What's your favorite caliber?

Favorite caliber?


  • Total voters
    696

Steelruger22

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 2, 2020
Messages
299
Location
All over the place
While historically a 12 ga slug has put the most meat in my freezer for most my life (shotgun zone MI). I would have to say that my favorite rifle cartridge for deer is either the .308 or 30-06. Something about hunting with .30 cal, military based cartridges just appeals to me and is about as American as apple pie.
 

Rich M

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2017
Messages
5,174
Location
Orlando
@OXN939

158 gr xtp fp over lil gun

fury 158 is a pointed bullet, same load, 200 yds plus shooting w 357 mag

.355 165 ftx w same load another 200 yds plus bullet

I tried the all coppers and preferred the xtp fp
 

Justin51

FNG
Joined
Nov 1, 2021
Messages
3
6.5 Creed/6.5's . It`s sufficient for deer , and I have an old shoulder injury that limits how much recoil I can take .
 

mitchellmountain

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Feb 20, 2020
Messages
238
What is your preferred caliber for whitetail? I know there's alot of good ones, just curious!
List the exact cartridge and load if you want!

I like 270 with 140gr hornady btsp
My go to a is 358win for east of the mississippi, out west is a 6.5x284win. Trying out a 9.3x57 this year that is nearly the ballistic twin of the 358.15DC2D78-216A-4D79-B4A5-A30745EB472B.jpeg
 
Last edited:

eddiewiggles

FNG
Classified Approved
Joined
May 20, 2020
Messages
91
25-06 for me. I grew up playing with my Dads 700 in that caliber thinking it was magical…turns out it actually is. Built one off of a Tikka and put a brake on it cause I haven’t got a suppressor yet. If someone shot it blindfolded they would swear it was a 22 mag. 100gr Noslers at 3380 FPS or 117 SST’s at 3150. Both loads hit like Thor’s hammer, I just like changing between the pretty colored tips


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Joined
Aug 9, 2019
Messages
29

(I don't agree with everything here but some of the points are good)

I love 30-06, even though its a bit overkill for whitetails. I love the versatility and have taken it on moose, caribou, elk and whitetail hunts (Killed whitetail and caribou easily). The ballistics are great, as denoted in the video linked.
 

TSnave

FNG
Joined
Oct 21, 2021
Messages
68
Location
Montana
For deer, I mainly use a 6mm Remington throwing 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. Works just dandy on Montana mule deer and antelope; I haven't actually taken a whitetail with it yet.
 

Yard Candy

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jul 31, 2020
Messages
282
Location
Maryland
30-30
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Joined
Apr 26, 2019
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837
Location
Pacific North West
I just had a 25-06 built to use as my deer rifle. I like it a lot so far but that is limited to range use to be honest. I haven't shot a deer with it yet because i haven't had it very long. I plan to change that this year. Now that I have all of the reloading components I plan to load it up with either berger or hammer bullets.
What twist barrel and what action did you go with?
 

cburgin72

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
May 17, 2018
Messages
256
Location
Alabama
What twist barrel and what action did you go with?

I went with a 1-9” twist. I went with a Remington 700 and had it blueprinted/trued up. I was going for a little more budget friendly but in the end I could have gotten something like a bighorn origins action and not had any work done on it for close to the same price. I’m happy with what I got though. If I was starting the build right now (build was about 2 yrs ago) I’d go with a different action. Maybe tikka or one of the rem 700 clones like the one listed above. That’s just because of the status of Remington as a company these days. Sorry, a little long winded there.


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Joined
Apr 26, 2019
Messages
837
Location
Pacific North West
I went with a 1-9” twist. I went with a Remington 700 and had it blueprinted/trued up. I was going for a little more budget friendly but in the end I could have gotten something like a bighorn origins action and not had any work done on it for close to the same price. I’m happy with what I got though. If I was starting the build right now (build was about 2 yrs ago) I’d go with a different action. Maybe tikka or one of the rem 700 clones like the one listed above. That’s just because of the status of Remington as a company these days. Sorry, a little long winded there.


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Gotcha the rem 700 was a good choice. The tikka would have definitely gave you some loading restrictions. I’m sure it’s a shooter!
 

Yardvark

FNG
Joined
Jul 29, 2021
Messages
11
I transitioned from using .30-06, mostly with cup and core to now shooting a 6.5 CM Tikka T3X. After shoulder surgery, it just got tougher tolerating the recoil. My rifle really likes the 120 Barnes TTSX, so that is what I am shooting for now.
 

Brizzle

FNG
Joined
Sep 24, 2020
Messages
62
35 Remington, I take it out once a year during the rut. My grandfather gave me my Marlin when I was 13, I try to take it out every season at least once… even 23 years later. Usually only take the bow otherwise. Plus who doesn’t like a lever action?
 

Rock-o

WKR
Joined
Aug 15, 2019
Messages
651
My favorite is 30 caliber, specifically a 308 Win. Maybe because that's the most suitable rifle and cartridge combo I have for Whitetail.
 

Zappaman

WKR
Joined
Mar 9, 2021
Messages
541
Location
Eastern Kansas
260ai (6.5 Creedmore on steroids) with a 130 TSX and RL23 (or RL26 powder for 140g loads).

The 130s are speed demons that work out as far as I need to shoot a deer (or sheep). Great mountain (long-range) gun with the 27" Apache barrel (which will put the 140g. bullets way further OUT there if needed).

This Savage Axis II rebuild meets any 270 (ballistics wise), but in a short action; the whole rig (lightweight maple stock, 12 oz. scope) weighs in at about 7.5 lbs. Very lightweight rig for hauling around the mountain, miles a day ;)
 
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