This Really Gets To Me .... Hunting Caliber Discussion.

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Try shooting that rabbit in the head next time and see what that little 22 will do and a 223 is more than enough gun and it would be my rifle of choice. I have never had a deer run off as I have never shot one other than in the head or in front of the shoulder and they both make them drop the head shot is just a instant kill
 
Personally I like overkill. My favorite whitetail rifle is a .450 Marlin, but this fall I intend to use a .250 Savage model 99, we all know its about shot placement more than anything.

My problem with the salesman the OP talked about isn't that he recommended a large caliber, it was that he recommended a caliber without asking a few questions like "What have you shot before?" "What distances will you likely be shooting where you hunt?" "Is it more open or is there alot of secondary growth?" and "Are you using it for anything else?"

Of course we are all assuming the salesman knew what he was talking about, maybe he blurted out the largest caliber he knew because he didn't know the "right" answer.
 
However, no one seems to use particularly old guns for hunting from what I can tell.
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I believe my screen name says it all. I don't just collect antique guns, I shoot and hunt with them. What is the sense of having a gun if you don't shoot it? Yes, guns are works of art, but guns were made to be shot. I have taken out numerous old guns, K98 8mm, 7mm Brazillian Mauser, 30-40 Krag carbine, .303Enfield to name a few. And that is just for deer.


It would be something to see a hunter using a .32-40 single-shot but that doesn't seem to happen.
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How about a Remington model 25 in 32-20? Come over to my neck of the woods, and you'll be amazed. No plastic stocks, camo stocks , or silver barrels. Wow could you believe it???

I think these new fangled magnum calibers are a bunch of crap. The hunters of the past didn't need them, so why should we? What about the famous Jorden Buck? It was taken with a 25-20. That buck must have been ashamed that it was killed with such a caliber. I think one of the reasons for these new shoulder cannons, is that people can't shoot like they use to. They will be happy to hit a deer any where, especially after the flinch they have developed. So i'll leave the magnum calibers to the "hunters" who sit in their little cozy heated shooting houses, or blinds what ever you call them, behind the fences of some deer farm, and shoot a mile in a wide open field, and half the time still miss even though they have a shooting rest. Heaven forbid that a hunter would get, wet or cold while hunting, that's just unheard of these days. Now don't get me wrong I 'm sure not everybody is like this.
Antique Shooter
 
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I use a 300 WM for deer and have been doing so for many years. I use it for everything and it has always worked just fine. I most cases contrary to popular belief it does not blow the animal in half or to bits as described in one post but kills quickly and efficiently. I do not find the recoil to severe, but those that can not handle it should not use it. I generally shoot around 100-200 rounds per month with the 300 so recoil is not an issue. If you think the 300 is not for you that is fine but your opinion has not bearing on what I chose to use and with that said a 300 wm will work for deer should anybody chose to use it.
 
implying that heavy hitting magnum rifles are needed for deer is ludicrous.
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Yes but there is an awful lot of calibers between a 223 and a 300 mag.


Try shooting that rabbit in the head next time and see what that little 22 will do
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If you think it is at all practical for the average to always take headshots then you have never seen average hunters shoot. Also, in this particular thread, we are talking about an inexperienced hunter/shooter. Add to that that unless you are shooting between the two glowing dots as they stare into a spotlight, that head is often moving around. Add in quite a bit of wind and about 200 yards and the odds get even worse. I have taken plenty of headshots on game but they aren't always a good option and I wouldn't want to limit myself with a cartridge that wasn't suitable for a heart lung shot.
 
Too answer my own question, my standard answer is "anything from a 243 on up will work just fine if you can do you part". If I were narrowing it down to one cartridge, it is the 270 Winchester.
 
The owner automatically says, "That's easy ... 300 WinMag!"
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The owner is a lot more concerned with selling a particular firearm than he is in answering questions.

This is why we should all do our own homework before making a big purchase instead of relying on someone else to look out for our best interests.
 
Plenty of deer have been killed with a 22 in the day time I promise you. And I am not by any means a great hunter or shooter I will settle for decent at both and it may just be me but unles you are hunting for food purposes why is everyone trying to snipe a deer from 600 yards out or so on, where is the sport in that? Bow hunting is some real stuff but I can understand people not wanting to do it. Personally if someone cannot seriously get a 223 rifle that shoots 1 moa or less and cannot make head shots on deer at 200 yards or good body shots in front of the shoulder then they need to spend alot more time at the range.


People need to get out of the food plots in there comfortable shooting houses with sniper rifles and go do some real hunting. I for one cannot stand to watch hunting shows on tv when they shoot deer inside of a fenced in area.

Back to the topic on hand, any rifle from 17 mach 2 through .50 bmg will kill a deer so pick one that you are comfortable with ( and of course that is legal ) and become proficient with it, know your limitations, build confidence with it and then once you are ready start hunting. If what you want to do is get you a 300 winmag and shoot a deer 50 yards away and once the smoke clears you see the thing almost plastered to the ground, that's cool I hope you have fun with that. However if some part of you deep down wants a challenge then don't even bother with a 223 because it drops deer grave yard dead as well, get a bow. :)
 
Since it is where this thread started, what would ya'll have recommended as an all around "deer cartridge" if you had been the shop owner?
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I would suggest any cartridge based on the '06 case loaded with 115gr or heavier bullets, but there are questions that should be asked before recommending anything:

Do you reload?
How sensative are you to recoil?
Which action do you like?
etc....

Mainly get to know the person alittle before making a suggestion
 
I think the anti-magnum religion that has swept the hobby is just in style. Sure, you can kill a deer with most anything, including a 300 Win mag. I find all the anti-magnum snobbery is becoming a little obnoxious.

If it takes you more than a group to figure out if the recoil is too much for you then you are not very bright.

Otherwise, hunt with what makes you happy and leave everybody else alone.
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In answering the op's question, this post from ZeroJunk is still the best response by far, imo.
 
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