Best All Around Caliber for Whitetail and Mule Deer?

[Laguna Freak]

Funny it came up here.
I'm doing load development on a 22 Creedmoor rifle I put together as a gift for my friend in South Texas .
They have a following of 75-88's going fast for whitetail down there.
I have no experience with performance on game but they are moving along fast and is fun to shoot.

Most Texas whitetail bucks harvested field dress In the120 to 150 lb range. Yes there are heavier bucks but they are by far the minority of specimens. And yes, many centerfire 22 cals are very effective on TX whitetails.

 

[Idaho Lefty]

The 120 Ballistic tip at 3k is a beast.

I shot 123 ELD-M's for a while and Yes there was practically, NO recoil !
BUT I opted for, the 10 Percent Higher BC's and the Extreme accuracy from, the 130 gr. M's at, the Longer Distances for, Steel Plate, shooting.
Agree, for Deer at, most "Normal Ranges", the 120 NBT's or 123 gr. M's will, "Get it, Done",. just Fine !

 

[kgarrett]

I'm a believer that less recoil is better - improves shot placement - all things being equal. It's not though, is it?

My question is if 22 center fires are so great why not a 20 cal or a 17 ? 204 Ruger on elk - you heard it here first!

I believe 22 cal's can be effective on deer sized game but there is just not enough upside. A 6.5 creedmoor to 7 mm rem mag offers so much more momentum, energy, frontal area, etc. without a huge penalty in recoil that anybody can learn to shoot one of them well. I think the 6 mm's are sensible minimums for big game and don't support using anything less for hunting. For culling operations, the 22 centerfires may have their place. They may be as effective as larger centerfires in some circumstances and in some shot placements, but they are NOT superior in any circumstance IMO. To go a bit further, arguing that 22 centerfires are the best, most versatile deer hunting cartridges would be asinine.

They are a niche choice for big game hunting for a reason. You don't need a 30-378 or a 340 Wby to kill a deer and likewise cartridges that do not meet legal minimums in many jurisdictions are a crap choice.

My opinion, of course, is worth what you paid for it.

I apologize for my harsh tone, I should have been more civil. I should have simply said that there are better choices.

And I must admit I have developed a bias towards using enough gun and premium hunting bullets though I have taken deer and pronghorn cleanly with a 243 in 95 gr SST as well as a 6.5 CM in 147 gr ELD-M, both of have a well deserved reputation for rapid expansion. In fact, I am currently hunting with the ELD-M's in my 6.5 PRC though I would not be excited to take an on the shoulder or frontal shot on an elk at less than 100 yds. And, I'm currently hunting with 208gr LRX in my 300 PRC though I've also got 225 gr ELD-M's for it. I guess I should make up my mind!

Nevertheless, if it works well in your hands and is legal in your hunting area, fill your boots. I suppose I should be a little more confident in my heavy for caliber ELD-M's given people's experience with 22 centerfires and SMK/TMK's. Time will tell what works well for me.

 

[FirstBubba]

@ kgarrett
"... I'm a believer that less recoil is better - improves shot placement - all things being equal. It's not though, is it? ..."

I agree wholeheartedly!

If shooting a certain firearm is uncomfortable, you aren't going to shoot it as well as a more comfortable round.

I had always heard that the .458 Win Mag was a beast to shoot. But I wound up with one anyway.
Out if curiosity, I burned nearly a box of ammo through it!
1) I DO NOT suggest benching a .458 Win Mag!
2) The recoil of the Ruger M77 "African" in .458 Win Mag was NOT the sharp jolt I was expecting, but rather a heavy "push"!
3) though I was (not now!) comfortable with the recoil of my bolt .270 Win, I found the .270 recoil more uncomfortable than the .458

Stock configuration and caliber have a lot to do with how any particular person reacts to recoil.
I've seen great big stout guys that couldn't handle recoil and I've seen little scrawny dudes shooting heavy mag calibers!

WTBS!
I'm not a big believer in putting a .243 Win in the hands of a novice hunter! There is just way too much that can go wrong.
I'd opt for a 7×57 Mauser, .257 Rbts, .260 Rem or even a .30-30 Win.
BUT....that's just my opinion!

 

[memtb]

Stock configuration and caliber have a lot to do with how any particular person reacts to recoil.
I've seen great big stout guys that couldn't handle recoil and I've seen little scrawny dudes shooting heavy mag calibers

Amen Brother……very true!

When I first met my future wife, she was hunting with a Ruger 77 in 270 Win. I started loading some 150 Partitions for her…..shooting from the bench it hurt far worse than my .375 H&H from the bench. I even asked her, "how can you shoot this thing…..it's kill'n me"!

I discovered that the stock had been shortened for her…..and the butt angle had been altered. I re-cut it, put a Pachmyer Decellerator on it……a whole new and improved personality!

I also wholeheartedly agree with the smaller guys handling recoil better than some of the big guys. My theory….. the little guy quickly "rolls with the punch", while the big guy absorbs all of the recoil. I


I can't mathematically prove that…..but, my little mind beleaves that! memtb

 

[catch 22]

Best all around caliber is SO subjective, so many cartridges between 25 and 28. I pick .26, 6.5×55 (Ruger #1) is my favorite but there are a lot 6.5's that would do. 25-06, 270win, 7mm-08, 280, 308, 30-06 and many more COULD lay claim to the title.

 

[Bullmark]

The .280 AI is tough to beat when u take into account a variety of factors. Of course u can take almost any caliber and develop a load for it that does the required job.
I guess if I could only own one rifle, a .280AI would be it. Felt recoil is light compared to others in the same size range. Just a great all around caliber.

 

[johnmyers]

Well said I have a 7-06 Ackley almost a twin to 280ai I am shooting Berger 168 HVLDs. Never had anything go far if at all with this