The Best Cartridge for Whitetail Deer

[Tentwing]

I ran across an article in an old Field and Stream magazine while sitting in my eye doctors waiting room. The article was about the most popular Whitetail cartridges. I don't remember what month or year the magazine was , but it was older , or at least old enough that my eye doctor had no problems when I asked if I could take a picture of the table ( pictured below ) he actually had the secretary cut it out and give it to me. Thanks Doc ...
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The loads above were what they considered to be the most popular Deer loads. I personally thought some of them to be a little heavy, but then again I've only hunted deer in the Southeast, ( I hear there are some monsters in Iowa, and I have seen monsters in Missouri ) and even though I have been quite successful over the years I've always thought I was more lucky than anything else. ( I'm not a good deer hunter, but I am a very lucky deer hunter )

Still the 200 grain 35 Rem., and even the 180gr 30-06 just seemed a tad heavy to me. Now don't get me wrong it would be hard to find a bigger fan of the 30-06 than me. ( son of a WW2 Marine ) I have great respect for the grand old cartridge ( 1903 ) , and have killed many white tail with it in 165gr and 150gr.

The majority of my whitetail were killed when I was young (er) , and with Marlin 336 lever action in a 30-30. That combo is what I consider a Southern standard especially in the 1970's, 80's, ( yeah I know my gray is starting to show ) Most of those loads were in 150 gr , and some in 170gr. Which ever was cheaper at the hardware store or K-Mart.

Here over the past few years I have actually began to use a 25-06 Rem loaded with 117gr Sierra Game-kings with outstanding results. I'm amazed that small bullet does such devastation. That being said I have a friend in Wyoming who guides hunts for a living and uses the exact load for Mule deer and even Elk.

I guess I'm wondering what everyone else uses for Whitetail deer here in the Southeast ? Have I been close over the years, or have I been using to heavy a load for what I'm chasing ?

Now granted shot placement is key, but what caliber and bullet weight works best for you guys ?

All opinions are wanted, .......Tentwing

[clincher]

TW,
I too tote the .30-30 and .30-06 in our southern woods. In the early 90s Remington came out with the .260 Rem and I've always wanted one. Terminal performance relative to .257 Roberts and 7mm-08, sometimes called "another necked down .243". Remington marketed it as "The Perfect Whitetail Round". The difference was the performance at 300 and 400 yards. This round rivaled the .270 WIN trajectory at those ranges, although it was tested with 120-140 grain projectiles, nothing near the mass of most .270 hunting weights (180 and up).
The rifle Remington marketed was the Model 7, short rifle, shorter bolt throw, 18 inch barrel and all scoped up, about 6.75lbs. Problem was you needed a 22 inch barrel to achieve the optimal ballistics and the little frame couldn't consistently do it. Next option was the Remington 700 Mountain rifle set up in a 22 inch barrel, but cost jumped 30%.

The best combo for ballistsics I've seen in the Remington line is the Model 700 stainless ligtweight with skeleton bolt handle and grooved bolt all coming in at 6 lbs, before scope, but at twice the price of the first Model 7 ($1600-ish).

Ruger had an offering for the round also, but the combined characteristics never seemed to achieve what Remington offered.

Still, I haven't bought one and it's popularity never generated the sales for which Remington had hoped. The .260 Rem is still likely the only other rifle I'm ever gonna buy unless I win a free elk hunt.....or find a deal on a .44 Mag Rifle.

Ruger built those around the turn of the century in bolt, lever and auto and may still (except for the auto).

I've always "needed" one of those little Ruger rifles to match my hunting pistol. I think it is also true that a man can't own too many guns.

[clincher]

Oops- I stand corrected- the .260 Rem was optomized in the 90-110 grain range. As I re-read your chart, there is no way the .270 numbers could have been so flat with 180 grain bullets. I am sure they were in the 140 grain range and below.

[dbkstone]

My favorite deer cartridge is the Winchester 243 80 grain Hollow Point. They are very hard to find and I buy several boxes when I do find it. I have seen a box of 20 go from 24.95 to over $40 in a 3 year period. The load is devastating and rarely has an exit. I have seen 15 deer killed first hand with this load and spoke with others on 3 times that number. The kills I have witnessed only 1 deer took more than 2 steps (he ran 50 yards). The other 14 dropped in the tracks they were standing in. A word of caution, NEVER shoot a deer in a portion of the body you plan to eat with this load. It will turn a shoulder into a black goo that the dogs won't even eat. Its a pure kill spot or lung gun. My dad made the mistake of killing a spike that was facing him head on. One back flip, no exit, and two front shoulders that no human could eat. Lesson learned.

[clincher]

80 grains is mighty hot in a .243. I believe every word.

[Jay]

I've been carying the same Remington model 700 bdl since 1990 chambered in .270 which I shoot 130gr core locks. I doubt I will ever buy another deer rifle. I have never been presented with a situation for which I felt I needed another caliber to be sucsessful, and I have killed a ton of deer with this rifle. I have never missed with this gun. I did let a doe get away from me after shooting her when she drug herself in a thicket and I refused to shoot again because I assumed she would die very shortly.

Then again I am the kind of person that rarely likes new things. I would much rather fish or hunt with something I have used for 20 years than to have something brand new,I don't know why it is, but I am like that with everything. That is the reason I would never even think of hunting with another gun. My Bow is even 25 years old, and with as much as technology has improved compound bows, I still refuse to buy a new one, becasue this one seems to kill deer just fine. I like my stuff to be used and look used, thats the way I hope to go out one day; all used up!