Best Deer Hunting Cartridge

[78Bronco]

The 260 was around years before the 6.5 CM..Remington just did a poor job on marketing it,once they decided to adopt it in the 1990’s. It’s simply a 308,necked down to 6.5..so finding cases to reload “should” be easy enough. It shoots a little faster/flatter than the CM,out to around 500yds. Very high BC round . Easy recoiling,and still packs enough energy at 500-600 for Deer hunting. Anywho,that’s the KoolAid I’m drinking this year. Now,that 22-250 of yours..find some 60gr Nosler Partitions,or TTSX for it & enjoy! It’s a potent round for shore..

I've spent some time behind the trigger of both the 260 and 6.5CM. Agree Rem dropped the ball with marketing the 260 and even lost the opportunity to have it adopted on a large scale with some military applications years ago. I know a guy out in Tx that exclusively shoots 260 and regularly pulls off shots on deer in the 300-400 yrd range. Have fun with it this year, hope you have lots of luck.

I've got a recipe for the 250 I've been using for years and years now. Pushes a 70gr pill and is deadly accurate. Shot placement is everything with these lighter calibers. I only take neck shots and they crumble in their tracks when it connects. Sure, there are times I have to pass on shots/deer I would like to take because of that requirement I put on myself but gotta be responsible and ethical with the gun you choose and I'm fine with that.

Best of luck to everyone this year. Looking forward to seeing your posts and pics.

 

[Farmer 2]

I haven’t seen 44 mag mentioned on here yet so I will. I have a Ruger 44 mag carbine that works great in most places I hunt up to 100 yds I have had great success with it.

 

[olerambler]

4-5 years ago, a dude up the road from me killed a decent size 6 pt with a .17. He shot it through the ear.

Over years saw a lot deer killed with 22mags or 22 favorite gun real poachers

 

[basstracker89]

I haven’t seen 44 mag mentioned on here yet so I will. I have a Ruger 44 mag carbine that works great in most places I hunt up to 100 yds I have had great success with it.

Well it's a pistol cartridge. But worth a mention. For that matter, 45 Colt. No joke, took a deer at 135yds. One shot, complete pass through. Never took another step, just fell over

 

[Farmer 2]

My next gun I want is a 357 lever action rifle I don’t know why but I like pistol cartridge rifles

 

[basstracker89]

My next gun I want is a 357 lever action rifle I don’t know why but I like pistol cartridge rifles

Good addition, but a little light on deer in my opinion. I think about every deer I ever shot with a 357 had to be shot twice. That's why I started carrying a 44mag as a side arm. But you better aim careful. You don't want to shoot it more than once. You'll start messing up meat

 

[Farmer 2]

Good addition, but a little light on deer in my opinion. I think about every deer I ever shot with a 357 had to be shot twice. That's why I started carrying a 44mag as a side arm. But you better aim careful. You don't want to shoot it more than once. You'll start messing up meat

That’s true I probably won’t hunt with the 357 anyway I just like the idea of having a rifle and handgun in the same caliber

 

[atscott]

So far I've taken deer with .40, 10 mm, and .44 mag handguns. Key is being picky with your shots and being proficient. May try my 1911 this year. That being said I've seen several taken cleanly with .357 mags

 

[basstracker89]

That’s true I probably won’t hunt with the 357 anyway I just like the idea of having a rifle and handgun in the same caliber

Same here. I like the 357, good shooting cartridge. I mean if that's all I had, I'd take a deer with it. It is a good working gun cartridge. Just prefer not to shoot anything heavier than a 60lb animal with it. I have taken deer up to 150lbs with one round, just not my preference

 

[Maggiemaeodie]

Nobody has mentioned the 22 mag yet...

In bow season those are the best arrows.