What's your favorite caliber?

Favorite caliber?


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While historically a 12 ga slug has put the most meat in my freezer for most my life (shotgun zone MI). I would have to say that my favorite rifle cartridge for deer is either the .308 or 30-06. Something about hunting with .30 cal, military based cartridges just appeals to me and is about as American as apple pie.
 

Rich M

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@OXN939

158 gr xtp fp over lil gun

fury 158 is a pointed bullet, same load, 200 yds plus shooting w 357 mag

.355 165 ftx w same load another 200 yds plus bullet

I tried the all coppers and preferred the xtp fp
 

Justin51

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Nov 1, 2021
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6.5 Creed/6.5's . It`s sufficient for deer , and I have an old shoulder injury that limits how much recoil I can take .
 

mitchellmountain

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Feb 20, 2020
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What is your preferred caliber for whitetail? I know there's alot of good ones, just curious!
List the exact cartridge and load if you want!

I like 270 with 140gr hornady btsp
My go to a is 358win for east of the mississippi, out west is a 6.5x284win. Trying out a 9.3x57 this year that is nearly the ballistic twin of the 358.15DC2D78-216A-4D79-B4A5-A30745EB472B.jpeg
 
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eddiewiggles

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May 20, 2020
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25-06 for me. I grew up playing with my Dads 700 in that caliber thinking it was magical…turns out it actually is. Built one off of a Tikka and put a brake on it cause I haven’t got a suppressor yet. If someone shot it blindfolded they would swear it was a 22 mag. 100gr Noslers at 3380 FPS or 117 SST’s at 3150. Both loads hit like Thor’s hammer, I just like changing between the pretty colored tips


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(I don't agree with everything here but some of the points are good)

I love 30-06, even though its a bit overkill for whitetails. I love the versatility and have taken it on moose, caribou, elk and whitetail hunts (Killed whitetail and caribou easily). The ballistics are great, as denoted in the video linked.
 

TSnave

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Montana
For deer, I mainly use a 6mm Remington throwing 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Works just dandy on Montana mule deer and antelope; I haven't actually taken a whitetail with it yet.
 

Yard Candy

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30-30
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I just had a 25-06 built to use as my deer rifle. I like it a lot so far but that is limited to range use to be honest. I haven't shot a deer with it yet because i haven't had it very long. I plan to change that this year. Now that I have all of the reloading components I plan to load it up with either berger or hammer bullets.
What twist barrel and what action did you go with?
 

cburgin72

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What twist barrel and what action did you go with?

I went with a 1-9” twist. I went with a Remington 700 and had it blueprinted/trued up. I was going for a little more budget friendly but in the end I could have gotten something like a bighorn origins action and not had any work done on it for close to the same price. I’m happy with what I got though. If I was starting the build right now (build was about 2 yrs ago) I’d go with a different action. Maybe tikka or one of the rem 700 clones like the one listed above. That’s just because of the status of Remington as a company these days. Sorry, a little long winded there.


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Joined
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I went with a 1-9” twist. I went with a Remington 700 and had it blueprinted/trued up. I was going for a little more budget friendly but in the end I could have gotten something like a bighorn origins action and not had any work done on it for close to the same price. I’m happy with what I got though. If I was starting the build right now (build was about 2 yrs ago) I’d go with a different action. Maybe tikka or one of the rem 700 clones like the one listed above. That’s just because of the status of Remington as a company these days. Sorry, a little long winded there.


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Gotcha the rem 700 was a good choice. The tikka would have definitely gave you some loading restrictions. I’m sure it’s a shooter!
 

Yardvark

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Jul 29, 2021
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I transitioned from using .30-06, mostly with cup and core to now shooting a 6.5 CM Tikka T3X. After shoulder surgery, it just got tougher tolerating the recoil. My rifle really likes the 120 Barnes TTSX, so that is what I am shooting for now.
 

Brizzle

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Sep 24, 2020
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35 Remington, I take it out once a year during the rut. My grandfather gave me my Marlin when I was 13, I try to take it out every season at least once… even 23 years later. Usually only take the bow otherwise. Plus who doesn’t like a lever action?
 

Rock-o

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Aug 15, 2019
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My favorite is 30 caliber, specifically a 308 Win. Maybe because that's the most suitable rifle and cartridge combo I have for Whitetail.
 

Zappaman

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260ai (6.5 Creedmore on steroids) with a 130 TSX and RL23 (or RL26 powder for 140g loads).

The 130s are speed demons that work out as far as I need to shoot a deer (or sheep). Great mountain (long-range) gun with the 27" Apache barrel (which will put the 140g. bullets way further OUT there if needed).

This Savage Axis II rebuild meets any 270 (ballistics wise), but in a short action; the whole rig (lightweight maple stock, 12 oz. scope) weighs in at about 7.5 lbs. Very lightweight rig for hauling around the mountain, miles a day ;)
 
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