calibers for deer hunting? - Page 3

youp · February 5, 2010, 09:49 AM

I have a stevens 200. It is in the 308 caliber. It does not see much use. It is fairlly accurate. One of the bolt lugs does not engage. The cause of horizontal stringing it exhibits. Kind of a cool little rifle actually. You should be able to find one for around 300 new.

Go with the 308. Just way too many ammunition options. If you do it save your brass. Even if you never reload it it has some market value. I have seen guys trying to get 30 cents apiece for once fired commercial stuff. So if you knock five or six bucks off the price of the ammo... Learn the Berdan primed and the steel case. No value for those cases.

dromaeosaur · February 5, 2010, 05:05 PM

the 7.62x39 would have enough power, it would be similar to using a 30/30 but cheaper ammo. SKS's are cheap guns too, probably the best bargain for a deer gun aside from some mosins.

jp_over · February 16, 2010, 12:00 AM

.270 or 30-06 are both very common & effective.

lubto · February 18, 2010, 09:55 AM

don`t choose cartridge/ammo only by price... it`s too expensive then... firstly think about animals u r going to hunt... then choose suitable cartridge .243 is nice cartrige, but I`d prefere something thicker.... since last year I am using 30/30 and I am satisfied absolutly... my advice - 7 mm and more and don`t economize.

Sorry for my english, but I am not native speaker...

taylorce1 · February 18, 2010, 12:25 PM

Quote:

the 7.62x39 would have enough power, it would be similar to using a 30/30 but cheaper ammo. SKS's are cheap guns too, probably the best bargain for a deer gun aside from some mosins.

Well 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R are cheap to shoot surplus ammunition but not any cheaper to shoot hunting ammunition than any other round out there. Most States it is illegal to use FMJ or non-expanding ammunition on anything larger than varmints. Most people don't practice with different ammuniton then change for hunting season as rarely the point of impact will be the same.

Over at Graf and Sons 7.62X39 runs $13-23 per 20 rounds for hunting ammunition and the 7.62X54R runs $16-27 per 20 rounds. So if you are going to practice with hunting ammunition then you are looking at the same costs and in reality using less accurate rifles. Not saying that either round isn't accurate but that the rifles mentioned using this ammunition in these post are not know for great accuracy as a whole.

skydiver3346 · February 19, 2010, 08:43 AM

Just picked up two boxes of Remington Core-Lokt in .30-30 for only 18.50 each. Not too bad and is a great deer hunting round. If you stay with Remington Core-Lokts (in any caliber) they tend to be less costly than say Federal Premium, etc. Plus the Core-Lokt is a superb bullet for the price. As they say: "Deadliest Mushroom In The Woods"...

reloader28 · February 19, 2010, 10:22 AM

Just my opinion, but if I was on a limited budget I would definately go with a 243 just for the fact that it will cover such a wide range of tasks.

You get a long range, and of course a short range gun in the same package.

You get the most perfect deer and antelope gun with 90 - 100gr bullets and a most excellent varmint gun with 58gr bullets.

Anything will work at close range, but I've seen my teenage daughters drop deer instantly past 300yds with one shot from 243's. I'm sure 400 will not be a problem. If my daughters can do it maybe some of you can too!

The 308 is good too ,but lets face it. The 30 cals are a little big for varmints and I'm talking an all purpose "cheap" gun.

I agree with the anti-Winchester ammo guys. I know some like it ,but not me. I do like the brass tho.

bejay · February 20, 2010, 01:42 AM

[QUOTE][/Well 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R are cheap to shoot surplus ammunition but not any cheaper to shoot hunting ammunition than any other round out there. Most States it is illegal to use FMJ or non-expanding ammunition on anything larger than varmints. Most people don't practice with different ammuniton then change for hunting season as rarely the point of impact will be the same.

QUOTE]
actually you can buy soft points from wolf, brown bear, silver bear, etc for not much difference in price than fmj, but would agree if you go to your local walmart then it will cost just as much to buy a box as most other calibers.

