Best calibre for large deer?

[Frank]

Things here in Canada may be a little different than where you hunt, but I use a 25-06 for field hunting, and a 308win for bush with longer shots (200 yds) and a 30-30win in heavy bush (less than 100 yds) for deer.

The way we see it here (deer 75-300lbs, coyotes 30-75lbs):

222/223 varmint gun Hare, foxes, coyotes and wood chucks

243 absolute min for deer and as above

25-06, 257 Roberts best comprimise for deer and varmints in farm country, a little too much meat waste on close range deer but effective range to 350 yds with 100 gr slug

270 is much like the 25-06 but can be used on all big game ( I wouldn't take a 25-06 for Moose)

280, 7mm Rem mag, 30-06, 308 are the best big game choices here with the 30-06 being the most common. My prefernce is the shorter case length of the 308 (shorter bolt throw, and slightly lighter gun). Bullet weights would be 165gr for deer and smaller, 180-200 for moose.

7mm Rem mag kicks like a bear and wastes too much meat on deer for me.

So my choices are 25-06 with 100gr slug for deer and smaller if deer ranges are 100-300yds(preferably not less than 100), woodchucks to 500yds , and 308 for all game 0-200yds. But my fav is shooting deer less than 100yds with a 100yr old 30-30 win.

Many people I hunt with use 270's and 30-06 and they work very well.

Very intersting, thanks for that sir.

 

What about the 6.5 x 55, do you use that much over their?

Thanks.

[Frank]

Welcome by the way, i take it your based in Canada?

[Subsonic Flyer]

It’s interesting the perception many have of the .308. I shoot both .308 and .243 for Red, Roe and Fallow and the least amount of damage to the carcass comes from the .308. Having tried many bullet combinations for the .243 blood shot around the wound is often a problem. Even a perfect broadside shot just behind the shoulder will often result in the shoulder being left with massive haemorrhaging between the tissues making it unsightly. If you hit the shoulder it is usually completely ruined.

 

I have always put this down to the additional velocity and possibly that the reduced diameter of the .243 bullet means it is more prone to rapid and unpredictable expansion. The .308 produces a slightly larger exit wound, puts the animal down alot faster but rarely produces excessive meat damage. I have experimented with a variety of bullet heads looking for the perfect combination of knock down with limited carcass damage for the .243 and I am still looking.

 

The .308 has easily manageable recoil and offers the same energy at 200 yards as the .243 does at the muzzle. I enjoy both calibres but if you are regularly shooting Red's I would recommend something with a little more knock down power. Baring in mind that a big Red is considerably larger than most Fallow and can often weigh two or three times more. If you neck shoot there’s nothing in it but if you prefer the broadside shot expect the Red's to travel a fair distance with a .243 before they drop. Just my opinion.

SF

Edited April 19, 2006 by Subsonic Flyer

[Hunter Gatherer]

Its iteresting to see how much opinions vary on this topic,

So far (approx):

6.5X55 = 3

.270 = 3

.308 = 3

.25-06 = 1

.243 = 1

.257 = 1

7x57 = 0

 

Personally, from what i have heard i would go for the 6.5X55 as it seems to have good knock down power, little recoil and resonable meat damage aswell as being very accurate.

Although i would like to hear more about the 7x57 which i understand to be very popular for large game in europe?

 

Cheers

HG

[ghughes]

Thanks for the welcome, yep I'm a canuck.

Not many 6.5's of any kind here, but some americans use the 7x57 or rebarrel them to somthing like the 257. But with cheaper new actions and less surplus military stuff that is not as common. There seems to be some wildcat stuff these days and the short magnums were introduced a few years ago but I havn't tried any of those yet.

Try this forum if you want a better idea of what we're talking about over here

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/

Some of these guys are a little entusiastic but...

Rule of thumb I've always used was 750-1000 ft/lbs to kill a deer, and 2000 for moose at the animal.

I take it the energy you guy's use is at the muzzle?

Here is a link to our hunting regulations (Prov. of Ontario) i case your interested

http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html#hunting

 

Thanks,

 

Gary

[Gemini]

The law regarding muzzle energy in England and Wales is that the rifle must produce 1700 ftlbs of energy at the muzzle for deer (1750 ftlbs and a minimum 2400fps in Scotland).

