional gain.

300 Savage (actually mine is a downloaded 308 WIN) is perfect for in the middle. I have a stand that overlooks where two creeks come together on one side and a hole in the fence leading out into a narrow pasture on the other. Most shots I've taken have been well within 80 yards. Some have been right at the ladder, but occasionally a buck will appear out in the field and I may shoot 150 yards to get there. I have another venue that is midway through a pasture. It is 150+ yards looking one direction and 180 yards going the opposite way. Again the 300 Savage is ideal for that sort of venue. The 300 Savage specs fit right in the sweet spot where I'm most likely to encounter most of my deer.

As a runner up, I would nominate 7mm-08 or 7X57. I don't own one but it is on my bucket list. I've already retired my 35 Whelen from the rotation; it was my high-water mark on recoil. When I get old and wretched enough to want to retire my '06's , I'll start whacking them with 7's.

No, the .270 is clearly the best. Or the .260. Possibly the .243. On the other hand, the .308.

Now that I think about it, the Creedmoor.

for the average person tuff to beat a 30-06, but for a loony it could be any or many cartridges hand loaded in many different rifles .

Ain't no such thing.

I'd say where you hunt would be the most important factor. For deer in my state the 243,6mm Rem, and 25-06 are tops IMHO. I have two 243s but also use other rifles.

Oh good Lord, here we go again. 'Tis the season!
Oh, and I agree with hanco, 30-06 is the best...

If you handload,it's hard to beat a 280 or 280 Ackley.

If you don't then 6.5 Creedmoor,270,7mm-08,and 308 are all perfect.

I think the 30-06 is perfect but does recoil more than the others that I've mentioned. It may not be the perfect deer cartridge but it is the perfect all around cartridge for North America,having kiled innumerable elk,moose,and big bears.

Best is nothing more than a matter of opinion.

IMHO:

308 Winchester



( I like 180 grain flat-base bullets with it).

As others said, its all in where and how ya hunt! Hunting a in a thick area where most shots are under 50yds and 100 is max, a 30-30, 35 Rem or even 444 Marlin in a short, handy lever gun may be the ticket. Carry that same chambering in an open area and you may be at a disadvantage! My most common cartridge carried while deer hunting is one of my various rifles in 7-08. In fact I own more rifles chambered in 7-08 then any other. For me the 140 Fusion factory ammo has been absolutely effective on whitetails.

Something between the .257 Roberts and the 7x57 Mauser should be the sweet spot. Mild .30’s fit the bill also.

The thing between a 257 Roberts and a 7x57 is a 6.5x57. All three cartridges use the same basic case.

I actually knew a guy who had a Steyr 6.5x57. He liked it a lot.

The cartridge that shoots in the gun in my hands at the time of the hunt is obviously "the best".

Whatever rifle is in your hand when the buck steps out...

300 mag 180 bonded bullet

I prefer the .30-06 but if I only was a deer hunter I'd probably go with the 270 Win.

So what? That's what talk forums are largely about.

I think "best" is what ya holding when ya deer huntin'...

I have a safe full of "best" deer rifles, from .223 to .375 H&H, not many "gaps" in between....

For a reloader, that's a bunch of options, a lot of "best" scenarios.

I don't typically shoot the same combo very long, often more than one round/load in a season..

Guess I'm more of a gun Loony, hunting is my test lab. And, I like to eat...

DF

Whatever is in your hands when you see the BEST buck you've ever seen.

"Best" is a concept for the inexperienced...

The simple answer for me is 308 and it's good out to 600 yards when I dial for drop.
The majority of cartridges are capable of much more than what the average hunter utilizes so in reality the extra you get isn't needed or utilized.
It's like saying " what's the best car to drive 50 mph? "all of them will do it, it's just your preference on what matters. Comfort, fuel economy or whatever. Rifles for hunting are pretty much the same, it's whatever floats your boat.

Yep.

I love the .257 Rob.

Best all around NA big game cartridge would have to be .30-06.

I like a .300 Win but the good ol 30-06 cant be beat 👍....Hb

.338 Lapua just in case you have to take a 1200 yard shot at the South end of a North bound buck to fill your tag. Don't want to be under gunned in that critical, now or never situation. It needs to be chambered in a 4 lb. rifle too cuz you need to figger in that 3 lb. 6-50X60mm tactical scope you'll need for those 1200 yard shots and you don't want to risk a strained muscle if you have to climb a mountain.

IMO mark (I don’t know him) has given the ‘best’ answer to the ‘best deer cartridge’ question.

Nearly all cartridges will kill deer under ‘some’ conditions.

?someone? Said “the rifle you had in Your hands when you killed your best buck”
In my case that would be my Win 70 Black Shadow in 300 WM AND it was the FIRST
morning I took it hunting !! True.

I do not own A short range deer rifle. I like a rifle that works at 12 yds, feet! < EDIT ----(my closest kill) out to
400 yds. That’s my comfort confidence distance. Many rifle/cartridges combos would fill that
scenario.

