Smallest suitable deer cartridge - Putting laws aside

[fordj]

Hi guys,

Theoretical question here just for the sake of discussion.

As we know, different states have various laws on minimum legal calibre for hunting deer.

Putting aside the laws for the moment, what do you guys think is the smallest suitable calibre for all purpose deer hunting.

I know people say you can head shot with 22 etc. For the conversation lets assume you can't head shot every time, body shots will be required, and you're doing distances of between 100m - 300m which I think is fair?

What do you think.

[Member-Deleted]

A 60g 223 is plenty.

[1sikxt]

I personally think the laws are now out dated and need to be looked at as a 243 would bring down a samba deer no worries

[Wheelbarrow]

.243 is pretty fair IMO.

Especially with heavy pills.

A lot of guys here are using them with 85gr - 95gr pills I think for exactly this.

[Manimal]

300 win mag, phwoar!

Nah, just kidding.

I dunno why some guys insist you have to have some canon for hunting in Australia

[roob]

Compensating for something you say?

[Triang]

Where is Norton and his .416 Rigby

[Norton]

Screw you guys!

I'll go find another forum!

[Warrigul]

.243, just to be sure.

[Westy]

Alot of .22 Cals work just fine on smaller type game in Oz!!! 223 on Fallow everyday if it were legal of course????

[Warrigul]

Alot of .22 Cals work just fine on smaller type game in Oz!!! 223 on Fallow everyday if it were legal of course????

.222/.223 ideal fallow calibres, it doesn't take much to drop them, but a couple of hundred meters is starting to stretch it perhaps. But I ask would you be confortable using one up against a sambar?

[ebr love]

Yep, range is a key factor.

I'd give another vote for .243 as small but suitable.

Heavy pills though, no 55gr stuff.

Weight beats speed every time

[Westy]

.222/.223 ideal fallow calibres, it doesn't take much to drop them, but a couple of hundred meters is starting to stretch it perhaps. But I ask would you be confortable using one up against a sambar?

No I'd use a 6.5x55 for Sambar of course with 140 grn pills or a 308 with 165 grn pills ,I might be old but I'm not stupid!!!

[Member-Deleted]

No I'd use a 6.5x55 for Sambar of course with 140 grn pills or a 308 with 165 grn pills ,I might be old but I'm not stupid!!!

Excuse my ignorance but do you get Sambar up there Westy?

[Vati]

There are a few little hot spots in QLD.

Between Longreach and Emerald is a stretch.

North of Emerald on the way to Mackay also.

South of Port Douglas and Cairns has some I'm pretty sure.

Gympie north of Brisbane as well?

Probably other spots too... Those are the ones I know of anyway.

[reddog]

Seeing as you are putting laws and sense aside M1 abrams tank

[Vati]

Maybe that's like Russian Deer hunting or something?

[Member-Deleted]

Wow that's a few spots, I didn't think there was such a spread. Do you know of any in Townsville? I've got a brother that just moved back up there.

[Westy]

Seeing as you are putting laws and sense aside M1 abrams tank

Funny Bugger

[Rocker]

I reckon the Minigun.

After all, it's a "small" M61 Vulcan

Fits the question? Sort of?