What caliber do you use for deer hunting?

[Nevernoluck2]

Most recently I was using a 30-30, last year was a 44 mag

 

[ISP 5353]

Interesting thread. Caliber choice depends on location and conditions. Wife uses her 350 Legend. I use a .308 for areas that have open area that extend the hunting range. In the tight woods, I use a 45-70 or 30-30. Variety is the spice of life!

 

[1SG USA Ret]

Air Force active duty 10 years, guard for the past 3 on the "O/dark side". I'm grateful for people like you. However back to your question: What does that make the Space Force? Why smarter than the average bear of course!

Knew that would get a rise out of someone. I still trust my life with those fly boys on Space A flights.

 

[1SG USA Ret]

Interesting thread. Caliber choice depends on location and conditions. Wife uses her 350 Legend. I use a .308 for areas that have open area that extend the hunting range. In the tight woods, I use a 45-70 or 30-30. Variety is the spice of life!

In heavy woods, I like the 35 Remington in my 50 year old Marlin lever action. 200 grain soft point!

 

[Tom Threetoes]

My 1964 Marlin Texan in .35 Remington shooting public land cases and 200gr. core locks.

 

[SmolderOutdoors]

30-06 with Norma 150gr

 

[two70]

IMO, the problem mentioned in the OP was not of too much bullet but too soft of a bullet which most Hornady bullets tend to be. I'd much rather lose both shoulders than the whole deer, however, it is easy enough to hold behind the shoulder and not lose much meat at all. Personally, I prefer mono-metal bullets, Barnes in particular, for any caliber .270 and under for deer size game. They are pretty much guaranteed to provide full penetration, significant terminal damage, and I don't have to worry about lead fragments in the meat.

I'm currently using a 6.5 PRC but have previously used a .260 Rem, a .270 WSM, and a .300 WSM.

 

[Hookeye]

The older I get the more I like the idea of a .250 Savage.
But proly cheaper to go w a 6.5 Grendel
Now a Ruger #1 in that would be cool.

 

[dak109]

6.8 SPC. Have taken several deer and a few coyotes with it. Deer die within sight of the shot. Longest deer taken was a huge doe at a tick under 300 yards.

 

[Basher]

I hear if you use a .22LR, there’s no season and no bag limit…

 

[Noble Sniper]

…

 

[laf]

.308 caliber. Could be in my silenced M1 Garand in .308 Win, 10" AR in 300 Blackout, or the boring bolt action TC Compass in .308 Win. But I like my .308 caliber collection

 

[KomboJoe]

I've been using 30-30 for a little while now, but I'm thinking of switching to 6.5 Grendel.

 

[TAB30-06]

I like to use my .30-06 on private land with 178 gr. ELD-Xs, and on state and public land ive got a Ruger scout in .450 bushmaster with 250gr. Winchester XPs. That ruger is quickly becoming my favorite hunting rifle! Both teeter on being to much medicine, but if you keep it behind the shoulder, and off the heart, the meat loss in minimal.

 

[model1994]

many variables but to maybe simplify things, anything you use which has an impact on game at/above 2900fps is probably going to create more waste meat. mmm red jelly.

 

[KomboJoe]

many variables but to maybe simplify things, anything you use which has an impact on game at/above 2900fps is probably going to create more waste meat. mmm red jelly.

Just grind it and it will taste the same. That's what my dad and I do. Besides you are supposed to shoot below the shoulder blade lol.

 

[Hookeye]

Kinda thinking I need a thumper.
.450 Bushmaster.
Wondering who makes a decent upper.
Not going cheap or boutique build, mid level is fine.

 

[bgcatty]

Winchester 94 in .30-30 for short range deer hunting and a .50 BMG Barret which is probably good out to 1000 yards or so for those longer over a cornfield shots. LOL.

 

[Hinkle]

.300 Savage for the last two seasons. Thinking of switching to .270 next year only cause I haven’t taken it hunting yet.

 

[Mgderf]

Kinda thinking I need a thumper.
.450 Bushmaster.
Wondering who makes a decent upper.
Not going cheap or boutique build, mid level is fine.

So far, I've been satisfied with mine from BCA.
I know they're thought of as bottom teir.
To each their own.

To answer the o.p., let's see.
I've used the following,

.357mag
.44special
.44mag
.45Colt
.454 Casull
.30-30
.35Remington
.350Legend
.45-70gvt
.450 Bushmaster
6.5Grendel
.243Winchester
.30-06Springfield
12ga
20ga
.410bore