Best caliber for Colorado Mule Deer.

[ridgewalker]

Would the 6.5cm 143 eldx not be enough?

It works fine.

 

[Chas1]

The best caliber for Mulies is the gun you are the most comfortable with and shoot the best!
Not being short with you but far too many hunters spend way to much time and money on this question.
Anything from a .243 to 338 mag will do the job but a rifle chambered in 270, 308, 30-06 will take down any North American game successfully with a properly place shot!
The questionable piece is the shooters capability to consistently put the round in the vitals. If you have a rifle you trust, shoot well and is a legal caliber then use that rifle!

+1

 

[BrentM]

I am a South Texas deer hunter and own many caliber of deer rifles, but I am going on a public draw deer hunt in Colorado and need to know what is a good all round caliber for Mule deer. I use a 300 RUM in Texas due to long Sendaro shooting out to about 600 yrds, but want some input for Mule deer in Colorado. I am under the understanding that altitude can effect preformance.

Us Idaho boys use a wide range of calibers and cartridges. Me, I'd easily run a 6 or 6.5 and pick a chamber of your choice. The 6mm is probably the easiest to gravitate to for speed. A 6 PRC, 6-284, 6 Saum, or even a 6 creed are all very capable and flat shooting. Me, I'd pack my 6.5 PRC and run a 135 A Tip. My rifle has killed 4 mule's from 300-400 yards and absolutely hammered them. Those are not long range shots but the point is the devastation on the vitals was impressive.

 

[big johnson]

Take your 300 rum.

 

[buzby]

Take your 300 rum.

The OP filled his tag 3 months ago

 

[Nwlongrange90]

Pick a round your comfortable shooting and roll with it.

 

[Lenny Foffa]

So many EXCELLENT LR calibers!!! I'm partial to .270 Win with a 24 inch barrel , 130 Grn. Ballistic tip for deer to 300 yards. and .270 Weatherby Mag. with a 26 inch bbl. 150 Grn ABLR at 3000 fps , for deer out to 600 yards. Plenty of energy for deer. Proven LR load, in that rifle, at the LR shooting school. If I go to Wyoming or Colo again , as my last Mule deer hunt , I guess I would bring both rifles with me. That would allow me to hunt relaxed, and have confidence in whatever Rifle/ Caliber/ Scope combo I Choose to use. Then just listen to the guide.

 

[montanablackdog]

In Montana our deer require at least a 50 BMG but Colorado deer have gotten so liberal and Californicated a 22 mag is sufficient.

 

[buzby]

Pick a round your comfortable shooting and roll with it.

The OP filled his tag 3 months ago

 

[JRS3]

I have taken most of my mulies with a .300 WBY and never second guessed my choice. However, a .284 caliber, medium to magnum cartridge is my ideal MD setup with 160-180 grain bullets.

 

[billglausier]

.25-05 Rem
.270 Win
Or the gun you currently have & like.

Would not hesitate to use my 25-06 Ruger #1 with Sierra 120 gr. game kings. It's deadly running close to 3000 fps.

 

[del2les]

Your 300RUM will work just fine, but for me, I don't use my 300's for mulies unless a good one appears during my elk hunt and I have a tag for the same season.

For deer sized animals and most of the time, I use either my 25-06's or the 260AI, but then my 6mm Rem AI works well too. I see several 270's and 7mm used for deer also.

 

[buzby]

Your 300RUM will work just fine, but for me, I don't use my 300's for mulies unless a good one appears during my elk hunt and I have a tag for the same season.

For deer sized animals and most of the time, I use either my 25-06's or the 260AI, but then my 6mm Rem AI works well too. I see several 270's and 7mm used for deer also.

Dude filled his tag with the 300rum 3 months ago

 

[Akredneck]

130 gr 7mm-08