James R. Burke · February 20, 2010, 11:38 AM

DOODLEBUGGER45 is correct. The cost of the ammo is the least you need to worry about. Once your sighted in and practice alittle each year thats about it. Of course the more you can practice the better. You need to figure out what caliber for what you want it for. The make you like. Then a bolt, single, auto, lever, pump, etc. Take your time and look and handle has many as you can. Maybe you have some freinds that will let you try theres. Good luck!

David Turley · February 28, 2010, 07:22 AM

270 win ammo is priced about the same as 243 and performs much better on deer

waterfowler · February 28, 2010, 02:41 PM

id go with 30-30

Mallard76 · February 28, 2010, 07:35 PM

Another vote on both the .308 and .30-06.

David Turley · February 28, 2010, 08:00 PM

a 270 win doesnt cost much more if any than a 243 and is a much better deer cartidge

cubesmoothie · February 28, 2010, 10:30 PM

7.62x39 works as well as 30/30 and is cheaper. Only thing, is a lot of x39 guns dont come with < 5 round mags you might need to invest in one of them. Most places have a legal limit on the amount of bullets you can put in the magazine while deer hunting, here it is 5. 7.62x54Russian is a great choice and the guns are very cheap to buy. A .223 bolt gun or legally magazined semi could be a solid deer rifle if you know what you're doing, and if it's legal to use that caliber. MO, TN, KY, AR, i know allow the .223.

imacanuk · March 1, 2010, 11:34 AM

So .243 ammo is too expensive for you. Guess what: Hunting WILL burn a hole in your pocket. And your vacation time. And many of your weekends. If you don't want to spend money, then I'd recommend a different hobby. I think the cheapest way to do it would be a mosin with cheap ammo [make sure it is soft tipped and not FMJ]. But just realize that deer meat, for most people, is more expensive than buying beef. The rifle, the ammo, the scope, the truck, the gas , the cammo, the good boots, the binocs, the decent knife, the presents for the wife to appologize for always being gone, etc...

February 5, 2010, 09:49 AM	#51
youp Senior Member Join Date: December 15, 2005 Location: south of Canada, eh? Posts: 438	I have a stevens 200. It is in the 308 caliber. It does not see much use. It is fairlly accurate. One of the bolt lugs does not engage. The cause of horizontal stringing it exhibits. Kind of a cool little rifle actually. You should be able to find one for around 300 new. Go with the 308. Just way too many ammunition options. If you do it save your brass. Even if you never reload it it has some market value. I have seen guys trying to get 30 cents apiece for once fired commercial stuff. So if you knock five or six bucks off the price of the ammo... Learn the Berdan primed and the steel case. No value for those cases. __________________ Use enough gun.

February 18, 2010, 09:55 AM	#54
lubto Junior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Slovakia Posts: 1	don`t choose cartridge/ammo only by price... it`s too expensive then... firstly think about animals u r going to hunt... then choose suitable cartridge .243 is nice cartrige, but I`d prefere something thicker.... since last year I am using 30/30 and I am satisfied absolutly... my advice - 7 mm and more and don`t economize. Sorry for my english, but I am not native speaker... Last edited by lubto; February 18, 2010 at 10:08 AM.

February 19, 2010, 08:43 AM	#56
skydiver3346 Senior Member Join Date: December 22, 2007 Location: Florida Posts: 1,222	Caliber for deer: Just picked up two boxes of Remington Core-Lokt in .30-30 for only 18.50 each. Not too bad and is a great deer hunting round. If you stay with Remington Core-Lokts (in any caliber) they tend to be less costly than say Federal Premium, etc. Plus the Core-Lokt is a superb bullet for the price. As they say: "Deadliest Mushroom In The Woods"...

February 28, 2010, 02:41 PM	#61
waterfowler Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2010 Posts: 115	id go with 30-30 __________________ If guns are outlawed, only the outlaws will have guns

February 28, 2010, 07:35 PM	#62
Mallard76 Member Join Date: November 22, 2008 Posts: 42	ammo Another vote on both the .308 and .30-06.

