smallest caliber to kill deer

[STex]

Interesting thread. I shoot a 30-06 in 150/165. Never have lost an animal that I've hit, and admittedly have made a few less than desireable shots (ie a bit back... or a bit high.) I guess I am not as manly as Texastornado apparently, because I do develop a flinch with that gun. I'm constantly having to fight it, probably because I don't shoot it enough. I did some research and found some writeups from some experts that say it is impossible to not have to battle not developing a flinch with a certain ft-lb of recoil for which the 30-06 is well above. With a .22/.17 I am a good shot, so I know it's recoil management I have a problem with. That being said, I'm thinking about buying a .243 someday (no hurry) and leaving the 30-06 for those times I get invited to a caribou hunt in Alaska.

Just go down to a 25-06 and problem solved

[PondPopper]

I'll say this. In the past I've shot several deer with my 223 and a 64gr soft point. Killed everyone one of them deader than a hammer. BUT I quit using it because in the back of my mind there is small shred of doubt,whether or not it will turn out good,when I pull the trigger.
I choose my 6mm on up now days.

[txstringbender]

Can't go wrong with .243

[Old Bald Guy]

It's all about penetration. Varmint bullets are just wrong for deer.

That sums it up nicely. 35 years ago I would have disagreed with you but I've seen enough bullet failures in my life to change my way of thinking.

I know of at least 10 deer most being muley does and a handful of whitetail does that I watched die and a whole lot more that a buddy has shot with a varmint bullet out of .22-250 .223 and .204 that would argue with that statement.

Just keep shooting deer with varmint bullets and you'll see bullet failures. They're awesome when everything goes right but it sux really bad when that nice buck becomes coyote chow cause that thin jacketed varmint bullet blew up on the hide and didn't penetrate. Not sayin that I don't enjoy the mushroom cloud that you get when you shoot an old doe between the eyes with a 45 gr. varmint bullet out of a 22-250 though.

[JW]

That sums it up nicely. 35 years ago I would have disagreed with you but I've seen enough bullet failures in my life to change my way of thinking.



Just keep shooting deer with varmint bullets and you'll see bullet failures. They're awesome when everything goes right but it sux really bad when that nice buck becomes coyote chow cause that thin jacketed varmint bullet blew up on the hide and didn't penetrate. Not sayin that I don't enjoy the mushroom cloud that you get when you shoot an old doe between the eyes with a 45 gr. varmint bullet out of a 22-250 though.

So ur 36 years old now???

[switchbackxt]

Imo .243

[cattlelackranch]

Lol

[JW]

[ATTACH]651044[/ATTACH]

Lol

Well droppin ur Taco must uncontrollable laughter!!!!

[cattlelackranch]

Well droppin ur Taco must uncontrollable laughter!!!!

Your right. I right clicked and saved later for some of my amigos! I have to wait for the right time to drop this one on them. Timing is everything.

[ElGatoBandito]

I learned to kill deer with a .223.
My grandfather killed his first deer with a .22LR.
I know a guy in Sterling City that has filled his tags since 2005 with a .204 ruger. "1 tiny bullet, 1 dead deer" is his motto.
I'm willing to bet that if I could get close enough, and had the right pellet gun, I could do it with one of those.

It's a matter of legality, then what you are comfortable with, and what you are proficient with.

[snipermedic]

I'm going to win this Legally for whitetail in texas. FN 5.7x28 in a pistol.

[JW]

smallest caliber to kill deer

I'm going to win this Legally for whitetail in texas. FN 5.7x28 in a pistol.

I'll see ur 5.7 and raise you a 17 Hornet in a zip gun.

[bow4my2]

[ATTACH]651044[/ATTACH]

Lol

thats pretty dang funny

[The "Juan" 12]

lol i use a 22-250 and shoot all my deer in the throat when facing me. sits em on their butt everytime

[The "Juan" 12]

.17 Remington

since when is it legal to shoot a deer with a rimfire?