smallest caliber to kill deer

[bow4my2]

I just recently have gotten my feet wet with rifles for deer hunting and just out of curiosity without starting a battle,whats the smallest caliber u can effectively kill a deer with and not ear hole them....So a typical set up being 100yrd max.good conditions....etc..thx

[SmTx]

Shot 3 of my last 4 with a .221 fireball.

[LiftAndShoot]

I've killed (culled) does inside 50 yards, in good conditions, with a .22mag under the ear. It's a tough shot, but if you miss, you usually miss clean.

That said, .22-250 or a .223 would be the smallest caliber I'd recommend.

[LWD]

IIRC TPWD says you can use any centerfire cartridge. I know a guy who used to use a .218 Bee. Inside 100 yards with a good rest, I'd probably try my .22 Hornet, but only because it's a .75" 5-shot gun with my handloads. And ear hole only shots.

LWD

[rferg84]

I just recently have gotten my feet wet with rifles for deer hunting and just out of curiosity without starting a battle,whats the smallest caliber u can effectively kill a deer with and not ear hole them....So a typical set up being 100yrd max.good conditions....etc..thx

22-250 or something similar, shot placement is key.

[Fishndude]

85 gr.

[Bowtech38]

243, 22-250.

[LWD]

And to be clear a brain shot is a whole nother animal from a heart/lung or shoulder shot. A .22 LR will kill them quite dead if put in the ear. Or so I hear....

LWD

[westtexducks]

I have seen a .204 drop several muley does with a chest shot and a v-max at 125ish yards.

[CRT]

I've killed Axis deer with a .223.

[tyak]

22 hornet will do some damage

[Seacoal]

Whatever you can put where it needs to go. More deer on this earth have been killed with a .22 LR than probably every other caliber combined.
Inside 100 yards, with a good rest, I wouldn't hesitate to use any 22 caliber, a 204, and possibly some 17's

[Jmh05]

My personal smallest faith caliber is a .243 for deer.

[stringstalker84]

My 1st deer rifle was a lever action .357. Small, light, no recoil and with 157 grain semi hollow points that thing is lethal within 100 yards. I still use it every once in awhile.

My son hunts with a little Mossberg atr 100 .243 and it works like a champ

[bow4my2]

thabks guys. ..that hornet looks like it did the trick...good for her...how far.....im thinking .223 pretty good standard round