Ive been a .270 owner for 15 years and have harvested many deer with this caliber. While I will never get rid of my current rifle, I am thinking about purchasing a new centerfire rifle for the purpose of deer hunting. I am looking to do this sometime next Summer maybe. I want to stay away from the 30-06 family of cartridges(ie: 25-06, 270, 280, 30-06, 35whelen) but am looking for something maybe a little different or not so common. Just wanted to hear some opinions of your favorite deer cartridges and even looking for some suggestions. I have been strongly considering a .308, 7x57mauser, 6.5x55 mauser, 7mm-08 just to name a few.
The .260 is an interesting caliber. I am a .270 win kinda guy tho. :)
Of the calibers you mentioned, I would look at the 7mm-08. I have been looking at this caliber myself and like the trajectory, energy and recoil #'s. I am also entertaining the .243, especially for the lack of recoil.
:smiley-patriotic-flagwaver-an
284, 257 Roberts, or one of the super short magnums.
I believe my next one will be a 7mm-08.
I have both a 7x57 and a 6.5x55, both make fine deer rifles both are customize mauser rifles. My 14 year old son uses the 7x57, recoil on both is not bad. With the 6.5 I shot a deer about 50 yds thought I missed first but as I shot again he started to squat in the back end, had two holes right behid the front sholder,maybe went through so fast?,140 gr. nosler partition.
Son klled one 125yds with 7x57 last year and it went no were, 140gr. hornady spire point.
I love my 308
6.5-284 in a savage. Or 6.5 Grendel in an ar or custom bolt
the 6.5mm - .284 is my favorite
I have a custom 280 AI on a Ruger 77 action that will drive tacks but with the scope it's 9.25 lbs. It does have a 26" bbl to capture the rounds' available velocity. It's more of an out west gun. I'm currently trying to work up a load for a Rem 760 pump in the .308. The gun is hovering 2-3" at 100 with just about everything I've tried(all hand loads). It's harvested a couple white tail bucks from NY 125-150 lbs and puts them to sleep quick.
My son and another hunting companion both have Tikka's in the 7mm-08. They are light, reasonably affordable, accurate and have a detachable mag which is a feature I really light for deer hunting. I load a 140 grain Nosler Accubond for them which has performed well.
I'll probably have a 7mm-08 by next season. I trying to locate a Rem model 7 action and have my gunsmith build me a lightweight rig. I was thinking 6.5 Grendel but it will probably end up 7-08 as I have dies/powder/bullets for it. Good luck with your choice.
CB
I love my 25.06 but understand your desires for a different caliber.
7mm08 is reportedly a very sweet shooting caliber as well as accurate and a known deer slayer.
Same for .308 and there are so many accessories and accurizing things for .308 it deserves consideration. I hunt a box stand so it action lenght and weight don't matter much to me. But if I was going to shop for a new one, I'd look at short action just because.
Have fun choosing. :icon_thumright:
I used a 30-06 for years and loved it and killed quite a few deer. There was a problem with the gun and I have since switched to a 7mm Mag and I like it just the same. My dad first got one, then my uncle and a couple of my dad's friends, and none of them have switched to anything else since.
I have always deer hunted with a 270, and believe that is one of, if not the, best deer catridge around. But that being said, I have been looking at two different catridiges that I would like to try. The first is an old, big, slow round; the 45-70. Just something about a big chunk of lead at woods distances that says awesome. The other is a relatively new round, the 6.8 spc. From what I have read, the 6.8 has better ballistics than the 270 at the longer ranges, but is still a light kicker. Just some food for thought.
300wby mag and my 22-250 most of the time I take the 250! Lyle
7MM MAG with 140 grain Ballistic tips are my choice . Very good Whitetail and Mule deer medicine.
I've only had a chance to take one deer with it, as I just got it this summer, but love my new (to me) Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. It honestly doesn't seem to have as much recoil as an old .30-.30 I borrowwed years ago, and has more knockdown power with 200 grain Hornady Leverevolution bullets. I look forward to trying some other ammo to see how different brands perform, but the deer I took last weekend went only about 50 yards with a shot that was a little high - only clipped one lung.
The places I hunt, you would be hard pressed to get a 100 yard shot, so this rifle fits my needs quite well.
