Written by Randy Newberg
We asked our audience to name their favorite deer cartridge and nearly 700 responses poured in. The results were fascinating. From the classic .30-30 to modern 6.5 Creedmor, preferences varied widely, but a clear hierarchy emerged. As someone who’s hunted deer for over five decades—from the thick woods of Minnesota to the open West—I’ve seen cartridge trends come and go. Here’s how my own journey reflects the broader debate, along with the community’s top picks.
My Cartridge Evolution: From Open Sights to Precision Rifles
Growing up in northern Minnesota, iron sights ruled the woods. My first deer fell to my grandfather’s Remington Model 14 in .30 Remington—a relic today, but a trusty killer in its time. Later, I upgraded to a Marlin 336 in .30-30, a staple for generations (though only 1% of our survey respondents still hunt with it).
When I moved West, I embraced bolt actions—first a .270 Winchester, the legendary “Jack O’Connor special.” Its versatility (from 130-grain antelope loads to 150-grain deer-and-elk thumpers) made it a lifelong favorite. Then came flirtations with bigger rounds like the .300 Win Mag (overkill for deer, as most hunters agreed) before settling into today’s sweet spot: the 7mm-08 Remington and .308 Winchester.
Now, I dabble in modern cartridges like the 6.5 PRC and 6.5 Creedmor, though my heart (and freezer) remain loyal to the classics.
The Community’s Top 10 Deer Cartridges
After tallying votes, here’s how the rankings shook out—with a few surprises:
- .270 Winchester (20% of votes)
- Why it wins: Flat trajectory, moderate recoil, and O’Connor’s legacy. Perfect for 130–150-grain bullets.
- .30-06 Springfield
- The “do-everything” round, edging out its .308 sibling by a hair.
- .308 Winchester
- Short-action efficiency with proven terminal performance.
- 7mm-08 Remington
- A sleeper hit: mild recoil, superb ballistics, and ideal for compact rifles.
- 7mm Remington Mag
- Overkill for some, but unmatched for long-range confidence.
- 6.5 Creedmoor
- The new kid, praised for low recoil and precision (though few voters had taken more than 5 deer with it).
- .25-06 Remington
- Speed and light recoil for open-country hunting.
- 6.5 PRC
- Bridging the gap between 6.5 CM and magnums.
- .257 Roberts
- A nostalgic choice for light-recoil traditionalists.
- .243 Winchester
- Minimalist pick for recoil-sensitive hunters.
The Takeaway:
The survey revealed a generational divide:
- Graybeards (like me) lean on .270s, .30-06s, and .308s.
- New-school hunters embrace 6.5mm cartridges, valuing shoot-ability over tradition.
But the biggest shock from this survey was the near absence of .300 Win Mag and WSM cartridges—proof that deer hunters prefer “enough” over “excess.”
All in all, the real take way from this editorial should be, the best deer cartridge is the one you shoot accurately and often.
Happy hunting,
Randy Newberg
P.S. For elk hunters, check out the Elk Cartridge video below
