Not being nasty here. Is it me or is it that some of you guys just don't get it about "The perfect deer rifle" Some mention that this round or that round is got everything covered, but then we're talking about 2 or 3 different cartridges, aren't we?
How can anyone even mention the 30-30, 22-250, 35Rem., or, any of the magnums.

If you had to pick one cartridge and one only for deer and only deer, and we're not talking about just one rifle, what would you choose?

Taking in to consideration: Recoil, handiness in the brush, flatness of trajectory, bullet weights that have enough punch to make it through a deers shoulders, etc. etc.

From where I'm standing it could only be the 7mm-08. Rifles like the model 7 are handy in the brush, then a model 700SPS stainless and rifles like it(24" barrels)could be used on the open plain and take out deer to 500yards, if need be. I'd like to see a 30-30 take out a deer at 500yds.

Again, If the rifle manufactures came up to you and told you, "We can make only one rifle cartridge for deer hunting" What is your pick sir/ma'am?

Make mine the 7mm-08, second choice would be the 308. Jay

.30-06, with second choice being the .270.

George

George, Both excellent choices, owned both, saved the 06, now you need to take into consideration about how handy the 06 is in tight brush, a model 7 in 30-06 would be tough to take on the shoulder, and the 06 is only about an inch or so flatter shooting at long range over a 708. I know, thats your choice and you're stickin to it. Thanks for the input. Jay

Within that very limited scope, mine would be in order: 30-06, 280 Rem, 270.

The 308 based cases would be second tier choices all the way, this includes the 308, 7mm08, 260, and the 243.

The 06 is on top because its versatile, my prefered rifle and cartridge would be the 280
its top dog in non magnum 7mm's, especially when handloaded. I have a pre 64 Winchester being made in this caliber right now, so my dollars and decision is made.

The point here is your not wrong and I'm not right. We both have our individual reference points, in my case I pull a combo tag each year, deer, elk, and bear. My choice of rifle is selected on these tags. I also hunt in Grizzly country, I don't get all in panic as the sightings are rare, but I always hunt with heavier bullets in my belt in case I need the extra energy. In my scenario it depends on what is my primary game. If I am out after deer and the elk is a bonus if I see one, I carry my 7x57. If elk is my primary focus, I carry a much heavier 30 mag. Niether round is ideal for the job both both rounds work if I do my part.

.243 Win in a Model 70 Featherweight would be my choice.

If you get right down to it, most shooters can get a lot closer than 500 yards so a rifle that can take a deer at that range is a moot point. Maybe some like to shoot deer out that far, but the average hunter can't take shoot that far accurately anyways. So, here is my choice:

Savage 11FL in 7mm-08

I am a lefty so that limits options a bit. The 22" barrel is a good compromise and can take any deer I have an inckling to shoot at with modest recoil.

Mostly I use a 7mm-08 with 140 grain FailSafes or 145 grain Grand Slams in a Savage Sierra topped with a Burris 2x7 compact.

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:
Within that very limited scope, mine would be in order: 30-06, 280 Rem, 270.

The 308 based cases would be second tier choices all the way, this includes the 308, 7mm08, 260, and the 243.

Couldn't have said it better myself. Remington sure missed the boat on the 6m/m and .280, didn't they?

If there is only one choice then the single choice must be the universal cartridge, the 30-06 Springfield.

Savage99,

Don't you think you're a little over-gunned for deer with the '06, not to mention the recoil from a light rifle?

Jaywalker

quote:

mention the recoil from a light rifle?

Define light rifle. My ideal rifle wieght is around 8 1/2-3/4 lbs with scope. If your looking at a 6 1/2 lb rifle, recoil is an issue with most of these rounds.

I have never been a fan of ultra light rifles with pencil thin barrels, but each to his own.

schromf,

The guidance on this thread is:

quote:

If you had to pick one cartridge and one only for deer and only deer, and we're not talking about just one rifle, what would you choose?

That's a little different than the normal "pick one rifle/cartridge for everything."

