Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Your favorite deer caliber and rifle?

I'd take "Killer", my Kimber Hunter in 6.5 youknowwhat... 3X9 SWFA on deck.

Someday I'm going to wipe the deer virgin off of my Browning 1885 low wall .260 and shoot a buck with it! So far it's only killed two elk.... I'm scared to drag it through the bush -

This can change every year. This year 23/24 season re barreled Tikka chambered in 35 Remington by me will take front and center. Still have days that I'll carry Marlin 336 in 35 Remington.

Caliber is .308
Rifle is Weatherby Vanguard s2, at least until the Alabama deer season ends.

For sure that…

Last deer I killed was with a pre-64 .358 Win FWT.

One before that, 7-08, before that .257R, before that .308 Win, etc, etc.

All these deer ended up in the skinning shed, no complaints.

DF

Lately, I've been using a Howa 1500 Mini chambered in 375 SOCOM.
There are no real long shots on my place since it's only a 1/2 mile on a side and almost all timber.

Tony

If I was to pick one , probably be Valmet 12gauge over 30-06 , VX II 2-7 , shotgun shot fine and 06 barrel shot 180’s clover leafed .
Got my first bear with that gun and a slew of deer .
Unfortunately some dick weed stole it along with several other rifles some years ago .
Since then I have hunted with a variety of calibers and rifles .
1895 Marlin 45/70 is a sweet heart , 03A3 springfield with peeps , Ruger American compact 308 , Venture 30-06 what a hammer , Ruger Ranch 300 BO , Remington 700 LSS with a rebarrel in 243 will shoot 1/4” groups or less with 103 ELDX’s .
One I recently sold was a BAR 30-06 , that was a hammer too .
721 in 30/06 , loved that gun , John Brown built it for me with a Shilen match grade 06 barrel , son of a bitch would flat shoot , cold shots unreal . Then one day the extractor went pooy and even bought an extra one for it , but never trusted it again .
Sold it , hope the fellow realizes what he got .
Kenneth

MRC X2 in .260 Rem, 20" barrel, Nomad Ti suppressor, Zeiss HD5 2.0- 10 x 42

Shooting Barnes 120 gr. TTSX

The areas I hunt close to home are shotgun or muzzleloader only so they account for most of my deer. That being said when I head out of town my favorite deer rifle is a Winchester model 70 sporter in .270 Winchester topped with a Leupold VX 2 3x9x40. Definitely my favorite rifle to shoot and carry. Pet load is 57grains of RL-22 pushing a 130 interlock.

Pic is from this past seasons PA Public land buck

It still has to be my 30-06, a very lightweight custom built on an FN commercial action. It has a #2 Barrel, blind box mag, and is bedded in an old Acculite stock. Even the rings and bases have been sculpted to minimize weight. The stock has a textured paint job in speckeled gray and black. The metal was done in what was called Arctic Kote and has worn like iron. It’s wicked accurate with all of the 150 and 165 grain loads I’ve tried over IMR 4350. The rig has been rock solid since I bought it. And the Hornady ILs I prefer have been very effective.

.24 caliber

Model 700 BDL.

That says it all !!

Mine would be a Marlin 336 in 35 REM for hunting close in thick places and a 1935 Mexican Mauser custom in 7mmX57 when hunting an area where the shots might be a little longer.

I enjoyed the most deer hunting success with a classic Model 700 BDL chambered in 7mm Remington Magnum. Unfortunately I threw it off the top of the truck and it was never the same. Been in a funk ever since.

It depends but generally I use my PSA PA-10 Gen 3 in .308.

The weather where I hunt ranges from the 50s to the 20s during deer season, so I like using an AR with an adjustable stock.

Cartridge: 6.5CM. Good trajectory and plenty of punch for any deer and pretty much any angle/shot required with low recoil. Easy to shoot.
Rifle: Tikka T3X Superlite Stainless. What you get in terms of accuracy and weight (lack there of) is pretty pretty good.

Shot 30/06 class for a long time. Decided it was way over kill for deer. Did a search and ended up liking the 250 savage with 100 grain about anything the best.

Caliber, if it says Savage after it...
However, in today's world, I sincerely wish that new round was called the 6.5 Savage 300, not Creedmore.
Many years ago there was a 270 Savage, it was the first Creedmore. Then the 250ai, the better Creedmore.
For a rifle. I like a lever under my rifle. Just feels right.
Barring that, a classic, lefty bolt, anything not "modern" or tactical looking.

Model 70,

as to caliber, it doesn't take much to put down a deer. shot placement matters more than caliber.... however I do prefer either something in 6.5 mm or 6mm.....

Last couple of years tho, I've really been warming up to the 6.5 Grendal I have chambered in a Ruger Predator, with a 22 inch barrel.

easy to do as we age, isn't it? are we getting weaker or smarter? I think its getting smarter....