King of deer calibers?

What are the criteria for being crowned "king"? I should have asked this first but I don't think it will change my answer from the 6.5 creedmore.

Do ammo availability count? (less important now thanks to the 'ol WWW)
What about ammo price?
Perceived recoil?
Model options from manufacturers?
Bullet selection?
SD and BC?
 
Because the .277 can do exactly what the 'King' .30-06 can do, generally with less recoil and flatter shooting, often with less wind drift as well, depending on bullet selection.
.270 is capable of launching higher BC/SD bullets at a higher velocity than the .30-06

The .30-06 is only slightly faster with equal weight bullets, but the larger diameter of the .308 will have a negative effect on sectional density and the bullet's ballistic coefficient.
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But then using that criteria, my 7MM Remington would be the King over the 270. Flatter, faster, less wind drift, and more powerful at longer range.
Again ain quote Jeff Cooper. "If you can't do it with a 30-06, then you probably can't do it with anything."
The 30-06/270 argument is eternal, and because in realistic measure there is really no difference in performance, it will continue. :D
 
Too much variation in the territory being hunted in and the size of the deer means no one cartridge/rifle combination is truly optimal for them all. But overkill is better than underkill and the .30-06 and .270 do most things well enough. Beyond that, it becomes a matter of specialization based on the individual's circumstances and tastes.
 
Ruger 480, the criteria for me is pretty simple. Lightest kicking cartridge .243 caliber or over that carries at leased 1.5X minimum energy (1,200fpe) to the maximum distance I would consider shooting deer sized game (500 yards) with HUNTING bullets, and carries at leased 308 level trajectory/drift to eliminate extra guess work, an extra point if it worked with a short bolt throw. Without a doubt that is the 6.5 Creedmoore though the 260 Rem would be within a hair of it's efficiency no doubt.
If you can find me a cartridge that tops the Creedmoore for those criteria please let me know about it. Or if you think their is some flaw in my logic with those criteria please tell me, been hunting for many years now but this old dog is not afraid of a new trick. I am not too worried about the availability of factory ammo because I have not hunted with factory fodder in many years and don't plan to ever again.
 
Too much variation in the territory being hunted in and the size of the deer means no one cartridge/rifle combination is truly optimal for them all.
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I don't necessarily agree. If you look at the 6.5 ballistics on Hornadys website, a 129 grain SST is generating 2100 ft lbs at 100 yds and 1200 ft lbs at 500 yards with only 39 inches of drop. I would call that optimal for deer in the north or the south. No?
 
Yeah if you cannot kill it with with 1,200fpe you need to learn to shoot, that is more then twice what a standard 357 Magnum has at the muzzle. After seeing what my 6.5x55 will do to deer and hogs I would comfortably hunt anything up to elk sized game with it, no whitetail stands a chance.
Last hog I shot with it was halfway gutted by the shot, chunks of the vitals blown out the 4" exit wound, if anyone thinks they needs more then that I think they are compensating for something :) Hunted with a 243 years ago but the 6.5mms are a whole different class of sissy kicker IMHO, though I have heard the same said of the .257s but I cannot say from personal experience seeing as I have never owned one :(
 
What deer?

A dandy whitetail rig will likely not be so good for western mulies.
You could make an argument for the .30-30 for deer in thick woods.
Western deer says that anything based off the .30/06 or .308 are good choices.
The .30/06 May even be a little too much for some. A 7mm-08 or even 6.5 X 55 swede is just as good and be easier to carry and shoot.
 
When it comes to declaring one great deer round as being better than another utilizing data, facts, ballistics etc. Is pointless and destroys a lot of the fun. Sort of comparing a punch from Ali to one from Tyson, you can debate it all you want but either one is more than sufficient for oral purposes. Besides arguing from sentiment is much more fun, i.e. I could never vote for the .270 as king because I don't like it. Why, simple I was a Remington guy growing up and the .270 had "Win" after it, so eventually I ended up with a variety of 7mm. (7-08 Rem, .280 Rem, 7mm Rem Mag). Good a reason as any. Besides we need a campfire, some Crown Royal and coke to make it a valid discussion. :)
 
But then using that criteria, my 7MM Remington would be the King over the 270. Flatter, faster, less wind drift, and more powerful at longer range.
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More recoil. More expensive, generally.

Also in a 22-24'' bbl the 7mm Rem mag doesn't develop much more speed or muzzle energy compared to .270 win with a stout load.

And since the bullet diameter is larger, you need a heavier bullet to match the SD of .277 bullets, in 7mm. A 140gr in .277 has a comparable SD to a 150gr in .284
From equal barrel lengths the rem mag will not be outpacing the .270 by much, if at all.
 
When it comes to declaring one great deer round as being better than another utilizing data, facts, ballistics etc. Is pointless and destroys a lot of the fun.
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To the contrary good sir. I love it when someone starts looking for the "holy grail" of this or that. I learn quite a bit when people make declarations, either true or false, about this cartridge or that one.

For instance...did you know the 270 is not completely worthless? I didn't until JD0x0 provided sufficient evidence to show that while not equal to 30-06, it would certainly get the job done in a wide range of situations!

While I don't think it fits the bill here, it's not a bad choice in other circumstances.
 
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In my book the 270 and 280 tread the ground in between the more ideal deer cartridges and the 30-06, their extra case volume provides ample propulsion for heavier 150gr and 160gr bullets which in my book is the entry level for larger then deer game. You can launch 156-160gr bullets in a 6.5mm, and they will kill a moose as has been proven many thousands of times before, but you are loosing alot of speed and you better be pretty darn close when you take your shot, like within 30-30 range.
The 7mm Ram Mag is a specialty long range cartridge only in my book, within real world hunting ranges it won't do anything a 30-06 won't do, you have to get out past 400 for the benefits to start to become apparent, because while the 7mm bullets have great BC the 30 cals are no slouch either. While their is something to be said for a long range hunting rifle those kinds of ranges are the rare exception and not the rule unless you live way out west. While the 7mm Rem Mag is a good performer at range my go to long range gun is a 270 WSM which I just like a lot better, more accurate then any of my 7mm Mags, lighter, more compact, and kicks a lot less.
 
Yeah, Panfisher, l'll grant you that your 280 is just as good as a 270. Until the day you have to buy ammo on some far flung hunt because your ammo got misdirected in transit. I generally prefer calibers with Winchester in their name. There is one Remington cartridge that I've always thought to be better, if you reload, than its Winchester counterpart, and that's the 6mm Remington vs 243 Winchester. Also, I liked your thoughts about the Crown Royal, though I would probably prefer rum. And yes, the campfire makes it all good.
 
I have no doubt that if the .280 had been introduced 30 years before the .270 instead of the other way around, the .270 would have been DOA.
 
I don't currently have one, but on sales and reputation alone, it's the .30-06.

We may all have our preferences and dislikes, but in sheer volume of cartridges bought, sold, and used for deer it's the -06.
 
Most 270s come with 22",
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Many of the entry level/lowest possible price point guns offered today do .....
The cartridge was designed for a gun with a 24" barrel. Just because bargain basement level gun makers want to meet a certain weight (for the sedentary cubicle denizens that dominate the marketplace) and price point ...... that don't make it pure and good and right.




The king of deer rifle cartridges? 270(for the)WIN!
 
.....if the 280 came 30 years before the 270.......

If only Kings were Aces,.......but they ain't!
I know,......Let's go ahead and let the 280 Remington be the King, alright?
 
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