MY, repeat MY choice as best deer cartridge is 7mm RM in my Tikka T3X SS Lite.
I’m 70 y o and my choice is the result from deer hunting since 1972 with A LOT of
diff rifle/cartridges.

No one else has to agree. I don’t need anyone else’s permission or approval.
I’m satisfied & happy with my choice and that’s ALL that matters.

YOU should have the same serenity with your choice.

Jerry

Moot Point as I do not require "best", "adequate" is good enough.

Most deer I kill is with a CVA Wolf I bought at Wal-Mart.

Personally, I like my 6.5x55 or my .257 Bob for deer. I guess the 6.5 CM is the new hotness for the kids, at least that is what my 16 year old son tells me. Honestly, deer just aren't that hard to kill.

What he said.

Only, make mine a 150 Partition.

The boys on my deer lease say you must be some kind of commie if you don’t own a 30-06

Does it have to be an 03-A3 to avoid that label or does any 30-06 count?

168 Berger vlds for me

Better (or best) is the enemy of good enough. If only deer is on the menu, I’ll likely grab my .257 Roberts or 7x57. If a combo deer/elk hunt, whichever elk rifle is in my hand with no apologies. Last year I shot a good buck with my 7mm Weatherby due to it being my back up rifle for that hunt. My best deer ever was taken with a .300 Weatherby at 38 yards. He still ate well. My elk rig this year will be my .35 Whelen and deer rifles will be the .257R and 7x57. Happy Trails

Any ole 06 is fine, but extra points if you have an 03 or a Garand

The 06 is a great call but anything the 06 does, a 35 Whelen does better IMHO. I don't shoot deer much past 300 ever and normally am inside 200 when it happens. I just love some 35s of almost any configuration.

Lots of good ones. Its what makes the world go round.

45/70 4 me please.

.45-70 all the way down to a well-thrown rock.

White tails on stand 45/70 especially if cow elk is open.

Savage 220 slug for slug season.

Mule deer stalk/ with out an elk tag 300 savage.

Mule deer stalk with elk tag 308 win.

Long range 7 mm mag or 308 Norma.

35 remin, or 356 , 348 Winchester get special mention

I'm Double-Dog certified as a patriot. I have both!

I could kill the vast majority of the deer I do with a .30-30, but a .308 adds reach for that occasional long(er) shot.

Me too.

I agree with you both, 100%.

Only make mine a 7-08 with a 120 grain bullet.

It is a 25-06 with a 100 grain NBT. Prove me wrong!

I'm reading this, and I have to say that I find the answers fascinating.

Mind you, I don't think there's a wrong answer. What's fascinating is the changes I see over time. I've been here since late 2002, and many of the folks here at that time were fellow refugees from shooters.com, so my memory of these conversations goes back well before the turn of the millennium. A lot of those guys I originally met on the Coleman-sponsered AllOutdoors.com. I'd say my memories date from 1997 onwards.

I'm not going to say that 30-06 was never a choice. It just wasn't the top choice. If you go back 20 years, folks were talking about 308 WIN a lot more. It was in its ascendency and 30-06 was going in the other direction. Folks were all about short action vs. long action and 30-06 was the loser in that discussion. I was once called a booger-eating moron for saying still regularly hunted with a 30-06. That's how strong some opinions were.

My choice, 300 Savage was in there as well. It's funny, but I got the idea for trying 300 Savage from this forum. It was a buddy of mine who amended it slightly, saying that 300 Savage was on its way to being and orphan and to shoot for a 308 WIN with a less-than-MAX load. That's how I came by current #1 favorite, a Savage 99 in 308 WIN that is a bit of a thumper if I load it up all the way, but it a joy to shoot with a 5% off-MAX load of H4895.

.223 REM? It was considered near-criminal. That chambering has had the biggest turnaround of them all. When I joined here, few people would admit that they had hunted deer with it. When I asked about it in conjunction with a Mini-14, some castigated me for the idea.

30-30? 30-30 was close to the top. There were two schools of thought. One saw it as the ultimate deer round and another saw it as yesterday's news and anemic at that. This was a major bone of contention. I gave 30 WCF a try and gave up on it. I have since repented.

35 REM has about the same amount of love as it ever has. 358 WIN was a bit of a niche, but a strong niche. 35 Whelen was very popular in theory, but not too many people owned one. I got mine on advice from fellow campers.

270 WIN? I don't remember that much support as there is now. It was a popular chambering, just not a whitetail deer favorite. A very few thought that 280 REM was the better round.

7X57 did not have the popular cache that seems to have now among the campfire glitterati. If memory serves 7mm-08 was seen as a new up and comer.

Then you had all the Wizzzzms. A lot of guys thought you needed a fat cartridge. I never got that.

45-70? Folks would opine that it was a crew-served chambering and rifles needed to be fitted with trunions for it to operate safely.

Mind you, none of this has anything to do with the real performance of the chamberings. This is all just what I remember of other people's opinions.

Tis true.
The actual killing of szhit is remarkably mundane – finding the right szhit, and/or having said right-szchit walk in front of us is far more arduous.

