Best DEER-only cartridge? (Never for larger game)

10 January 2020, 02:14

quote:
Originally posted by Atkinson:
Zeke nailed me, Im an old fogy that condems the Creedmore, and my only legitimate reason is its a threat to my beloved 250-3000 and because of that I hate that damn creedmore...

HaHa, that's a good enough reason, Ray. At least you're an honest guy.

Zeke

10 January 2020, 03:27

xausa

quote:
Originally posted by Steve up North:
quote:
Originally posted by xausa:
I have to say that I find the question pretty absurd. "Best DEER-only cartridge? (Never for larger game)" It fails to take into consideration factors like terrain, cover and circumstances surrounding the shot. What might be perfectly adequate in an open field with no cover to interfere with bullet flight, might be totally unsuitable for hunting in a dense forest with only glimpses of the quarry likely.

I have taken deer with 32 different cartridges, ranging from .22-.250 Remington to .400 Whelen.
Just because they can and have killed deer does not make them a suitable choice for all occasions. My personal choice would be the venerable 7X57 Mauser. but I have also used it to take wildebeest, both standing and running, so it would not fit within the parameters posed by the question.

My list of calibers personally used by me to take deer:

1. .22 Savage High Power
2. .22-250 Remington
3. 6mm/.225 Winchester
4. .243 Winchester
5. .250-3000 Savage
6. .257 Roberts
7. .25-‘06
8. 6.5X54 Mannlicher Schoenauer
9. 6.5/.308
10. 6.5/.257
11. 6.5X57
12. 6.5X64 Brenneke
13. .256 Newton
14. .270 Winchester
15. 7X57
16. .280 Remington
17. 7X64 Brenneke
18. 7X75R SE vom Hofe
19. .275 H&H
20. .300 Savage
21. .308 Winchester
22. .30-‘06
23. .300 H&H Magnum
24. 8X57I
25. 8X60S
26. 8X64 Brenneke
27. 8X65R Brenneke
28. 9X56 M/S
29. 9X57
30. .358 Winchester
31. 9.5X57
32. .400 Whelen

What? No 9.3x57? What's up with that?

Don't worry, I'll get to it. I added three calibers this season, minimum of two deer per caliber.

10 January 2020, 06:21

boom stick

forget the 9,3x57...
It is all about the 9,5x57!
Is the 9x57 a .358”?

11 January 2020, 21:48

416Tanzan

Below is a post-holiday update on a summary of the views. The 270 still stands out as the most recommended deer-ONLY cartridge, with the 257 Roberts holding on in second place and the 6.5 Swede number 3. They truly are three great all-time cartridges.
= = =

quote:

Results (173 votes counted so far):
What would be the best DEER-only cartridge?
(DEER-only, means that it absolutely will not be used for elk, waterbuck, or roan, etc.)
14 (8%)
243 Win

28 (16%)
257 Roberts

12 (7%)
25-06

12 (7%)
260 Rem

13 (8%)
6.5 Creedmoor

22 (13%)
6.5x55 Swede

5 (3%)
264 WM

50 (29%)
270 Win

17 (10%)
7-08 Rem

30 January 2020, 22:45

416Tanzan

So where did the next five votes go over the past three weeks?

quote:

Results (178 votes counted so far):
What would be the best DEER-only cartridge?
(DEER-only, means that it absolutely will not be used for elk, waterbuck, or roan, etc.)
15 (8%)
243 Win

29 (16%)
257 Roberts

12 (7%)
25-06

12 (7%)
260 Rem

13 (7%)
6.5 Creedmoor

24 (13%)
6.5x55 Swede

5 (3%)
264 WM

51 (29%)
270 Win

17 (10%)
7-08 Rem

Ans: 243 (1), the Bob (1), the Swede (2), and the "O'Connor" (1). A lot of good hunting in those rounds.