If you are looking for the best caliber for deer hunting, you will need to understand some basics about the deer bullets. There are four basic calibers you should consider:.30-30 Winchester,.243 Winchester,.30-06 Springfield, and 12-gauge slugs. The best choice for your hunting purposes will depend on your budget, your shooting style, and what kind of game you’re targeting.
Winchester.30-30
While many hunters in the east will not use a 30-caliber rifle, the modern Winchester.30-30 caliber is a good choice for hunting deer. This bullet can deliver an incredible amount of power at a distance of up to 150 yards. Unlike other calibers, this cartridge will not blow up, even in large trees. This means that you can shoot a deer at a distance of up to 150 yards.
Using a 30-caliber rifle is a great way to make the most of your deer-hunting experience. The 30-caliber bullet has an average drop of almost one foot at 250 yards, which means you won’t even get to 300 yards. In comparison, the 243 Winchester 100-grain spire point will drop 1.5 inches below your point-of-aim at 300 yards.
.243 Winchester
A.243 Winchester caliber rifle delivers a high muzzle velocity of 1,945 foot pounds (ft. lb.), making it an excellent choice for deer hunting. Bullets in this caliber are designed for deep penetration. While a soft-lead jacketed bullet can pancake on shoulder bones and muscle, it will often not reach the vitals. On the other hand, a bullet with a cup-and-core design will break apart quickly on impact.
The low felt recoil of the.243 Winchester caliber makes it an excellent choice for novice shooters. In addition, its flat trajectory makes it easy to aim at long distances and requires fewer sight adjustments. However, deer hunters should keep in mind that the.243 caliber lacks the stopping power necessary for humanely harvesting larger game. Therefore, a.243 Winchester rifle with a heavier bullet is recommended for longer-range deer hunting.
.30-06 Springfield
For deer hunting, the.30-06 Springfield caliber is the most popular caliber. It’s a good choice because modern ammo shoots up to 100 fps faster than old-fashioned bullets. This caliber also provides the most accurate results when taking down deer. Here are some tips to use this caliber for your deer hunting adventures.
First, choose a bullet. The 125 grain Ballistic Tip bullet is ideal for deer and other thin-skinned game. It shoots faster than the 150-grain Extreme Point bullets used in the Winchester Deer Season XP load, but with a flatter trajectory. Ballistic Tip bullets are made to produce devastating terminal effects on game. These bullets often deliver knockdown results within a few feet of impact, making them ideal for deer hunting.
12-gauge slug
The benefits of using a slug gun in deer hunting are many. Lighter projectiles are less likely to cause felt recoil and fly farther. The longer the slug is able to travel, the flatter its trajectory will be. Steel slugs are also legal in lead-free zones and offer incredible expansion and energy transfer. A 5-46-grain sabot slug expands large on impact, shoots well in smooth and rifled barrels, and has a kinetic energy of 1,121 ft-lbs at 150 yards. Clean-burning CSB powder makes this a perfect deer hunting choice.
When looking for a slug gun, look for a rifle that doesn’t have a barrel that extends over the scope. A Browning SR22, for example, is an excellent choice. It’s reliable and doesn’t throw shells in your face. It’s an excellent pump gun and comes in 20 gauge and 12 gauge. It also features a 22-inch rifled barrel. This gun weighs about 7 1/2 pounds.