G.M.

[Holland&Holland]

In the Netherlands and Germany i shoot only with a .308 (win).

For fox, roedeer and small wild boar (under 40 kilo's) i use Sako gamehead 123 grains soft point. Havn't lost a single animal (yet). Sometimes they take off but drop in 100 meters.

For larger wild boar and red deer i use Sako super hammerhead 180 grains soft point. Again, does the job fine.

Another plus for the sako ammunition is that it is pretty good value for money ! Not as expensive as Norma for example. Because of the flat trajectory of the .308 i can place a far shot if i have to in this flat country (no hills to hide after while stalking) :blink: .

 

bye

Ruud

[apbuild]

Holland&Holland,

 

I too use 123gr sake gameheads here in the U.K.

 

My Sako .308 rifle loves them and accuracy is excellent.

 

If I use 150gr the accuracy wavers a little.

 

Rob.

[Holland&Holland]

@apbuild; used the super hammerhead 180 grains in Scotland on the hinds and they all dropped fine. Gamekeeper told me to shoot them in the neck, so had to be accurate. But accuracy was good within the 180 meters i shot the deer (don't know how many yards that is sorry :*) ) Only missed one :blink: .

 

So i'm pretty pleased with the .308 in combination with the sako ammunition.

[Frank]

I find Sako ammo in my .223 very good too for foxes up to 200 yds.

[mry716]

Consider the WSSM cartridges for smaller deer eg 25WSSM and the WSM range for the larger spieces.

The 300WSM is great but I'm into the 325WSM at present and finding it super with 180 gr but it will shoot 150-220gr all at better velocities than almost anything else.

 

And no the recoil isnt a problem despite the Recoil Chart showing it to be twice that of a 308. I have a ported Pac Nor barrel and even with 220grn running at 2800fps it still feels like a 75gr 243. Almost light enogh to cut the stock back to the pistol grip and use it as a handgun !

[Magpie]

30-06 with 180GR Federals for all deer, can't beat it !!

[Popgun]

I'll stick with my .270

[pin]

30-06 with 180GR Federals for all deer, can't beat it !!

 

I'd hate to think what one of those would do to a Munty or a CWD

[njc110381]

I'd say the 6.5x55, but only because I have one. They're good for large and small Deer, so you only need to learn the ballistics and trajectory of one gun. That should keep things simple when your pumped up with adrenaline, giving less chance of error.

 

As for a TRG for stalking, you must be mad! They weigh a ton for a start, and there is no need for gnats nadger accuracy for Deer. Unless your a seriously hard bloke, it will nearly kill you getting one to the top of a Scottish hill and you'll be too knackered to shoot when you get there anyway

[Oly]

I have no problems with my .243, but if I had a dedicated red round it would be .270 The half dozen pro stalkers I know who shoot for meat mostly shoot with .308's and a couple with .270's. Meat damage is definately least with the .308 in my experience due to the heavier, but slower round. Like Stu P says 6.5's seem to be in vogue on here at the moment, but whether that'll last like the rest of the equipment that goes in and out of vogue on here is yet to be seen.

[njc110381]

I think the 6.5x55 is a very poorly recognised round here. My local shops all seem to have little idea about them, although they say more people are asking about them recently. Maybe they're becoming more popular in general? My love for the calibre is mainly due to a few members on here that I trust backing them strongly, two of which are moderators, and one my mentor. The other reason is because after reading for months about every calibre going, the 6.5x55 didn't have any bad reviews that I could find

[beatingisbest]

Anyone noticed the age of this thread or is it just me?

[moose]

I would say the swede all the way, ive had mine for just over a year now and just shot the 100th deer with it, 1 guy i know has also used it on kudo, moose and boar with great effect using 156g sako game heads, I mainly use 120g Norma BT through mine and have taken reds no problems,

 

moose

[Traztaz]

I use a remmy 700 in .308 for all my deer shooting , never had a problem with over efficient knock down power or meat damage.

[Oly]

Anyone noticed the age of this thread or is it just me?

Like Stu P says 6.5's seem to be in vogue on here at the moment, but whether that'll last like the rest of the equipment that goes in and out of vogue on here is yet to be seen.

 

Guess that answers my question then!!

Edited February 25, 2008 by Oly