The Accurate Reloading Forums
so now we know the smallest caliber you use.....what do you think the largest caliber
29 December 2008, 06:46
rolltopso now we know the smallest caliber you use.....what do you think the largest caliber
quote:
what do you think the largest caliber
For me, personally, the largest caliber I hunt deer is a .45-70 as it forces one to get a bit closer.
29 December 2008, 06:52
AbobIn Alaska, most of our Sitka Black Tails (although one of the smallest strains) are shot with 30 cal & up because of the bears
Jim
fur, feathers, & meat in the freezer
"Pass it on to your kids"
29 December 2008, 06:53
rolltop
very impressive
29 December 2008, 06:57
CrazyhorseconsultingSorry for my outburst, but many states already place minimums on what can and can not be used for hunting deer or other game.
When folks start taliking about placing a Maximum allowable, then I feel we have a problem.
Having some one call me a prick complicates the matter, IMO.
Are the 30 mags or even the 30-06 too large, I don't think so, but some folks may.
As I said however, placing a minimum limit is something that some people do agree with.
Placing a Maximum allowable is something I believe most folks would not agree with.
Even the rocks don't last forever.
29 December 2008, 06:58
Mort Canardquote:
Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
No Dick Lick, I am asking a question.
Do you not have the brains to understand that, evidently not.
Once again, HOW MANY on here would be in favor of a goverment, any goverment, stipulating that the only calibers suitable or legal for shooting deer would be limited to a specified range of calibers.
Now are you trying to make a point or just being ignorant?
Well if the government wants to ban hunting with thermo-nuclear devices, depleted uranium bullets, fragmentation grenades, chemical or biological warfare agents or cannon then I guess that will probably be alright with me. Other than that, not so much!

Like I said earlier, as long as your caliber and choice of shot placement does not result in "wanton waste of meat" then I would have no particular problem with it.
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For every action, there is an equal and opposite malfunction.
29 December 2008, 07:12
rolltopquote:
Originally posted by Crazyhorseconsulting:
When folks start taliking about placing a Maximum allowable, then I feel we have a problem.
Placing a Maximum allowable is something I believe most folks would not agree with.
No one discussed a governmental required maximum caliber. If you want to start a new thread then do so. This thread has nothing to do with your discussion.
29 December 2008, 12:50
seafire2quote:
Originally posted by rolltop:
very impressive
went Deer hunting with Al Capone huh?
Life Member: The American Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
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"Posterity — you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."
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A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?" The Ranger responded, "Because they don't make a 46."
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29 December 2008, 16:38
RaySenderoquote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
What do you think the largest caliber should be use for deer?
I'm meaning centerfire rifle calibers.
As to me I can find little use for anything over .270 caliber but use the .30 as it's just so darn common in the USA
vapodog,
Before I answer "What's Too BIG",
Please define
What's Too DEAD? 
________
Ray
29 December 2008, 17:10
vapodogquote:
vapodog,
Before I answer "What's Too BIG",
Please define What's Too DEAD? Confused
LOL.....there is nothing too big IMO....use whatever you want.....I see some actually using mountain Howitzers......and there are a few using solid lead bullets about 1.75 inches in Dia from small cannons here.
What's too dead?.....let me put it this way.....I've hit six deer in the last two years with my F-150.......and it's gotten to the point of herd control more so than a hunting sport here.
I still like the hunting sport as it's a great time of the year and enjoy using the firearms I build but everyone has their own thing....At least a few here are using their Shiloh-Sharps 45-120 and doing some very long range shooting and they're quite good at it too!
IMO there is no such thing as to big or too dead.....it's "how one wants to play the game.
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29 December 2008, 18:55
DRSI have a couple of big bore bolt actions, that I have use to take several Deer: one a Ruger M-77/44 and the other a custom built .458 X 2" AMERICAN. However I like to use a .270 or .308 for Deer sized game.
David
29 December 2008, 19:48
Doc224/375I once hunted with a M107 or T235 175mm . We deemed it as to large though , due to the
crater it left !.

29 December 2008, 23:18
.429This is too big.

29 December 2008, 23:30
rolltop.429, there are times when a rifle is a better tool!

But you must admit, it is a fine way to get the deer packed ontop of the trailer.
30 December 2008, 02:15
vapodogI was hoping to get a few reports from guys using their .404 Jeffery, .458 Lott, .416 Rigby, and other such guns on deer.....
It's always good getting the reports from the DG hunters and I know several of you guys g deer hunting as well as to Africa.
I've shot two whitetails with the .375 H&H....one at close range in an earlier post but a nice 8-pointer at about 400 yards.....It produced a .375 Dia hole in the east side of the rib cage and a .375 diameter hole on the west side.....the bullet (I assume) didn't open at all.
We found the deer only because there was a lot of snow on the ground and after trailing it about 200 yards it was found dead.
Definitely not a good cartridge for that shot as I suspect any smaller caliber would have worked better.
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
30 December 2008, 02:45
Hot CoreHey rolltop, You got a story to go with the remains?
Shots after the Deer was found on the ground? Vapo's reloads?
30 December 2008, 02:48
seafire2quote:
Originally posted by .429:
This is too big.

Just tell me the truck and trailer had California Plates!!!
That would make my day!

