What caliber to shoot what?

efgf · October 21, 2008, 12:51 AM

I'm an avid target shooter, but not much of a hunter although I went a few times as a kid. But I am curious how you know what type of gun (rifle/shotgun) and caliber/gauge to use for various types of hunting. Is there a list somewhere?

If I ever did go hunting, I don't think I'd know what gun to take and I'd like to be a little more educated in case it ever comes up. I'm not looking for anything exotic like lions and zebras (although that'd be interesting too), more just for typical midwestern game like rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail, geese, duck, deer, turkey and so on.

Firepower! · October 21, 2008, 05:01 AM

7x57 for everthing. Just adjust your range.

Art Eatman · October 21, 2008, 06:34 AM

"...for typical midwestern game like rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail, geese, duck, deer, turkey..."

Commonly, either a .22 rifle or a .410 shotgun for rabbit and squirrel. Any shotgun from 20-gauge to 12-gauge with #8 shot for dove and quail. Usually, 12-gauge with #5 up to #2 for ducks and geese.

If a person has the self-control and skill to hit the proper spot on a deer, as opposed to "somewhere in the brown", it doesn't take a super-cartridge to kill Bambi. Generally, the medium-power cartridges are preferred, varying from the .243 or .257 Roberts on up to the .30-'06.

Turkey? That has become almost a specialized style of hunting. The whole camo thing, specially-choked shotguns which are ultra-tight. Much like the Outdoor Channel TV programs. However, many deer hunters kill gobblers as an adjunct to a deer hunt.

taylorce1 · October 21, 2008, 06:58 AM

I like to play around with different calibers a lot so I'll just list what I've used so far.

.22lr, 16ga, and 12ga for small game mainly rabbits and dove.

.22lr, .22 WMR, .223, .243, .270 and 12ga for varmints and predators (prairie dogs and coyotes).

.243, .270, and .338-06 for pronghorn last caliber is a little large but effective although no more than the other two.

.243, .270, and .50 cal BP for mule deer used a .30-30 one year but didn't find a deer worth shooting.

.270 and .30-06 for elk have tried the .30-30, .338-06 and .35 Whelen but again not a shootable elk in sight when I've used these calibers.

.270 for pig hunting took a .35 Rem as well but didn't use it.

.30-06 for black bear I've only hunted them once.

I have a few yet that I haven't tried hunting with that I want to which is my .25-06 which is nearing completion, my 6.5X55 and .375 Ruger.

Kreyzhorse · October 21, 2008, 07:13 AM

I have 4 guns that I use to hunt with but there is some bleed over between game types.

Deer: Savage 7mm Rem Mag, custom made .308 or a Ruger No. 1 45-70.

Antelope: Savage 7mm Rem Mag or the .308

Turkey, rabbit, dove: Mossberg 500 12ga.

lon371 · October 21, 2008, 08:03 AM

We hunt in Southern indiana. My goto gun has always been a Mossberg 500 12 guage smooth bore. With all the different types of shells, you can hunt everything in your list.
We do have other from 22lr-17hmr-.44mag rifle-357mag contender-410-20-20 ultra slug-12- .50 cal muzzle loaders-and a (few big rifles for fun)

By the way how do you cook targets?

Lonny

cat9x · October 21, 2008, 08:20 AM

.308 Winchester

I use it for whitetail, pronghorn, hogs

SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 · October 21, 2008, 08:28 AM

G'day lon371, I think all you need to do is wrap some bacon around them and throw them in a fry pan. My mother used to say anything tastes better with bacon.

fisherman66 · October 21, 2008, 08:35 AM

A 22lr, 12 gauge, and a rifle as Art described is about the minimum needs.

I suppose one could get by with a slug barrel on the shotgun in addition to the smooth bore and ditch the rifle.

Brian Pfleuger · October 21, 2008, 09:18 AM

.22LR - Fun

.204Ruger - Killing up to 'yote size

12ga - flying things/deer

hogdogs · October 21, 2008, 06:26 PM

I use my .22 for rabbits and squirrel, I also pick off sitting doves with it but those are for the snake food.
I have a 20 and 12 gauge pump for many things...
For small game I use #6 for doves I use #7 1/2 mostly.
Dog size game I would be using from #4bird on up to #3buck depending on distance.
Deer I use slugs in either one.
I have a .30-30 lever gun for big game as well.
I use my 18 inch barreled 20 gauge and .30-30 for heavy cover in the swamps so they get much more use than the longer 28 inch pump gun.
Brent

October 21, 2008, 12:51 AM	#1
efgf Member Join Date: November 24, 2007 Posts: 32	What caliber to shoot what? I'm an avid target shooter, but not much of a hunter although I went a few times as a kid. But I am curious how you know what type of gun (rifle/shotgun) and caliber/gauge to use for various types of hunting. Is there a list somewhere? If I ever did go hunting, I don't think I'd know what gun to take and I'd like to be a little more educated in case it ever comes up. I'm not looking for anything exotic like lions and zebras (although that'd be interesting too), more just for typical midwestern game like rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail, geese, duck, deer, turkey and so on.

