Best All Around Caliber for Whitetail and Mule Deer?

[memtb]

We're not alone here…..it just seems that way! Maybe, just maybe, some of these folks will gain "enlightenment" and start the pendulum swing back toward normalcy!

Though, I find their antics rather entertaining……sorta like watching young children attempt playing 3 Dimensional Chess! memtb

 

[Turpentine21]

Memtb
I am with you and was about to cut out of this website altogether when I saw your post.

I came here to help people with a few loads now and then, still like to contribute my 63year experience popping primers, but this shorter than short carbine barrel fad leaves me cold.

I'm with you. I'm not afraid to try a little bit of the new. I do love my ARs. 5.56-to dern puny, 7.62 x 51- gets it done, Creedmore- slow but accurate, Grendel-even slower but one of my absolute favorites. But as far as bolt gun cartridges go I like the old tried and true. I like a heavy rifle with a longer barrel. I have no cans, no brakes, no mono metal bullets. But I have gone high tech with thermal and in a word it's awesome for what I do. I still run 2 stroke outboards, I rebuild them myself, and I still fish with a cane pole at times. I still have to pull a shifter in the floor and get out to lock the hubs to put my truck in 4wd. It has vinyl seats and floors so I can wash it out with a water hose. I still live in a place where I can take a leak off the porch without offending someone and I exercise that right most every day. I also find myself wishing I could go back about 40 years and just stay there. I had it made and didn't know it !

 

[BigNate]

I don't think there are any answers in new cartridges. They are not solving any problems, other than revenue generation.

If you really look at the real advancement in our industry, we have better bullets designed, and produced, to exceed anything available in the past. The faster twist barrels are done out of necessity to harness the new high BC bullets. Optics are so much better its astonishing.

The Hornady phenomenon of marketing is good at what they do, but their new offerings aren't really new, don't offer case capacities that are unavailable.

Consider the 6.5x55 or the 6.5 Redding to the 6.5 Needsmore.

How about the .22-250 Imp or the .22-243 Middlestead to the 22 Creedmoor.
Duane's 257 DGR to the 25 Creedmoor.
Still further, the 7 Mashburn or 280 AI to the 7mm PRC.

I could go on, but literally many older cartridges are capable if barreled for modern bullets.

The difference is the need to generate new revenue, rather than supporting existing inventory. The whole industrial world operates the same way. New equipment generates greater profits than parts support.

 

[AussieWriter]

I don't think there are any answers in new cartridges. They are not solving any problems, other than revenue generation.

If you really look at the real advancement in our industry, we have better bullets designed, and produced, to exceed anything available in the past. The faster twist barrels are done out of necessity to harness the new high BC bullets. Optics are so much better its astonishing.

The Hornady phenomenon of marketing is good at what they do, but their new offerings aren't really new, don't offer case capacities that are unavailable.

Consider the 6.5x55 or the 6.5 Redding to the 6.5 Needsmore.

How about the .22-250 Imp or the .22-243 Middlestead to the 22 Creedmoor.
Diane's 257 DGR to the 25 Creedmoor.
Still further, the 7 Mashburn or 280 AI to the 7mm PRC.

I could go on, but literally many older cartridges are capable if barreled for modern bullets.

The difference is the need to generate new revenue, rather than supporting existing inventory. The whole industrial world operates the same way. New equipment generates greater profits than parts support.

This type of "phooey" has been going in since Weatherby tried to sell the .224 belted Weatherby Magnum as is the new offerings if today.

It too, was less than the existing .22/250 which also was established and had cheaper brass options.

Failed themes are always popular to re-establish but history has taught us that nothing is new and refinements arn't always noticeable in the field.

The next "big thing" is insinuated towards .257 caliber but what animal cannot be taken with a 100gn TTSX at over 3400fps with modern powders or a 120gn Partition approaching 3200fps.

I'll wait, shall I?

 

[nubraskan]

I think the biggest changes in recent cartridges are just the higher BC bullet geometries and more optimized case designs. They aren't going to totally obsolete the older cartridges, but maybe over time make them less popular in comparison as more people buy firearms with newer chamberings

 

[Ken61]

243 or 308

 

[BigNate]

The next "big thing" is insinuated towards .257 caliber but what animal cannot be taken with a 100gn TTSX at over 3400fps with modern powders or a 120gn Partition approaching 3200fps.

I don't even think the effectiveness on game is as much of a draw to the new buyers as high bc capabilities.

Many believe they are snipers and buy new products accordingly. It doesn't seem all that long ago that rangefinders, and twisty knob scopes were rare. Nobody but the most proficient carried a Kestrel.

I'm a fan of .25 caliber rifles, and have taken up to elk with them. They flat work. I'm considering a new 25 cal 7.5 twist barrel, and selling off some dust collectors.

 

[Greatgrandad]

Looking for thoughts on what caliber you guys would pick as the most versatile caliber for western whitetail and mule deer in factory offerings?

Thanks,
Mike

I've used 6mm Rem and AI, 25-06, 257Wby, 260 and AI, and 270 Win with great success.

 

[Fenix Outdoors]

Looking for thoughts on what caliber you guys would pick as the most versatile caliber for western whitetail and mule deer in factory offerings?

Thanks,
Mike

The one you are the most accurate with under positional shooting and at the distances you will be shooting at. After that, your bullet selection is the most important, with caliber being a distant third place in priority.