Idaho has a "slug season"?

Killed deer with all kinds of cartridges rifles and BP but my all time favorite is the 303 British.
Cat

Yes Idaho has a short ranged weapon whitetail season. The 220 is my go to. I also hunt in Minnesota.

Like asking who's the prettiest woman; depends......

A now past Great Uncle of mine killed well over a thousand deer with at .303.....

I'm prejudice because I've been using one since 1966, but to me for deer it's a .270 Winchester.

I'm a sucker for nastalic rifles and cartridges, and so is my hunting buddy.
We've used stuff like original 6.5X54 and 8X56 MS carbines, '95's in 30/40, he fav these days is an old Husky in 9.3X57.
Most of These rifles are a hoot to shoot and typically really light for the hunting we like to do- MOST of them, the ''95 is not really a lightweight and neither is a Garand! LOL
Cat

I have most everything from a 243 to a 338 Win mag. All are good if a good shot is made. I scoffed at 243’s and 308’s until I saw grandkids shoot dead pigs, deer, and Aoudads with their 243’s. I’m way over gunned.

IMO, you have to address both cartridge choice and action type. I’ve chased mule deer across Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado and Montana. Over the 35 years of spot and stalk hunting I prefer, shots have average a little more than 300yds. Year after year, I found myself reaching for a bolt action 300wby or 7STW although I’m more inclined to use a 270wsm this year. For shots that average 300yds, a bolt action is a necessity accuracy wise.

For whitetails on my farm upstate NY, shots are typically either 225 to 360yds (over a large food plot) or in archery range in the thick cover. When headed to the food plot, I hunt most often with the Tikka T3x 270wsm followed by a LaRue PredatAR 308. If I’m in the thick stuff, I’m usually packing a pump 35Whelen. In other words, I pick my weapon based on where or how I want to hunt. If you forced me to pick one for whitetails, it would probably be a bolt action 270Win or a pump in 35Whelen. For open country mule deer, I’d probably stick with the Mark V 300by. Just my .02.

Best for both Whitetails and Mulies? 270, 280AI and 30-06, can't pick one out as better than the other among em.

Happening to also own a Sav 99 in .308 makes it very easy to agree with you completely.

Put me down for 338-06 with a 210 Partition, it works just fine. So does a 338 Win mag, 350 rem mag, 375 Ruger , 30-06.....

Pure deer poison for me is a 25.06 with a full house of RL25 behind a 120gr Speer Hot-cor = Lighting Strike !

Has anyone mentioned the 7mm-08? A mighty fine Whitetail cartridge indeed 👍......Hb

According to my notes and failing memory I have taken whitetails with 18 different rifle calibers that run the gambit from 223 rem to 45-70. All worked as they should. If I had to pick one for the rest of my hunting time left it would be a 7-08 rem or 6.5 creedmoor.

I've decided that DOR really REALLY matters to me. So I absolutely refuse to hunt anything bigger than a rabbit with anything other than my .458 Lott. Oh, for the rabbits I use my Win Mag.

I know, I know, there is a bit of meat damage, especially when I employ the ol' Texas Butt Hurt Shot, but I think it's worth it. I had two doe tags before the Rona grounded me, and I managed to kill two doe with one shot out of a herd ... actually three, but don't tell anyone.

It really makes my head hurt, and sometimes I got a nose bleed, but for me, it's worth it, for the security it offers.
----

Okay, had my fun, sorry!

For me, it's the .308. it's just so easy and cheap to load, and it's plenty accurate. I gave up on the .270 as it seemed to recoil more and wasn't as accurate as the .308.

I would have to say the 7mm-08 for longer range deer hunting and a 338Fed for shorter range stuff. I use my 338 Fed the most.

I don't have notes, just a failing memory that never was good to begin with. I too have let the air out of them with everything from a 223 to a 45-70. When I did my job, they all did their job. The best one is the one you shoot well.

Thats it. When you read it you just know. The cure for looneyism is now available.

The first chamberings that come to mind are the .270win and the 7mm-08, but a well-loaded 150gr bullet in a .308 is actually right there with them. Any one of the three gets my vote for "best". The .308 is about like a plain old manual-shift Honda Foreman. It'll always get it done, even though it's nothing fancy, and nobody can honestly tell you it's not a solid pick, even if it's not sexy.

First deer I ever shot was with a Marlin .222. Heavy SOB, but that thing will shoot! Then for high school graduation Dad got me a 7mm08 and that thing is a deer killing machine. Between then and now I've used about every rifle that we have and killed deer with them all. .243,.308, 30-06, 25-06, 30-30,6.5x55 Swede and 6.5 Creedmor. Still have to get one with the 8mm and the .35 Remington. My two favorites thought are the 7-08 and the Swede.

I didn't know Marlin ever offered a 222.

Yes, a Sako bolt action and micro groove barrel I believe.

Whatever you have the most confidence in and shoot well. No such thing as the perfect deer cartridge, but there are a hell of alot of them that will work just fine.

