Best deer round

gunner4391 · September 9, 2009, 07:32 PM

What would yall say is the best deer round out there? And I mean all deer from Mule to whitetail. I'm thinking of getting rid of the remy and switchy it up, but I truly only want a caliber for deer.

Waterengineer · September 9, 2009, 07:36 PM

This will be interesting to watch but I'll start by saying .257 Roberts.

oneounceload · September 9, 2009, 07:45 PM

What's a remy? :barf:

Is that supposed to be Remington? And if it is, WHAT Remington would that be? Rifle - bolt, semi or pump...., Shotgun......

For open Western range, Southern beanfields and similar, a 30-06/270/7mag will do just fine, as will a 25-06. They'll also work for folks who sit in tree stands, but tend to be overkill unless you're near the previously mentioned beanfield

jgcoastie · September 9, 2009, 07:51 PM

.308, .30/06, .270, .280, .243, 7mm-08, .25-06 just to name a few.

fisherman66 · September 9, 2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

This will be interesting to watch but I'll start by saying .257 Roberts.

Close, but it's parent cartridge...the 7x57...is the best.

Jack O'Conner · September 9, 2009, 07:59 PM

Due to many work assignments 1976 - present, I've hunted deer all across USA. This older Remington carbine has been a keeper for me. It's a .308 and I love it! But at typical woods distances, .308 can be a meat shredder. FEDERAL Lite features a 170 grain flat nose to 30-30 velocity and is a better ammo choice for fairly close shots. For long shots go with 150 grain spitzer bullets. 180 grain or hand loaded 200 grain is TOPS for elk and moose!

The 7mm-08 shoots a tad flatter with slightly less recoil.

6.5mm X 55 Swede is sort of like the more modern 260 Remington but better ammo choices.

I prefer 20 inch barrel length and would not buy a rifle with longer barrel. Unfortunately, very few makers build carbines but a decent smith can do the job for a reasonable price.

Jack

DiscoRacing · September 9, 2009, 08:01 PM

Im with Jack.... .308

Brian Pfleuger · September 9, 2009, 08:03 PM

25-06 or 7mm-08

Flat shooting, low recoil, plenty enough power for any range that 99% of hunters can make the shot.

Buzzcook · September 9, 2009, 08:38 PM

Whatever shoots best out of the gun you have.

.300 Weatherby Mag · September 9, 2009, 08:43 PM

30-378 Weatherby

jgcoastie · September 9, 2009, 09:32 PM

Quote:

30-378 Weatherby

Oh, so bland 300... Why not a 7-30 Waters?

RNB65 · September 9, 2009, 09:35 PM

.30-06. Everything else is a wannabe.

armsmaster270 · September 9, 2009, 10:04 PM

I'm with RNB65 30-06 or possibly 270

jhgreasemonkey · September 9, 2009, 10:06 PM

Wouldn't it be the one that's killed the most deer? The 30-30 of course.

Man there are sooooooooo many good choices out there for deer. I currently use a .30-06 beause it's my all around rifle and works well. I like the 30-06 and it's varients a lot like the .25-06, .270, .280. I also think the .308 and it's brother the 7mm-08 rate just as well.

dbgun · September 9, 2009, 10:08 PM

Remington 700 BDL in .270

Yellowfin · September 9, 2009, 11:09 PM

Agreed, .30-06 is about impossible to beat. If I wasn't shooting the 06, I'd probably be carrying a 7x57 or 7.5x55 Swiss, or possibly the 6.5x55 Swede.

sasquatch · September 9, 2009, 11:53 PM

.270 Winchester

Waterengineer · September 9, 2009, 11:53 PM

Weatherby Mag and Coastie:

The correct obscure calibers are either the 257 Newton or 30 Newton.

Jack O'Conner:

How can you have a screen name like that and not say .270 Win? Saying .308 made Jack O'Connor roll over in his grave.

Now.

The OP asked for the caliber for Mulies and WT deer. Personally, I think the 30-06 is overgunning, espcially when considering the little deer of the historic deep south and east coast states. That is why I said a .25 caliber. No doubt a 257 Roberts will stop and Mulie too.

Fremmer · September 9, 2009, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Saying .308 made Jack O'Connor roll over in his grave.

