Caliber for roe deer?

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04 April 2011, 22:10

Trapper Dave

Caliber for roe deer?

When all's said and done & it has been on both counts; you pays your money and you choses your calibre.
My .243 is a workmanlike tool and does the job to perfection but its the .308 that I reach for by instinct and first choice.....because its not just a job, its more of a mission or even a calling.

04 April 2011, 23:58

Lincs Stalker

Calibres are fun a 243 with good bullets that suit it is fine, with unsuitable bullets its hopeless, same goes for most calibres.

Currently my new rifle is a 25/06 100g speer blow up, 100g Barnes tsx are wonderful.

I personally don’t like the 243, yet the tsx/243 combination is enticing, so the next rifle, I certainly don’t need another - but a really special 243 might tempt me.

05 April 2011, 00:53

metric

The 6,5x55 is MADE for roedeer imo

05 April 2011, 22:12

Steve Malinverni

quote:
The 6,5x55 is MADE for roedeer imo Wink

YES

06 April 2011, 07:28

brass thief

.243/100gr is perfect. I used it for years in Scotland, bought a .308 and carried it for while before going back to the .243(for Reds as well!)

06 April 2011, 13:47

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by brass thief:
.243/100gr is perfect. I used it for years in Scotland, bought a .308 and carried it for while before going back to the .243(for Reds as well!)

Why did you go back to the 243 Sam?

06 April 2011, 16:58

Claret_Dabbler

quote:
Originally posted by Ghubert:
quote:
Originally posted by brass thief:
.243/100gr is perfect. I used it for years in Scotland, bought a .308 and carried it for while before going back to the .243(for Reds as well!)

Why did you go back to the 243 Sam?

Because he is only a small fella, but he can shoot a bit.....

These boys overcompensating with 30/06's......

Sam, I hear the patter of tiny feet is anticipated??

06 April 2011, 20:22

Gerry

quote:
Sam, I hear the patter of tiny feet is anticipated??

Sam,

Congratulations!

You need to spend more time out in the field instead of staying home in the warm during those Canadian winters .....

07 April 2011, 13:27

Fallow Buck

Congratulations mate.

We'll see you in about 5 years then!!

Kiri

07 April 2011, 19:32

brass thief

Thanks guys, yes there is another hunter on the way!
I shot a few stags with the .243(when expecting to see Roe), and they ran 100 yards or so to cover and fell. So I thought I needed a .308 to have a little more authority. I shot a few stags with the .308, and they ran 100 yards or so to cover and fell.....
Shot placement has way more to do with it than calibre.
When I shot Roe with the .308, I was using Remington corloct at first. They were poking through the little Roe does without expanding much. I rate the .243 to be optimal, but I'm biased(I'm using the same rifle now for Whitetails and Mule deer!)

08 April 2011, 15:42

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:
quote:
Originally posted by Ghubert:
quote:
Originally posted by brass thief:
.243/100gr is perfect. I used it for years in Scotland, bought a .308 and carried it for while before going back to the .243(for Reds as well!)

Why did you go back to the 243 Sam?

Because he is only a small fella, but he can shoot a bit.....

These boys overcompensating with 30/06's......

That's right Brian, overcompensation or what!

One slight question puzzles me though, what to make of the man who overcompensates by getting a 30.06 and then circumcises it to 20"?!

We'll have to start calling you Rabbi.....

08 April 2011, 15:43

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by brass thief:
Thanks guys, yes there is another hunter on the way!
I shot a few stags with the .243(when expecting to see Roe), and they ran 100 yards or so to cover and fell. So I thought I needed a .308 to have a little more authority. I shot a few stags with the .308, and they ran 100 yards or so to cover and fell.....
Shot placement has way more to do with it than calibre.
When I shot Roe with the .308, I was using Remington corloct at first. They were poking through the little Roe does without expanding much. I rate the .243 to be optimal, but I'm biased(I'm using the same rifle now for Whitetails and Mule deer!)

Hey congratulations Sam!

Fair play on the 243, 308 issue mate, not much in it then.

08 April 2011, 16:11

Claret_Dabbler

quote:
....One slight question puzzles me though, what to make of the man who overcompensates by getting a 30.06 and then circumcises it to 20"?!

We'll have to start calling you Rabbi.....

That rifle was born with the 20.5" barrel, I had no part in any circumcision...

08 April 2011, 21:25

Fallow Buck

quote:
Originally posted by Claret_Dabbler:
quote:
....One slight question puzzles me though, what to make of the man who overcompensates by getting a 30.06 and then circumcises it to 20"?!

We'll have to start calling you Rabbi.....

That rifle was born with the 20.5" barrel, I had no part in any circumcision...

I always worry about blokes that count every half inch...

K

09 April 2011, 02:56

Ghubert

It can be a very important half inch.

Again, to some blokes....

16 April 2011, 03:39

dorsethunter

.25-06 for me using a 115g nosler load.

16 April 2011, 18:21

George Dina

243win is the caliber that I use and I can say I'm very happy with this caliber, but I think that the bullet is at least as important as the caliber.

30 April 2011, 20:53

jmk

I use today either a .308 or .375.

When young I had more rifles and then used a .222, it killed well, but destroyed much meat. I do not think it is quite so bad a destroyer today, because of bonded and monolithic bullets.

