Deer Rifle Calibers ... wut all have you used ??

#1 model99er

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 10:59 AM

With Deer Rifle Season fast approching, I thought it would be interesting to see what all Rifle Calibers everyone has used for Deer ???

It sure beats arguing bout wut everyone thinks is the best caliber !! LOL

Mine are:
22 Hornet, 222, 22-250, 243, 250-3000 Savage, 30 Carbine, 300 Savage, 308, 44 mag ... this year or next I'll be adding a 270 to my list.

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#2 hunterman095

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 12:14 PM

I am currently borrowing a 30-30 Winchester. LOVE IT!!!!!!! Next year I am planing on buying a 270, if I can get the money!

#3 Uncle Buck

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 03:08 PM

Thi year I have been considereing only using a Model 500 Mossberg pump slug gun or an Encore Black Powder 50 Cal In line.
Most of the shots in the wood lots are under 50 yards so that is when I might use the slug gun.....The Encore can kill things up to 200 yards away...
Also would be neat to harvest a deer with a Enfield 303 British with open sights...

#4 model99er

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 06:13 PM

hunterman095, on 27 October 2009 - 12:14 PM, said:

I am currently borrowing a 30-30 Winchester. LOVE IT!!!!!!! Next year I am planing on buying a 270, if I can get the money!

Trust me Hunterman, money (or getting it past the wifey) is still a problem even as you get older. :lol:

I have my 270 already, but the "mad money" I had stashed away for a scope for it, ended up going towards a replacement camo composite stock. It's currently wearing an old used Tasco of my buds and it still may see some "limited" use late this year after I get a couple in the freezer 1st.

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#5 Mongojoe

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Posted 27 October 2009 - 06:41 PM

Over the last half century?...Hummm...let's see...the legal ones (which leaves out the .22LR and the .22 Magnum)...... 20 gag. slug, 12 gag. slug, .22-250, .22-250AI, .243, 6.5 Jap., .280, .30-30, .308, .303 Brit., .30-06, .300H&H Magnum...and of course the .357 Magnum in a handgun...... Now, I've carried rifles in 7.62X39, and .30 Caliber Carbine, a few times, but never shot a deer with them.

#6 bythebook

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Posted 29 October 2009 - 09:00 AM

I am like Mongo over the last 52 or 53 years I have used so many,also leaving out the 22lr,22mag. I have used the 303 Savage, 303 British, 6.5 Jap. 7.7 Jap,30-30,30-06,22-250,20gauge slug,7mm Mauser,7mm Rem. Mag.,270 win.,243,280Rem.,300Win.Mag.,357 & 44Mag., and some I have forgotten. I haven't killed Deer with all of these, but I have used them. The 30-06, 280Rem.,and the 270 I have used the most.

#7 JDECS

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Posted 29 October 2009 - 11:07 AM

#1 is .30-'06, tied for second, I guess, are .44 Mag. in a Winchester Carbine and .30 Carbine. L-o-o-o-o-o-o-n-g time ago in Pa. I carried a Browning Model 5, 12-bore, but all I saw was cows.

Around here, the .44 Carb' is probably the best gun, as shots rarely exceed 30 yards in the brush, but I just grew up on the '06 and have always found it enough gun.

#8 HuntingThunder

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Posted 29 October 2009 - 09:31 PM

Umm... Ive used a 20 ga and am currently using da ol marlin turdy-turdy. Trying to scrape the money togeather for a .270

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#9 Mongojoe

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Posted 31 October 2009 - 11:54 AM

Just to toss this in... Out of all the cartridges I have ever used for deer...or for that matter, all the cartridges I have never used for deer too...if I were limited to only one...it would be the .308 Winchester......... I guess what I am saying is that I fully realize that you could ask 25 deer hunters what is the best cartridge for deer, and very possibly get 25 different answers... But, my answer would be the .308 Winchester.

#10 JDECS

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Posted 01 November 2009 - 03:34 PM

Hee, hee! Comparing the .308 to the .30-'06 is rather like comparing the M-14 to the M1, they all four get the job done very nicely, but the .308/M14 only kick you *half* to death!

(This coming from a fellow who regularly uses a .30-'06 on prairie dogs ... ow! ow! ow!) :lol:

#11 Mickey Finn

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