calibers for deer hunting?

I would suggest the 30-30 because that is what Gus McCrae used I think.
And a friend of mine has an old 30-30 Winchester that is just as solid as it ever was. Of course I am probably the least experienced hunter on the board.
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I am a big fan of 30-30, but to be nitpicking about it, Gus McCrae would have never heard of a 30-30, had he actually existed. The 30-30 was one of the very first cartridges designed for smokeless powder and that was in the early 1890's, long after Lonesome Dove was supposedly set. In the 1860's, I would think that 44-40 black powder ammo was what most lever actions shot.
 
"...the 243 lost 2 deer with this cal rem bullets hit as good as can be..." Which Rem bullet? The .243 is loaded with varmint bullets too. Under 85 grains are usually varmint bullets. Varmint bullets are not suitable for deer sized game. If you used a light varmint bullet, it's no wonder you wasted the 2 deer.
Practicing with your hunting load is essential. There's no point shooting a .22 or .223 or milsurp if you don't also practice with your hunting load. Just sighting in is not enough.
 
ok, idk if some of you think I never shot before but, I own 3 guns! I own a .22 LR, 12 gauge, and 20 gauge. So yes I have a little experience. And am hunting in DE and PA. Private ground in PA. But some small game in DE where I live. Anyways, I dont make a lot of money and have decided to hold off on anymore guns for the time being. HOWEVER that Mosin Nagant looks well priced, and I found that they come in 30-06. Anyone know about them?
 
the mosin is a bolt action with a poor safety that will probably need some work done on the sights just to get it on target thats if you get one with a good barrel to begin with, but they are cheap and ammo is cheap, that is if its the standard 7.62 by 54r have never seen one in 30-06 and it would kind of defeat the purpose if it was available as the ammo would then be considerbly higher. alot may compare them to a 30-06 ballistic wise.
if you are seriously considering the mosin then you might as well look at the sks, saiga,many of the ak clones and probably the nicest of the bunch the ruger mini 30 that shoots 7.62 by 39 ammo is still very inexpensive to shoot as is often compared to the 30-30 ballistic wise but seeing how they are all semi autos you will probably shoot alot more versus a bolt action still they are alot better guns than the mosin in my opinion.
most other calibers are going to cost more to shoot but how much are you going to shoot a bolt action anyway a year, would just pick one you like and buy ammo as you need it if you like the 243 as in your original post i wouldnt let ammo cost stop you from buying it as mentioned by others you could always start reloading and save alot on the cost of ammo.
 
I think Knoxville was the first person to ask a verry good question before offering advice. A "cheap" round may not work depending on what it's intended use is. 30-30 is a great cartridge for Hunting in PA (wooded, brush) where I do because your average shot is under 75 yards. 30-06 is also verry popular & will down large game. Should consider the cost of the rifle also. I wouldn't use my 30-30 out west for long distance but would use my 300 win mag.
 
if ammo costs at the range are an issue i would go with either the .308 or the .30-06. Either round you can get relatively cheap surplus ammo at shows to use for plinking and practice. I get boxes of mil-sur for anywhere from 8-12 bucks at shows for my -06. I buy bullets in comparable grain weights to the rounds i use for hunting, so i can practice all summer long and do so cheaply, then the conversion to hunting rounds is smooth. when it comes time to sight in for hunting, use the good stuff to fine tune your scope, and go hunting.

I love my 336 30-30 for brushy wooded areas, or for when i'm still hunting. it's fast handling and points well for quick shots. for stand hunting i'm almost always with my 06.
 
actually I got a rifle today. A stevens model 300. It was used at $180.00 so I said why not? Anyways thanks for the help. I will be going out to do some practice with it. Never shot much beyond a .22lr.
 
I have a stevens 200. It is in the 308 caliber. It does not see much use. It is fairlly accurate. One of the bolt lugs does not engage. The cause of horizontal stringing it exhibits. Kind of a cool little rifle actually. You should be able to find one for around 300 new.


Go with the 308. Just way too many ammunition options. If you do it save your brass. Even if you never reload it it has some market value. I have seen guys trying to get 30 cents apiece for once fired commercial stuff. So if you knock five or six bucks off the price of the ammo... Learn the Berdan primed and the steel case. No value for those cases.
 
the 7.62x39 would have enough power, it would be similar to using a 30/30 but cheaper ammo. SKS's are cheap guns too, probably the best bargain for a deer gun aside from some mosins.
 
don`t choose cartridge/ammo only by price... it`s too expensive then... firstly think about animals u r going to hunt... then choose suitable cartridge .243 is nice cartrige, but I`d prefere something thicker.... since last year I am using 30/30 and I am satisfied absolutly... my advice - 7 mm and more and don`t economize.

Sorry for my english, but I am not native speaker... :)
 
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the 7.62x39 would have enough power, it would be similar to using a 30/30 but cheaper ammo. SKS's are cheap guns too, probably the best bargain for a deer gun aside from some mosins.
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Well 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R are cheap to shoot surplus ammunition but not any cheaper to shoot hunting ammunition than any other round out there. Most States it is illegal to use FMJ or non-expanding ammunition on anything larger than varmints. Most people don't practice with different ammuniton then change for hunting season as rarely the point of impact will be the same.

Over at Graf and Sons 7.62X39 runs $13-23 per 20 rounds for hunting ammunition and the 7.62X54R runs $16-27 per 20 rounds. So if you are going to practice with hunting ammunition then you are looking at the same costs and in reality using less accurate rifles. Not saying that either round isn't accurate but that the rifles mentioned using this ammunition in these post are not know for great accuracy as a whole.
 
Caliber for deer:

Just picked up two boxes of Remington Core-Lokt in .30-30 for only 18.50 each. Not too bad and is a great deer hunting round. If you stay with Remington Core-Lokts (in any caliber) they tend to be less costly than say Federal Premium, etc. Plus the Core-Lokt is a superb bullet for the price. As they say: "Deadliest Mushroom In The Woods"...
 
Just my opinion, but if I was on a limited budget I would definately go with a 243 just for the fact that it will cover such a wide range of tasks.

You get a long range, and of course a short range gun in the same package.

You get the most perfect deer and antelope gun with 90 - 100gr bullets and a most excellent varmint gun with 58gr bullets.

Anything will work at close range, but I've seen my teenage daughters drop deer instantly past 300yds with one shot from 243's. I'm sure 400 will not be a problem. If my daughters can do it maybe some of you can too!;)

The 308 is good too ,but lets face it. The 30 cals are a little big for varmints and I'm talking an all purpose "cheap" gun.

I agree with the anti-Winchester ammo guys. I know some like it ,but not me. I do like the brass tho.
 
[/Well 7.62X39 and 7.62X54R are cheap to shoot surplus ammunition but not any cheaper to shoot hunting ammunition than any other round out there. Most States it is illegal to use FMJ or non-expanding ammunition on anything larger than varmints. Most people don't practice with different ammuniton then change for hunting season as rarely the point of impact will be the same.

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actually you can buy soft points from wolf, brown bear, silver bear, etc for not much difference in price than fmj, but would agree if you go to your local walmart then it will cost just as much to buy a box as most other calibers.
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DOODLEBUGGER45 is correct. The cost of the ammo is the least you need to worry about. Once your sighted in and practice alittle each year thats about it. Of course the more you can practice the better. You need to figure out what caliber for what you want it for. The make you like. Then a bolt, single, auto, lever, pump, etc. Take your time and look and handle has many as you can. Maybe you have some freinds that will let you try theres. Good luck!
 
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