14 May 2011, 21:12

EXPRESS

Roe deer are overkilled with just about every centerfire rifle used on them.
The .222 and .223 tend to cause huge amounts of meat damage without offering much penetration for marginal shots.
In an ideal world a .22 cal with a 90grain bullet moving moving farily slowly would be nice. I have used the 6PPC for several hundred roe and found it to be quite good, though still overkill, but it can be easier on the carcasse than the fast .22's.
Maybe the 6.5x47 Lapua would be ok, I'd like to try that.

17 May 2011, 04:01

jaegerfrank

A roe deer at reasonable distances can be killed with nearly everything. I have shot a large double digit figure with 6,5x55 and nosler 140 grains. Very happy with that.

22 May 2011, 03:01

yes

my vote goes for beloved 6,5x55 and nice and gentle 140 grain rem-core-lokt @ modest speed. roe are not big animals why carry a lorry or high speed ferrari for packing them.
best regards
yes

22 May 2011, 19:49

Arild Iversen

For the last 10 years I have used 308 Win for roe. Ny present gun is a lightweight Kimber Montana, topped with a 2,5-10x50 Zeiss Victory scope with #4 reticle.
Bullet is eighter 150 grn Nosler PT or Woodleigh PP. Both shoot to same point of aim.

I have found the 308 Win to be a bit more "forgiving" than the 22-250, 243 or 25-06.
My oldish eyes won´t let me take shots beyond 160-170 meters, so the flatter trajectories are of little use for me.

23 May 2011, 14:49

Fallow Buck

Arild,

You keep referencing your age recently. While you are still running around the world rolling them over and fluffing a few pillows, you are effectively in your twenties still!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Just do us all a favour and pass on the realtree pyjamas...

Rgds,
K

23 May 2011, 14:49

Fallow Buck

I should just clarify I mean the material choice rather than the pyjamas as a whole...

K

24 May 2011, 14:48

Dom

Anything and everything, if it were so simple

If you are limiting yourself to Roe only, ok, any 222 and up.

But in a lot of European countries, there is more on the plate at one hunt, like boar, which then require a little extra oomph in most cases.

The great 30-06 gets the call in my case, and it does excellent on Reh, and with the right bullets very limited damage if you do your part on shot placement, Waidmannsheil, Dom.

-------- There are those who only reload so they can shoot, and then there are those who only shoot so they can reload. I belong to the first group. Dom ---------

26 May 2011, 00:10

JabaliHunter

I have used all sorts over the years and have finally settled for the 6.5x47 Lapua

26 May 2011, 02:17

DJM

For me I find the following Calibre / Bullets work well for me.

.234 Win 70gr Ballistic Tip

.25-06 Rem 115gr Combined Tech Ballistic Tip

300WSM 168gr Combined Tech Ballistic Tip

27 May 2011, 00:59

Arild Iversen

quote:
Originally posted by Fallow Buck:
Arild,

You keep referencing your age recently. While you are still running around the world rolling them over and fluffing a few pillows, you are effectively in your twenties still!!

That's my story and I'm sticking to it!!

Just do us all a favour and pass on the realtree pyjamas...

Rgds,
K

Kiri, thank´s for the kind words

To tell the truth, I have just bought me a camo pyjamas.
It is in cotton, a bit wide and comfy.
Not the slim line body hugging type our good friend use to show up in

27 May 2011, 18:40

Heym SR20

This whole argument over calibres is just academic - I have blanked now ten trips in a row. It's not that I'm not seeing deer, but are all of the wrong sex, or in impossible positions. I did get a chance at one last week, but just as I was moving into shot a ..... Horse moves to protect it. Did take a shot at at a fOx though. It leaped high in the air and then ran off into the wood - can only assumed I missed it!

What calibre improves luck is all I can ask?

27 May 2011, 22:32

Steve Malinverni

I've already said that I love 6,5x55 for Roe deer,
But Once I shooted one wit 9.3x62.
Well it did not got up protesting because the caliber was too big/exagerated or unfit for that hunt.
It just died.

27 May 2011, 22:49

Ghubert

quote:
Originally posted by Heym SR20:
This whole argument over calibres is just academic - I have blanked now ten trips in a row. It's not that I'm not seeing deer, but are all of the wrong sex, or in impossible positions. I did get a chance at one last week, but just as I was moving into shot a ..... Horse moves to protect it. Did take a shot at at a fOx though. It leaped high in the air and then ran off into the wood - can only assumed I missed it!

What calibre improves luck is all I can ask?

.22rf.........

28 May 2011, 02:07

Fallow Buck

Heym,

Go for a walk in an area that you have never seen deer before, let the dog run loose and talk to your friends loudly on your mobile. do all this at the most sociable hour of the day.

You will see deer everywhere providing you are not carrying your gun.

K

28 May 2011, 07:35

ozhunter

The 243 would be great but if Legal the 222 would be my pick.

29 May 2011, 20:02

Heym SR20

K, do that regularly, but even on my ground somebody has been training all my bucks to stand or swagger along fence lines / ridgelines with no safe backstop, or only appear between me and a road / house etc. But last few days up her in mid Lothian has a very strong and cold gale, so most beasts hiding in the woods.

Heym sr20

30 May 2011, 03:41

Fallow Buck

Heym,

The wind has wreaked havoc with everything. I went out for a walk today and although I walked into a herd of fallow couched down in the grass that was all I saw. I didn't see a single rabbit that I was looking for.

It looks like we are set for a slightly calmer day on Wednesday so perhaps that will allow for a line to get wet.

I don't get out Roe stalking much, but have many found the strong winds to have affected them much?

K