The ultimate deer caliber ??????

[8x57]

7.62x63

Oh I don't know Brimfire I think I would go for .30-06 myself.

 

[jubnut]

What!!?? Even the really pointy ones????

Even them. Because they will be sideways on when they make contact. Don't worry though, if the deer hasn't spotted you and you can stalk backwards 100 paces, they should have stabilised by then so you'll be able to hit what you are pointing at.

Aren't ballistics fun!

 

[tømrer]

I use very much the 6,5x55 with Norma Oryx 156 gr. homemade loading. It works, here in Norway, from crow to "elg" (moose). Little recoil and enough power to all my hunting. I`ve other calibers too but I like the 6,5 best.

tømrer

 

[I. Farticus]

In New News, there's a container of Hornady ELD-X sat awaiting Customs clearance, so I'm dipping into that shortly for 143gr in the 6.5x55 and 178gr in the .308. They'll replace my 140gr and 165gr SSTs

 

[Vipa]

I use very much the 6,5x55 with Norma Oryx 156 gr. homemade loading. It works, here in Norway, from crow to "elg" (moose). Little recoil and enough power to all my hunting. I`ve other calibers too but I like the 6,5 best.

tømrer

I'm using 156gn factory vulkans and love them.. Will start loading my own at some point. What powder are you using with your oryx and what kind of velocy are you achieving?

 

[Hales Smut]

A bullet from 130 to 180 grains at a reasonable velocity, put in the vitals ( I like a high shoulder shot with a strong bullet) from whatever calibre, will kill deer in normal circumstances. Living up north a 270 would be my first choice. Living in the Thetford area a 30-06 might be better suited. Nothing wrong with a 7x64 or 7x57.

 

[Brimfire]

Oh I don't know Brimfire I think I would go for .30-06 myself.

That's a superlative calibre choice why didn't I think of that

I think it shoots far nicer than .308 and before the calibre police jump on it, I never said the -06 was more accurate!

 

[tømrer]

I only use Vithvouri N-160. It should be something between 41 gr - 46 gr. This with Federal 210 large rifle primers, in Norma or Lapua cases, give me in my gun about 750 m/s, measured with ProChrono.
You use this recipe on your own responsibility.

tømrer

 

[cjs66]

God shoots all his deer with a 308 Blaser R8, just the normal one mind you, not the sissy success, oh no! that's what Beelzebub uses, but thats in 22-250. He's very naughty!

cjs

 

[Greener Jim]

I don't know why this is still going on, post #18 had the correct answer

 

[monty]

Does it balls...

260 rem 140gr BC 0.585 at 2800fps
velocity at 600yds - 1941 fps
energy at 600yds - 1172 ft/lbs


300wm 180gr BC 0.4 at 3100fps
velocity at 600yds - 1612fps
energy at 600yds - 2008 ft/lbs (almost double the 260 rem!)


drop the weight of the 300wm and up the MV of the 6.5 and you get close but no cigar

6.5-284 140gr BC 0.585 at 2950fps
velocity at 600yds - 1362 fps
energy at 600yds - 2022 ft/lbs


300wm 150gr BC 0.415 at 3400fps
velocity at 600yds - 1444 fps
energy at 600yds - 2082 fps

the only way to skew the results in favour of the 6.5 are to use the extremes of the 6.5-284 and the heaviest slwoest 300wm

The real comparison is inside 400yds where most shots are likely to be taken
stupid comparison

These figures can't be right the second 6.5-284 is traveling 600fps slower and producing nearly double the energy.

 

[Greener Jim]

260 rem 140gr BC 0.585 at 2800fps
velocity at 600yds - 1927 fps
energy at 600yds - 1154ft/lbs


300wm 180gr BC 0.4 at 3100fps
velocity at 600yds - 1802 fps
energy at 600yds - 1298 ft/lbs


drop the weight of the 300wm and up the MV of the 6.5 and you get close but no cigar

6.5-284 140gr BC 0.585 at 2950fps
velocity at 600yds - 2048 fps
energy at 600yds - 1304 ft-lbs


300wm 150gr BC 0.415 at 3400fps
velocity at 600yds - 2061 fps
energy at 600yds - 1414 ft-lbs

I ran those numbers through my ballistic calculator and got completely different numbers, presented above. I would still take the 300 WM over a 6.5 IF I was hunting at that range (not something I ever want to do) simply as there is more to terminal affect than energy alone.

 

[turner.jc1]

Yeah Bewsher you've got those 6.5 numbers mixed up. Also why has a .30 180gr only got a BC of .400? A 180gr amax has a BC of .580… which would give 1875 ftl-bs @ 600yds.

Anyway, silly argument. 300 beats 6.5. Done.

