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

7-08 has been my favorite round for deer, and everything else, for nearly 40 years. A Kimber Montana, so chambered, has become my go-to rifle, thanks to Ted (Poconojack).

I do switch things up and enjoy my dad's and gramp's five diamond 760s, or my 70 Featherweights, 77RLs and Savage 99s. Other favorite deer chambers for these guns include 35 Rem, 300 and 250 Sav, 260 Rem and 257 Roberts.

On our little deer down here, I shoot them in the shoulders and let the dogs have em. I’ve used 223, 220 swift, 25-06, 270, 270 short mag, 7mm RM, 45/70, and 338 LM. I’ve killed a lot with most of them. Least favorite was 338 LM. Most favorite is anything over the 22 calibers up to the 7mm RM. I’ve killed a lot of deer and hogs with 22 caliber rifles and don’t have anything against them because the all worked for my application well, it’s because over longer ranges they lose a lot of azz. The larger rifles typically carry a bigger payload over longer distances. The 338 lapua looked like you drove a steel rod through the deer.

223 is H&R
220 Swift savage
25-06 Savage 110FP
270 Savage
270 short mag Savage
7mm RM Rem 700

Custom Rem. 700 7 X 57 and a Rem. 700 25-06 are prolly my 2 favorites.

The way most people hunt today about anything works. In the old days with still hunts and drives, it was a different story. Probably 80 of deer killed now are over baits or "food plots"! Easy, but kind of sad.

Not sad down here. Ag fields have good viability but everything else is just about shotgun range. If you don't put out bait or food plots here, you don't really hunt.

I sure would not want to hunt that way. Hunting over baits isn’t legal in SD at any rate.

I should add that I do realize some of this type of hunting is due to the conditions found in that state and it IS about the only way success can be hand. But it has spread over much country that never permitted this activity before, mostly under the guise of food plots.

What about Bear Hunting over baits in Wyoming? Is that OK?

25.06 I just like it. And it does the job nicely.

.223 with 75gr gold dots is about all I use these days.

Are you talking about the 270 Titus?

No favorites. Though a 6.5 creed or a 223 How are often the ones with us. As is always a Glock 20 and the 20 has taken who knows how many deer and pigs by now.

Instead of a favorite we try to use a different one on deer every season if possible. Even if its only a different barnes bullet in the same gun etc...

This years favorite toy was a 54 flintlock.

Next year is going to be a 44 Dragoon hopefully or a 380 acp.

For the past two seasons I’ve used a Kimber Montana in 6.5 Creedmoor, but looking back over 25 years of hunting I see that I’ve shot the most deer with my pre ‘64 Winchester model 70 Featherweight in .270. I used to get bored handloading for it since it shoots any reasonable bullet/powder into around 3/4 MOA. Took way too many years for me to figure out that that’s a good thing…

Have killed over 100 deer with my 257 Weatherby Vanguard. Know what it is capable of, which is more than I can do.

22 s are not legal for bear in Wyoming.

I seem to gravitate towards a .308 caliber.

Recent purchase is a .308 Mx. 336 marlin

Basically a 300 savage. With a hammer.

In civilized areas I prefer a heavier slower bullet.

45/70.

I bought a 45 colt 1894 to use this year

yup

For doe hunts that don't allow cf rifles I like my 220 Savage 20 gauge with a 3-9x40 Leupold on it.

For hunts that allow CF rifles:
Steep country - Kimber 84L Montana in .30-06 shortened to 22 In barrel, iron sights added, has a 2.5-8x36 Leupold for a scope.
Flatter country - M70 SS M70 CRF All Terrain FW, .30-06, iron sights added, 2.5-8x36 Leupold for scope

Winchester model 70 in McMillan fiberglass. Leupold VX6 2 X 12. 300 Win Mag. 130 gn TTSX

300 yards and in... Ruger Predator in 5.56//.223 With a can and Swar 2.5-15x56BT
300 yards out... Browning About II Medallion .270Win BOSS with the above also.