My favorite (perfect) deer cartridge is the 32 Winchester Special shot from a model 64 Winchester.

Moosemike... My bad, Savage Model 340 in .222. It was still a heavy SOB!!!

My personal pick would be 30-06. But you could flip a coin really.

I think with the .30-06, it doesn't make a world of difference whether you're in the river bottoms in AL or up at 12k feet in the mountains.

Nerd.

I'm in the "30-06 is king camp" but the 270 has been a favorite for decades. I've owned more 270s than any other chambering but I'm beginning to think it misses the boat with twist. I like 140s and 150s in the 270 and I think a 1/9 would be a better fit than the standard 1/10. This is where the 280 has an advantage. If I built another 270, it would be with a 1/9. If I were advising one of my sons for a rifle for deer hunting I would be hard pressed not to favor the 308 though, it seems to check all of the boxes and can stretch beyond deer if the opportunity exists. I think a lot of the older designed cartridges are twisted just a bit slow, with new and similar cartridges taking advantage of speedier twists ie...6.5CM v 260R, 6mmCM v 243 & 280AI v 270W.

Ok, that makes sense. I too have a 340 but it is a 30-30.

Micro-groove is a Marlin thing

The older I get the less blast I want.
The less rifle weight I want.

Think something mild mannered more my thing.
Maybe a .250 Savage

What's the cure? So far just buying more rifles is not really helping ...

I was just speaking with another member about this very topic and was reminded of my yute.

My dad hosted several friends and relatives to deer hunt every year. As I was finally grew old enough to join the ranks and being quite impressionable (and beyond doubt they knew their stuff) I allowed them to fill my head with "bests" in equipment and hunting tactics.

So after each season I'd pester the szhcit out of my father; "dad, I wanna get a 300mag - Frank said it's the best"...."dad, Lee said the 300 Savage kills faster than anything - I need a 300 Savage"......etc., etc.

Finally, after pops finally grew weary of my act, this man-of-few-words asked "son, when is the last time Frank or Lee filled their buck tags?"..................."Hone the craft of understanding deer, son - the killing is just a formality for the prepared mind".

Anything but the 6.5 Freakmoor.......


Just kidding I have one of them too.

I like the 270 Winchester. That said whatever feels good in your hands.

in the last 10 years i would bet more deer are shot with a 223 Remington with a suppressor on the barrel ,reason i believe this is because most cities and towns hire professional deer exterminators that shoot and kill a bunch a deer in every city and town and probably some other animals too all at night while we are sleeping. don`t fool yourself i know it is happening all over America some are some very big bucks too.

Thanks Pete.

The cure is .308

The .308 Winchester is the greatest rifle cartridge in the universe and therefore must be the greatest deer cartridge.

I feel the same way. I've only been shooting 22 caliber stuff since Winter. Last week I pulled the 375 H&H out, fired it once, and put it away. I didn't remember it being so abusive. So I got my 30-06 out and fired a five shot group. That wasn't as fun as I remember it being either.

Your Pap is a wise, wise man.

your so very welcome

Easy answer:

What ever cartridge is chambers in the firearm I am carrying when I shoot the deer.

Every deer was just as dead as every other when I was done. Poor bullet don't make a cartridge "bad"---- but some men use one and then blame the shell.

I have used some cartridges that were disappointing to me because of bad bullets, but going to a better bullet made the cartridge a real gem.
Using good bullets that don't break up and do "weird things' makes most center-fires and muzzle-loaders kill deer just fine.

I don't overthink the cartridges all that much but I do pay attention to the bullets and how well they hold together after they expand. But for my handgun hunting I now use ONLY hard cast bullet that don't expand at all, and all the deer I have killed with them died very quickly and NONE went far after the shots. for 357s 44s and 45s I use LBT or Keith styles, cast hard, and I have never had a single bad experience with any of them.

I shot one mid sized buck with a light bullet from my 7MM Weatherby and had it run about 150 yards and I has a had time finding it. Took me about 1 hour. No exit wound. But with bullets of 150 grain and 175 grains it was electric death on deer.

On the other hand I have killed 7 deer with cast 357 magnum bullets from 6" barreled revolvers now and all of them dropped inside of about 20 yards and the blood trails were very good. All one shot kills too. I killed another 7 with 45 ACPs from both autos and revolvers and again all were clean kills with none of them going over about 309 yards after the shot and with 4 dropping inside about 8 feet. All but one of them was a 1 shot kill and that one exception was a 2 shot kill.

No one is going to say a 357 Revolver or 45 auto is more powerful then a 7MM Weatherby. But the power is not the most important thing.

Bullets are what I pay attention to --far more then cartridges. Bullets are simply tools to make bullet holes. It's the hole that does the killing. I want them to expand and still go clear through and go through fairly straight. If I can have those 2 qualities in a bullet I don't think the brass shell makes a lot of difference.

Your dad sure knew the deal.