.284 of course.
284 Win
7mm-08
7x57
280 Rem
The GREAT 7mm Rem Mag
7STW
7Wby
It's just hard to go wrong with a 7.
.30-06. Does the job on anything from antelope to moose, and never a problem finding ammo.
I love my 300 WSM it sure get's the job done..
.260 Remington or .358 Winchester or 45/70 Government.
My .260 is a Remington Mountain rifle, easy packing, very accurate 120gr NBT @ 2911fps. Not much different than your .270 really.
I would go bigger bore just because if I were you.
My .358 Winchester is a Ruger Hawkeye. Handles great, very accurate, 200gr Hornady @ 2500fps.
My 45/70 in a Marlin 1895G, packs great, points great, shoots greaterer :) . This is one I would never even consider getting rid of. I have loads that recoil like a .223 and ones that will slap the taste out of your mouth. This is a great old round. Since getting the Marlin, LOTS of nice rifles have spent more time in the safe while the 1895G goes hunting.
I own a .308 myself, but if I was to get another cartridge, I believe I would go with a 7mm-08.
Less recoil, and very flat shooting. Good velocity as well.
338 rem ultra mag and 180 grain noslers.
.308, been gettin it done for a long time. Luv mine.
Sent from my SCH-I100 using Tapatalk
I like the 7mm-08, but they are tough to find around here. 308 is the way to go for availability. You can also shoot a 180gr load with the .308
Quote from: lightsoutcalls on November 17, 2011, 10:39:42 AM
I've only had a chance to take one deer with it, as I just got it this summer, but love my new (to me) Marlin 336 in .35 Remington. It honestly doesn't seem to have as much recoil as an old .30-.30 I borrowwed years ago, and has more knockdown power with 200 grain Hornady Leverevolution bullets. I look forward to trying some other ammo to see how different brands perform, but the deer I took last weekend went only about 50 yards with a shot that was a little high - only clipped one lung.
The places I hunt, you would be hard pressed to get a 100 yard shot, so this rifle fits my needs quite well.
I inherited a 35 remington and for deer hunting up to 100 yards its the cats meow especially as Wendell said with the hornady leverevolution bullets you cant beat it. Beyond that I would have to say I would go 7mm or 308, both great guns and very versatile
I love 12 gauge
Luke95
It always amazes me when this subject comes up and response regarding caliber and bullet weight for shooting thin skinned whitetails. Over the years I shot primairly shot a 30-30 with 150 grain from an old Winchester 94. I was young, the shots were short range, the deer relatively small (less than 175 lbs) and didin't mind getting womped by the recoil from the metal buttplate.
When I got older and could no longer sight well from the fixed metal sights I looked at what would suit me best for the size game I would be shooting and the range I would be shooting them. Call me a wimp but I choose the .243. The 100 grain bullet is the largest made for it yet I find powerful and adequate for taking medium size deer at distances of 200 yds +. And the recoil is next to nothing. I also found this caliber great for smaller game such as yotes and ground hogs. If I'm just hunting these I'll step down to a lighter bullet but I've splattered several ground hogs while loaded with a 95 grain Hornady on a deer hunt.
Don't get me wrong when it comes to shooting larger game I opt for bigger guns and calibers like the S&W 460 Magnum I use for bear.
JMTW
.308 and the ammo won't cost you an arm & a leg
I like the 7mm-08.
I like my .30-06 but starting to like the .243 too.
I have the .308 family of cartridges. .308, 7mm-08, & .243. All great cartridges. I carry the .308 the most for deer. I also have a .300 win. mag along with 7mm win. short mag. But the .308 class of cartridges gets the nod for deer hunting. Like was said earlier the shells won't cost you an arm and a leg.
6mm Remington. Sure wish that Remington would start making 80 grain shells again.
Haven't had a deer complain yet.
Given the ease of killing a whitetail, along with the quality of bullets available today, what cartridge the rifle is chambered for is definitely not the first thing I look at when buying a new rifle.
So many things to take into consideration.
What's the typical ranges you're shooting at the intended game?
Will you be walking far while carrying this rifle?
Are you a ballistics junkie? (ie. Want the best trajectory/less wind drift waayyyyyyyy out there?)
A lot more important things than the caliber in regards to buying a new rifle.
