Poll: Optimal Deer Round

[archie_james_c]

If all my guns never existed and I could only have ONE to hunt deer/bear/moose, it would be a .308/.30-06. Low recoil, ammo everywhere, plenty of power to confidently make 300 yard kills (others can obviously go farther), and every company chambers their rifles for them.

 

[guess_kto]

6.5x55

+1 on this one

30-30 is good too

 

[stanway]

308win

Just because.

 

[StoneHorse]

Optimal Deer Round?
All of the rounds listed are optimal given the correct bullet weight and range limitation for each round. I vote for the .243 Win.

 

[stovepipe699]

I voted 7-08 b/c it's short action, which is nice, and has plenty of power for deer. I don't even own one, but what the heck. Really, any of the calibers listed would work.

 

[Calum]

I picked 'other'...

6.5x55 Swede.
Mild recoil.
Accurate.
The bullets perform well.
Also often a great rifle platform will be available for this caliber.

 

[Eagle160]

No matter where I stray I always seem to end up back at the .308. Managable recoil, excellent range, lots of bullet choices, more than adequate velocity to trajectory ratio as well. I'm going to be shooting the .356 now as well that offers up a bit more smack under 200 yards though and I'm thinking it might become mynew temporary favorite.

 

[sealhunter]

30/30

However at that range a nice 22 centrefire is sweet as well

 

[chappy]

300wm or 300wsm either or either with a 180 bonded bullet.

 

[khoeep]

I didnt see the 20mm Vulcan anywhere :>. voted for .308

 

[beaverfur]

.257 wm

 

[lejarretnoir]

Depends on the geography. Where I live in Ontario the .308 rules.

 

[kimberman]

All of those catridges are optimum. There are many other cartidges not listed that would be optimum as well. I suppose whats optimum for me, may not be optimum for you. I wouldn't shy away from any of those cartridges listed.

 

[Ont Shooter]

I had to choose other because the one I use wasn't listed. I think like me most of us would pick the round we use. I agree that most any there would work fine when used by a shooter that knows that round. Maybe a different poll would ask which round would be least liked and why??

OS

 

[jurban]

Any of these are great cartridges but I have only one of each except for the 270 I have two so hell why not vote 270

 

[Amphibious]

Note: This is the first of three polls that I am running. The others being:
The Optimal Moose/Elk Round
The Optimal Large Game (combined Deer/moose/Elk) Round.

To make this meaningful, we need at least 500 to vote each.

to make this meaningful you could just use the search function. these topics have been rehashed adnausium over the years.

or you could just answer all poles with ".30-06" and be done.

 

[woodchopper]

Deer between 6mm and 7mm

I bought my 25-06 as my light big game and varmit rifle, but now that I have a 22-250 for varmit the 25-06 is my deer gun

 

[Jayph]

the best choice combining factors such as availability/cost of ammo, recoil, power, accuracy…[/I][/B]

You answered your own question

Cost of ammo - as a rule .308 win (huting ammo) is resonably cheap and availiable in many many loads almost everywhere
Recoil - Almost eveybody can handle a .308 win recoil
Power - under 200yds it will kill all on your list (moose, elk, deer,)
Accuracy - Every .308 win. rifle I have seen or shot would do MOA with most under MOA with factory ammo

But everything on your list can do the same thing so I expect the poll will be pretty even.

 

[Camp Cook]

Can't vote you didn't put 280 Rem on the list.

 

[diananike]

I'm a .270 guy. I voted for the .308. The 30-30 was made for hunting deer and does just fine.

I'm with you, I voted .308 and that's what I used this year, but man I love the .270, out past 200yds it's got the edge.

.30-30 is the classic Whitetail gun and with new flextips it still smokes those deer. I'm going to pick one up for next year.