Jump to content
  • GUESTS

    If You  want access  to member only forums on FM, You will need to Sign-in or  Sign-Up now .

    This box will disappear once you are signed in as a member.

Favorite Deer Rifle Caliber


cribbageboy

Recommended Posts

I recently bought a Remmington .270 and absolutly love it. What are some of your favorites?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I like several, depending on where I am hunting.

1) 30-06

2) 7mm

3) .270

4) .243

These are just the ones I have and use, I love everyone of them, but they all work good in different sittuations.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Since I had my Winchester .30-30 stolen and recently purchased a Savage .30-06 I'd have to say I'm partial to .30 caliber!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7mm Rem Mag. for me out of an A-Bolt. I use 150 grain bullets and have never had a deer take one step after I pulled the trigger.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My goto rifle has been my Rem 700 Mountain Rifle chambered for a Rem 280, I run handloaded 150 gr. Nosler Partitions in it. I've had that gun since '88 and just love it, I also have a Sako in a 7mm Rem Mag and a Ruger 300 SAUM but I just can't give up my 280.

Mike

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 'we have more fun' FishingMN Creators

Quote:


For deer my favorites are .30-06 and 7mm-08.


Ditto for me plus I'd add the trusty .308

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love my Remington 700 Mountain Rifle 30-06. Thompson Center Pro Hunter muzzleloader is a close second, going to get a 270 barrel for it soon.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have several calibers as well for different situations too, depends on if I'm in the woods on stand, covering a field or or the game I'm after.

1. 7mm-rem mag.

2. .270

3. .243WSSM

4. which is new to me last year wich works great is the

20ga. Hornady SST Sabot Slug out of a rifled barrel, man do they put deer down. I have my 20ga slug gun sighted in out to about 150-yards, much better knock down power at close range for in the deep woods/swamp area and very easy gun to wheel up on moving deer in the woods, I bought a used Remington Youth 20ga pump, nice and light weight.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I think every caliber mentioned so far are all around good rounds but it always depends on where you hunt that will make the caliber shine!!! So I hunt mostly the Frazee, Detroit Lakes, Walker area's during rifle season and love my Rem. mountain rifle in a 270. If need to I can get 90 grain for yotes or other critters.

I sighted it in when I purchased it in 1993 and haven't need to since. It has been on the mark on every deer I shot that has come my way. Maybe in the near future I might upgrade my scope to a newer model for more light but it still works fine.

I love my 270 just a great caliber.

mr cool.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I second that Hornady SST slug. I have a 12ga. and I dropped an 8 pt last year and the deer weighed 200lbs dressed. I recovered the bullet after it went through both sholders and it was completely intact. That is what I will be using this year as well in my slug zone. I also have to say I am impressed with my 45cal TC Encore. But like I said before my favorite is my 7mm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I would put in another vote for the .270 Rem. I got a Rem Model 7400 when i started deer hunting and have used it ever since. I have never lost a deer that i shot with it.

Forgot to mention that i use reloads from my grandpa, 140gr noslers with great success.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30-06, the bullet that has killed more big game animals in North America than all the others and with good reason. It is THE all around cartridge, an excellent choice for whitetails and muley's and a very serviceable choice for bigger game such as the bull Elk I killed with it last year.

The average whitetail in Minnesota at the short distances we tend to shoot here is not a difficult kill, but if you want a gun that can do more, this one gets my vote.

If I was just going to buy a rifle to shoot shorter to medium range shots on whitetails only, I'm not sure I'd go any bigger than a 25-06... Also the shotgun slugs as someone above mentioned are FAR superior for close range knock down/killing power than most any rifle. I'm talking under fifty yards here, but I'd rather have one of them than most any rifle at that range.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.300 RUM, obviously on a REM 700LA, in open country ( SD ). It is my preferred LR round, with a relatively flat trajectory and at 951m/s muzzle velocity with a 200 gr SP bullet it has a lot of knockdown power. In the right hands, in the right situation 800+ m shots are acceptable.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

.25-06 - Only problem is that it is a little heavy to carry, but a powerful, flat-shooting deer slayer none the less.

DL

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I agree with you, lawdog. With the range of projectile and charge options, the 30-06 is the most versatile round. Can be used for hunting short range big game, long range big game, and long range varmint. I suppose for really big game there might be an argument for something a bit heavier but then as has been said many times before, shot placement....