I have killed whitetails with a number of different cartridges, and without a doubt, have seen more DRT kills with a 270 than anything else. I have not used a 270 in a good many years, and today use a 6.5 Creedmoor and a 243. But, if for some reason I had to get serious about killing a deer, I'd prefer to use the 270.

Anybody fancy .308Win?

Great advice! My pard's rifle would be very much scoffed at here, but his tally and quality of cirtters would not.

I have a few friends like that as well.

Heck, I'd bet on scenarshooter with a cue ball in a sock over a lot of guys with their "best" cartridge.

.250 Savage

The one in my hands

I’ll stick with my 250 Savage.

Stihl

My first deer rifle as a teenager in the late 90s was a 25-06. After a few years I thought I needed something bigger and bought into the new 300 RUM. After a few years of foolishly punishing my shoulder I moved down to a 7 rem mag. After a few years I again decided to move down and went with a 260 rem. I have tried some other similar calibers since. I am now convinced that anything that shoots a 130-150 grain bullet in the upper 2000s FPS range is the perfect deer caliber. To pick one I’m going with 7-08. However I would never disagree with 260, 6.5 CM, 308, or 270. This year if I fail to tag out in ML or archery season, I’ll be shooting a 270 wsm that I couldn’t pass up. I’m pretty sure it’s going to be more than I want though.

Since no one has mentioned this cartridge, I'll put it on the list:


8x57 Mauser

Excellent recommendation buttstock. Due to the confusion over groove diameter's, that's probably the most under appreciated and under utilized cartridge in the US....and in reality, one of the best.

Hanco: For an "all around" GREAT Deer Hunting cartridge it would be VERY hard, if not impossible, to improve upon or exceed the 270 Winchester!
I think I have about tried em all" and keep going back to the mild mannered, accurate, reliable, lethal and CLASSY 270 Winchester.
Been using them for over half a century now from the rain forests for Blacktails to the thickets and dense woods for Whitetails to the wide open country for Mule Deer - the 270 Winchester has always performed exceptionally well.
Long live the 270 Winchester!
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have downed dozens of mulies and whitetails with my 1979 purchased Glenfield 30-30 carbine. This great shooting rifle matches my hunting techniques perfectly so that I'm always presented with a short to medium range kill shot. I hunt either spot and stalk or ambush styles. But this carbine is not a do-all hunting tool. For antelope I reach for my Remington .243 and for elk, my Savage .308 gets the job done for me.

30-30 is a keeper!

Shjerwood

I suspect that if every bit of information available was loaded into a computer, and that computer was asked to pick the perfect deer cartridge, the winner would be the 270 Winchester. I have killed deer from 15 to 400 yards with one, and although I retired mine and gone on to other cartridges, I have yet to find anything better.

The 270 would be damn hard to beat, I have 3plus a 270 WSM. I like the 130 grain Bear Claws in them.

J Jr.

That's why the 270 W is still DOING WELL. It's been one of my favs since 1976 at least.

Jerry

Great Attractant fo sho.

Jerry

In the post title, he doesn’t specify east or west, high or low. In spite of the fact one can kill a deer with about anything with a barrel, this is an intellectual exercise.

What is “the best”? That means one specific cartridge.

Though I’ve not had one for years, I would probably nominate the .308 Win which probably has enough OTC loads to fit about any situation aside from any hand loading one could do. Not too powerful but fairly flat also..

Anything between .243 and .375 H&H. Pick the one that makes you smile and can get the job done. My personal favorite is the .358 Win.

Geesh this is a loaded question lol. I have everything from a 243 to a 338 win mag as I'm sure most do. I'll usually grab the model 70 7mm08 classic compact when I'm hunting deer tho.

30-30 works for us redneck country boys who hunt close and hunt hard!

Sherwood

From P 3

Remember 40 years ago, your dealer could get a "hand-picked" M77R from one of the vendors in Shotgun News for an extra $10? I had a dealer do that, in .270 Winchester. I've been using them (and others) ever since, but when it comes right down to it, I'll grab the .270 every time. It works fine (so does the 7x57, .30/06, .25/06, .44 Mag,, .243 Win. etc.) Deer aren't that hard to kill.

Nowadays, I have a M70 Classic .270, and a Marlin .30/30, both of them work just fine. Deer just aren't that hard to kill.

My best is the 260Rem. Can put the 6.5 Jesus and 6.5 Swede with it also. They are pretty mild in recoil and kill just fine. No long runners, sometimes no runners, when you put a bullet in the slats. Kids have no issues shooting these cartridges. Bullets up to 140gr are common loads with more than enough azz to leave an exit.

I shoot my 7RM once a year to make the scope is on and use it as a backup for hunting. Killed a coyote a couple years ago with it. It’s a dust collector now.

Yes, the .308 Win with a 130 gr TTSX at 3080 is my main choice these days.

My last deer last year taken with that combination -

Dad just passed this July, so this year it's his 348 Win model 71. "Best deer cartrige" next year might be something else!

SALUTE’ there Dean.
Fantastic.


Sorry for your loss. BTDT


Jerry

still my pair of 06. butttt my 260 is crying out and the savage 99 in 3030 is strong contender!

