Calibre choice for deer ARRRRRR!

[jays]

I realised how pricey decent .303 ammo is after I bought one!

I suppose it's just as cheap to reload though once you get some brass.

[Grandpa_Halfdime]

Best all around is the .30-06. Same bullets as .308 / 7.62x51mm (well, you can go heavier for dangerous game with .30-06, aka 7.62x63mm) but larger choice on types of powders / loads.
As for kick you can choose different powders/loads for different bullet weights and different game.
As for the .270, its a shorter range version of the .30-06 due to lower bullet mass.

[Farmjer]

Get a dice and write a bunch of cartridges on it.

270
.280
7mm-08
308
30-06

Roll it, whatever lands is good

[AlanK]

As for the .270, its a shorter range version of the .30-06 due to lower bullet mass.

Shorter range? I don't know about that.

Better BC for the same weight would send it further.

Either way, for deer hunting here so either is going to be plenty.

[headspace]

I managed to cover all bases with a 308, 270 and 243, but if I was hunting Sambar it would most likely be the 308 with 165gn Interlocks. I like the 243 for Fallow and goats, but the 270 with 140 SST's pretty much covers everything.
JD

[Mick280]

What is the cut of point on the Game Councils deer size and weight scale that I can legally take animals with my .257 Wby Mag ?
Reason I ask is , I've Taken Fallow with it , But a couple of years ago I went to the SCI Convention and Show over in Coffs Harbour and was talking to a hunt operator from Sth Africa who was telling me that quiet a few of his clients are using Roy's Favourite to take rather large plains game over there and proven to be very successful.
Mick

[Walt68]

.338 Winchester Magnum.

[chacka]

.338 Winchester Magnum.

He did say "mostly fallow"

Easy there big fella

[Goshawk]

Hi all,
Well, in the end I settled on a Browning A-bolt in 308w. Nice and lite, accurate and got it at a good price.

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Shot my first buck on private property at 7m.... Probably didn't need a 308w at that distance...

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Another for the freezer, 40m shot.

My plan for the rifle is the get it cut down to 18, probably put a brake on it and put a Vortex red dot on top.

[fawksel]

Great work mate

7m eh...... Ninja stealth skills there

[Chickenhawk]

Gratz Goshawk

[Goshawk]

Great work mate

7m eh...... Ninja stealth skills there

Lol, I was a bow hunter for 25 years so I can put my 'be a sneaky mother fooker on' when needed. But in this case the silly thing came running up a creek line and stopped right in front of me.

[Bark]

But in this case the silly thing came running up a creek line and stopped right in front of me.

That'll teach him to be more careful next time.

Um, no wait.......

[Sam45]

Now, 130gr ttsx, 150gr interbond or something in the 168gr range...?

Go the 130gr. Will shoot flatter, have less recoil and a bit less meat loss than the 150gr or 168gr.

130gr is plenty for Fallow, you definitely do not need something as heavy as 150gr or more.

Also Try the Sako 102gr. I put a heap through my Tikka .308 and they group well .308 off the bench is pretty crap with the kick lol. But in the field no worries at all, love it.

[scrolllock]

102gr .30 cal bullets must almost be like shooting marbles they'd be that short

[BBJ]

I'm surprised you could get them to group TBH.

Too light/short for most I'd say.

[headspace]

I've got some Fallow country coming up and will take my 243 loaded with 85gn Sierra Game Kings HPBT. The US Hunters use that set all the time on Whitetail and even up to Mule Deer, so I don't see any drama with Fallow. Soon find out though.
JD

[RDobber]

I've got some Fallow country coming up and will take my 243 loaded with 85gn Sierra Game Kings HPBT. The US Hunters use that set all the time on Whitetail and even up to Mule Deer, so I don't see any drama with Fallow. Soon find out though.
JD

Sounds like the right tool for the job to me

[Bosbefok]

I've got some Fallow country coming up and will take my 243 loaded with 85gn Sierra Game Kings HPBT. The US Hunters use that set all the time on Whitetail and even up to Mule Deer, so I don't see any drama with Fallow. Soon find out though.
JD

I believe the minimum is 100gr projectiles on fallow here in NSW. I could be mistaken. I doubt anyone will know the difference...

[Humir]

Hmm, this is from 10 years ago so could easily be out of date but it's something for you....

http://secure.environment.gov.au/biodiv ... l-deer.pdf

Small deer (e.g. hog and fallow deer)
The minimum calibre is .243 with 100 grain projectile. Case length must be at
least 51mm

[tony m]

From Western Canada and new here folks . interested to hear about things like this where you are.I am a .270 man , but I think the bullet choice is far more important than the caliber.My .270 win does keep different bullets/different weight close to the same poi at 100 m. Eg n elk or moose here I might use use a hornady gmx (monolithic) and on deer a 130 sst.The 160 partition prints about 3" below and zeroed at 100m the others zeroed at 275.The 160 's are for d.g issues .Grizzlies etc up close.Bullets these days are quite amazing in either chambering imo.cheers

[Sam45]

talk about over gunned there only fallow get a 243 or a 25-06 both will give you a dead deer at close and medium (500y) range

I shoot fallow with a .223

[southeast varmiter]

For dedicated deer gun. Would go for 270 WSM

[sandgroperbill]

This is one of those subjects that can go on and on and on. Reason is that there are many calibres that will dot he job just as well as the next, and is ultimately a matter of personal preference and bullet selection (as well as shot placement, range, terrain, rifle selection, etc).

Me, I'm pretty simple. I like 30 cals for hunting as that's what I'm familiar with (.303, .308 and .30-06). Having said that, I believe that choosing a rifle that you're comfortable with is more important than the calibre selection.

[bigtone]

If you don't want to eat it then use nothing less than a 50BMG! If you do want to eat it, then still use the 50BMG but make sure you hit it in the head or neck!

[Klem]

This is one of those subjects that can go on and on and on. Reason is that there are many calibres that will dot he job just as well as the next, and is ultimately a matter of personal preference and bullet selection (as well as shot placement, range, terrain, rifle selection, etc).

Yep, tonnes of options that only vary by shooting a little flatter, or hitting a little harder or a little whatever.

At the end of the day all kill a deer dear so there isn't any real winner as far as which one is "best", people just pick whichever one has the bit extra that they think is important.

Anything in a .270 or bigger will do it much the same.

[headspace]

The 270W is a far better round than the 308. I've had both and sold the 308 because the 270 just did everything better, but I also have a 243.

[happyhunter]

I'd be thinking projectile choice rather than calibre. So many cartridges are suitable it really comes down to bullet selection.

[heeple]

So many cartridges are suitable it really comes down to bullet selection.

+1.

Any one of a dozen different calibres with a suitable bullet = dead deer.

[Kai]

Ive owned 270w and 308w, both great calibers, cant go wrong with either, atm I'm using a 308w for most of my hunting, drops sambar just fine.