My "Deer" rifle is also my Elk rifle and Bighorn Sheep, Mtn. Goat and Antelope and Black Bear rifle too!
I own plenty of rifles but I always grab my 30/06 for all of the above animals. It is hard to break old habits. The old '06 puts everything down with authority when I do my job right so I just can't leave home without it.
I've recently purchased a 6.5x55 that is sure to be a real deer killer and I've got a .257 Roberts in the works that should do nicely too if I can just leave that 30/06 home.

I gather that you're expecting a big turnout for 30-06 as you have it listed twice. Last option intended to be 308, perhaps?

6.5 is a sweet round. Now if they'd only let us milsurp hunters share a season with the charcoal burners, life would be good. 7.5 swiss shows promise too.

Too easy. Swede.

quote:

Originally posted by Bwana-be:
Too easy. Swede.

But he missed another old Military caliber...
... the 45-70...

Boy some guys are gonna be pissed

When I head out the door I usually grab my 30-06. Yeah, it's overkill on deer, but I've heard no complaints...

AllanD

A friend of mine has an sks and at $80/500 rounds shooting milsurp I think I might have to grab one of those if for no other reason than it's very fun and cheap to shoot.

quote:

missed another old Military caliber...the 45-70

And the 30/40, 7.92x57, and 7.62x54R...but the OP makes up for it by listing the '06 twice.

All,

The trouble with the poll was that I ran out of room before I could get the .308, 7.62x54r, and 8x57JS in. You gotta work with what you got when you can...

you left out the 45-70. My Marlin 1895 (22" bbl with ballard rifling) often go out for walks looking for the big Maine whitetail deer.

Also use 7x57.

Have also used 30-06 and 308 Win. Had a 6.5x65, but never hunted with it.

Another old military round not listed thats a great deer caliber is the 7.65 this makes a excellent deer rifle.

Your above choices I really didn't see any bad rounds there. I am not a 303 Brit fan cause of the rim, but it certainly works and works well.

I will have to think before voting, picking between a 06, the 6.5 and the 7x57 is a tough choice, based on what I always take hunting it would be the 7x57, but there are times I would rather have my 06, definately works better when the range gets stretched like a typical mule deer hunt.

Truth: there's not a wrong choice in the whole list all are good rounds.

This year it's the centennial .30-06 and next year it'll be the Swede...

I went with the Swede, but I could be just as happy with the 7x57.

Weagle

You forgot the 7.62X51 308 Win. lots of those out there.

Even though it doesn't show in the poll result, I'd like to have a nickle for every deer shot in New Brunswick with a .303 Brit. My god there are more of them in our woods than trees. Can't argue with success 'eh?

Go for the old Norwegian!

quote:

Originally posted by Tex21:
I love the 8x57JS but am probably going to settle on the 6.5x55. Since just about everyone hunts/owns an old military caliber, which do you deer hunt with?

Why does .30-06 appear twice on your poll?? Are you going to add the two '06 responses?

The "Little-Big Mannlicher." 6,5x54MS

quote:

Why does .30-06 appear twice on your poll?? Are you going to add the two '06 responses?

Sometimes, when you're awake too long, you miss these details...

quote:

Originally posted by Tex21:

quote:

Why does .30-06 appear twice on your poll?? Are you going to add the two '06 responses?

Sometimes, when you're awake too long, you miss these details...

No problem!! I chose the 7X57mm anyway!!

I deer hunt with a 270 Win, a 7.5x55 and an 8x57 none of which are on your poll. But both the 7.5 and the 8 mm are ex-military.

I'll take the good old 30-06