I guess I do. I've got a dozen or so.

It is a sweetheart of a cartridge for a handloader.

'300 savage from a model 99

.284 from a Savage lever action kils them at 10 yards or 400 either one. Where I hunt







346 yards


200 yards


10 yards



Works on bears too. 7-8 yards

[img]https://i.imgur.com/5EkszG0.jpg?1[/img]


175 yards

Saaaaaaright !

Great PIX. Had a few 99s. 1 in 358 a guy offered much MORE than I had in it, both of us were happy.

Thnx

Jerry

every time I carry my .280 something dies so this.

308, 270win, or 30-06. These days my preference is the 308win.

^^ This ^^ ...... If I had to pick just one and wasn't a handloader, I think I'd go with the 6.5CM for a deer only rifle.

The last rifle I’ve bought, a Remington 798 in 7 mag.

I know that feeling. This is TRUE.

My first Rem Mod Six was in 270 W. My Son is here now and can verify. I killed so many deer with that rifle I nicknamed
it Old Faithful EDIT. - Meat In The Pot. !! FMD. (fading memory disorder)

One year we had some kind of problem on our Deer Lease, I could NOT find A deer.
Late in season I decided to try something new, a draw between 2 ridges.
I went home, got > Meat In The Pot> I went to a dump sight and checked zero. (No hunters there)

I went to that draw a KILLED a deer 45 min before dark.

After I inherited my Dad's Six in 270, my Son inherited it.



HE put the bubbas on it. It still looks good after hunting many years.

Jerry

This in a model 99 F

Guys, IF you're wondering about my confusion on "Meat In The Pot",
what I said IS true.

My Dad died 12/98, almost 22 yrs ago. I got his M 6 270 and my Son got "Meat In The Pot".....22 years ago.

AND at 70 yo, Fading Memory Disorder has begun on me. NO ONE is sadder than I about that.

Jerry

I keep thinking about the 6.5 Creedmoor. I just haven't acted yet

270 ..9 deer
7mmRM ... 7 deer 2 antelope
257 Roberts Ackley rimmed... 4 deer
300WM... 1 deer
6.5-06.....2 deer 4 antelope
280AI ..... 2 deer 3 antelope

Right now I am building a:
25 Krag Ackley
6.5-06
250 sav

Those are some cool rifles J...Enjoy!....Hb

Thnx Va H

I kinda like em.

Jerry

It would be interesting to see a state by state comparison of ammo and dies sold. Anyone like doing research?!?

Longer range? 6.5 Creed. 300 in? .250 Savage. My most-used and bloody? .270 Win.

I have used several different rifles and shotguns with buckshot. I have killed around 100 deer. I wouldn't use anything less than 30 caliber from my experience. My best deer killing rifle is a 300 Wby. Every deer I hit with it I retreived. I have had 2 travel out of their tracks. The others just fell.
I have hunted every day I could during deer rifle season my whole life. I have hunted with a lot of people shooting everything from 22 Hornet to 340 Wby
I have helped track deer other people shot for 40 years. Deer shot well can go 300 to 400 yards before they bleed out and stumble and fall. In my experience a 30 caliber will bleed them enough to find them. Some of the smaller stuff works to kill them they just don't leave a big enough hole or exit to bleed and leave a trail. It makes finding them more difficult than needed. I realize many people like their smaller caliber rifles, I just don't think they are best. If I had to pick one it would be a 30-06.

I have 4 tags for 2020.
I have filled 2 now. 1st one with a 35 Remington from a M141 Remington pump with a peep sight loaded with an old 200 grain CL round nose bullet. 181 yards.
Number 2 was yesterday. 30-30 Marlin M36 24" rifle, also with a peep sight. Used a 170 grain Speer 170 grain Flat Point. 207 yards.

So I have 2 more deer to kill. Lovely moments in my life involve the "pain" of trying to decide what gun and load to use next. I like using iron sights so in my list for my next 2 deer are the following 6 rifles.

6.5 Mannlicher M1903 carbine. I use 156 gr PPU round nose bullets.
270 Winchester in a Win M95 lever action. 150 grain Remington Round Nose Core Lokt.
303 British made in the style of a "Speed Srorter". 180 grain Remington Core Lokt.
300 Savage with a 150 grain Core-Lokt from my Savage M99.
300 Savage with a 180 grain Winchester Power Point from my Remington M81.
9.3X57 Mauser, Husky M48 with 285 gr PPU Round Nose.

So..............which 4 are going to be left out of the 2020 deer season?

6.5 creedmoor, 7mm-08, or .308 would be my best.

The best deer cartridge is the one a hunter just killed a deer with

I just chambered a 7mmSTW... not glass bedded yet.

In summary, I think the 6.5-06 is the best for deer. The only disadvantage is no source of brass. I have to run 30-06 brass through a 6.5-06 die, and then the case head marking is wrong.

I bought some 6.5-06 brass. I forgot who made it.


Midway has 5 boxes.

