What is the minimum rifle you would use?

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In New Zealand professional hunters often use .222 or .223 on Sika Deer.
Those of us with more pedestrian talents would be better to regard the .243 (100gn) ,.257 Roberts or in close cover a .44 magnum or .30-30 as a minimum.
 
I live in the land of big mule deer so even if it were legal I would not use a .223 for anything bigger than coyotes.

I had a .243 for a few years, killed several decent mule deer with it, and kind of regret trading it off, I think that the .243 is a good round at the right ranges, using the right ammunition. I used 100 grain Nosler partitions only and wouldnt hesitate to use that combo again.
 
I use .30-06. And when some of my "big time" hunter friends with their fancy rifles make fun of my Mosin, I'll take them down with 7.62x54mm. Soft point of course.
 
I'll make no comment about other's ethics. My personal minimum for deer-sized game is .243 Win. That said, my go-to hunting rifle is a .308.
 
Everyone has their favorite and mines 30-06 but the 243 is the most perfect deer antilope rifle ever invented. ( in my opinion ) Here in nw Wyo alot of guys use them on 200 - 400 yd shots and I know several that use them on elk. ( closer range of course ) . Killing is 100% shot placement . 243 is all my wife and kids ( all daughters ) have ever used and its always 1 shot kills and the animal never goes more than 50 yds . Whats neater is they reload their own 95 gr sst's to hunt with . 2008 my youngest shot her first buck , a heavy 4 by 5 muley that weighed in at right at 300 lbs . I've told them to shoot for the neck for an instant drop because thats where I shoot them and she did . Because he was in the middle of a field we couldnt get any closer so she shot him at 300 yds . It went completly thru the neck and he never even twitched . He was down like a rock . It was one of the neatest shots I have ever seen .Needless to say those pics went all over the place with us .
 
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I am of the opinion that the .243 is the minimum. My two quickest kills on whitetail bucks were made with that cartridge. The .243 has now been religated to my coyote rifle and I hunt deer with one of my four 30-06's. when legal. (When in my home area it's shotguns, muzzleloaders, and stick and string). I think that I read too many outdoor magazines extolling the virtues of bigger cartridges for deer and I started to feel undergunned with the .243, and that is even after success with it. I can shoot the 30-06 just as accurate as the .243 so I like the extra insurance that I feel it gives me. Real or imagined.:)
 
I've killed deer with a lot of different calibers and after 48 years of hunting my minimum calibers are a .257 Roberts and for short range .30-30.
 
Legality is one thing. But with a semi automatic .22lr, and stingers, it would only take about 3 seconds for a decent shot to shred the vitals on any white tail - up to 70 yards. I know because i've seen it done several times.

IMO it would be a better option than buckshot, if the law isnt an issue.
 
i think .223 is a good round its what i killed my first deer with last season! it was a nice size doe :D if u shoot them in the right place(heart or head)it dosnt matter what caliber it is;)
 
Our whole deal, here, is for a clean, ethical kill. If your hunting package accomplishes this, all well and good--so long as you're legal.
 
I got two more does this weekend using my AR-15

55 grain soft points. Both shots were clean kills through the shoulder and exiting the other side. I am now four for four on whitetails with this bullet.
 
Deer...

Well, you did open up a can of worms. I live and hunt Far West Texas and New Mexico. I own a .223 in Weatherby, with a 3-9 Leupold scope. I would not hunt these "SandHill Mulies" with it. I have seen small Whitetail in East Texas, about 750 miles from my house, that you could possibly hunt with the .223. Some of them have really nice racks, but dress about 40lbs of meat.
Anyway, I just like to make shure of the kill. The smallest rifle in my deer arsenal is a Ruger M77 in .308, and the largest is a Ruger M77 in .300 Winchester Mag. If the deer are small i would still shoot them with a .308. Just my opinion. I like to kill them clean! :D
 
rr2241tx - probably well over half the deer killed in Texas every year are killed by .223 and mostly out of AR-15 style rifles
Click to expand...

LOL now that's a joke! I would LOVE to see your source of information on that.
 
Hunting with an AR15??? Maybe for Jack Rabbits! I personallly shoot a .300 WSM when deer hunting.
 
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.223 on deer

I started my boy age 11, on deer w/ a .223, mainly cause he was recoil sensitive, due to his size. We shot .22lr alot, from support and field positions, and I then introduced him to the .223. bolt rifle. I picked a .223 62 gr bonded bullet. I coached him regularly on my 3D archery target on where to hit'em.
(tight behind the shoulder) Our hunts were limited to shooting house /green fields, very controlled conditions, picking the right opportunity. He killed 2 deer w/ that little rifle, 110 lb does. On one we got full penetratoin, the other was caught by the hide on the off side. Range was under 100 yds, and he had support to shoot from, and me coaching in his ear. Both ran no farther than deer hit w/ bigger calibers.

He's moved on to something bigger now, but w/ that prep and conditions, it can be done.

Its important to choose a premium bullet like a Partition or something bonded.
 
Like I said prior for myself a .243 would be the min. Lets face it about everything has been taken with the .22lr, but do you really want to use that on a deer. Not me. Has said prior by many shot placement is key, or you leave them walk. That holds for whatever you are using caliber wise. I seen deer wounded with very big caliber rifles, and deer dropped with the small ones. There are way to many people that do not practice enough with what they are using. Take a few shots make sure it is on, and thats about it. You need the practice to be good, and that in turn makes you confident on your own skills. Has someone said bullet make is very important for what it is being used for. I reload, and my wife use's a .243. I would rather her be very good with that, then being worried about recoil from my 06. But that is the smallest I would go for deer with the correct bullet and load. I use a 100 grain Nosler Partition in hers, but there are a few other good ones out there. It holds together great, and expands just right. Last year her first year she shot at two, and got two. One buck double lung shot went about 30 yards, and fell her doe tag with a neck shot dropped right there. Before season mainly during the winter I load us up about 150 or so each. A month before season we go out about once a week shooting at differnt yards, and styles. Bench and free arm both. It is just fun to do, and you get very good. Of course I keep the riflles up on the cleaning. I am not saying everyone needs to shoot that much but alittle bit can go along ways. She knows her placement, and had let many walk because she new it was not a good shot to take. She can shoot my 06, but is much better with the .243 being not worried about the recoil. This is just me, and my thoughts on the matter. I hope you all get a nice big buck!
 
6.5 Swedish, if not that then a .308 or 30-06.I dont like tracking a wounded deer over hill and dale.You have to show the animal some respect,a 5.56 wont put down a human male reliably so why expect it to put down an adrenaline fueled deer.
 
223 is a very effective deer cartridge. For deer hunting recreationally, i wouldnt use anything less than a 22 hornet or 223. If i was starving, i'd have no problem with a 10/22.
 
Me personally i would use no less than a 243. I understand a 223 with proper bullets will do the job but i just cant trust a 223 for whitetail. Ive personnaly
witnessed critters of the two legged variety that took more then a few 5.56 to stop. granted that was fmj but it changes your mind on what a 62 grain projectile can do.
 
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