Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
- bowmike
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Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
Looking at getting a good small caliber deer rifle.
My 30-06 and 12 ga slug gun just hammers them. I lost about 10-15 pounds of meat from my doe from the past weekend. The don't really run that far after being shot with either of them, but I'd rather get more meat out of them. Also would be nice to have a smaller caliber gun for my son when he starts hunting.
Thinking of getting a 243 or a 7mm-08
Any other calibers or cartridges I am forgetting?
My 30-06 and 12 ga slug gun just hammers them. I lost about 10-15 pounds of meat from my doe from the past weekend. The don't really run that far after being shot with either of them, but I'd rather get more meat out of them. Also would be nice to have a smaller caliber gun for my son when he starts hunting.
Thinking of getting a 243 or a 7mm-08
Any other calibers or cartridges I am forgetting?
NEXT YEAR I' HOLDING OUT FOR A BIG ONE!!
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
My boys use a 243 and 223. They are 11 and 8. The 7mm-08 is a good caliber but shells are pricey. Last year my 11 yr old hammered a doe with the 223 and it went 40 yds.
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
Personally, I think the .223 is light for a deer rifle (not that it can't do the job with a good hit), I just don't think you can get a heavy enough bullet for the .223 that said, my buddy shoots a 7mm.08 and has taken quite a few deer with it.
If recoil is an issue you can get reduced recoil rounds for both the .243 and 7mm.08.
If recoil is an issue you can get reduced recoil rounds for both the .243 and 7mm.08.
- muddy
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
My 308 has very little kick and will whallop a deer.
a 223 is good too but shot placement is a little more crucial.
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a 223 is good too but shot placement is a little more crucial.
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
I have Ruger American in 7mm08 and 30-06. Love the 7mm08. I think it is an ideal <200yd deer gun. I reload so price of shells isn't a worry. Killed a doe and a buck with it this year. Really fun gun.
chris
chris
- john1984
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
Sorry I don't know much about guns. My dad bought a 308 recently and those rounds just destroyed one shoulder. Is the rifle to blame or the round???? Idk, but maybe you can get a shell that caters to your needs....... Good luck man
Shoot em in the head
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Shoot em in the head
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Last edited by john1984 on Thu Dec 11, 2014 11:45 am, edited 1 time in total.
- muddy
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
I used Walmart bought 308 shells and hit en in the ribs and it didn't do anything but kill the deer.
A 30-30 would be another great round with great punch and little recoil
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A 30-30 would be another great round with great punch and little recoil
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http://www.iowawhitetail.com
Leading the way for habitat and management information
"It's a good thing you don't need commas and colons to kill deer" -seaz
Leading the way for habitat and management information
"It's a good thing you don't need commas and colons to kill deer" -seaz
- Spysar
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
Keep the 06 and get different bullets that mushroom and stay in one piece. 30-.06 is one of the best for deer.
A buck will see you three times, and hear you twice, but he's only gonna smell you once.
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
Any round is going to tear up a shoulder if that's were you hit it. Better to hit right behind the sholder in the vitals imo...
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- JakeJD
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
Spysar wrote:Keep the 06 and get different bullets that mushroom and stay in one piece. 30-.06 is one of the best for deer.
.270 is a great fast, flat shooting rifle as well. Plus you can buy rounds almost anywhere, anytime of the year (similar to .308 and 30-.06).
"In the deed, the glory"
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
The bullet is what does the destruction,I have a friend that uses a 300 win mag for deer and he doesn't get any more damage than my '06 or 308.Dont know what bullet he uses but he is a cheap azz so I bet its not a big dollar round.My personal favorite round is a 308.Great gun,doesn't kick much and is really accurate.I would like a 7mm08 next to play with.
- Edcyclopedia
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
.25-06
Expect the Unexpected when you least Expect it...
- Jphunter
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
X2 on the 25-06 don't kick to bad and you can find something under 100 grain pretty easy.
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
25-06 shoots flat with less recoil than a 30-06. My 16yr old niece used it in the youth season with no problem.
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Re: Looking for a good small caliber deer rifle
If you hit bone with any deer rifle you will ruin a ton of meat. Not trying to be mean but if you put it behind the shoulder in the lungs or heart you wont lose much if any meat. I shoot a Howa 30-06 with Winchester supreme 150 grain ballistic tips and it flat out lays them down with little meat loss if I do my job right.
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