I remember how cool I thought it was that an old mentor of mine just kept using the .338 WM he’d brought down with him from Alaska. Hard to argue with the results he got with that on deer!

I like smaller these days... .257 Rob, 6.5x55 Swede, 6-250, 7-08, 7x57.

.30 WCF has “vintage gravitas” and tough to argue with especially in a peep-sighted lever gun!

I run .25-06 through the die myself but yeah incorrect head stamp oh well.

I’ve taken deer with everything from a .243 to .338 Win Mag with about a dozen more in between. With all that, I’d find it very hard to argue against the 6.5 Creedmoor as the best deer cartridge.

East or West, 6 - 600 yards (even with the same bullet!), mild recoil, bucks the wind.

Great factory ammo with tons of different bullets is widely available at good prices. It’s an accurate little bugger, and handloaders can get just about any bullet to shoot well in one.

If I was an Eastern or Midwestern hunter, I’d choose something like a 120gr Ballistic Tip or TTSX, or maybe a 129gr SST or 130gr AccuBond for a little extra zip within 300 yards. Out here, I like the 142gr ABLR and 143gr ELD-X for a bit more velocity retention and wind bucking in case a longer shot becomes necessary. There are plenty of other 6.5 bullets that would get the job done but these seem to appeal to me and my rifle the most.

I just can’t see any appreciable difference between dead and dead

I have killed deer with 22 mag,300blk, 22-250,223, 307 Win, 9mm, 45-70,308, 30-06, 243,260,6.5 creedmoor, 270, 7mm rum, 300wsm, 45 mzl, 50 mzl, bow, crossbow, 20g, 12g, and a truck

Pick a cartridge and kill deer within said cartridges limits

I typically use one of my 243’s or my 260. Also use the 30-06 occasionally. 300blk kills them just fine for my kids.

I think too much consideration is given to cartridges honestly. Deer aren’t hard to kill

32 Special

I agree with you and disagree with qualifications.
Yes, deer aren't hard to kill. As you said 22 Mag--- UP, as long as shot placement is correct.

I've dispatched car wounded deer with a 22 LR and hunted and killed with an 8mm RM (totally unnecessary but I own one).

Where the qualifications come in IS the WHERE someone hunts. I've hunted Nat'l Forest, thickets, pastures, cutovers,
and power / pipelines.

I like a cartridge that you can HIT a deer from the muzzle out to 400 yds. NOT all those you listed are good at distance.
Where I hunt now, I can be in a thicket or on an open pasture or fence row and 400 yds isn't out of the question.

MY, MY requisite is a cartridge with adequate capability & trajectory out to 400 yds. My choices are less than in your list.
ATST, as you said, we must *shoot* within the cartridge's limit.

Jerry

Best answer I've seen in this thread!

Like a 6.5x57?

I don't think a non answer does the thread justice nor is it "the best answer". If I was only going to hunt deer for the rest of my life and give up on the Elk and moose drawings I could easily come up with 3 or 4 cartridges that I feel are ideal for that. The 308, 7mm-08, and 6.5 Creedmoor would be my top three.

Yeah. Anything from 6mm to .308 in a short action. Really hard to argue against the 6.5 diameter as being a good fit for deer.....hard argue against the case design and capacity of the CM for pushing it.

yes i will use my 257 Weatherby Mag. when i get in the stand opening mourning looking for a nice whitetail buck but after a few days i will bring out my new to me rifle with my handloads 256 Newton and i plan on shooting a doe with this rifle ! this old rifle 256 Newton is a very neat old bolt action made back around 1920 vintage ? and as Mule Deer explained to me about this cartridge its a 6.5 bullet with a barrel bore diameter is . 256 and that`s how Newton decided the name, same thing as his 300 Newton it is really .308 bore diameter. so what would we do without Mule Deer`s help ! ? thanks again,Pete53

It is 7mm-08 or .30-06 for me because those are the 2 calibers in deer rifles I currently own.

It is the one that will do the least damage to the neck meat.

Jwall.

I agree. I typically wanna be able to go close to mid range myself. Which the 243 and 260 do very well for me. When I’m hunting strictly thick woods I typically grab a rifle with lower power scope that is handy in the stand over anything else. Which is typically a model 7 243. If had a 30-30( which is a problem I need to rectify) id grab it in tight woods.

Most hunters aren’t hunting from point blank to 400 yards. Most have no business shooting much past 150 yards anyways. Most don’t even think of guns the way most of us do on campfire.

Good example is a guy I grew up with. Andy has killed a lot of nice bucks in west Tennessee and middle Tennessee over the years. He will shoot 5-7 does a year and typically 1-2 bucks. He has been using the same 35 Remington since he was about 12( 35 now) I attempted to talk to him about better cartridges and he laughed. Said his rifle has never let him down. It’s the only deer rifle he owns

Most are happy with whatever they have or were given Will buy whatever factory ammo shoots pie plate at 100. Cheap scopes that they never even leveled more than with naked eye

I just feel way to much thought is put into the “best deer cartridge” when there are so many great cartridges around. Non is best

I guess this is, what, post #11?