Life Member: The American Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
Jan 20, 2009.. Prisoner in Dumocrat 'Occupied America', Partisan in the 'Save America' Underground
Beavis..... James Beavis..... Of Her Majesty's Secret Service..... Spell Check Division
"Posterity — you will never know how much it has cost my generation to preserve your freedom. I hope you will make good use of it."
John Quincy Adams
A reporter did a human-interest piece on the Texas Rangers. The reporter recognized the Colt Model 1911 the Ranger was carrying and asked him "Why do you carry a 45?" The Ranger responded, "Because they don't make a 46."
Duhboy....Nuttier than Squirrel Poop...
30 December 2008, 03:51
.429Just goes to prove that big projectiles (5000pds) and low velocity (88fps) can be effective. Even got some mushrooming of the projectile even without penetration.

30 December 2008, 05:30
Cornfield SWOquote:
Originally posted by Hot Core:
Hey rolltop, You got a story to go with the remains?
Shots after the Deer was found on the ground? Vapo's reloads?
Hot Core,
See the mountain howitzer link I posted on page 1 of the thread.
Soli Deo Gloria
30 December 2008, 05:38
MickinColoquote:
Originally posted by rolltop:
very impressive
That's just a sad picture.
30 December 2008, 06:00
MickinColoquote:
Originally posted by .429:
Just goes to prove that big projectiles (5000pds) and low velocity (88fps) can be effective. Even got some mushrooming of the projectile even without penetration.
It's interesting that people would find that funny. Maybe I'm just low on humor tonight.

Look at the window shield of that pickup, people got hurt in that collision. If they didn’t get hurt physically, they sure as hell were hurt financially.
30 December 2008, 06:01
Hipster76mm recoil-less circa 1950-1953, Then again I have never had too much problem killing deer with whatever I had in my hands at the time provided I made a proper shot inside the performance envelope of the cartridge I was shooting. Shot 3 this year with my 280 rem and T am going back to my .260 rem next year for Deer as the 280 is more power than needed. Same reason I have backed away from the 30-06 way more power than needed. Despite what many say a bad shot is a bad shot sometimes you get lucky sometimes you do not flip a coin.
30 December 2008, 17:21
Hot Corequote:
Originally posted by Cornfield SWO:
...See the mountain howitzer link I posted on page 1 of the thread.
Thank you.
30 December 2008, 21:02
buckeyeshooterI have a 50 Alaskan and have used it for deer.
31 December 2008, 00:18
.429MickinColo, "Maybe I'm just low on humor tonight."
I can understand that.
Having seen several similar of these and nearly been a part of one or two myself, the point was not the wreck but the absurdity of who really cares how big a rifle you shoot a deer with.
Sorry for the lack of consideration on my part.
Just to get back in the vein of the topic, the last time I went deer hunting, I took a 375.
31 December 2008, 01:54
vapodog.429..I've hit six deer in the last two years with my pickup truck.....so I can relate a bit and yes, I saw some humor in your post.....
I can also see why some may have a different viewpoint too....Forums are like that!
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31 December 2008, 05:13
MickinColoquote:
Originally posted by .429:
MickinColo, "Maybe I'm just low on humor tonight."
I can understand that.
Having seen several similar of these and nearly been a part of one or two myself, the point was not the wreck but the absurdity of who really cares how big a rifle you shoot a deer with.
Sorry for the lack of consideration on my part.
Just to get back in the vein of the topic, the last time I went deer hunting, I took a 375.
Let’s just move on and start fresh. I understand your point. I hated the picture.
01 January 2009, 02:24
Red C. http://www.buckstix.com/images/deer1.jpgI don't get it. What's the big deal with shooting one six times.
Red C.
Everything I say is fully substantiated by my own opinion.
01 January 2009, 02:33
vapodogquote:
Originally posted by Red C.:
http://www.buckstix.com/images/deer1.jpgI don't get it. What's the big deal with shooting one six times.
He didn't....he shot it once with very large buckshot from a mountain Howitzer.
It does give new meaning to the term "buck" shot
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"Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy, its inherent virtue is the equal sharing of misery."
Winston Churchill
01 January 2009, 04:18
MickinColoquote:
Originally posted by Red C.:
http://www.buckstix.com/images/deer1.jpgI don't get it. What's the big deal with shooting one six times.
Not a thing unless you’re a meat hunter.
Shooting an animal 6 times potentially produces 5 times more meat damage than just 1 shot. Shooting an animal with low velocity buckshot from a shotgun and getting 6 hits is not nearly as bad as 6 hits from say a 30-06.
Let’s look at the picture. Starting at the top and going down, number the hits 1 through 6. 1-3 ruined some very good chilli meat and ground meat. Shot 4 hit the back of the blade of the right shoulder, some meat lost there. Number 5 hit right at the very bottom of the thickest part of the backstrap. It’s hard to say if it did any damage (if it did, that’s a damn shame). Number 6 possibly hit the back of the liver (no loss to me there).
One shot placed anywhere between 4,5,and 6, would have put a little more meat on the table.
01 January 2009, 07:31
wympleI have no use for anything over a .270.
01 January 2009, 08:01
mstarlingWymple,
I must admit that I first tried the larger bores for whitetails simply to get some field experience with them before hunting something much bigger.
What I found amazed me ... they ruin less meat than does a .270 WIn! Good enough reason to keep playing with them as I am concerned about what goes into the freezer.
Mike
--------------
DRSS, Womper's Club, NRA Life Member/Charter Member NRA Golden Eagles ...
Knifemaker,
http://www.mstarling.com 01 January 2009, 08:12
ldkierSmallest: .25 WSSM
Largest: 9.3X57 .45 2/10
Most useful: .257 WBY .270 WSM and .270 Win.
Most effective on Big game. Deer, Elk, Moose and Black Bear: 9.3X57.
If I were to have only ONE rifle: 9.3X57.