What is the minimum rifle you would use?

[jgcoastie]

As a matter of fact, there are many .25's that would make a great dual role gun too.

.25/06 comes to mind...

The smallest caliber I have used on deer is .243 Win. It was a NEF single-shot and it was my first centerfire rifle. Since then, I've used the typical .308 and it's derived cartridges (.260 Rem & 7mm-08), the .30/06 Spfd and it's derived cartridges (.25/06 Rem & .270 Win), as well as your generic magnums (7mm Rem Mag, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Win Mag). None of the deer, hogs, or elk I've killed have died any quicker from one cartridge to the next. Shot placement and bullet construction are the most important factors, followed by the shooting skill of the hunter, followed by caliber IMO.

I've seen german shepards that are bigger than the blacktails up here, so I guess a .223 would do the job alright on them. I'll stick to the larger calibers for their bigger cousins to the south however.

[stevelyn]

Really I don't feel the .22 caliber center fire rifle is too small if the proper bullet is selected and used within the limitations of that caliber and if it is legal in the State you hunt. I feel that at a minimum a Premium bullet such as Barnes TSX or Nosler Partition should be used.........

I agree. I wouldn't hesitate to whack a whitetail with a .223, but it'd have to be stuffed with a super bullet that would hold together on the trip through the animal. Back in the day, bullet failure was the main problem even in larger calibers which is why you went up to a larger caliber.

A neighbor lady up the road from me has knocked over several caribou with a .223 @ 200+ yards. Those puny L 48 whitetails aren't wearing more armor.

[bcarver]

.270 wincester

[beetlefang]

Is because of the many people familiar with the .223 from either military service or due to their purchase of an m-16 like rifle for plinking and now they want to apply it to hunting.

Therefore, they are (for the most part) inexperienced hunters - who don't know the anatomy and have little experience with firearms on animals.

I mean, as a novice, why limit yourself to the smallest capable caliber for any hunt?

Would you use 15lbs test to catch your first marlin? A wrist rocket to shoot squirrels? Sure, some people can do it...but it greatly hampers your chances at success.

If you only had one rifle, and it were legal, then go for it. But, if you can afford a real sporting rifle in a traditional chambering then you probably enhance your chance of success regardless of which state you hunt.

[daniel paydar]

hi
i usually use my 6,5x55 se for smal deers called roe deer, i have used 222 remington too in the past and even 8x57. i like to use 6,5, because i feel comfortable with it. plenty of killing power with no recoil.
best regards
daniel

[Hawg]

I wouldn't be comfortable with a newbie reading some of these posts that say a rimfire is adequate.

If you're referring to what I said I didn't say it was adequate, I said it could be done. I don't condone it in any way. Personally I wont use anything less than a 7x57 or 30-30 but prefer the 30-06 in a cartridge rifle.

[shooter_from_show-me]

What I have is a AR15 chambered in Rem. 6.8SPC, in which I use SSA 110gr Prohunter's or 115gr Matchking's. That said, it would be my minimum for deer. It's also a excellent round for hog's too.

[rr2241tx]

It's all about shot placement. I have never seen anything killed by a really good miss. OK, that's not literally true, I have seen goats killed by the muzzle blast of a 16" naval gun mounted on a rail car. My point is probably well over half the deer killed in Texas every year are killed by .223 and mostly out of AR-15 style rifles so it isn't the gun's fault if your deer gets away. Blaming your gun for poor marksmanship is like blaming your pencil for misspelled words.

[fisherman66]

If you're referring to what I said I didn't say it was adequate, I said it could be done. I don't condone it in any way. Personally I wont use anything less than a 7x57 or 30-30 but prefer the 30-06 in a cartridge rifle.

I don't disagree with your post. I just think there should be a line between doable and appropriate. You aren't the only one that mentioned 22lr in passing. I wouldn't be surprised if 22lr has shot more deer than all other cartridges combined (probably in combination with a spotlight). I just don't know if all novices can read between the lines.

[Christchild]

I agree, L Kill,

Quarter Bore cartridges are very Dual Purpose, and just about every cartrigde I know of that uses a .257" bullet is suitable to deer, just some are obviously better at extended range than others...

250 Savage...257 Roberts...25-06 Remington...All fantastic hunting cartridges. Even more so these days with advancements in Bullet Construction.

I hold my .270 Win. very dear...'nother Dual Purpose.

Coyote (given the chance), Hog, Deer, Elk, Moose...That's Bullet Selection and Construction. Shot placement is my job.