My ex father-in-law was a competition shooter. He qualified to represent the US in the CanAm games in the '60s but couldn't afford to take the time from work to go. His rifle of choice was his own design but included his own custom stock and Springfield bolt action in 30-06 caliber. Saw him put three consecutive shots in a quarter-sized bulls-eye standing freehand from 300 meters using that rifle. I tried to look through that 25X scope but couldn't hold the target in sight long enough to take a shot much less group them like that.

Bob

edit: It's the rifle of choice I have made as well and I have never regretted it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I love my Marlin model 30AS 30-30 lever gun. Most of my shots are within 50 yards, so it's plenty for my hunting needs, and it's short enough to be maneuverable in the thick stuff. Great little brush gun.

I used to hunt with an old Winchester .308 that I loved. It was a lever action with a 5-round clip, and it was dead-nuts accurate out to 200 yards. I wish I could find another like it.

I also like my .54 Hawken muzzleloader. It'll knock a deer clean off it's feet with a 450 grain maxi-ball.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Speaking of the 30-30. This is probably one of the most under-rated rifles on the market. If I had a nickel every time I heard someone say the 30-30 wasn't good at 100yds.... Bull!

I hunted using a Marlin 336C for most of my life in northern MN and never, and I mean never, had to track a deer. When they were hit they fell where they stood. I can't say that for my 30-06 but it isn't a gun issue, it has been a cartridge choice issue. I have been using the wrong type of bullet for the short range shooting I usually encounter and that has now been corrected.

I believe the 30-30 is an excellent choice for short to medium range deer hunting.

Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I had a remington 742,(which were notorious for wearing prematurely,) in a .243 and loved it. I've taken northern MN whitetail and Montana mulies with it. This time around I went with a 7mm-08. Haven't had a chance to shoot a deer with it, but it's very consistent and accurate at the range. I've heard many good things about the effects of it on deer. I've also used a 30-30 in the brush, as well as 12g slugs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

7mm rem mag, is there a better caliber!, oh wait, maybe the .264 rem mag handloaded. same casing as 7mm, just necked down to a 6.5mm. SCREAMING bullets there! almost 800 feet/second faster than the 7mm

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I used to use a .270 and loved it. However, after I bought my 7mm A-bolt Stalker, I won't buy another rifle (for me). Still need to get the kids each one!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When I first picked up my '06, I was using Winchester Silver tip cartridges in 180gr. Most of my shots in northern MN are less than 50 yards and what I found was that the bullet, unless I hit bone directly, had a tendency not to expand upon impact. The exit wound was the same as the entrance wound. Fortunately I was hitting them in the vitals but this forced me to have to track them down. I began to suspect this particular bullet design was not well suited for short range use. I now use 150gr. softpoint. I have noticed a definite difference in collateral damage.

Bob

edit:

My knowledge about bullet types is quite limited. It was a colleague that suggested the change after I described to him what I had experienced. He stated that the silver tip bullet is a much better round to use for long range targets. He also suggested downsizing to the 150gr. because anything heavier was over-kill for deer and recoil is reduced thereby improving my accuracy and comfort. So far it would appear he was quite accurate in his assessment. I haven’t had a deer travel more than 30 feet from the point of impact since making the change.

One thing about me is that I’m not a poor shot well let me put it this way - I don’t attempt poor shots. What I mean is that I won’t squeeze the trigger unless I feel confident I can make a quick and clean kill. That’s something my father drilled into me when I was younger and it sticks with me today. I’ve seen fellow hunters take shots at running deer or really long shots with uncanny success and that doesn’t bother me but I know I probably wouldn’t try those types of shots even though it’s possible that I might be a better shot than I think I am. I do know that I can group rounds in a 4” bull at 200 yards using a 7x scope and I suppose I should be able to drop a deer from that range if necessary but I rarely would try. Of course where I hunt that would be a rare opportunity anyway. I may have missed some opportunities but I am also pleased that I have never left a wounded animal to die.

Bob

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest
This topic is now closed to further replies.


