Best Deer Hunting Cartridge

[basstracker89]

Remember this is one guy’s personal list. I don’t take it seriously.

.270 has been my life long companion, but .30/06, .30/30, . 243, 7mm08, 7mm Rem mag, .35 Rem have all proven to me to be very effective.

Strangely enough, I’ve seen two bucks run more than a mile after being shot near perfect with a .308. It happened to my Dad and my brother. When we found my brother’s buck it was still alive, perfect shot behind the shoulder. I’ve heard several other stories from guys that I trust and they had similar experiences. For this reason I have bias against the .308 for deer…Yes, I suppose my bias is unreasonable and completely silly, but I can’t get past it.

I wouldn't like it either if it didn't work for me.

 

[78Bronco]

I stick with .243 and up. Put a quality,expanding projectile where it belongs is more important than caliber,IMO. This year I’m going to (primarily) use a 260 Remington…

That's cool. I don't hear of many folks shooting a 260 Rem.

I'll keep stacking them up with the 22-250. I'm sure I will prob show the 7 Mag a little love this year and take it out a few times as well.

 

[GFB]

It would probably be a shorter list if it were the worst rounds for deer. Seems like there are so many good options.

 

[coletrain]

.303 British probably killed more game worldwide than any other round....

 

[basstracker89]

I took my first deer with a Thompson Hawken 50cal. Since then black powder sabot 44, 45. Taken a lot of deer with a black powder. Then 223, 257 Wby Mag, 30 Carbine, 308, 35Rem, 375H&H, 416 Rigby and 458 Win mag. I don't like 223 for deer. The 257 Wby, heart/lung shot and they never take another step. Almost no doping necessary. 30 Carbine, quick double tap and they're down. I've taken by far the most deer with a 308 Win. I really like the W/W Power Point both in 150 and 180gr. The 35Rem. just didn't preform like I had hoped in brush. The African game cartridge, I was just experimenting before hunting dangerous game. But found the 375H&H to be an excellent brush cartridge. So much so, that is my brush cartridge of choice. The 416 Rigby and 458 are way overkill for whitetail. For me, the 375 is a much better brush gun than the 458. I also like the 416 over the 458. It has better range, but the 458 is much more accurate

 

[BIKER13]

killed most deer with a 270. shoot a 308 opening weekend and then hunt with my 350 Legend. Caliber I hate the most is a 7m08.

 

[Mythical Beast Forge]

I think matching bullets to shot placement are the most important regardless of the cartridge. I grew up filling all my tags every year with a Ruger Blackhawk in 45colt. I’ve seen tons of deer dropped with a 22lr and 17hmr with depredation permits. Last year I used a 6.5 Grendel and this year I’m going to run a 22arc.

 

[basstracker89]

.303 British probably killed more game worldwide than any other round....

Yea,the 303, 8mm and 30-06

 

[basstracker89]

Where I grew up you could only use a shotgun or pistol.
A 12 ga slug gets the job done.

When I was a kid, my first firearm was a 410. I used slugs

 

[mrauditor]

I read the article and have no problem with his opinions/choices. Like mentioned above, I believe shot placement is critical. I am as happy as a pig in slop with a .243, a .270 and a .308. I do not need a .375 H&H or .458 Rem Mag. Thanks.