Best deer caliber
- Thread starter dufourjp325
- Start date
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I've never been sold on the 243. I think probably due to growing up in the West where deer aren't the only game in town. It has always been touted as a great beginner's deer rifle but I've always thought it more of an expert's rifle. You don't have much wiggle room in terms of bad angles or "#### happens". I think that it's probably a great cartridge for a new shooter to learn to shoot with, but in the long run a 7mm-08 (or 7x57, or the Bob, or 6.5 Swede, or even the 308) will go a lot further in the realm of utility.
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
I've used a .280 Remington as an all-rounder for years, and it's a dandy deer cartridge; it's really similar to the .270 which is a great deer cartridge.
My sentimental deer rifle favourites are the .250-3000 and .300 Savage, .257 Roberts, and .30-30 Winchester, but if I were selecting a cartridge based on practicality I'd consider the .280 and 7mm-08 as my top choices.
My sentimental deer rifle favourites are the .250-3000 and .300 Savage, .257 Roberts, and .30-30 Winchester, but if I were selecting a cartridge based on practicality I'd consider the .280 and 7mm-08 as my top choices.
The 243 would be on the low end of "good" deer rifle, but with 100gr NPs or similar premium bullet should compare very well with the 257Roberts. As for the others you mention, the option of heavier bullets is never a bad thing and gives the shooter more versatility for heavier game with proper bullets.
I notice that there are 2 groups of thought on the 243. One group says what you feel about it and the other has nothing but praise for it for deer. Here in Canada, most shooters prefer something heavier. Not a lot of them here in NB.
The Grendel is a solid performer for its size, I'm getting 2640 fps with a 120 with lever evolution and great accuracy .Wouldn't hesitate to take it deer hunting.
I am a firm believer in .243 in the right hands. But that being said, I strictly load only heavy for caliber bullets, ie: 100 grain Partitions or Grand Slams, and then have been able to punch them right through from just about any angle.
I have taken deer with everything from the 222 [Not really the best, IMHO] right through to the 308 Norma Magnum.
This years Whitetail fell to the venerable 303 British in my 1910 Ross.
If I were to think it over, I believe I have shot more deer with the 30-06 than any other chambering. Others that have
accounted for good numbers: the 270 Winchester, the 7x57, the 6.5x55, the 6mm Remington, and the 257 Roberts.
So many great choices out there.
If the OP is thinking of buying a 270, I would heartily endorse his choice. Dave.
This years Whitetail fell to the venerable 303 British in my 1910 Ross.
If I were to think it over, I believe I have shot more deer with the 30-06 than any other chambering. Others that have
accounted for good numbers: the 270 Winchester, the 7x57, the 6.5x55, the 6mm Remington, and the 257 Roberts.
So many great choices out there.
If the OP is thinking of buying a 270, I would heartily endorse his choice. Dave.
This is how politics works. We all get together to decide what the truth is - and end up collecting opinions and defending positions, rather than beginning a sincere quest for truth. We might as well admit that the only truth is whether the deer is in the freezer or not.
I have always put venison away using a 22.250 because I am very careful about how much meat I damage. None of my kids have a flinch - and this is an important issue - lots of grown men have a wicked or mild twitch that they would not have if they had started small. Youngest lad took his first deer this year at 95-100 yards this year with 22.250 - and very little meat gets damaged.
Last year, all the guns were out, so I took a 270 and did careful broadside shots on two - and had little damage by staying behind front leg and a little low - but a shoulder shot with a 270 is a waste of meat - but then anything that hits a shoulder messes it up.
If you learn to shoot on a zero-kick gun, you will know that you will have to shoot at the perfect spot on the deer - if you shoot a big gun, you might make the mistake of shooting at the deer - and with a really big gun, you might end up so scared of the kick, that you shoot towards the deer. That isn't meat in the freezer.
If you shoot anything less than other people do, you will end up defending your pea-shooter - until you have enough bush-creds to hush the babble. It's just politics.
I have always put venison away using a 22.250 because I am very careful about how much meat I damage. None of my kids have a flinch - and this is an important issue - lots of grown men have a wicked or mild twitch that they would not have if they had started small. Youngest lad took his first deer this year at 95-100 yards this year with 22.250 - and very little meat gets damaged.
Last year, all the guns were out, so I took a 270 and did careful broadside shots on two - and had little damage by staying behind front leg and a little low - but a shoulder shot with a 270 is a waste of meat - but then anything that hits a shoulder messes it up.
If you learn to shoot on a zero-kick gun, you will know that you will have to shoot at the perfect spot on the deer - if you shoot a big gun, you might make the mistake of shooting at the deer - and with a really big gun, you might end up so scared of the kick, that you shoot towards the deer. That isn't meat in the freezer.
If you shoot anything less than other people do, you will end up defending your pea-shooter - until you have enough bush-creds to hush the babble. It's just politics.
For me and my style of hunting, the 303 British simply flattens deer and moose with everything from 150's too 215's, with cup and core to mono metal bullets.
Most are inside 300 with a few inside 20, but I have shot a few over the years past 300 with the .303 as well.
Cat
Most are inside 300 with a few inside 20, but I have shot a few over the years past 300 with the .303 as well.
Cat
I like the .303 Brit as well... got out of it for many years, due only to the platforms it was available in, but I was super-stoked about Ruger doing the runs of No.1-A's in .303 Brit... the end result was a rifle similar to your custom No.3. I have had three of them and they were all accurate... no plans to liquidate this one, but the No.1-A .30-30 (22") will likely go, even though it is a beauty, with a great trigger and superb accuracy.
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Seriously??? "Best Deer Caliber" is a sincere quest for truth???
Of course "best" is highly subjective and cannot be construed as "truth" by any but it's own subscribers.
This smacks more of trolling than a hunt for truth...
Everyone has an opinion and experiences that they believe support that opinion. There is no such thing as "best." Just choose "appropriate" and make a good shot with a good bullet.
- Location
- Southern Vancouver Island