Here's a link for one of my favorite bullets... Norma Oryx.
http://user.tninet.se/~scj351g/handl...expansion.html

[Lawyer Daggit]

In New Zealand professional hunters often use .222 or .223 on Sika Deer.
Those of us with more pedestrian talents would be better to regard the .243 (100gn) ,.257 Roberts or in close cover a .44 magnum or .30-30 as a minimum.

[Jseime]

I live in the land of big mule deer so even if it were legal I would not use a .223 for anything bigger than coyotes.

I had a .243 for a few years, killed several decent mule deer with it, and kind of regret trading it off, I think that the .243 is a good round at the right ranges, using the right ammunition. I used 100 grain Nosler partitions only and wouldnt hesitate to use that combo again.

[Bigmustard]

I use .30-06. And when some of my "big time" hunter friends with their fancy rifles make fun of my Mosin, I'll take them down with 7.62x54mm. Soft point of course.

[Legionnaire]

I'll make no comment about other's ethics. My personal minimum for deer-sized game is .243 Win. That said, my go-to hunting rifle is a .308.

[reloader28]

Everyone has their favorite and mines 30-06 but the 243 is the most perfect deer antilope rifle ever invented. ( in my opinion ) Here in nw Wyo alot of guys use them on 200 - 400 yd shots and I know several that use them on elk. ( closer range of course ) . Killing is 100% shot placement . 243 is all my wife and kids ( all daughters ) have ever used and its always 1 shot kills and the animal never goes more than 50 yds . Whats neater is they reload their own 95 gr sst's to hunt with . 2008 my youngest shot her first buck , a heavy 4 by 5 muley that weighed in at right at 300 lbs . I've told them to shoot for the neck for an instant drop because thats where I shoot them and she did . Because he was in the middle of a field we couldnt get any closer so she shot him at 300 yds . It went completly thru the neck and he never even twitched . He was down like a rock . It was one of the neatest shots I have ever seen .Needless to say those pics went all over the place with us .

[Sportdog]

I am of the opinion that the .243 is the minimum. My two quickest kills on whitetail bucks were made with that cartridge. The .243 has now been religated to my coyote rifle and I hunt deer with one of my four 30-06's. when legal. (When in my home area it's shotguns, muzzleloaders, and stick and string). I think that I read too many outdoor magazines extolling the virtues of bigger cartridges for deer and I started to feel undergunned with the .243, and that is even after success with it. I can shoot the 30-06 just as accurate as the .243 so I like the extra insurance that I feel it gives me. Real or imagined.

[cole k]

I've killed deer with a lot of different calibers and after 48 years of hunting my minimum calibers are a .257 Roberts and for short range .30-30.

[Fred Rogers]

Legality is one thing. But with a semi automatic .22lr, and stingers, it would only take about 3 seconds for a decent shot to shred the vitals on any white tail - up to 70 yards. I know because i've seen it done several times.

IMO it would be a better option than buckshot, if the law isnt an issue.

[isnipe]

i think .223 is a good round its what i killed my first deer with last season! it was a nice size doe if u shoot them in the right place(heart or head)it dosnt matter what caliber it is

[Art Eatman]

Our whole deal, here, is for a clean, ethical kill. If your hunting package accomplishes this, all well and good--so long as you're legal.

[Noonan]

55 grain soft points. Both shots were clean kills through the shoulder and exiting the other side. I am now four for four on whitetails with this bullet.

[strongarm5791]

Well, you did open up a can of worms. I live and hunt Far West Texas and New Mexico. I own a .223 in Weatherby, with a 3-9 Leupold scope. I would not hunt these "SandHill Mulies" with it. I have seen small Whitetail in East Texas, about 750 miles from my house, that you could possibly hunt with the .223. Some of them have really nice racks, but dress about 40lbs of meat.
Anyway, I just like to make shure of the kill. The smallest rifle in my deer arsenal is a Ruger M77 in .308, and the largest is a Ruger M77 in .300 Winchester Mag. If the deer are small i would still shoot them with a .308. Just my opinion. I like to kill them clean!

[strongarm5791]

.308 ammo is cheap!

[cat9x]

rr2241tx - probably well over half the deer killed in Texas every year are killed by .223 and mostly out of AR-15 style rifles

LOL now that's a joke! I would LOVE to see your source of information on that.

[Big Bill]

Hunting with an AR15??? Maybe for Jack Rabbits! I personallly shoot a .300 WSM when deer hunting.