What's The Smallest Caliber You're Using

[Rolltide]

I've been having a conversation with a buddy for a while now, about what caliber he should go with for a new build.

He only hunts whitetails, but is convinced that anything short of a 30 caliber is too small and won't do the job....

I've had great experiences with everything from a .243 up, but maybe I'm missing something?

 

[N2TRKYS]

My smallest caliber is .25 with the cartridge being a 25-06.

 

[LLB]

For whitetail, I use a 7mm-08. I have used others from a 243 to a 45-70 and pretty much everything in between.

 

[Northpark]

Done them with a .223 with a 70gr Barnes to the lungs just fine. The last one made it 20 yards.

 

[ramsdude47]

Based on the (ethical) "magic #" of 1,000 ft-lbs a 243 is good out to ~350 yards.

Some 223 rounds stay above 1,000 out to ~150 yards. All that said I don't own anything smaller than 260.

 

[Wapiti1]

.243 is the smallest that I have used on deer. I've probably shot close to 30 deer with one. Never lost one, never had to track them far.

Jeremy

 

[Low_Sky]

I've been having a conversation with a buddy for a while now, about what caliber he should go with for a new build.

He only hunts whitetails, but is convinced that anything short of a 30 caliber is too small and won't do the job....

I've had great experiences with everything from a .243 up, but maybe I'm missing something?

Your buddy’s opinion is laughable, but he’s entitled to it. If you can put it where it needs to go with enough speed and the right bullet construction, almost any size pill will do the job.

I’ve killed all but one of my whitetails with 6mm/.243” bullets.


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[Headhunter]

I have a 257 Weatherby Mag now, but haven’t tried on game yet. From what I hear it’s like a lightening bolt hit a deer. Lol, guess I’ll find out this year (hopefully).
260/6.5 CM otherwise

 

[Laramie]

.243. Plenty of gun for deer and antelope but I typically shoot everything with my 30-06.

 

[DangerRanger]

I hunt with 30s

But I load for my BILs 243 that has done a great job

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

The smallest I'd go is a 6.5 CM for where I primarily hunt deer due to my average shot distance (even though I historically used a 6.5x284 and will be moving a 6.5 PRC this year). In some locations I'd not hesitate to use a 243 or a 25 variant (currently own neither).

Tons of game has been harvested over the years with calibers smaller than the .30.

 

[robtattoo]

Killed a bunch with nothing fancy .223 loads. I have a Savage Axis .223 I use for pest control & as a loaner for friend's kids. I load nothing but 65gn Sierra game kings at average velocities & in the last 10 years, it's taken at least 30 deer (i don't know ranges, but I can't imagine many beyond 200yds with the scope I have on it...) several pigs & a bunch of coyotes & foxes.
I'd trust it completely on at inside of 200 with my load.

My go to is a custom savage axis in 6.5x55. It's killed deer and antelope with excruciating reliability out to 350ish yards. In my honestly fantastic & superior opinion, it's the perfect chambering for everything smaller than elk.

 

[wyosam]

I wouldn’t consider whitetails to be particularly sturdy. I’d happily use .243 out to 500.


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[Stalker69]

I don’t hunt white tails but mule deer, elk and antelope with a 243, 7mm mag. But carry the 243 99% of the time. I did just buy a 6.5 creedmoor but have not shot anything with it yet. Hell I haven’t even shot it period.

 

[PathFinder]

223 with the right 65+ grain bullet will create wound channels most guys couldn't tell from a 270. I shoot 73 ELD M in my 18" LaRue and I'd trust it on whitetails farther than most people would a 270. My farthest so far is around 300, all have been one shot.

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[FLAK]

.243

 

[cuerro viejo]

Culled over 200+ Whitetails with 22-250. Under certain criteria and conditions it’s extremely deadly. In other conditions and criteria it’s reckless, which pretty much applies to any caliber.

 

[Gen273]

.243 is the smallest I use.

But I really prefer a .30 Cal for big game. Not that it's necessary, I just like them.

 

[6mm Remington]

6mm Remington is the smallest I used on deer, antelope, and even one elk. 100 gr. Partitions is what I shoot in it and it has performed very well. I haven't kept track of antelope and deer numbers but there were a lot of years where we had 3 antelope tags and 2 deer tags. It adds up quickly.

 

[lyle_destroys]

I've piled up a truck load of deer with a .257 Roberts. My mother in law killed the biggest buck I've ever seen firsthand with a .243. 7mm-08 is my favorite though. I would shoot an elk without second thoughts with mine and good bullets.