Smallest reliable caliber for whitetails?

W

White Rabbit

New member
What's the smallest reliable caliber for whitetails? I know you can take them with a .223 but it's not advisable. So just what is the smallest you'd care to use for whitetail deer?

Thanks,

WR

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--"We need guns... lots of guns."--
 
White rabbit, The smallest gun in my arsenal that I would trust would be my 7MM-08.I will leave the 22. 250 for the varmits. However for a proven fact my buddy went deer hunting with a model 700 22.250 and shot 2 deer with it. He advised that one deer went down like you had unplugged it and the other one only went a short distance.One was a head shot and the other a heart shot.Bullet placement was indeed the key factor.He was shooting reloads with a 52 GR BTHP bullet.I would venture to say that the bullet did its job.You always run the risk of a small bullet striking limbs and brush when using the small calibers.His hunting trip with the 22.250 was only an experiment.His favorite deer rifle is a Remington Pump in .270 caliber and that is what he uses these days. I have never shot a deer with the 7MM-08 but I have taken several with my 30.06.I know some people that swear by the .243, but if I was buying a smaller caliber smaller than 7MM-08 I would go for the 25.06 .My brother in law has taken several deer with his 25.06 and proved to me that it is an effective caliber.
 
Well, let's throw in all the usual stuff about shot placement, size of deer, and typical distances...

I've killed around 20 deer with a .243; smallish whitetails. Field dressed 120 or less, generally. Mostly shot inside of 150 yards. I'm a pretty fair offhand shot, and have killed a fair number of running deer--and never lost one.

For somebody who hasn't shot a lot of anything, who's just a few years into the program, I'm happier seeing a guy in my camp with something like a 7mm-08 or bigger. It's a bit better anchor for the occasional bad hit.

All this is just generalizing, which is all you can do. There just ain't any hard and fast rules. I've happily carried my '06 in the same country as for the deer mentioned above; probably killed some 20 or more with it.

Mainly, I guess, if you can regularly hit beer cans offhand at 100 yards, and you're happy with whatever 6mm or bigger that doesn't beat your shoulder to death, you're gonna have enough gun to kill deer.

FWIW, Art
 
It's the reliability of the shooter that's more important than the reliabilty of the cartridge. Also, whitetails differ depending where you are. In some places, a big one can scale upwards of 400 pounds elsewhere they are struggling to get over 200.

The answer for me is that I would not go afield for whitetails with anything less than a .243 with 90-100 grain bullets and always feel best with my .270 Winchester.
 
Any of the 6mm would be about the smallest I would use. The .243 Win also has very mild recoil out of a standard size bolt-action. The 6mm class is also very accurate as a whole. The only downside is range. You need to stay within 250 yds to get the most from the little bullets.

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Never do an enemy a minor injury. Machiavelli
"Stay alive with a 45"
 
I consider the 6mm's to be about the smallest caliber for deer-sized game. I've had reasonable luck with the 6mm Rem, and the .243 Win., but I am rather choosey about my shots when using something this small. I have had to let some nice animals walk because they were a little too far away for a clean kill.

I know folks who routinely take deer with the .222 Rem, but they limit the range to less than 100 yds and hunt from box blinds that afford a solid rest. Also, they always take a neck or head shot. Since I prefer more flexibility in my hunting, I prefer a larger caliber.

I've read a lot this year about bullet design and am convinced that it should be considered along with shot selection, range, and the shooter's comfort with the weapon's recoil when choosing the proper caliber. For example, the folks from the Texas Trophy Hunters Association have (re-)introduced the TTH .224. This .22 caliber round hums along at 3500fps and is reportedly deadly on even large (200 lb.+) game. It reportedly has a very mild recoil. You must shoot a bonded core bullet with this round, however, so that it doesn't desintegrate from the horrendous spin rate produced by the 1 in 8 barrel twist. Also, the proponents admit that shot placement must be good or you risk losing the animal.

So, I suppose the smallest caliber to hunt deer with depends on one's shooting skills, knowledge of equipment (including bullet performance) and willingness to let animals walk if there is any doubt about the shot.

Good luck with your choice.
 
I'll second what JBGood said. People hunt differently. Some will wait for just the right shot and pass on iffy shots. Some are happy to blast away at any deer almost within range. Very different requirements for the two styles.
 
IMO deer cartridges start at .243 Winchester and peak out around the .30-06. Opinions vary, but I think the 6.5x55 is about optimal for whitetail. Below .243 your looking at varmint rounds, cartridges above .30-06 are more suited for elk & caribou. -- Kernel
 
.243 would be the minimum for me. But there are a LOT of good whitetail calibers in that general vicinity:

.25-06, .260, 6.5x55

I would take the 6.5x55 out of that group. It'll do a number on game a LOT bigger than a whitetail, but it isn't so large than it will kick the crap out of you or damage a bunch of meat on a smallish animal.
 
Do not underestimate the .243.

My FIL hunts pretty regularly with a Browning 243. Last year I watched him shoot an 8-point with that 243 and a 70 grain bullet at 275 yards.

Dropped him like a wet stone.

CMOS

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NRA? Good. Now join the GOA!

The NRA is our shield, the GOA will be our sword.
 
.243 Win seems to kill all out of proportion for its size.

I've taken a few with it to 350 yds+ (all broadsides - wouldn't have taken a raking shot) & they died outright, hardly making ten feet. Great penetration (full to off-side skin) & this with "only" Hornady's 87 spire points.

The 6mm-class is the lightest I'd use for my type of hunting, but I can certainly see how the CF.22s could be very effective in specific instances & in the right hands.
 
Use what you have, but use it well. 405 winchester and .22 long rifle have dropped em with neck shots. Shoulder,lung n heart shot with 220 sierra out of 06 traveled nearly 75 yards.

Grew up meat huntin, wouldn't take a shot I wasn't 99.9 shure of. Was goin for a neck shot on the one that traveled, it launched as I fired. With a choice, I would go for .25 or larger.

Sam...Albertson's is cheaper now
 
I read in Ackley's book where a couple of hunters were taking wild burro's with a 17 caliber CF rifle what when it struck, they went down like they were unplugged. So the potential is there.

I'll throw in with the 250-3000. In it's original trim, it's still a step or two behind the 257 Rbts, but it's a really good performer all the same.

Can't say enough about shot placement though!
 
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