What do you use for deer?

[Muznz]

243 , 308 and 270 ive used 260rem soon to i hope

[sell33]

12 gauge slug gun no fun at all

Much rather use the muzzleloader which i do a lot of the time

[turner]

Originally Posted by sbowers5

Yes turner i will concede that the 275 rigby and the 7x57 are exactly the same and what a great little round it is, to bad it does not get the respect that it deserves. JUst my opinion.
steve

7x57 is one of my favorites as well...in a Ruger #1. What type rifle is your Rigby, if I may be nosey?

[tamalpias]

when I finally get drawn for deer i'd love to use my 308 on it. Until then it gets taken out once a year to the range for practice. 150 grain partition bullets is what i have reloaded for the special occasion.

[Brother Bob]

Originally Posted by turner

7x57 is one of my favorites as well...in a Ruger #1. What type rifle is your Rigby, if I may be nosey?

Talking about a couple calibers that get no respect, try the 6.5X55 Swede and the .260 Remington. Low recoil and about as close to perfect for deer as one can get.

[turner]

Originally Posted by .280Rem

Over the years I have use the .243 which did fine, and took deer out to 300yds with it. I've killed deer with a 7mmRM, 300WinMag, 30-06, 338WM, and .280Rem. The .280 is my 1st choice. 30-06 probably second. No "magnum" is needed for deer, but if you want to use one, have a ball...lots of ways to "get er done". I plan on next year seeing if I can take one with the 35 Whelen.

I've used the Whelen for several years and although some bemoan it's size and (supposed) recoil, I find it to be an absolute hammer on deer sized game. Admittedly no match for the .280's trajectory numbers, but on ranges to 250yds or so, it's likely meaningless. If you try it, I think you'll love the performance. Personally I don't see the recoil to be any more noticeable than an '06 with stout 180gr loads. I'd think it just about the perfect rifle (along with it's clone, the .350RM) for a combo deer/elk hunt with quality 200 or 225gr loadings. My 2 cents, likely worth less.....lol.

[vikingpreacher]

I currently can't use a centerfire for deer here in Iowa but for now I use a Knight .50 cal. muzzleloader, the recoil is about the same as a 30-06. I plan to purchase a 25-06 and use it for deer in Nebraska sometime(I'm about an hour away from Nebraska).

[ArkansasHunter]

280Rem I would like to hear about your hunting experience with the 35 Whelen and I would almost bet it will be your gun of choice . All the time.
A.H

[.280Rem]

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

280Rem I would like to hear about your hunting experience with the 35 Whelen and I would almost bet it will be your gun of choice . All the time.
A.H

I don't have any yet. My dad died last year and it was his, and one of his faves. It's actually a 35Whelen AI. I want to honor my father by taking some game with it, but it has two strikes against it for becoming my "gun of choice". 1- it a "big and slow" and 2- its and AI. Neither are my cup of tea for everyday deer use.

[WISCSHOOTER]

I usually use my .300 Weatherby Mag. This year I'm going to try my Mosin M44, 7.62x54r.

[Billyz]

Ive killed deer with a .410. It dont take much to knock em down. That was when I was younger. i prefer one shot I dead deer. I currently hunt with an ancient model 94 in .32wsc. Only ones that walk away are my fault.

[FS00008]

.308 Win in my Remington 700. I love it.

[turner]

Originally Posted by .280Rem

I don't have any yet. My dad died last year and it was his, and one of his faves. It's actually a 35Whelen AI. I want to honor my father by taking some game with it, but it has two strikes against it for becoming my "gun of choice". 1- it a "big and slow" and 2- its and AI. Neither are my cup of tea for everyday deer use.

Congrats on a fine new rifle. I think you'll find that your new .35 Whelen is not quite as slow and difficult to use as you are thinking. You should have no problem seeing about 2700FPS with a 200gr loading in standard .35 Whelen loading and 100FPS more from the A.I. (of course, as with all A.I. calibers you can fire the parent cartridge, loads as well as the A.I. ones). You should be able to better good 180gr 30/06 loads by 100-150FPS with 180gr .35s (I'm thinkin' that will shoot pretty flat for deer sized game). It's common knowledge that in like cartridges (say .280 vs 30/06) the larger bore will propel a like weight bullet faster at the muzzle. After using both the .280 and .35 Whelen on deer sized game, I'm quite sure you will be suprised by the performance , no matter what you have seen with your .280. Try using it with an open mind as I've never heard of anyone being disappointed when trying a .35 and the added power of being and A.I. does nothing but improve it. By the way, my gunsmith built himself one for big game usage, if you'd like some good info let me know, and I'll try to hook you up.

[muleyman]

My favorite deer rifle is 243 win with an 85 gr. partition. A lot of guys will say that is to light, but I haven't had any trouble, even out to 415 yards.

I also shoot a 30-06 with a 165 gr. partition or a 150 gr. ballistic tip

50 cal muzzle stuffer in the late winter.

44 magnum redhawk when I'm really want to have fun.

The unfortunate part is that I have never got to kill a deer with all four of these guns in one season, not when my wife gets to help fill the freezer with venison.

[Tater]

7 mm rem mag