 

[VIGILAIRE]

30.06 or 9.3x62 all taken care of.

 

[6pt-sika]

Has some good points - 140 gn bullet is probably more than sufficient for most deer. The fact that he claims that the 6.5 is more efficient and carries more energy at 6 to 700 yds than the 300 win mag is irrelevant to deerstalking.

Where the 300 Mags come into their own is on big deer and antelope in open areas and with 200 and 220 gn bullets, a big thumping load for large game up close. Craig Boddington in Safari Rifles does say he doesnt feel there is a huge amount of difference between 30-06 and 300 win mags in terms of killing power, just that the mags add another 50 or so yards to point blank range and make hitting targets at a longer range that bit easier. The trouble with most 300 win mags, when it comes to using them as big game rifles, is that many that I have seen are more stocked and set up as long range sniping / target type rifles rather than fast handling big game rifles.

Mind you by no means am I an advocate of the 300 MAG of any designation for deer although I have used several of them over the years . Anyway I have a very good friend that has a rather nice 700 BDL stainless in 300 Win Mag and he is a superb shot from the bench or in the field . He used said rifle two years ago and pole axed a buck with the Berger 155 VLD Hunting at a lasered 465 yards .

I am however a 6.5mm advocate and of course I have a 26 Nosler and have killed deer with it . I was contemplating building a 28 or 30 Nosler to take to Newfoundland for moose . I talked with the ballisticians at Berger and Nosler and both pretty much told me the same thing , 140 grainer in the ribs would do the job from my 26 or my 6.5-06 .

 

[tackb]

Yeah Bewsher you've got those 6.5 numbers mixed up. Also why has a .30 180gr only got a BC of .400? A 180gr amax has a BC of .580… which would give 1875 ftl-bs @ 600yds.

Anyway, silly argument. 300 beats 6.5. Done.

Not exactly my old China !

 

[Monkey Spanker]

Which caliber do you think is the best for all uk deer species from muntjac to big lowland reds ? Your thoughts please regards Benji

Having just read through 8 pages of what calibres people own, I would say that the only people that can really answer this question are those that have actually shot all 6 species including lowland reds?!
I have 3 calibres which are all very good 'all-rounders':

1. 25.06
2. .280 AI
3. 7x08mm

However, the only one of these which I've done all species and big reds with is the 25.06. If I could only have one rifle, it would be the 25.06.
MS

 

[Heym SR20]

Having just read through 8 pages of what calibres people own, I would say that the only people that can really answer this question are those that have actually shot all 6 species including lowland reds?!
I have 3 calibres which are all very good 'all-rounders':

1. 25.06
2. .280 AI
3. 7x08mm

However, the only one of these which I've done all species and big reds with is the 25.06. If I could only have one rifle, it would be the 25.06.
MS

A paper / desktop exercise would suggest the 280 would be a better all rounder, especially when big lowland stags are concerned. But would I be correct in thinking that your 25-06 is a rifle that you much prefer, have most confidence in etc. Rather proves the point that pretty much any deer legal cetrefire that you have confidence in is the best deer calibre.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

A paper / desktop exercise would suggest the 280 would be a better all rounder, especially when big lowland stags are concerned. But would I be correct in thinking that your 25-06 is a rifle that you much prefer, have most confidence in etc. Rather proves the point that pretty much any deer legal cetrefire that you have confidence in is the best deer calibre.

Ahh, but here is the crux of why it is such an empty discussion. You state that the .280 is better, but that is because it could pack more punch. If it just came down to that, them we may as well all carry a .300 Win Mag? My 25.06 actually has more stopping power than the .280 because of my choice of ammo for both. The 25.06 uses 115 gr Ballistic Tips, whereas the .280AI has a 140 gr Barnes TSX travelling at the same speed. I get a lot more runners with the .280.
So it's not just about calibre, it's as much about what you put through it. Individuals will all have different perception about what is best and for a variety of reasons. Some will want instant knock-down whilst others may prefer minimal meat damage and are happy to see deer run on and bleed out.
There is quite simply no answer to this as it is entirely subjective. Just use whatever calibre and load YOU are happy and confident with, that achieves the desired effects to suit YOUR requirements.
The deer won't notice for sure.
MS

 

[tackb]

a stalker I have great respect for recently shot a fallow at 80m with his 308 , unlike the countless previous ones this one run and he ended getting dogs to find it the next day , does this mean the 308 is unsuitable ? no

does it mean that bullet was unsuitable , no

does it mean he shot it badly , no

should he change gun/bullet , No (well maybe sell that god awful blaser contraption)

all it means is **** happens !

for my money having shot all six species in the uk including the big lowland reds the 308 is about spot on.