You can certainly have the 8.5# rifle, but you also need to pick a light rifle in the same cartridge, like the Rem M-7. As a guy who's been shooting a .270 in a 6-pound Ruger Ultralight for 17 years, I have to say it's no longer a good choice for me, anyway, and I'd not pick the 30-'06, either.

Since the 7mm-08's already chosen, I think I pick the 6.5X55. It seems to work well in my M70 Featherweight, 7#-14oz, with scope and without carrying strap or ammunition. I've also considered rechambering that unfriendly Ruger for the Swede also, just to keep the tang safety. Assuming I'm up to hitting a deer at 500 yards (big assumption, BTW), the Swede's up to it.

Jaywalker

quote:

That's a little differnet than the normal "pick one rifle/cartridge for everything."

Think I said before my dedicated deer rifle is a 7x57, still not a light wieght, even though it has a 20" tube and a steel buttplate, haven't really wieghed it but somewhere approaching 8 lbs is a good guess.

Problem is for me a deer hunting its either a one rifle for all scenario, or a dedicated mule deer hunt down south or the Missouri breaks in Montana, the 280 or an 06 is still my prefered choice. Another twist from my western perspective is deer rifle=antelope rifle. Both the 7mm-08 and my 7x57 are really limited to around 250 yds max and the long shoot a mulie can be approching 300 yds and crosswinds need to be factored in. Sometimes in these conditions my 30-338 or a 7mm Mag is the perfect deer rifle.

Edit: Rifles I bought for my two sons are a CZ-550 in 6.5x55 and a Ruger International in 308 for the North woods we typically hunt. And no I really don't need that extra rifle that is real light, I wouldn't want anything in a deer class caliber down in the kick the hell out of me weight.

Second edit: I wouldn't mind having a 7mm-08 by the way I just haven't found a combo of the cartridge and the rifle in a package I like. I do like the Model 70 Classic, Custom SA, but I am not willing to pay full retail for it.

I have a remington SS mountain rifle in 280 topped with a 2.5X8 Var III.

Outfit weights under 7 lbs. 22 inch barrel. The STOCK FITS. I have no problem with poor bullet placement from recoil, especially not when hunting. With 175gn bullets I can still shoot sambar if I get them in the right place.

Sure the 7mm08 and everyhting else in that bracket is close but why take less gun if 280 does job with no adverse affects and has the 3006 case capacity for larger game bullets and the 7mm bullets for smaller game.

Am not picking on any other calibre, they are very similar in performance. Just sharing why I am happy with mine.

quote:

Originally posted by GeorgeS:
.30-06, with second choice being the .270.

George

The .270 is very hard to ignore isn't it George.

My daughter got a Remington CDL in 7-08 for her Christmas last year. I really gave the .280 in a mountain rifle a look, but, the CDL got the nod. I added a Nikon 3X9, and the kid has a nice rig. Pretty, very accurate, and with the R3 recoil pad, anyone who is sensitive to recoil can shoot it well.

quote:

Don't you think you're a little over-gunned for deer with the '06, not to mention the recoil from a light rifle?

Of course I am overgunned with the 30-06 on deer. It's the blanket that hangs over the side of the bed that keeps you warm. You don't have to count the money in your wallet when you have enough. Etc.

For me, hands down, it's the .270 win. If you can find the old 170 gr. rn you even have a pretty fair northwoods brush busting round.

-Ron

I think the .270 was inveneted as THE deer cartridge. Not my favorite though, make mine a .280 & that's what my favorite deer/antelope rig is.

Make mine 270 first 30-06 second. Maybe it's because my most accurate rifles have always been 270's. 300 win for best all around gun but 270 for deer definitely.


Without guns we are subjects, with guns we are citizens

quote:

Again, If the rifle manufactures came up to you and told you, "We can make only one rifle cartridge for deer hunting" What is your pick sir/ma'am?

I'll be taking a 300WSM and a 270 to the deer camp this year but if I had to pick one...I'll choose the .270 Win.