This year alone I've loaded for and either witnessed or heard of the performance on deer from cartridges ranging from .223 Rem all the way up to a .340 Weatherby. Haven't had a single complaint this year on performance.
In short, as long as you put a decent bullet in the right place, killing deer is as easy as pie.
Pick out your rifle first, then decide on chambering.
I use a 270 now but I hunted with a 243 for alot of years using factory Remington 100 gr 243 Core-lokts and killed lots of deer with it.
Well I have owned two 30-06 a 270, 243, two 25-06, and a 7mm Rem Mag. If I had to choose, the 7mm Rem Mag is the one I miss the most. Now all I have is the 25-06. But it's one heck of a deer cartridge. So is the 270. The 270 is probably all the gun that you will ever need for whitetails.
the 3006 is my all time favorite in the deer woods. but will be buying a 7mm08 this year for the wife.she has been leying them down with a 22-250 this season. but it is on the lite side for the mountains we hunt
.270 :you_rock:
Why may I ask do you want to stay away from 30-06? I shoot a 30-06 and love it. I had a 7mm mag. Savage. But got rid of it bc my farthest shot is 200 yards max and that gun was very heavy.
I just want something different from the 30-06 family of cartridges. Plus my father has a 30-06 and anytime I want to use it, I can. Id rather buy a rifle chambered for something that neither him nor I already have.
After hunting whitetails with a 7mm-08, I just can't imagine using anything else. I have shot deer from 10 yards to 350 yards with it and it just plain kills 'em. Plus the low recoil has me shooting it more often which helps me keep those groups at the range tight.
If I was wanting a gun for the mountains, I'd look real hard at something short-barreled, light, and 7mm-08 would be a sweet chambering.
I've carried my .243 Rem Mtn. Rifle for the past 3 years and haven't found anything to complain about yet.
7MM-08 all day. I cant say enough good things about my A-Bolt. I have taken numerous deer and hogs with the gun and the load really does the job. I am shooting Fusion 140 grain bullets, but prior to that only shot Core Lockt bullets and they did the trick as well.
270 WSM. Great cartridge!
264 Winmag
257 weatherby mag, 7mm rem mag, or .300 ultra mag
Great combinations of high speed, flat trajectory, versatile load options and lethal performance.
7mm mag.
30-06 model 7600! Love me a pump action rifle!
Woods gun 7mm-08 or 300 savage.
Field gun 25wssm or 257 Roberts.
Or just forget about your restriction and get a 25-06 and never worry about your choice again!!!
I use th AR platform for my hunting guns so I use the 6.8mm SPCII in a 16" barrel and it is MOA at 100 yds if not better. You may want to look at the AR-10 and get a .308. They should shoot at least MOA if you get a decent rifle. There is something to be said for a semi-auto especially hunting hogs.
I am by no means a rifle hunter. I own a 223 for shooting groundhogs and coyotes and thats it. However, I have been "in the market" so to speak for a good larger centerfire fora while. I believe, and this is my opinion, I am going with a 30-06 because of its versatility. The ability to shoot lighter loads, midweight and some pretty hefty ones. Because I am not a rifle man I intend on have one "hunting rifle" for big game and to me this is the one I would choose.
A .308 is hard to beat for an all around deer cartridge IMO!
Several favorties: .30-30, .308 & .30-06.
30-06, and .243 are my favorites.
Gotta love the 7x57 loaded with a 140 grain Sierr@ pro hunter. :z-guntootsmiley:
Killed plenty of deer and a few bears with 30.06
Switched to a browning titanium a-bolt chambered in .300wsm.
Perfect gun for carrying around these Pa mountains. I shoot a 180 grain bullet that takes the front shoulder out of a deer or bear rather nicely.
I have .308 and 7mm 08 and hunt with both. Each set up for different areas. Both are more than adequate & and are extremely accurate.
I currently shoot a 25-06 and love it. But I want a 7mm08. Years ago my daddy had a Remington model seven in 7mm08. And I saw my daddy's brother shoot that rifle at 100 yards resting it on a 55 gallon drum and a life jacket. He shot one round and hit the bullseye dead center. We then placed a cigarette but in the bullet hole and he shot again. We walked down to look and could not find the hit. Then we looked and it went thru the same hole, not a big deal BUT the paper from the cigarette but was still there only the cotton was gone.
