smallest caliber to kill deer

[Ducksmith]

Yep I have it sighted in! What do they whine about?!?

The donkey nudge when it goes boom. Had a guy on a lease years and years ago before I started bowhunting.....buy one for a few weeks before season and sell it a week later after we got him sighted in. He had a .270 when he showed back up.....not sighted in

[JW]

smallest caliber to kill deer

Bullet construction is more critical than caliber. IMO what you want is a bullet that will expand to the largest diameter(so it creates the most massive wound channel) and retain 100 % of its weight. NO FMJs

More importantly than caliber, I would say that at any given range you would want a bullet to deliver no less than 800 ft lbs of energy.(I'm no expert but that's the least amount in any caliber I would be comfortable with.)and the amount of energy a bullet retains is dependent upon the caliber itself, type and weight of the bullet being fired, propellant that drives the bullet and the length of barrel the bullet is shot from.

There are those that will tell you that with a .22 caliber bullet that shot placement is key. This is only arguing semantics as shot placement is key with any caliber.

All I know is, under 150yds with an ar15 with 16" barrel I will shoot spikes and does and the like. More than 150yds and forget it. If I'm trophy buck hunting (at any "reasonable" range") I'm going to be shooting a .30-06 with a 180gr nosler partition bullet.

Disagree again. The deadliest on game performance bullet I have witnessed time and time again is a Berger VLD. I despise a bonded billet or partition type billets on whitetail sized game animals. I had to follow to many blood trails.

[CRT]

The donkey nudge when it goes boom. Had a guy on a lease years and years ago before I started bowhunting.....buy one for a few weeks before season and sell it a week later after we got him sighted in. He had a .270 when he showed back up.....not sighted in

I guess it all depends on what you are comfortable with! Lol

[Colton]

Bottom line......
It ain't,what you shoot.
It's,where you shoot.

Agreed shot placement is the most important factor, but I prefer something bigger than 223 (personal preference)

[JW]

Agreed shot placement is the most important factor, but I prefer something bigger than 223 (personal preference)

There is that term. Shot placement!!! Duh!!!!

[Limbwalker]

Lol. 22 mag. Huh. Gotta love this place.

Indeed. It never ceases to amaze me.

[Colton]

There is that term. Shot placement!!! Duh!!!!

You bein sarcastic? I can't tell

[Limbwalker]

Yep I have it sighted in! What do they whine about?!?

I don't enjoy shooting an '06, and I'm man enough to admit it.

[Ducksmith]

Hey!! I'm not quite sure how to take that?!? Lol!!

Let me clarify...large caliber handguns and rifles, 60+ lb draws, stout whiskey shots, strong cigars, and serving effectively in the military ain't just for men no more. You hunt like a man, only prettier

[JW]

I don't enjoy shooting an '06, and I'm man enough to admit it.

Why not? Seriously I don't get it. 300 Mag pushin 210 grains I can get.

[30-30]

To answer the initial question, I don't think there is a LEGAL (meaning centerfire) cartridge out there that would not kill a deer every time at 100 yards with a perfect double-lung shot.

That being said, a larger caliber is generally preferable because of a number of potential problems. (bullet hits bone, deer moves, you flinch, farther shot, unseen brush, wind, etc.) The larger caliber won't make up for improper shot placement, but it can be the difference between a lost deer and a found deer.

243 is a good all-around minimum, imo.

And btw, don't take head shots. It's not a kill-or-miss shot. You can graze the skull, blow the jaw, put out an eye, etc. A double-lung shot will kill 100% dead 100% of the time, and the lungs are a much larger target than the brain...

[CRT]

Yeah I know! I've been called a weird girl on more than one occasion! Lol!! I love guns and hunting.....but I just can't do normal...it's boring!

[rferg84]

I think smaller calibers are fine but I will say this, I have not once lost a deer or even had to track over 100 yards with my .308.

[PondPopper]

To answer the initial question, I don't think there is a LEGAL (meaning centerfire) cartridge out there that would not kill a deer every time at 100 yards with a perfect double-lung shot.

That being said, a larger caliber is generally preferable because of a number of potential problems. (bullet hits bone, deer moves, you flinch, farther shot, unseen brush, wind, etc.) The larger caliber won't make up for improper shot placement, but it can be the difference between a lost deer and a found deer.

243 is a good all-around minimum, imo.

And btw, don't take head shots. It's not a kill-or-miss shot. You can graze the skull, blow the jaw, put out an eye, etc. A double-lung shot will kill 100% dead 100% of the time, and the lungs are a much larger target than the brain...

Spot on and yes Head shots can get ugly. Real ugly!!!!!

[Swamphunterfw]

I like small fast bullets , 243 works good but last year i switched to 25-06 an love it dropped a big mississppi doe in her tracks at almost 300 yards flipped her flat on her back