  • Your Responses - Share & Have Fun :)

    • Brianf.
      I'm not there, so I can't tell exactly what's going on but it looks like a large area of open water developed in the last day with all of the heavy snow on the east side of wake em up Narrows. These two photos are from my Ring Camera facing north towards Niles Point.  You can see what happened with all of snow that fell in the last three days, though the open water could have been wind driven. Hard to say. .  
    • SkunkedAgain
      Black Bay had great ice before but a few spots near rockpiles where there were spots of open water. It looks like the weight of the snow has created a little lake in the middle of the bay.  
    • LakeofthewoodsMN
      On the south end...   Thanks to some cold spring weather, ice fishing continues strong for those still ice fishing.  The bite remains very good.  Most resorts have pulled their fish houses off for the year, however, some still have fish houses out and others are allowing ATV and side by sides.  Check social media or call ahead to your favorite resort for specifics. Reports this week for walleyes and saugers remain excellent.   A nice mix of jumbo perch, pike, eelpout, and an occasional crappie, tullibee or sturgeon being reported by anglers. Jigging one line and using a live minnow on the second line is the way to go.  Green, glow red, pink and gold were good colors this week.     Monster pike are on a tear!  Good number of pike, some reaching over 45 inches long, being caught using tip ups with live suckers or dead bait such as smelt and herring in 8 - 14' of water.   As always, work through a resort or outfitter for ice road conditions.  Safety first always. Fish houses are allowed on the ice through March 31st, the walleye / sauger season goes through April 14th and the pike season never ends. On the Rainy River...  The river is opened up along the Nelson Park boat ramp in Birchdale, the Frontier boat ramp and Vidas boat ramp.  This past week, much of the open water skimmed over with the single digit overnight temps.   Areas of the river have popped open again and with temps getting warmer, things are shaping up for the last stretch through the rest of the spring season, which continues through April 14th.   Very good numbers of walleyes are in the river.  Reports this week, even with fewer anglers, have been good.  When temps warm up and the sun shines, things will fire up again.   Jigs with brightly colored plastics or jigs with a frozen emerald shiner have been the desired bait on the river.  Don't overlook slow trolling crankbaits upstream as well.   Good reports of sturgeon being caught on the river as well.  Sturgeon put the feed bag on in the spring.  The bite has been very good.  Most are using a sturgeon rig with a circle hook loaded with crawlers or crawlers / frozen emerald shiners. Up at the NW Angle...  Ice fishing is winding down up at the Angle.  Walleyes, saugers, and a number of various species in the mix again this week.  The bite is still very good with good numbers of fish.  The one two punch of jigging one line and deadsticking the second line is working well.   Check with Angle resorts on transport options from Young's Bay.  Call ahead for ice road guidelines.  
    • CigarGuy
      With the drifting, kind of hard to tell for sure, but I'm guessing about a foot and still lightly snowing. Cook end!
    • PSU
      How much snow did you get on Vermilion? 
    • Mike89
      lake here refroze too...  started opening again yesterday with the wet snow and wind...  very little ice left today...
    • Hookmaster
      A friend who has a cabin between Alex and Fergus said the lake he's on refroze. He texted me a pic from March 12th when it was open and one from 23rd when it wasn't. 🤯
    • SkunkedAgain
      I don't think that there has been any ice melt in the past few weeks on Vermilion. Things looked like a record and then Mother Nature swept in again.   I'll give my revised guess of April 21st
    • leech~~
      As I get older it's really not just about sending bullets down range.  Some of it's just the workmanship of the gun and the wow factor. The other two guns I have really wanted which I'll never have now because of their price, is a 8mm Jap Nambu and 9mm German Luger.   Just thought they always looked cool!  
    • jim curlee
      I had a guy hit me with a lightly used 1969 BAR, he wanted $1650 with an older Leupold scope. More than I think they are worth, I made an offer, he declined end of story.   You know if you look at the old brochures, a grade II BAR sold for $250 in the late 60s, $1650 would be a good return on your investment.    Why would anybody want a 50 year old gun, they are heavy, have wood stocks, and blued metal.  I guess mainly to keep their gun safes glued to the floor. lol   You can probably buy a stainless rifle that you never have to clean, with a synthetic stock you never have to refinish, is as light as a feather, and for half as much money, perfect.   I'm too old for a youth gun, although I've shrunk enough that it would probably fit. lol   No Ruger 10/44s.   Jim      
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.