October 21, 2008, 08:35 AM	#9
fisherman66 Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2005 Location: The Woodlands TX Posts: 4,679	A 22lr, 12 gauge, and a rifle as Art described is about the minimum needs. I suppose one could get by with a slug barrel on the shotgun in addition to the smooth bore and ditch the rifle. __________________ la plus belle des ruses du diable est de vous persuader qu'il n'existe pas!

October 21, 2008, 09:18 AM	#10
Brian Pfleuger Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 25, 2008 Location: Austin, CO Posts: 19,578	.22LR - Fun .204Ruger - Killing up to 'yote size 12ga - flying things/deer __________________ Nobody plans to screw up their lives... ...they just don't plan not to. -Andy Stanley

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October 21, 2008, 05:01 AM	#2
Firepower! Senior Member Join Date: February 3, 2008 Posts: 2,109	7x57 7x57 for everthing. Just adjust your range.

October 21, 2008, 06:34 AM	#3
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	"...for typical midwestern game like rabbit, squirrel, dove, quail, geese, duck, deer, turkey..." Commonly, either a .22 rifle or a .410 shotgun for rabbit and squirrel. Any shotgun from 20-gauge to 12-gauge with #8 shot for dove and quail. Usually, 12-gauge with #5 up to #2 for ducks and geese. If a person has the self-control and skill to hit the proper spot on a deer, as opposed to "somewhere in the brown", it doesn't take a super-cartridge to kill Bambi. Generally, the medium-power cartridges are preferred, varying from the .243 or .257 Roberts on up to the .30-'06. Turkey? That has become almost a specialized style of hunting. The whole camo thing, specially-choked shotguns which are ultra-tight. Much like the Outdoor Channel TV programs. However, many deer hunters kill gobblers as an adjunct to a deer hunt.

October 21, 2008, 06:58 AM	#4
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,242	I like to play around with different calibers a lot so I'll just list what I've used so far. .22lr, 16ga, and 12ga for small game mainly rabbits and dove. .22lr, .22 WMR, .223, .243, .270 and 12ga for varmints and predators (prairie dogs and coyotes). .243, .270, and .338-06 for pronghorn last caliber is a little large but effective although no more than the other two. .243, .270, and .50 cal BP for mule deer used a .30-30 one year but didn't find a deer worth shooting. .270 and .30-06 for elk have tried the .30-30, .338-06 and .35 Whelen but again not a shootable elk in sight when I've used these calibers. .270 for pig hunting took a .35 Rem as well but didn't use it. .30-06 for black bear I've only hunted them once. I have a few yet that I haven't tried hunting with that I want to which is my .25-06 which is nearing completion, my 6.5X55 and .375 Ruger.

October 21, 2008, 07:13 AM	#5
Kreyzhorse Senior Member Join Date: April 12, 2006 Location: NKY Posts: 12,463	I have 4 guns that I use to hunt with but there is some bleed over between game types. Deer: Savage 7mm Rem Mag, custom made .308 or a Ruger No. 1 45-70. Antelope: Savage 7mm Rem Mag or the .308 Turkey, rabbit, dove: Mossberg 500 12ga. __________________ "He who laughs last, laughs dead." Homer Simpson

October 21, 2008, 08:03 AM	#6
lon371 Senior Member Join Date: September 1, 2007 Location: S.Indiana Posts: 252	We hunt in Southern indiana. My goto gun has always been a Mossberg 500 12 guage smooth bore. With all the different types of shells, you can hunt everything in your list. We do have other from 22lr-17hmr-.44mag rifle-357mag contender-410-20-20 ultra slug-12- .50 cal muzzle loaders-and a (few big rifles for fun) By the way how do you cook targets? Lonny

October 21, 2008, 08:20 AM	#7
cat9x Senior Member Join Date: September 17, 2008 Location: Texas Posts: 212	.308 Winchester I use it for whitetail, pronghorn, hogs

October 21, 2008, 08:28 AM	#8
SKULLANDCROSSBONES65 Senior Member Join Date: August 19, 2008 Location: Far Nth Wst QLD Australia Posts: 992	G'day lon371, I think all you need to do is wrap some bacon around them and throw them in a fry pan. My mother used to say anything tastes better with bacon. __________________ If you're not confused, you're not trying hard enough! When you're confused, I'll try to use smaller words!!!

October 21, 2008, 06:26 PM	#11
hogdogs Staff In Memoriam Join Date: October 31, 2007 Location: Western Florida panhandle Posts: 11,069	I use my .22 for rabbits and squirrel, I also pick off sitting doves with it but those are for the snake food. I have a 20 and 12 gauge pump for many things... For small game I use #6 for doves I use #7 1/2 mostly. Dog size game I would be using from #4bird on up to #3buck depending on distance. Deer I use slugs in either one. I have a .30-30 lever gun for big game as well. I use my 18 inch barreled 20 gauge and .30-30 for heavy cover in the swamps so they get much more use than the longer 28 inch pump gun. Brent