Best Antelope/Mule Deer Caliber?

[Flatrock]

Maybe you can find your answer in one of these 28 threads cuz, ya know, this topic NEVER comes up:

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?273498-Suggestions-for-a-good-Elk-cartridge

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?273215-Talk-me-out-of-the-308

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?272504-Caliber-Choice-Kimber-Mnt-Accent

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?272180-New-rifle-New-caliber

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?271365-308-or-7mm-08

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?273498-Suggestions-for-a-good-Elk-cartridge

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hun...-and-round-to-get-next-270-7mm-08-7mm-Rem-Mag

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?278042-7-08-or-6-5-creedmoor

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?278761-Rifle-and-caliber-question

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?279858-Yes-another-which-caliber

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?285066-2-gun-do-all-battery-suggestions

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?285581-What-caliber

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?286449-not-this-again

- https://onyourownadventures.com/hunttalk/showthread.php?286825-6-5-Creedmore-or-7mm

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/whats-your-elk-rifle-and-cartridge.288465/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/7mm-vs-300-wm.289232/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/if-you-had-to-choose-just-one-caliber.289349/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/i-hate-to-do-it-but-i-have-to-help-me-pick-a-caliber.288881/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/300-ultra-mag-or-300-win-mag.289757/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/whats-your-elk-rifle-and-cartridge.288465/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/300-win-mag.287594/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/6-5.290090/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/7mm-08-vs-25-06.290715/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/new-rifle-suggestions.290691/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/whats-your-elk-rifle-and-cartridge.288465/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/new-7mm-08.291448/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/do-it-all-caliber-and-bullet-weight.291070/

- https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/6-5-300-weatherby-mag-worth-it-or-not.292718/

 

[Cutlass]

I was in the same boat as you a few years ago only having big kickers as elk is my main hunt every year. Got into antelope hunting six years ago and down loaded my 300 WM for it. Worked fine but wanted a lighter round to spot hits since I hunt solo most the time. Bought a Tikka 243 three years ago and have no regrets. You can see your impact and follow the lope til it goes down. Never takes long but makes finding them in the sage brush so much easier. It’s enough for mulies as well. 243 or 6 creed would be great.

 

[ImBillT]

A 25-06 is great, but why not bump up .007” in bullet diameter and gain access to 10X the bullet options? 6.5-06, 6.5x284, 6.5 PRC, .260AI, 6.5 Rem Mag, will all meet or exceed the performance of a 25-06, and that’s not even getting into the big 6.5’s.

 

[Don Fischer]

Ya . it really doesn't matter a lot what you get to shoot one with. My ex killed one with a 6mm Rem. I killed mine with a 25-06 and a 117gr bullet. Know of a guy over in the valley that claim's he killed one with a 50 BMG! Lot of room in between. I'm just guessing but I suspect your 300 mag would get the job done! But I don't think that's the point, I think you know it too, what the point is is you'd like to get a new rifle! I think you said mule deer and antelope. Well shoot, I've killed plenty of mule deer and one antelope with the 25-06! Myself if I decide to hunt say elk, I'm quite certain the 25-06 will do it but I also think a larger cartridge will send a better bullet. Have killed three elk with my 6.5x06 and 140 gr Hornady Inter Lock, three shot's three dead. Also got a couple more with my 30-06 and 180 gr Hornady Inter Lock. Two shots and two dead. Amazing thing is they were no deader than the one's shot with the 6.5x06! Cartridges I have killed mule deer with include 223 Rem, 243 Win. 25-06. 6.5x55, 6.5x06, 7x57, 7mm Rm Mag, 280 Rem, 30-30, 308, 30-06 and 338 Win Mag! You can easily add to that rather short list, just get something you think you'd like, it will work fine!

Keep in mind that the former number one Grizzly, now number two, was killed with a 22 single shot rifle and a 22 long cartridge. Do your homework!

 

[rjthehunter]

the 300 wsm i use is a browning xbolt and it doesnt kick but does jump at the muzzle,,can fire twenty rounds and no problem,,do intend to put a brake on soon hoping to tame the barrel uplift so i can spot my strikes(im only 70 kg n 70 yrs)

Check these out. Reasonably priced as well. And it doesn't throw the sound back at you like those damn browning a bolts do.

Gentry Custom Quiet Muzzle Brake | Gentry Custom

Gentry Custom is recognized as a leading gunsmith & custom rifle builder. We also offer installation of our popular Quiet Muzzle Brakes. CALL: (406) 388-4867

gentrycustom.com

 

[Brian in Montana]

You're gonna get 200gazillion different opinions on this, and obviously you have. Here's one more:

If you handload, get a 7mm-08. If you don't, get a .270. And you cannot go wrong with Tikka.