Later I bought one and killed deer from 10 yards to 300 all dead right there. I regret selling it but thats life.
Get the 7mm08
Good Luck and God Bless
Ray
30-06
.300 mag out of my browning auto
270, here
I like my .270 with 130 gr Hornady SST's
Used to big on the .270 unil my grandpa handed down one of his 7mags to me. Love that gun and you can hunt just about any big game with it.
I use a 243 and a 7-08
Best rifle I have owned was a Remington 7400 .308 - shot a few deer in Canada with it. Left it there with my Dad when I moved to California....thinking of getting another one very soon
270 WCF in my old pre-64 Model 70 followed closely by the grand old 7x57mm Mauser.
Tom Black
(http://i684.photobucket.com/albums/vv204/thomasmblack/20110303_18.jpg)
.25-06 here with 117 gr Sierr@ 's
.270 right now
but if i had the money, i would love to have a .257 Wthby
260 Remmy Mod 7
243 WSSM Winchester Mod 70
7mm-08 Remmy mod 7
7mm-08 Remmy Mod 788
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECKsFicSbrw
This will be my next purchase.....Soon ;D
7mm08 with GMX bullets
Been hunting with a 270 for many years but just got a 7mm08 and it is a sweet rifle.
.270 Win. :z-guntootsmiley:
Back when I hunted with modern rifles these were my favorite deer rifles. Top to bottom.....
.270 Win.
7mag Browning A-Bolt
.257Wby Mag Lightweight
.240Wby Mag Lightweight
7mm-08 Rem. Lightweight Mountain Rifle
I used the .Wby .240mag and 7mm-08 most of the time.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v71/Iflytrout/Guns/deerifles.jpg)
.338
.280
the rifle I pick up for 99% of all my hunting is my Ruger in 7mm Mauser with 140gr bullets,no need for anything else
a good friend of mine would swear by the 264 win mag for deer
300win or 7mm mag :OGturkeyhead:
Lots of great suggestions, I understand wanting something else but I don't think there is a better all around caliber in the woods. Good ballastics, every gun manufacturer produces it, bullets anywhere bullets are sold, and it has killed everything in North America (just ask Jack O'Connor). Old saying -- "beware the man who has one gun, he is liable to know how to use it!"
270 win that is
Unless you are taking long shots a 35 remington lever action is a sweet little rifle, you can take just about anything on this continent with it if you are within 150 yards, the hornady lever evolution ammo is a big help on this. I love the one I inherited. On top of the fact that it really doesnt recoil anymore than my 270.
I also have a 270 and feel the 35 remington is a great compliment to it. If not I was actually thining personally one of the new lever .308's by Marlin as another option.
260
7 mag or 308. Steyr
I used to hunt with (and take deer with) fairly powerful shotshells and rifle cartridges, but I guess I'm taking an interest in smaller, lighter guns.
The thought of shimmying up a tree with, say, a .30/06, Weatherby .270 Win, or 7mm magnum (as I have in the past) just isn't as appealing as it once was to me.
The places I've been able to hunt at in the past few years offered me few shots longer than 75 yards in any direction. I'd just rather use a short, small, light recoil carbine in .243, .30/30, or 7.62x39 to hunt with, but that's just me.
I've hunted with a .30-06 for many years. Its not overpowering for southern whitetails that I mainly hunt, but it is big enough to go out west or up north for large white tails and mulies. It can even take down an elk, though I'd prefer a larger round for that. Its good for up close or out far. Just a great all purpose round. Another big plus is the popularity is so great that find ammo isn't hard.
Then again, this question is kind of like asking 100 people who their favorite football team is. :lol:
I love my 270 but my next rifle will be the 300 win mag
My favorite is my 25-06 with my custom handloaded Barnes TSX 115gr bullets. But, considering you want to stay away from the 30-06 casing, I'd probably look at either the 257 Wby Mag, my dream gun, or one of the WSMs, probably the 270 WSM or maybe even the .25 WSSM.
Can you tell I like the .25 cal :)
Been thinking the same thing.Think if I were to get a knew one today I would like to try .264 Win Mag in a model 70 of course..