Come on, who really has made a shot at 500 yards on game, not an internet shot but real life. Not saying it isn't done, but I don't think that guys that have done it are going to be picking a 308 based round (I have not shot a 7-08 and am not knocking it as a round) for hunting at that distance. I know one person that has shot a deer at a distance over 300 yards CHECKED WITH A LASER RANGEFINDER.

I don't know what brush is like east of here, but I have hard that washington and oregon are worse than the Sierra Nevadas. But I regularly carry a standard weight, 24" barreled, sometimes 26", in the mountains here and never feel like I am weighted down or unweildy. In fact my rifle that feels quickest in my hands is my 26" barreled 35 whelen on an Enfield. Can't imagine how far from light weight that sucker is.

Savage had some good sayings, I especially like the comment about the blanket hanging over the edge. I don't know, of cartridges I have shot, it would be between the 7x57, 270 and 06. For my area and our deer, which are from what I hear smaller than those big Whitetails, I would probably say the 7x57. I don't plan on taking super long shots, I'll wait to get closer. The appeal of the 06 is that the loads can be had in all weights, and you could probably dig into the dirt around an old campfire and find some rounds in a pinch (just making the point it is probalby the easiest ammo to find). Nope, just for deer, I'll take my Sears FN in 270, put my stepfathers 2.5x Weaver with a dot (going to do this actually, it has a little sunburst in the lense, but still looks pretty good) and I'll be good for California Deer.

And don't any of you worried about recoil dare talk to my mom about it. she is 5'3" and her rifle is a Mark X in 06 with a not very big stock on it. Granted she only shoots 150g bullets, but complain about recoil and she'll ridicule you to no end. (then again mom shoots her 4" barreled 357 until you run out of ammo).

Red

Stainless M-70 FWT in any cartridge that was available before October 29, 1929, and that has a bore diameter between 6.5 and 9.3mm. Add a 4x Leupold, crisp trigger, Rimrock stock, Latigo sling so it weighs from 7 to 7.5 lbs.

Kinda defeats the purpose, though.


Okie John

My choice would probably be some sort of NON magnum 6.5 mm first, followed by a 7mm in 7/08 or 7 x 57... third choice would be the good old 06! When I doubt and range under 250 yds, with a 220 grain Round Nose!

cheers
seafire

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Gorski:

If you had to pick one cartridge and one only for deer and only deer, and we're not talking about just one rifle, what would you choose?
...
Taking in to consideration: Recoil, handiness in the brush, flatness of trajectory, bullet weights that have enough punch to make it through a deers shoulders, etc. etc.
...
Again, If the rifle manufactures came up to you and told you, "We can make only one rifle cartridge for deer hunting" What is your pick sir/ma'am?
...

Blaser K95 single shot in 6,5x57R.

A dream rifle, and not just to look at.

Only one deer rifle... HHHHMMMMMM....

I know!!! A 22 Rimfire and a spot light!!!
It's light weight, little recoil, and I don't have to reload for it.

I'm just kidding!!!!

Why does everyone always mention "RECOIL" as the first consideration when selecting a cartridge? Sounds to me like we are dealing with a bunch of fuddy dutty wimps, rather than rifle shooters.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Gorski:

If you had to pick one cartridge and one only for deer and only deer, and we're not talking about just one rifle, what would you choose?

Jay

That's easy, take a .270win with a 24" light contour tube. With 130gr bullets it out shines any 7-08 any day on deer.

Honestly there are a lot of cartridges that'll work as "best".

The best one is the one you have in your hand when hunting.

For deer only I'll take the 260 Remington in a Kimber 84M wearing a 2.5-8x Leupold VX3. Otherwise a good 30'06 will cover all the bases. FWIW I leave the quarter mile shots to the guys with the Remington 742s & Winchester 100s, their no name scopes, and pocketfulls of spare magazines... Good hunting!

I like the 30/06 & or 270. The 270 can ALMOST do what the 30/06 can do.

For deer only, I'd take my 6.5-284 and put a 22" barrel on it instead of the 20" I have today, just in case of the longer shot.

Jay, I have shot 1 deer doe at a lasered 502 yards, but only because it was the last hour of the last day and I needed the meat (I have one daughter alergic to beef) and KNEW my .264 WM was up to it because I practice with it regularly. And yes, I will freely admit there was a good dose of pure luck involved.

