best deer hunting cartridge

[deerhunter24]

Hi guys im looking to buy a new deer rifle and i thnk im going to go with either 308 or 7mm08 because i´m a smaller framed person. I´m open to any suggestions if anyone has a better caliber. i only shoot deer at less than 200 yards to I don´t need a a long range caliber. I can hadle 308 so anything less than that will be ok.

 

[BAKPAKR]

How about a 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor? Both recoil less than either of the cartridges you mentioned, and either would be fine on a deer well beyond 200 yards.

 

[deerhunter24]

How about a 243 or 6.5 Creedmoor? Both recoil less than either of the cartridges you mentioned, and either would be fine on a deer well beyond 200 yards.

Hi, thanks for the advice. i have a 243 but i need more power. as for the 6.5 creedmoor i will look more into that

 

[brockel]

Hi, thanks for the advice. i have a 243 but i need more power. as for the 6.5 creedmoor i will look more into that

What makes you think you need more power?

 

[deerhunter24]

What makes you think you need more power?

ive shot lots of deer with 243 but even with lung shots, i have lost a few deer into the scrub near my farm.

 

[brockel]

ive shot lots of deer with 243 but even with lung shots, i have lost a few deer into the scrub near my farm.

Which bullet are you using? You are going to see the same results from a 308 or 7mm-08. Deer is going to go on its 20-50 yard death run just the same

 

[BAKPAKR]

If a 243 is a no-go, try a 6.5 Creedmoor and 147 gr Hornady ELD-Ms. Then, to avoid a tracking job, shoot for the shoulder.

 

[deerhunter24]

Which bullet are you using? You are going to see the same results from a 308 or 7mm-08. Deer is going to go on its 20-50 yard death run just the same

i use winchester 95 grain ballistic silvertip ammo

 

[deerhunter24]

If a 243 is a no-go, try a 6.5 Creedmoor and 147 gr Hornady ELD-Ms. Then, to avoid a tracking job, shoot for the shoulder.

ok thaks. just wondering. what do you use for deer?

 

[brockel]

i youse my trusty rocks

Did @noharleyyet finally get a Harley and is now drunk from celebrating?

 

[BAKPAKR]

ok thaks. just wondering. what do you use for deer?

I have used a pretty wide variety of cartridges on whitetails, ranging from 223 to 338 Lapua. Deer aren’t hard to kill but they can still cover some ground despite devastating damage unless you hit the central nervous system or a shoulder.

 

[deerhunter24]

I have used a pretty wide variety of cartridges on whitetails, ranging from 223 to 338 Lapua. Deer aren’t hard to kill but they can still cover some ground despite devastating damage unless you hit the central nervous system or a shoulder.

nice. i sometimes use 223 but it is a little underkill in my opinion

 

[deerhunter24]

if i go with 6.5 creedmoor. do you have a good rifle suggestion?

 

[BAKPAKR]

if i go with 6.5 creedmoor. do you have a good rifle suggestion?

Mine is a Tikka. It is relatively lightweight and it’s accurate.

 

[deerhunter24]

Mine is a Tikka. It is relatively lightweight and it’s accurate.

i was thinking of getting a tikka

 

[fishing4sanity]

For a new deer rifle the 6.5 Creedmoor would be a good choice and there are lots of factory ammo options.

 

[D_Walt]

.308, 7-08, 6.5 cm, the deer won’t know the difference. You don’t need premium bullets for inside 200 yards either - hit the lungs and they die quickly. For what it’s worth I’ve killed piles of whitetails and been present for another hundred or more deer kills and if I’m deer hunting for myself (rare anymore) I usually take a .308.

 

[deerhunter24]

thanks guys. i reckon that i will get a 65 creedmoor because it seems absolutely perfect for me. go check out my other threads and awnser those as well as i would love to know other peoples opionions

 

[deerhunter24]

For a new deer rifle the 6.5 Creedmoor would be a good choice and there are lots of factory ammo options.

thanks mate

 

[Sheltowee]

Having shot a fair few whitetails with both the .308 and 6.5, anecdotally it seems like the .308 tends to fold them right there with a shot high behind the shoulder whereas the 6.5 allows for a bit more steam left in them. On the other hand, the only deer I've ever lost was a small doe that I centerpunched behind the shoulder with a .308 that slipped off into a swamp in a driving rainstorm.

Either way, Tikka would be an excellent choice.