Caliber without much kick for deer?

[TTUgrad08]

Yes sir!

same. I don’t get pass thru’s though, usually just under the skin opposite side of entry.

[tvc184]

same. I don’t get pass thru’s though, usually just under the skin opposite side of entry.

What round?

My longest shot that I mentioned went through bone and at that angle, probably 15” out the other side with about a .50 caliber hole.

I think the round is still going……

[Etxbuckman]

7mm-08 or 25-06. 25-06 is my new favorite.

[TTUgrad08]

What round?

My longest shot that I mentioned went through bone and at that angle, probably 15” out the other side with about a .50 caliber hole.

I think the round is still going……

Fusion.

[Canoe1]

243 is an easy and fun to shoot gun. I have heard great things on 7mm-08, but haven’t shot one before.
You could also look at a muzzle break, makes it louder, but makes my 7mm REM Mag enjoyable to shoot now.
Get with me and maybe we can have a range day for you to try some out.

[Traildust]

100% .308

[KY2TX]

25-06

[rjtkdplus]

7-08 with 120 grain TTSX bullets. My wife has killed everything from Javelinas to African Sable with it. Light recoil with her Browning Micro Medallion and it kills everything quickly!

[Johnny Dangerr]

6.5 X 55 Swede is our go to. Great BC and more of a push than a kick...

[ladybluearm]

same. I don’t get pass thru’s though, usually just under the skin opposite side of entry.

223 puts em down, that’s all that matters.

[Lincoln Hawk]

The exact cartridge is largely irrelevant. 7-08, 308, 6.5 CM will all do the job. The answer is a heavy gun (assuming stand hunting in TX) and a suppressor.

[bowhntrmatt]

I shot a buck opening weekend with the 25-06 I've had since I was a kid and it got me wondering why I've spent so much on other rifles. It's devastating with a 117 on deer and is very mild on recoil.

That said, if you don't reload, 6.5 or 6mm Creedmoor are really the way to go. Seems like ammo is everywhere for those. If you do, I'm very partial to a 6.5x284.

[Sshierry]

So to address your last sentence, or second to last actually, yes, the 6.5 is more than adequate, you already have one and like you mentioned there wouldn't be a need for different ammo. But more guns is more fun and always nice to grow the collection.

[Fmjag64]

243 or 270.

[Bigfootwolff]

To the OP, you have received some great recommendations so I will add my .02 cents. My first deer rifle was a .243, and it accounted for quite a few deer, but the lack of reliable exit wouds and a blood trail when hunting deer in thick east Texas cover almost resulted in 2 lost deer. I think the .243 is a great round, especially using a bonded bullet that is more likely to provide an exit wound and corresponding blood trail. I think the 7mm-08 is an incredible round that would work well for almost any game animal found in Texas, except maybe Nilgai. The 6.5 Creedmoor is also a great round that has a little less recoil than the 7mm-08 (if similar rifle weights are used). There is a large amount of available factory loads readily available in the 6.5 in the event you don't reload, so finding a load that shoots well in your rifle should be easy. If it were me, and my primary game animals were deer, hogs, and deer sized exotics, and light recoil was a requirement, my Home choice would be the 6.5 Creedmoor, Forum would be the 7mm-08, and Blogs would be the .243. I know there are other rounds that would work equally well (.257 Robert's, 6mm Creedmoor, 6mm Remington, .260 Remington, 6.5?55,.25-06, and others), but I did not include them because of the lack of readily available factory loads as I do not know if the OP reloads ammo.