Too bad. Jack can rock and roll all he wants, but the .308 Winchester is a wicked deer round!

armsmaster270 · September 10, 2009, 12:49 AM

In the 50's my Aunt took 2nd place Boone & Crockett Mountain Caribou with a .270win.

hardluk1 · September 10, 2009, 08:47 AM

Both the 270 and 308 will do anything you need. You can get a shorter /lighter rifle in 308 is all.

hogdogs · September 10, 2009, 08:53 AM

This many replies and the closest mention of the venerable .30-30 is Jack's reference in mentioning the Federal Lite...

So for me it is simple...
For thick woody hunting...
.30-30 levergun or a shortish shotgun with slugs.

For open country longer shooting, gimme the ol' .30-06.
Brent

a7mmnut · September 10, 2009, 09:04 AM

I'd second the .257 Roberts, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, .308, .30-06, and just about anything else up the middle range. Speaking of range--that's just it. Will you be hunting river bottom bean fields, wide western canyons, thick juniper thickets, eastern pine flats, thick grown-over clear cuts...........?

For myself, I found it nearly impossible to count on one rifle for every situation. In a quick pinch these days, it's going to most likely be a .444 Marlin with a Nikon Monarch 4x40 for the woody stuff, and a 26" M70 Classic Stainless with a Leupold 3.5-10x40 VXIII in 7mm Rem. Mag. With either of those, I have 99% confidence in my equipment for any situation I've found four-legged deer in. Throw in my 7-30 Waters Contender, and I'll go as far as 99.99%.

Good shootin', -7-

PRONE2 · September 10, 2009, 10:31 AM

308!!

taylorce1 · September 10, 2009, 10:40 AM

There is no perfect deer caliber however a lot of good suggestions are on this page. My top five pics would be .243 Win, .270 Win, .30-30 Win, .308 Win, and .30-06 Springfield. Just for the simple fact that you walk into any store that sells ammunition you will find these cartridges on the shelf. 7mm Rem Mag is just as popular and as easy to find just a little more expensive most of the time.

I like these

Quote:

.257 Roberts, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08

as well as the .25-06, .250 Savage, 6.5x55, .260, and .280, but these are not nearly as common or as easily found. If you handload then it isn't such a big deal but it doesn't seem that the OP rolls his own. Don't overthink it and keep it simple when you look for your deer rifle.

September 9, 2009, 07:32 PM	#1
gunner4391 Member Join Date: July 6, 2009 Location: Florida Posts: 62	Best deer round What would yall say is the best deer round out there? And I mean all deer from Mule to whitetail. I'm thinking of getting rid of the remy and switchy it up, but I truly only want a caliber for deer.

September 9, 2009, 07:51 PM	#4
jgcoastie Senior Member Join Date: February 15, 2009 Location: Kodiak, Alaska Posts: 2,118	.308, .30/06, .270, .280, .243, 7mm-08, .25-06 just to name a few. __________________ "To preserve liberty, it is essential that the whole body of the people always possess arms, and be taught alike, especially when young, how to use them." -Richard Henry Lee, Virginia delegate to the Continental Congress, initiator of the Declaration of Independence, and member of the first Senate, which passed the Bill of Rights.

September 9, 2009, 07:59 PM	#6
Jack O'Conner Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2005 Location: Manatee County, Florida Posts: 1,976	Due to many work assignments 1976 - present, I've hunted deer all across USA. This older Remington carbine has been a keeper for me. It's a .308 and I love it! But at typical woods distances, .308 can be a meat shredder. FEDERAL Lite features a 170 grain flat nose to 30-30 velocity and is a better ammo choice for fairly close shots. For long shots go with 150 grain spitzer bullets. 180 grain or hand loaded 200 grain is TOPS for elk and moose! The 7mm-08 shoots a tad flatter with slightly less recoil. 6.5mm X 55 Swede is sort of like the more modern 260 Remington but better ammo choices. I prefer 20 inch barrel length and would not buy a rifle with longer barrel. Unfortunately, very few makers build carbines but a decent smith can do the job for a reasonable price. Jack __________________ Fire up the grill! Deer hunting IS NOT catch and release.

September 9, 2009, 08:03 PM	#8
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	25-06 or 7mm-08 Flat shooting, low recoil, plenty enough power for any range that 99% of hunters can make the shot. __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

September 9, 2009, 09:35 PM	#12
RNB65 Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2006 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 167	.30-06. Everything else is a wannabe. __________________ THR refugee.

September 9, 2009, 07:36 PM	#2
Waterengineer Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Aurora, CO and Palm Beach, FL Posts: 863	This will be interesting to watch but I'll start by saying .257 Roberts.

