In your opinion what 3-5 rifle cartridges are best for Mule Deer?

[okie archer]

Thank you sir. Not as nice as yours though.

 

[streamerfish]

Anything between .223 on the low end, and.....maybe 6.5 creed on the high end I guess. However many options that is.

Personally. I would go with something like....

6mm GT
6mm Creed
.243 (love for the legacies)
25-06 (love for the legacies)
25 Creed

 

[StupidLightweight]

Years ago, I read an article by Layne Simpson (I believe) on the best bullets diameters for deer hunting. He interviewed a longtime outfitter in the Carolinas who was meticulous about recording data like bullets used and distance traveled of the deer his clients killed.

Over the decades and hundreds and hundreds of deer kills, his data concluded that the best bullet diameters for quick kills were the .257s followed by the .243s. After that, it jumped around to .30 and then 7mm and so forth. It was an interesting article that I wish I could find again, but it mirrors exactly what many open-minded hunters are rediscovering about lethality.

I've seen a good number of deer die, and I don't believe anything kills deer faster than a 6mm Creedmoor/.243 Win./6mm Remington or .250 Savage/.257 Roberts/.25-06 when distances are reasonable and fast-expanding bullets are used.

 

[Fisherman5000]

Check out the 41 Great Lakes

 

[J_Dahl]

I had a 6 GT built on a win 70 short action and I love it. Brux 1:8 at 22”. BC stock with factory BDL metal and Timney at 2.5. I’m at 851 recorded shots and 4 deer kills from 200-330yards. 2 with 95 sst, 1 with sierra game changer, 1 with 103 eldx. Works well, Ive shot almost 100 deer now with calibers from .224-.308. Something in .264-.284 and 140gr would be my over all choice.

 

[coyotekilla]

Id choose either a 260 / 6.5 cm / sweede / prc. Cause they are balistically very simular.

Or a 243, 6cm, 6rem

Or 257 bob, 25cm, 25 06, 257 wby

 

[J_Dahl]

Take all common calibers and bullet weights and find the average, you should come up with something around .277-.284, 130-140gr

 

[KenLee]

Years ago, I read an article by Layne Simpson (I believe) on the best bullets diameters for deer hunting. He interviewed a longtime outfitter in the Carolinas who was meticulous about recording data like bullets used and distance traveled of the deer his clients killed.

Over the decades and hundreds and hundreds of deer kills, his data concluded that the best bullet diameters for quick kills were the .257s followed by the .243s. After that, it jumped around to .30 and then 7mm and so forth. It was an interesting article that I wish I could find again, but it mirrors exactly what many open-minded hunters are rediscovering about lethality.

I've seen a good number of deer die, and I don't believe anything kills deer faster than a 6mm Creedmoor/.243 Win./6mm Remington or .250 Savage/.257 Roberts/.25-06 when distances are reasonable and fast-expanding bullets are used.

Dang I need to dig out my micro medallion Bob and give her some love. Sweet little rifle.

 

[RReuter]

I have used several over the years, but the ones that worked well for shots over 400 yards (hunting out west) are: 7PRC, 300PRC, 7WSM & 300 WM. All delivered instant knockdown power. Some other ones I have used for same distant shots were 6.5CM, 6PRC and did not have the knock down power and required 2 or 3 shot follow ups.

What bullet?

 

[azqcman]

What bullet?

For 7PRC- Hornday 175gr ELD-X
300PRC- Hendershots 200gr Acubond
7WSM- Choice 160gr Acubond
300WM- Nosler 180gr Accubond

 

[MountainMan83]

For me… 308, 308, and 308. Long time ago I decided I would go with one do it all rifle for all big game. I prefer light recoil, available ammo, and enough punch to take down moose so the 308 was it. The best rifle for you is the one you shoot accurately and can practice with frequently. Pair it with a good hunting round and I think you’ll be able to take down any big game including mule deer.

 

[Huntnpack 2]

My opinion on best for me would be one of the 3 listed below with my preferred bullet choice that provides the terminal performance required.
Utilized after extensive range practice afield.

22 CM
6 CM
25 CM

Suppressed of Course !

 

[flyfisher117]

243 Win pushing an 85 grain Nosler Partition. Finest mule deer combo I have ever seen. No need for the other 4.

 

[Whitefox82]

I’ll take any old FUD cartridge between a 260rem and 308win!

 

[6mm Remington]

243 Win pushing an 85 grain Nosler Partition. Finest mule deer combo I have ever seen. No need for the other 4.

Hard to beat a Partition!

 

[HGSNDGS]

For me it’s the 6.5 PRC , 7PRC, 300 win, 6.5 creed, 25-06 and also 6.8 western forgot to add the western

Go big. 7 REM Mag, .300 Wthby, and the .300 RUM. They killl on one end and wound on the other. LOL
And if you have an elk tag in your pocket for, “just in case” you’re good to go.

 

[TradLife406]

22 Creed, 6 UM.

 

[Brad1974]

My future mule deer rifle will be a 280 AI.
It takes the advantages of a 270 (but heavier), a 7mm-08 (but faster), and a 30-06 (but better BC's) and puts them all into one nearly perfect cartridge.
I currently have a 30-06 that I just can't get to shoot worth a darn... so I have only hunted mule deer with my bow. That's more rewarding anyway. I prefer to get close. That said, I have only had one mule deer tag ever... so, my advise is nearly meaningless... ha!

 

[Sanchez]

I use either an older Rem 700 in 270, or a Tikka 270 WSM. I use the 270 WSM the most because it doubles as an elk gun and groups a bit better.

For bullets I like something like a 140 gr accubond rather than one of the maxi fragment type bullets that will destroy a lot of meat at close range.

 

[RMSeezer]

There are many calibers that will perform well over .243 Win/6mm CM for mule deer in terms of just instant knockdown capability. I have learned through years of hunting in Colorado that wind is often the major factor in success rate. Choose your caliber according to the conditions you expect to shoot...

Last year I ranged a huge mule deer over 600 yards in the sag for a friend that made a great one shot kill with a 300 PRC off a tripod. We shoot NRL teams and are very confident in our rifles/ammo, and shoot 400-500 rounds a year practicing for these situations. I am not sure there are too many rifles I would have been comfortable with at that range and in those conditions, and with a smaller caliber he would not have taken the shot. I have taken some very large mule deer with a 6.5 PRC and 156 Berger out to 350 yards (none of which ever took a step after impact), but I can say 7mm and 30 caliber high BC bullets perform well in windy conditions.

Choose your caliber based on the conditions you expect to encounter. I have never felt I had "too much" gun to harvest a mule deer.