Min caliber for deer hunting?

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Nealer009

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I hunt Near Calibogie Ontario and since I was 14 I have only used a Winchester Ranger shotgun and a Remington 7400 30-06 for deer hunting. I have been very lucky up there with deer at our camp with 7 bucks and a bunch of does with a camp of 14 members and we only average 3-5 deer a season. I am looking at picking up a semi auto rifle and was wondering what caliber would be the smallest for deer. I have a 30-30 leaver but I am looking for something with a black stock that all the old boys at my camp will think is crazy. Is a 223 too small? Like a Ruger mini 14? What about a Ruger mini 30 in 7.62/39mm? Any info is good info. Thanks Mike.
 
What's wrong with your 30/30? It's a better dear rifle than a .223 or 7.62/39 would be. While it will kill a deer, the fact that the .223 is not legal to hunt big game with in some provinces says a lot about how practical it is. Why not keep your 30/30, or maybe look for something in .308?
 
My 30-30 is good but where I hunt, and we usually hunt with dogs. I might have 3-4 seconds to get a couple of shots off so I prefer a semi auto, This year I got a big buck with my Shotgun but there were no dogs on it. I had 2 doe fly by me while I was in my tree stand with dog about 30 sec behind them. One I was able to get a good shot off but the other I had to let go. Just would like a smaller semi then my 30-06 in black....
 
of course, that depends on the size of the deer-maybe the blacktails out on the island might be ok, but any of the others you'd have to be a PRECISION shot - and the 7.62x39 is considered as a LIGHT 30-30- so why not go with a "real " 30-30?
 
If you are hunting from a stand, and use a bow hunters mind set, a 223 will be fine...
If you do drives, or shoot at moving deer you would be good to go with the Mini-30.Hunting the Calibogie area your shots would usually be 75yds, and under...The 7.62X39 is every bit as good as any other cartrige for deer at these ranges..
 
It all depends on where and when I am hunting. Minimum under good to great circumstances is a .223 with a quality bullet.

In the thick stuff during a heavy rain, a 30-30.
 
I know nothing of your part of the country, however if I were going to be taking running shots at deer, I would want a caliber that would give me adequate penetration at any and all angles. I'm thinking a 308 would be a lot more appropriate IMHO. Lots of choices in BLACK 308s.
 
A Ruger Mini 30 in 7.62x39 or 6.8 spc will do fine on deer for your situation. Both have similar ballistics to the 30-30. Just keep your shots under 150 yards & you will be fine. I would stay away from the .223 for deer. Not saying it won't do the job, I just consider it too light for deer size game IMHO.

George
 
I started out hunting with a gang who ran dogs and didn't hunt deer with them because of the wildly running deer, short shots, I would use the 30-30 or your ####gun with SSG's.
 
whitetailwoodsarcher said:
23 Cal any thing lower like 22 or 17 isn't legal.
Click to expand...

In Ontario anything centrefire is legal...just no rimfire, or shotgun smaller than 20g when loaded with shot...410 slugs are good to go.

IMHO, a .223 CAN kill a deer, but as was said before, if you are shooting at running deer, you are going to want something with some knock-down power should your shot be a little off.

If you are stalking, or sitting in a treestand calling, then .223 will work. It works just fine on a 200lb person at 200 yds...I dont see why a 180lb deer will be any different.
 
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