What's your favorite caliber?

[Ophidian]

I’ve taken whitetail with the following:
223
6.5x55
7mm-08, 7RM
30-06
45-70
44mag (revolver)

The best performance in terms of quick clean kills irrespective of quality of shot and location was the 7mm-08 with 120gr TTSX factory ammo.

I have since sold the 7mm-08 and will be using a Havak element in 6.5 Creed this year with whatever copper factory ammo shoots best in my testing.

 

[9.1]

I've killed one whitetail with a .277 bullet, but most with .358s in different weights out of multiple cartridges. The .358 is my favorite diameter because "what's life without whimsy?" Really every rifle caliber from .223 to .510 is exactly the same. They all kill. Dead is dead. Lots of threads on that.

 

[Rufus]

I've killed one whitetail with a .277 bullet, but most with .358s in different weights out of multiple cartridges. The .358 is my favorite diameter because "what's life without whimsy?" Really every rifle caliber from .223 to .510 is exactly the same. They all kill. Dead is dead. Lots of threads on that.

Very well said. Thanks. -Rufus

 

[AdamW724]

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

But ain't many troubles that a man can’t fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six

 

[6mm Remington]

Deer only:
6mm Remington - 100 gr. Nosler Partition - 43.4 grs. of IMR4350 - 3170 fps. - Ruger #1B

Most Critters:
280AI -140 gr. Nosler Accubond or Partition -64.5 grs. of IMR7828SSC - 3186 fps - Winchester Model 70 (custom build)

30-06 - 165 gr. Nosler Accubond or Partition -57.4 grs. of IMR4350 - 2940 fps - Ruger 1B

 

[dlars97]

7mm caliber rifles are a favorite of mine

 

[buffybr]

I shot my first deer back in 1965 with a borrowed Win 94 in .32 Special.

A couple of years later I built my first centerfire rifle, a Herter's Model U-9 in .30-06. That was my only deer, elk, and pronghorn antelope rifle until 1977 when I had it rechambered to .30 Gibbs for my elk rifle.

I then bought a Mauser Mark X barreled action that I had rechambered to .257 Ackley Improved, and I put it into a Fajen Fancy walnut stock. That has been my favorite deer, antelope, and sheep rifle ever since.

 

[AdamW724]

But ain't many troubles that a man can’t fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six

But ain't many troubles that a man can’t fix with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six

30-06. Staball and 180 grain hornady interlocks.

 

[VaMtnHunter]

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

Marlin lever action 30/30 and an old Tasco world class scope. I have many "better" guns I could use but the ol' Marlin was my dad's and killing deer with it makes me feel like I'm 14 again.

 

[MikeDeltaFoxtrot]

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

I switch it up based on the hunting situation and what I feel like shooting, but I have killed more whitetails with 300 Win Mag than anything else. 50 cal muzzle loader is easily second, and 7mm Wby Mag after that. I am big believer in using enough gun. I have more than 40 under my belt, and I can't remember the last time one took more than a single step.

 

[Kevin in NH]

30.06 165 and 180 round nose. Drops them really good!

 

[The_Whitetail_Kid]

Much as I hated to jump on board with the PRC’s at first, I’m really liking the 6.5 PRC caliber. So far have shot deer with it, hogs, aoudad. Has worked well on all of them.

 

[tulsaburnside]

I currently use a .308, but my favorite is the .257 Roberts. I have a .25-06 Ackley Improved that is a tackdriver for those times I hunted our OK prairies. But that Roberts is such a sweet little caliber, and always does the job if I do mine. Of course, that's to be said of any caliber if we do our job.

 

[mattot]

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

Happy with 140 gr ballistic tips in 7mm-08

 

[Mtns2hunt]

I rotate back and forth between a 30-06 and a 7mm Mag. 30-06 I like when shots are generally under 250 yards. 7mm when longer shots may present. (whitetail) Mule deer I prefer a 257 Weatherby mag.

 

[Ringbill27]

7.62x39, 123gr TSX Barnes

 

[Huntchic]

Depends on what I’m hunting or doing. But deer wise medium to larger game I’m 30-06.

 

[Dhilton96]

I love my 7mm-08 with a 139grn hornady interlock

 

[rcb2000]

You didn't list .223

It’s actually illegal in Virginia, has to be over .23
I’d imagine there are other states with similar regs.

 

[rcb2000]

My .308 loves Federal Sierra matchkings, and the deer I’ve shot with them all died quickly.