Black tail deer caliber for 2024

Question….. what caliber and bullet will you be using for your black tail deer season

  • 270 wsm

    Votes: 3 2.5%
  • 6.5 PRC

    Votes: 18 14.9%
  • 30.06

    Votes: 9 7.4%
  • 280 rem

    Votes: 3 2.5%
  • 7mm

    Votes: 16 13.2%
  • 243

    Votes: 21 17.4%
  • 308

    Votes: 15 12.4%
  • 6.5x55

    Votes: 2 1.7%
  • Win 270

    Votes: 17 14.0%
  • 6.5 creed

    Votes: 39 32.2%

  • Total voters
    121

Jdavis77

FNG
Joined
Aug 28, 2024
Messages
23
Ace rifles is building me a new 22 creed. So this year I’ll be using my 338 federal. I love the short action 1-300 yard guns
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,471
Location
oregon coast
Yes I'm a baby! Only been hunting for a few years so I ain't got the breadth of experience many roksliders have.

The mighty-08 hasn't let me down yet in the seasons I've been able to connect with deers so far!

First few years I was shooting nosler partition bullets, haven't been able to find those easily since the pandemic other than the stash my old man left behind so I've switched to hornady vmax and SSTs for the time being. Got some hornady cx as well but I dunno if I'm gonna get serious about mono bullets unless I actually go to Cali or other places that ban lead projectiles.

Actually gonna be using slugs this season as I got an opportunity to hunt on one of the islands in WA where it's got firearm restrictions limiting to archery, muzzie or shotguns.

If you were stuck slug hunting would you go 12 or 20 gauge?
I would get a 20ga without question, I know that they kill elk well, and the reduction in recoil alone is worth it

I hate shooting slugs in general, but 20ga are not as punishing

Between the cost of good slugs and recoil, slug gun shooting doesn’t feel very recreational
 

limpet

FNG
Joined
May 9, 2017
Messages
68
Location
Humboldt Co, California
Actually gonna be using slugs this season as I got an opportunity to hunt on one of the islands in WA where it's got firearm restrictions limiting to archery, muzzie or shotguns.

If you were stuck slug hunting would you go 12 or 20 gauge?
I can attest to 20 gauge slugs being deadly on blacktails. My only solo double was with a 20 gauge pump. They were Barnes mono and were pretty effective. A lead slug would be even better.

E5FD2179-7D41-4644-AC91-017D5CF696E3.jpegEC09EC78-A6F5-4580-8914-C5BC01433048.jpeg
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,110
Location
Oregon
IMG_0005.jpegIMG_0006.jpeg20 gauge blacktails. First one was on the run and a finisher to his neck. About 75 yards. Second one at about 85. Shooting federal 3” truball slugs from a mossberg 500 and modified choke. I’m pretty sure I took these photos with a razor flip phone for a timeline of when they were taken.
 

screedler

FNG
Joined
Nov 5, 2020
Messages
8
For the 20ga wizards, what choke do you end up running?

Tried out my browning bps 20ga with some federal slugs this weekend and I think i was using the wrong choke for the best accuracy! Gotta bring all my choke tubes next time and do some better testing choke for choke to dial in what this specific shotty likes the most.

Got permission to hunt the island confirmed so my slug testing is on for real now!!
 

Taudisio

WKR
Joined
Jan 20, 2023
Messages
1,110
Location
Oregon
For the 20ga wizards, what choke do you end up running?

Tried out my browning bps 20ga with some federal slugs this weekend and I think i was using the wrong choke for the best accuracy! Gotta bring all my choke tubes next time and do some better testing choke for choke to dial in what this specific shotty likes the most.

Got permission to hunt the island confirmed so my slug testing is on for real now!!
The stock modified from mossberg. Shot 3” groups with the double bead at 100 yards. I killed deer with that setup from 75-156 yards.
 
Last edited:

screedler

FNG
Joined
Nov 5, 2020
Messages
8
The stock modified from mossberg modified. Shot 3” groups with the double bead at 100 yards. I killed deer with that setup from 75-156 yards.
I think my problem was I had my improved cylinder choke in my 20ga. D'oh!

Switched to modified, now to go back to the woods and re-test! Thank you for your suggestion. That's some impressive performance you've gotten🤠
 
Joined
Aug 23, 2014
Messages
5,471
Location
oregon coast
No love for the 25-06. But there will be at least one chasing blacktails come the end of the month
Until recently, I really wanted a 257wby as my “1 rifle” and then became a little more practical and decided the 25-06 was the one. I think quarter bores are awesome, always have

Now I will likely never own one, but I still like them and hope they don’t go the way of the dinosaur

If they keep expanding heavier 25 call options, I may have something built, I have always thought there was something cool about 25 cals
 

landis07

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Sep 12, 2018
Messages
106
Usually shot a Tikka .270wsm but did a build off a Tikka .300wsm this year so I shot this buck at 246 in the neck with nosler 180 accubonds
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3e346f933f3ecd8e283c6afd23ea80f8.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

BKM

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 5, 2024
Messages
116
6.5cm. With a 147eldm for me and my kids this year. I really wanted the 130 tmk to work out but the 147eldm is just so darn accurate I couldn’t do it.

It’s my first year with a 6.5cm, but n the past my 308 with a 165sst was a hammer on deer
 
Joined
Aug 19, 2023
Messages
11
7PRC 175gr eldx factory ammo.i picked one gun to hunt both roosevelts and blacktails with when i made my purchase last year. almost half inch groups at 100yds and a clean ethical kill on my first buck thus far
 
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