I'd most certainly go with a 30.06 as the first choice and a 270 for number 2 also.

My .06 is very fast handling, as is my 270...all 3 of them. I have decelerator recoil pads on all so recoil is not an issue.

For me, it's not just a question of whether or not my rifle/caliber choice will KILL a deer at a given distance. It's how fast will it do it, and what is the probability of the animal dropping where it is hit.

I concur with the short actions being tier 2 choices. I'll take a 270 with a 130 or 140 grain bullet any day for my Colorado deer hunting and Wyoming antelope over a short action like a 7-08, 308, any day. A 30.06 just has more knockdown power.

I guarantee I can "fast handle" my rifles in the brush just as well as someone with a short action because I KNOW my rifles and I practice as well as hunt a lot.

The whole "brush hunting" topic never got me worked up on caliber choice because I don't shoot through brush anyway, except once. Years ago I took a deer with my 270 and a 130 ballistic tip in "brush" and killed it just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by Jay Gorski:
George, Both excellent choices, owned both, saved the 06, now you need to take into consideration about how handy the 06 is in tight brush, a model 7 in 30-06 would be tough to take on the shoulder, and the 06 is only about an inch or so flatter shooting at long range over a 708. I know, thats your choice and you're stickin to it. Thanks for the input. Jay

Jay, I have carried 22"-barreled Rem. 700 .30-06, 24"-barreled Sako AV and M70 .375H&Hs, and a 24"-barreled M70 .470 Capstick through African thornbush, and never found them to be unwieldy.

Less is NEVER more, especially when it comes to deer rifles.

Methinks people OVER-analyze these non-existent 'issues', probably due to the influences of (mostly useless) gun rags.

George

Interesting trend here is that what I call non magnum medium bores, 30-06, 280 Rem, and 270 Winchester have a large following of support as ideal cartridges.

The comment on the rifle in your hands that you know how to shoot carries a lot of credibility though.

A lot of people keep mentioning the .30-06 as the perfect deer round.

Personally, I don't see the need for a bullet weight over 100 gr. for deer. So give me the velocity and flat shooting of a Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70 chambered for .25-06

Don't really care for short necks, recoil, 26" barrels or longer, muzzle blast or heavey rifles. Ergo:;:; 6.5mmX55 or 7mmX57 in that order but very very close. roger I hope Dago Red's mom don't think I'm a whimp

Model 70 in 270WSM....Why? Cause I just bought one. Why? the price was right and i'm a sucker for a good deal. My go to gun right now is a 700 custom barreled 6.5-284 norma. 7-08 is good enough for whitetails but all the other choices give me an excuse to buy another rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by schromf:
Interesting trend here is that what I call non magnum medium bores, 30-06, 280 Rem, and 270 Winchester have a large following of support as ideal cartridges.

Another apparent trend: Those who seem to think that a .30-06 is too much for deer seem to be from the southern part of the country. Of course the deer are smaller bodied there. I use a .30-06, I have never killed one too dead. I recently acquired a 7 WSM so maybe that will be my go-to now.

Arguing about the perfect deer rifle or cartridge is like arguing about the perfect woman. Jessica Simpson is the hottest chick ever to walk the face of the Earth. I dare you to disagree.

quote:

Originally posted by gsganzer:
Personally, I don't see the need for a bullet weight over 100 gr. for deer. So give me the velocity and flat shooting of a Remington 700 or Winchester Model 70 chambered for .25-06

I respect your observation. However, I like more wt on a longer range shot. I've seen 100 grain 6mm bullets kill deer at 320+ yards, but the deer ran a long way. I personally prefer a "bang-flop" myself no matter what the range. Last year in Colorado, an aquaintence shot his mulie at just over 250 yards with his 25.06 and that deer hit the dirt like it was struck from above. He put a TSX right in the high shoulder. Very flat shooting rifle. I do not recall his bullet wt.

Who's Jessica Simpson?
I bet she ain't as pretty as Mable Gutherington