Sage advice from ol' Andy there. Sometimes I wish I was as easily satisfied.

35 Remington wouldn’t be my first choice for a one and only, but then again I’m a little looney about guns as most of you are as well

Truth is I used a 243 exclusively for a number of years without issue. Still use it most of the time

Heck it even had a leupold scope on it. Amazing I was successful especially shooting factory ammo.

30/06 is too much gun at the distance most deer are shot. Other cartridges in that recoil class buck wind better if you're shooting further.

25 WSSM, .260, 7mm08 for normal distances. Sub-thirty caliber magnums for longer distance.

Can you Kill them DEADER ? "Overkill" doesn't exist, IMO.

Jerry

“Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner”! Short of using large diameter(( greater than 50 cal) exploding bullets......overkill is “over dramatized”! memtb

I've shot them as close as 10 yards with a 30-06. I prefer my 30-30 up close but there was no problem

I gotta figure out what to run this yr....

.243
.35 rem
.308
.3006

Sucks azz its a 1 buck state, and my little.corner of the county low on does.

I've been using the same .270 since 1979. I have allot of confidence in the rifle and caliber. Sometimes I think about using another rifle and caliber then talk myself out of it.

You’re reading too much Man Bun tripe & drivel.


Jerry

LMAO! 😂 ....Hb

I've kilt them using 223, 25-06, 270, 30-06, 30-30, 257 bee, 300 wsm, 375 h&h, 7.62x39, 250-3000, 22 Hi Power, 300 savage, 303 savage, 50 cal muzzleloader, 45 cal muzzleloader, 44 mag pistol, and by god every one worked. Never lost a deer to any of these. So the answer to your question is whatever you shoot the best with within reasonable reason should work just fine. I have killed texas whitetail Arizona coues whitetail and Arizona muleys with these. YMMV

I started with a 35 rem, moved up to 30-06 at age 13, when I graduated and got real job bought myself a 300wm. I have since killed with everything from 204 to 338 laupua.
I have been primarily using a 25-06ai for the last several years and it has become my favorite. All will kill but for the recoil and all around gun I think this is my choice. 110 grain accubomb at 3360 will handle anything to 400 fine and most a bang flops.
I take the 338 in I plan to shoot over 300 most of the time but also have a 260 Rayhill rocket that I use for longer range as well.

Started my nephew with 223 and he killed a pile of deer. Plan to start my daughter this year with the same 223 as I’m gonna step him up to an abolt 243.

I guess in short the 25-06ai is my favorite

You're the sort of fool who replied with tripe and drivel and left no doubt.

3006

waa waa
You hurt my feelers

Do you have Chic jeans to go with your Man Bun ?



I can tease you w/o calling you names!

Now I’m goin huntin in the mornin so
you’ll have plenty of time to think of another insult.
junior.


Jerry

I was gonna make a pointed comment on this post, but you guys already handled it. Happy Trails

AgreedAgreedMe too.

AgreedAgreedMe too.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Guys I have an 06 that I love and it reminds me of my Dad.
I've hunted and killed multiple deer with it. I've had 06s before and killed with them. NO prejudice.

** Actually, IMO the 30-06 is THE most American Cartridge we have, so...


That said, FOR DEER -> I like the 270 W better.....it shoots FLATTER, pure and simple.

Jerry

ps: NO... the 6.5 Creed, 6.5 X47, 6.5 Grendal, & 6.5 Swede DON'T shoot flatter INSIDE 400 yrds.

You could hit a deer at 400 yds with a 22 LR! Few people can shoot within the limits of the cartridge they shoot. We must shoot within our own limit!

If we're doing the ol' 'There can be only one' for the rest of my time deer hunting, I'd probably go with the .270.

Then spend every day while deer hunting second guessing my decision. 😊

i just like my old Ruger single shot 257 Weatherby Mag. using 100 gr Nosler Partition,5 shot groups 1 inch 100 yards 3800 fps it still gets the job done .

Best deer cartridge, easy. Doesn't matter what it is so long as your comfortable with shooting it and comfortable with it's ability. Until you get into dangerous game situation's most any cartridge will kill pretty much anything as long as you do your job. The most important component in any cartridge to hunt anything is not the cartridge, it's the shooter!

I agree with you and HAVE said the same thing.
I have practiced 400 yd shooting with appropriate cartridges and am comfortable and have killed deer 386, 399, & 402 yds.

IF, IF you hit a deer at 400 yds with a 22 LR you 'might' bruise' it.


Jerry

ADDENDUM to this:

"ps: NO... the 6.5 Creed, 6.5 X47, 6.5 Grendal, & 6.5 Swede DON'T shoot flatter INSIDE 400 yrds."

^^ stated in previous post .

The 260 Rem does NOT shoot flatter than a 270 W inside of 400yds.

We have someone 'here' who stated the SAME thing a WHILE back.
"Remington tried to SELL that when the 260 came out and....."

Jerry

I’d vote .308 or 7mm-08.