300 wsm, lots of bullet selection out there especially if you reload. Plenty of power if you ever wanted to hunt the bigger animals. Accurate!!!
There are plenty of great calibers that have already been mentioned....I guess it would all depend on the kind of terrain I was going to hunt predominantly...
Tight woods, then short action rounds would work fine and moost are common....I would go with 7mm-08/308/243
longer range more custom I would really think of 6.5x55 AI such a great penetrating round...7mm mag my all time fave for all around devestation with the 160 grain loads.
308 AI and 35 Whelen AI are some of the most efficient rounds per grain of powder.
in any case its just fun considering all the options....what a problem to have :laugh:
I have owned the following:
.243, 30-06, and now own 7-08.
With the 243, I didn't have the knockdown for shots over 150.
With the 30-06, it was overkill.
I switched to the 7-08 and that is the most awesome deer cartridge.
Slap perfect. 7mm lead on top of 308 casing, with the same identical ballistics of a 308. Low recoil, and plenty of knockdown. Pair it up with Hornady loads and you have yourself a winner.
Bought my first rifle in 1974 after I shipped over for 4 years in the Navy. Rem 700 BDL in .270. I was a devout worshipper of Jack O'Connor. Still have that rifle, taken Elk, Deer, Antelope and countless coyotes and my 3 children and wife killed their first big game animals with it. I own several big game rifles, my most recent is a custom .300 Win Mag. That's my dedicated Elk rifle. If you are thinking of something different...the .35 Whelen (AI) and the .338-06 are gaining popularity out here in the west. Dang...ain't it fun to ponder on the possibilities..... :D
.300 win mag
Remington model 700 ADL in a 280; a very fine specimen of a rifle; hope to mule deer hunt someday..................rem
270 WSM
Only own two big game rifles. Weatherby 270 and Remington SPS 300 wsm. I figure there's nothing on the planet that I couldnt take down with at least one of them.
im partial to my .280. ive killed elk, lower 48 whitetails and 300 lb saskatchewan whitetails with it and it gets the job done. does it drop them in their tracks like a 300 mag would, NO, but that does not bother me, as most of my kills are with a bow anyway, so i don't mind watching them run off for a bit after a kill shot. that 100 yard tracking job is kinda fun anyway! also dig my .308, but i'd like to own a .25-06 for some reason after reading this thread.
Have used a 270 all my life. I now use a 7.62X39 CZUSA Mauser action carbine. Single set trigger. It is Great.
Quote from: Ruger M77 on November 10, 2011, 08:38:36 PM
I love my 308
From coyotes to elk, it will get the job done
270 win.
All around cartridge.... Has to be the old 30-06. It'll do anything you need it to.
.308 is the same bullet as 30-06 i had a 7 mm that i loved. it put them down. got stolen but i love my .308 and going to get another 7mm.
Quote from: Doubletap on February 26, 2012, 05:15:50 PM
Quote from: Ruger M77 on November 10, 2011, 08:38:36 PM
I love my 308
From coyotes to elk, it will get the job done
I love my 308 too. I killed a nice elk with mine in addtion to a bunch of white tails.
I've tried a bunch of different ones and always go back to a .270. Just a great all around caliber for the south GA deer I hunt.
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I have a .260 Remington and love it... my close seconds are 7mm-08 and .257 Roberts
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.308..... 300 mag......justa couple of my favorites..
Quote from: NWBama on February 25, 2012, 08:01:03 PM
Have used a 270 all my life. I now use a 7.62X39 CZUSA Mauser action carbine. Single set trigger. It is Great.
is that the cz527 carbine??? how are you with accuracy I heard horror stories on this
The old 7mm Mauser is a great cartridge, but you'll have a problem finding ammo for it (unless you do what we do and re-load for it). The 7mm08 is simply the modern version of the Mauser, and ammo is fairly easy to find. You can't go wrong with either one; they are both deadly on game and easy on the shoulder.
If I had just one caliber to hunt most anything in North America with...no doubt it would be 257 Weatherby. With the right bullet.....it does it all.
Been shooting a 7mm Rem Mag since 1999. Everyone in the family uses .30-06 and .270, so I had to be different, and louder!
universal 30-06 hands down.
just because it works .270 win (my pet round)
to be different 280 AI or 6.5-284.