 

[FLS]

A 25-06 is great, but why not bump up .007” in bullet diameter and gain access to 10X the bullet options? 6.5-06, 6.5x284, 6.5 PRC, .260AI, 6.5 Rem Mag, will all meet or exceed the performance of a 25-06, and that’s not even getting into the big 6.5’s.

Cause I can walk in a store and buy good ammo....

 

[mtmuley]

88 posts, and still no "best" one. I have several that work damn good though. Carry on. mtmuley

 

[BrentD]

I would think it would be pretty obvious. .38-72-260. It will work every time.

Just about any centerfire is a good antelope/deer rifle. The "best one" depends entirely on you.

 

[ImBillT]

Cause I can walk in a store and buy good ammo....

You can walk into a store and buy good ammo for the 6.5-284 and 6.5-PRC. If you’re willing to give up an arguably negligible amount of velocity you can do the same for 6.5x55, 6.5 CM, and .260Rem and have nearly the same availability as the 25-06(more so for the 6.5CM) If you want to go with big 6.5’s there are always the .264 Win mag 26 Nosler and 6.5-300Wby. The 6.5 Rem mag is less available.

The 25-06 does not share the same availability that the .223, .243, .270, 7mm Rem mag, 30-30, .308, 30-06 and 300 Win mag share.

 

[Carl 9.3x62]

88 posts, and still no "best" one. I have several that work damn good though. Carry on. mtmuley

Alright, we can close this thread right now. The .270 win is THE BEST deer/antelope cartridge there is and ever will be. No more discussion necessary. Goodnight and happy hunting.

 

[Alex38]

Another vote for the .270. I load mine with 150 Partitions as my “one load for everything”. This would also make a great elk load for use in addition to your 300 Win.

 

[ShadowFast1]

I'll join this circus. It's obvious. When you look at the cartridge with the most available ammunition, the most amount of rifles chambered for it, the amount of bullets available in the widest array of grain weights, the largest library of reloading data, mild recoiling, efficient, and proven effective; You'll arrive at the .308 Winchester. There's a reason why it's popular; it works.

 

[Fsmith]

.257 wby mag

 

[Buffs35]

Another vote for the .270. It does the job, and no matter where you are, you can find inexpensive reliable ammo.

 

[FLS]

I love my 25-06, but if I didn’t reload I’d probably choose a 270. If a store in the middle of nowhere has any ammo at all it has 270 and 30-06 ammo. Shoots flat and hits hard with modest recoil. After seeing how well the 130 TTSXs performed on game this fall, I think a do all rifle in 270 may be in my future.

 

[Don Fischer]

88 posts, and still no "best" one. I have several that work damn good though. Carry on. mtmuley

Let's see. This thread could end up with 8,888 suggestions and the best will still not be known! There really is no best of anything!

 

[noharleyyet]

88 posts, and still no "best" one. I have several that work damn good though. Carry on. mtmuley

We'll get it settled as soon as we figger out if the FDIC is gonna bail out the broke elk bank in Colorado and the deer uptrending phenomenon in Mon'Tanny. ; )

 

[Mrvrsick]

I spent an insane amount of time looking for a new rifle in the "perfect" cartridge for my deer hunting. What did I settle on? A Tikka T3x in .243 Win.

The 243 had the power in my comfort range of 400 yards or so, it had wide availability of ammo, and it had incredibly light recoil to boot.
I chose it over 7mm-08 solely because of ammo availability, and because I'm in California, I can't order online, and I can't just walk into any store and find it. The ballistics and power were high points, and ability to cross over into elk or bear was enticing, but I passed on it.
The 25-06 came in a very close 3rd, but same thing as the above. Ballistics were even prettier than 7mm-08, but I was really looking to get into a short cart (even though the Tikka has the same action length for short vs long).
I dropped the 6.5 CM really early in the race. Once I looked at the numbers, it didn't have anything over the other calibers, at least in hunting ranges under 500 yards. Heck, I see that it takes 700 yards or more to have an advantage over something like a 308. I had believed the hype, but the numbers didn't coincide with all the fanfare.

I also decided to buy a 308 next year. With 130 grain ammo, it would make a wonderful deer rifle, with 150 or 168, it would be great for bigger game. Best of all, with cheap surplus ammo, I can practice for less than half of the other cartridges.

Oh, and I also have 2 270 rifles. I just want to get away from them. Heck, I'd trade my browning a bolt for a comparable rifle in 308.

 

[6mm Remington]

6mm Remington Wow that was easy! Accurate, fast, light recoil, and kills deer and antelope quite splendidly!

David