Choosing a deer rifle calibre with recent ammo availabilty

Jahnj0584

Jahnj0584

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I'm slowly looking out to get myself a first and permanent deer rifle on the east coast. I know nothing about ammo availability besides "everything is out of stock", so what would YOU recommend getting in these strange times? All I've shot so far is shotguns and 22's, so I have no hands on experience with any of the calibers performances but find it hard to believe I'd have to take a shot over 200 yards, let alone 100.

Cheers
 
Get something very common like 300 win mag, 30-06, 308, 270 or perhaps even 243 of deer is as big of an animal your going to hunt.
 
If this is a deer only gun (ie zero your rifle and take 1-2 shots on game each year) any of the usual suspects would be fine. Hunting ammo isn't unobtanium by any means. Bulk ammo in any military/plinking configuration (7.62X51, 9mm, 223, 6.5 creed) is another matter.
 
The availability of ammunition at your LGS will give you a good indication by what they stock.
308, 270 and 30-06.

These are rounds that all the major manufacturers produce in a number of different variations based on bullet type and weights.
Being on the east coast there is always the possibility of getting invited to a camp and you do not want to limit yourself should it be a moose camp and bear are in the picture.
 
Assume that right now is "as bad as it gets" - take a quick look through the stores where you would normally buy ammo - what is left? I have never been to Maritimes - all deer taken in Saskatchewan - so do not know what you would need for a "permanent" deer gun, but depending on range, I do know most everything from .223 Rem on up works just dandy, and I have seen many taken by my family with 243 Win, and I have taken many personally with 308 Win, 30-06, 7x57 and so on. Do not be too "stingy" at the start - plan for 50 rounds to get used to the gun, get the scope sighted in, play with it so that nothing is "new" to you. Go hunting with the 10 rounds left from those first 3 boxes - then buy some more of the same brand and bullet weight - want to be the same, if you can...
 
Like the other guys said, 30-30, 243, 7mm08, 270, 308, 303, 30-06. Heck, even the 6.5 Creedmoor lol...

I favour the 35 Rem in my Marlin 336 for deer, but my backup rifle is a bolt action 308.

Agreed with blaster saber, 300WM is out if it's a dedicated east coast deer rifle & you've only shot 22's.

Cheers
Jay
 
Something easier on the shoulder that you can practice with a lot. 7-08, any of the 6.5's, 308. 30-06 is a great all rounder but no point in the bigger recoil if you'll be limited to deer. Tons of ammo at my guns stores in these calibers. If I could only have 1 for deer, it would probably be a .25 caliber (like the 6.5 creedmoor). Easy on the shoulder, can shoot it happily / practice with it all day.
 
While locally some classics are a little harder to find than usual. The .270 Winchester, .308 Winchester, .243 Winchester and .30-06 are still easy to find, at least if you're wiling to settle for simple soft points.
 
If you are new to shooting; I hear a 6.5 Manbun is a very sedate round...effective as well.
If you grow past it; there are other calibers that work easily as well...gasp! Perhaps even better.
 
The biggest bonus of using a common caliber is small stores that don’t have much selection usually have the common calibers, in normal times. So if you lose or need forgotten ammo on a trip it’s easier to find, normally.

In these crazy times the only thing left on the shelves around here is the uncommon calibers nobody is using. The “common” stuff sells out fast. Go figure.

Best caliber depends on the truck you drive. If it’s a Chevy you want a .260 rem as you won’t settle for nothing but the best. If it’s a Ford we know your not picky and anything, like a 308, will do....LOL

Have a great weekend.

SCG
 
Something about the 243 for just deer hunting, and also a great target round for the hand loader

I guess the 6.5 creedmoor has supplanted it, not sure it can mimic the velocities you get with the 243 or if it matters
 
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