February 5, 2010, 05:05 PM	#52
dromaeosaur Junior Member Join Date: February 5, 2010 Posts: 11	the 7.62x39 would have enough power, it would be similar to using a 30/30 but cheaper ammo. SKS's are cheap guns too, probably the best bargain for a deer gun aside from some mosins.

February 16, 2010, 12:00 AM	#53
jp_over Member Join Date: February 4, 2006 Location: East TX Posts: 69	.270 or 30-06 are both very common & effective.

February 19, 2010, 10:22 AM	#57
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	Just my opinion, but if I was on a limited budget I would definately go with a 243 just for the fact that it will cover such a wide range of tasks. You get a long range, and of course a short range gun in the same package. You get the most perfect deer and antelope gun with 90 - 100gr bullets and a most excellent varmint gun with 58gr bullets. Anything will work at close range, but I've seen my teenage daughters drop deer instantly past 300yds with one shot from 243's. I'm sure 400 will not be a problem. If my daughters can do it maybe some of you can too! The 308 is good too ,but lets face it. The 30 cals are a little big for varmints and I'm talking an all purpose "cheap" gun. I agree with the anti-Winchester ammo guys. I know some like it ,but not me. I do like the brass tho.

February 20, 2010, 01:42 AM	#58
bejay Senior Member Join Date: August 22, 2008 Posts: 195	[QUOTE][/Well 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R are cheap to shoot surplus ammunition but not any cheaper to shoot hunting ammunition than any other round out there. Most States it is illegal to use FMJ or non-expanding ammunition on anything larger than varmints. Most people don't practice with different ammuniton then change for hunting season as rarely the point of impact will be the same. QUOTE] actually you can buy soft points from wolf, brown bear, silver bear, etc for not much difference in price than fmj, but would agree if you go to your local walmart then it will cost just as much to buy a box as most other calibers.

February 20, 2010, 11:38 AM	#59
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	DOODLEBUGGER45 is correct. The cost of the ammo is the least you need to worry about. Once your sighted in and practice alittle each year thats about it. Of course the more you can practice the better. You need to figure out what caliber for what you want it for. The make you like. Then a bolt, single, auto, lever, pump, etc. Take your time and look and handle has many as you can. Maybe you have some freinds that will let you try theres. Good luck!

February 28, 2010, 07:22 AM	#60
David Turley Member Join Date: February 28, 2010 Location: Owensboro,KY Posts: 88	270 win ammo is priced about the same as 243 and performs much better on deer

February 28, 2010, 08:00 PM	#63
David Turley Member Join Date: February 28, 2010 Location: Owensboro,KY Posts: 88	a 270 win doesnt cost much more if any than a 243 and is a much better deer cartidge

February 28, 2010, 10:30 PM	#64
cubesmoothie Member Join Date: June 26, 2009 Posts: 85	7.62x39 works as well as 30/30 and is cheaper. Only thing, is a lot of x39 guns dont come with < 5 round mags you might need to invest in one of them. Most places have a legal limit on the amount of bullets you can put in the magazine while deer hunting, here it is 5. 7.62x54Russian is a great choice and the guns are very cheap to buy. A .223 bolt gun or legally magazined semi could be a solid deer rifle if you know what you're doing, and if it's legal to use that caliber. MO, TN, KY, AR, i know allow the .223.

March 1, 2010, 11:34 AM	#65
imacanuk Member Join Date: September 2, 2009 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 98	So .243 ammo is too expensive for you. Guess what: Hunting WILL burn a hole in your pocket. And your vacation time. And many of your weekends. If you don't want to spend money, then I'd recommend a different hobby. I think the cheapest way to do it would be a mosin with cheap ammo [make sure it is soft tipped and not FMJ]. But just realize that deer meat, for most people, is more expensive than buying beef. The rifle, the ammo, the scope, the truck, the gas , the cammo, the good boots, the binocs, the decent knife, the presents for the wife to appologize for always being gone, etc...