I'm currently having a debate with someone about the smallest ethical deer caliber. My personal opinion is the .243. I know many say the .223 will kill deer,and it will. I just pick the .243. There's really no point in this post other than to garner opinions and/or first person experience. Thanks for looking
Smallest caliber for deer
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creatineboy
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My 7 year old Grandson shot a buck and a doe with a .223 last season. Both went about 50 yards, shot broadside through both lungs. That said, I’m not a fan of the caliber. But it works if you get good broadside shots at reasonable distances. I think he’s using a 6.5 Creed this season.
A .243 works well for deer, real popular with kids, but I’d prefer to give them a 7mm-08.
Folks will say overkill, but I’m a fan of .300 WSM and .300 WM. I could kill lots of deer with a .308, but I’ve become a magnum fan. Long distance shots aren’t a problem, very little bullet drop, and you never run out of horsepower. Nor are frontal and quartering to you shots an issue. Seldom does a deer go more than a few yards, many buckle in their tracks. I’ve killed 16 bull moose with those two calibers, never had to track any of them…I saw them all drop.
A .243 works well for deer, real popular with kids, but I’d prefer to give them a 7mm-08.
Folks will say overkill, but I’m a fan of .300 WSM and .300 WM. I could kill lots of deer with a .308, but I’ve become a magnum fan. Long distance shots aren’t a problem, very little bullet drop, and you never run out of horsepower. Nor are frontal and quartering to you shots an issue. Seldom does a deer go more than a few yards, many buckle in their tracks. I’ve killed 16 bull moose with those two calibers, never had to track any of them…I saw them all drop.
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511 Posts
The only reason I hunted deer with 22-250AI was because I never shot a deer with a 22 caliber. I did it, woo hoo(sarcastically) and it didn't impress me. I like soft cast boolits, from .311" all the way up to .512" diameter. Well, the .512" boolit is "hard" cast, about 22BHN from Montana Bullet Works. That one will drill a 1/2" hole in ya!!! 😂😂😂
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9,969 Posts
It's all the bullet.
There are wayyy better choices than a SP.
I've never had an issue.
Have been using the .223 for quite a few years now.
There are wayyy better choices than a SP.
I've never had an issue.
Have been using the .223 for quite a few years now.
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6,544 Posts
Wouldn’t be scared to use a 22arc pushing a 75gr Hornady to put some jerky on the racks..Shot plenty Clarion county deer with my Win 70 sporter 25-06 with factory 90gr PEP ammo devastating results!!!!
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1,078 Posts
50 bmg or larger
Another thing to take into account is the type of hunting. If you are stump hunting unpressured deer then pretty much any centerfire will work with the right bullets provided you choose your shot carefully.
When it comes to drives and longer range shots then the larger cartridges start to have more advantages due to better penetration and more retained velocity and mass at range. Right now my smallest is 6.5 but I may give the .22 or 6mm a shot in the future.
As for the smallest cartridge I use that would be the .45 colt in my 1873, since I’m limited by pressure that’s shooting a 250gr bullet at around 1050 fps. Haven’t killed one with it yet and the only deer I shot with it bounced off.
When it comes to drives and longer range shots then the larger cartridges start to have more advantages due to better penetration and more retained velocity and mass at range. Right now my smallest is 6.5 but I may give the .22 or 6mm a shot in the future.
As for the smallest cartridge I use that would be the .45 colt in my 1873, since I’m limited by pressure that’s shooting a 250gr bullet at around 1050 fps. Haven’t killed one with it yet and the only deer I shot with it bounced off.
I have tons of experience with a .243….love the caliber. I’ve had a .300 wsm since they came out. I really think that it’s very hard to beat that caliber!!! I really think it is the best .30 caliber out there. Short action cannon…..flat shooting hard hitting . I have a Browning abolt that is lights out. With all the doe tags now a days I get it out for a few trips.
What bullet do you use?
The current trend using a “light” caliber is to use a heavy for caliber bullet that expands very quickly ex: the TMK or ELDM. That link to the Rokslide forum will make you question everything. I believe there is a couple podcasts in there that are also very intriguing.
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Cutting Edge ER Raptors
Phenomenal performance.
Phenomenal performance.
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I use the 77gr TMK. Very destructive.
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I shot a doe last year with a 223 and I've killed a couple doe in the last 10 years with the 243. And I don't take head shots either
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276 Posts
no need for head shots, if you hit the right spot that deer will drop where it's standing, I shot the scapula once on a doe with the 243, she dropped instantly
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107 Posts
Hunted with a Remington VTR .223 shooting Hornady TAP 55grains and killed multiple deer every year with that gun for 9 years...probably 40+ deer....2 nice buck.....never had one bolt past 60 yds, and never wounded one. I guess I should bring her out of retirement.
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20 Posts
I also like the .243, but it comes down to comfort
21 - 40 of 223 Posts
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