September 9, 2009, 07:45 PM	#3
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	What's a remy? :barf: Is that supposed to be Remington? And if it is, WHAT Remington would that be? Rifle - bolt, semi or pump...., Shotgun...... For open Western range, Southern beanfields and similar, a 30-06/270/7mag will do just fine, as will a 25-06. They'll also work for folks who sit in tree stands, but tend to be overkill unless you're near the previously mentioned beanfield

September 9, 2009, 08:01 PM	#7
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	Im with Jack.... .308

September 9, 2009, 08:38 PM	#9
Buzzcook Senior Member Join Date: November 29, 2007 Location: Everett, WA Posts: 6,126	Whatever shoots best out of the gun you have.

September 9, 2009, 08:43 PM	#10
.300 Weatherby Mag Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2008 Posts: 1,777	30-378 Weatherby

September 9, 2009, 10:04 PM	#13
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	I'm with RNB65 30-06 or possibly 270 __________________ http://www.armsmaster.net-a.googlepages.com http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...aster270/Guns/ Retired LE, M.P., Sr. M.P. Investigator F.B.I. Trained Rangemaster/Firearms Instructor & Armorer, Presently Forensic Document Examiner for D.H.S.

September 9, 2009, 10:06 PM	#14
jhgreasemonkey Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2006 Location: Pacific Northwest Posts: 2,238	Wouldn't it be the one that's killed the most deer? The 30-30 of course. Man there are sooooooooo many good choices out there for deer. I currently use a .30-06 beause it's my all around rifle and works well. I like the 30-06 and it's varients a lot like the .25-06, .270, .280. I also think the .308 and it's brother the 7mm-08 rate just as well.

September 9, 2009, 10:08 PM	#15
dbgun Senior Member Join Date: March 25, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 326	Remington 700 BDL in .270 __________________ America is not at war. The U.S. Military is at war. America is at the mall.

September 9, 2009, 11:09 PM	#16
Yellowfin Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2007 Location: Lancaster Co, PA Posts: 2,311	Agreed, .30-06 is about impossible to beat. If I wasn't shooting the 06, I'd probably be carrying a 7x57 or 7.5x55 Swiss, or possibly the 6.5x55 Swede. __________________ Students for Concealed Carry on Campus http://www.concealedcampus.org "You can't stop insane people from doing insane things by passing insane laws--that's insane!" - Penn Jillette

September 9, 2009, 11:53 PM	#17
sasquatch Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2005 Location: Western WA Posts: 1,347	.270 Winchester __________________ Just my 2¢.

September 10, 2009, 12:49 AM	#20
armsmaster270 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2008 Location: California Posts: 1,951	In the 50's my Aunt took 2nd place Boone & Crockett Mountain Caribou with a .270win. __________________ http://www.armsmaster.net-a.googlepages.com http://s239.photobucket.com/albums/f...aster270/Guns/ Retired LE, M.P., Sr. M.P. Investigator F.B.I. Trained Rangemaster/Firearms Instructor & Armorer, Presently Forensic Document Examiner for D.H.S.

September 10, 2009, 08:47 AM	#21
hardluk1 Junior member Join Date: March 27, 2009 Posts: 600	Both the 270 and 308 will do anything you need. You can get a shorter /lighter rifle in 308 is all.

September 10, 2009, 08:53 AM	#22
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	This many replies and the closest mention of the venerable .30-30 is Jack's reference in mentioning the Federal Lite... So for me it is simple... For thick woody hunting... .30-30 levergun or a shortish shotgun with slugs. For open country longer shooting, gimme the ol' .30-06. Brent

September 10, 2009, 09:04 AM	#23
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	I'd second the .257 Roberts, 7-30 Waters, 7mm-08, .308, .30-06, and just about anything else up the middle range. Speaking of range--that's just it. Will you be hunting river bottom bean fields, wide western canyons, thick juniper thickets, eastern pine flats, thick grown-over clear cuts...........? For myself, I found it nearly impossible to count on one rifle for every situation. In a quick pinch these days, it's going to most likely be a .444 Marlin with a Nikon Monarch 4x40 for the woody stuff, and a 26" M70 Classic Stainless with a Leupold 3.5-10x40 VXIII in 7mm Rem. Mag. With either of those, I have 99% confidence in my equipment for any situation I've found four-legged deer in. Throw in my 7-30 Waters Contender, and I'll go as far as 99.99%. Good shootin', -7-

September 10, 2009, 10:31 AM	#24
PRONE2 Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2009 Location: St.Louis Mo. Posts: 113	308!!

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