Min caliber for deer hunting?
- Thread starter Nealer009
- Start date
I shoot deer with .223. It's almost a perfect cartridge IMHO, as long as three important criteria are met:
- Shot taken under 200 m
- Unobstructed line of sight to deer
- Deer isn't moving too quick to confidently hit the vitals
As long as those three main criteria are satisfied, the .223 is awesome. The soft points and ballistic tip rounds will penetrate the ribcage, and explode in the heart and lung area, with next to no meat spoilage and no massive exit wound. Every joule of kinetic energy is transfered from the bullet to the vital organs, so the deer never get far.
As for using large 30 cal bullets to put deer down. If you're shooting a lot of running deer the odds are much higher that you're going to hit a leg or make a gut shot. You definitely need that higher calibre to tear a bigger hole or shatter a bone. I'd be very hesitant to use .223 pushing a bush.
- Shot taken under 200 m
- Unobstructed line of sight to deer
- Deer isn't moving too quick to confidently hit the vitals
As long as those three main criteria are satisfied, the .223 is awesome. The soft points and ballistic tip rounds will penetrate the ribcage, and explode in the heart and lung area, with next to no meat spoilage and no massive exit wound. Every joule of kinetic energy is transfered from the bullet to the vital organs, so the deer never get far.
As for using large 30 cal bullets to put deer down. If you're shooting a lot of running deer the odds are much higher that you're going to hit a leg or make a gut shot. You definitely need that higher calibre to tear a bigger hole or shatter a bone. I'd be very hesitant to use .223 pushing a bush.
I know at my camp if a guy showed up with a Mini 14 and left his 30.30 or 30.06 in the rack the guys would definitely think it was crazy...and not in a good way. I know if I was in the market for "something black" for deer, I would get a synthetic Remington 750 carbine or a 7600 police. A 7600 police would be sweet.
thebuckhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
Good advice. Not too expensive but limited selection. Are you hunting behind the dogs? If so, stick with a semi. Also, a Remington semi in 243 with 100 grains would be my second choice.
-Jason
You can't cycle a 30-30 lever gun in less than 4 seconds?? If you want a semi-auto I would stick with the bigger stuff. I don't doubt a .223 could drop a deer but for fast off hand shooting where there is chance of making a less than perfect shot I would opt for something that could do a little more damage (some here will even argue with you about taking said shot-I don't judge).
I have a .300 Savage M99 that is lightning fast on a follow up shot(s). I took a WT buck a few years ago that my buddies still tease me about the rolling thunder...
You sure your lever gun isn't the ticket?
Rocket Surgery
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
In BC it's legal to hunt deer with any cartridge that isn't rimfire, so I guess 38 special or 9mm browning in a rifle?
I have considered using a 9mm +p+ out of a Kel-Tec sub2000, simply because the deer here are tiny and I plan on hunting with a bicycle before it gets cold in October. Typically I hunt with an 858, Mosin, or some kind of 308win, this year I'll use my gunsite scout if I pull an elk tag. I've used the #5 Enfield before but I found it too difficult to take the stock off once wet, which was unfortunate because I really liked that platform. My Savage 24VD .357/20g is something I've considered using to hunt, but it's almost in mint condition and it's a hinge action so it stays at home. The reason I'm rambling on about different guns is because it really doesn't matter what you use for deer so long as you don't make stupid shots with small calibers. I've never actually shot at a deer with anything less than 7.62x39
I would highly, highly suggest sticking with something that has a detach magazine over top or tube feed. Clip fed surplus rifles are pretty good as well but you have to practice a lot to get good with them. Once you figure it out, they're actually faster than changing magazines I find.
I have considered using a 9mm +p+ out of a Kel-Tec sub2000, simply because the deer here are tiny and I plan on hunting with a bicycle before it gets cold in October. Typically I hunt with an 858, Mosin, or some kind of 308win, this year I'll use my gunsite scout if I pull an elk tag. I've used the #5 Enfield before but I found it too difficult to take the stock off once wet, which was unfortunate because I really liked that platform. My Savage 24VD .357/20g is something I've considered using to hunt, but it's almost in mint condition and it's a hinge action so it stays at home. The reason I'm rambling on about different guns is because it really doesn't matter what you use for deer so long as you don't make stupid shots with small calibers. I've never actually shot at a deer with anything less than 7.62x39
I would highly, highly suggest sticking with something that has a detach magazine over top or tube feed. Clip fed surplus rifles are pretty good as well but you have to practice a lot to get good with them. Once you figure it out, they're actually faster than changing magazines I find.
Rocket Surgery
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I find taking the bayonet off makes the SKS a decent bush rifle. The 858 I find to be even better, simply because I can fold the stock while it's in the truck.
I find I spot more deer on the road while driving to my walking area than I do actually walking, so I like to have a quick magazine ready in case I spot something.
Rocket Surgery
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
The fallacy of the NDP is that they put the emphasis on the gun. The amount of skill and money required to operate a 50cal sniper rifle beyond the limits of conventional hunting cartridges (300-600y) makes it that someone would have to be so determined to kill someone, that it doesn't matter what kind of weapon they have access to. You would quite literally need $2.5k to get into a Savage 338lapua sniper rifle, and a lot of practice to even begin thinking about upgrading to a Steyr HS50. I also believe the rifle is huge and heavy.
You ban the HS50, and you've got guys making shots with 338 cartridges out to 1.5km, then what you start banning Savage rifles?
If you have that kind of money and time, I don't think banning a single gun will stop you from killing. Someone with that type of determination could build a precision gun to get the job done or simply hire an assassin.
Sorry for derailing.
You ban the HS50, and you've got guys making shots with 338 cartridges out to 1.5km, then what you start banning Savage rifles?
If you have that kind of money and time, I don't think banning a single gun will stop you from killing. Someone with that type of determination could build a precision gun to get the job done or simply hire an assassin.
Sorry for derailing.
take the largest, flattest shooting, and legal cal. you can shot comfortably with. It is always the best to use the biggest you can shoot. Target shoot often, at various yardages. In my humble opinion! I use 3006, 165 grain hand loaded with a heavy load.
My min. for whitetails would be the line from the following and up.....243, 30/30, and .44Mag.(300gr. cast)...this excludes the .22s or 7.62X39. The whitetails out here are big bodied and tough but I have dropped both deer and bear with the .44, but you still have to hit 'em right, the .44 will take out both shoulders so no tracking.
