Best deer caliber

[Curly]

260 Rem

[Lcl 66 Tinner]

What kind of distances are we looking at? I shoot a 7mm Rem mag and would suggest that. The 7mm Rem mag was designed to have the power of a .30-06 and less recoil than a .300 and its a fairly flat shooter along with the .270. 7mm Rem mag shoots 600 yards all day with good knock down power. .270 is my next choice.

[Skillet]

I am not looking for a mag.  Just a caliber that is very accurate, mild to moderate recoil and something that I can easily reload or buy factory ammo for.

You've got the 338WM already for elk - all of these "crossover" caliber suggestions are moot.

You can easily reload for just about anything.  But, if I was making your decision I'd lean towards something with easily available factory ammo.  If you don't care about the "cool factor" of having an odd caliber, I'd be looking at one of the .308-based cartridges in either a .243 or 7mm-08.  I'd probably go with the 7mm-08 just for the added punch, and I'm seeing more and more of this on the shelf of small stores out in the sticks.

[D-Rock425]

 

[Labs07]

So in Wyoming my shots on antelope have been around 250 to 350 yrds and the Elk I shot this year over there was 437 yrds.  Here in WA I have yet to shoot a deer or Elk over 150 yrds.

[coachcw]

all around the .270 . the .260 is very accurate and in a full length rifle in 1in 8 twist would make a killer set up .

[casey58]

I use a .243 and haven't had a deer run more then 20 yds. after the shot.

[Labs07]

Thanks for all of the great input!  It seems like all have good points and will get the job done!  When I do purchase I will let you all know what I bought!

[bobcat]

Whatever you get, it will be perfect!

(As long as it's a 270 Winchester)

[matt345]

Whatever you get, it will be perfect!

(As long as it's a 270 Winchester)

[Curly]

.270 Win is pretty darn good, but perfect is a .280 Rem.   

[7STW]

.270 Winchester and 130 grain sciroccos.

[jackelope]

I've seen more deer boom-flop dead where they stood from a .243 than I have from my assorted .30 cal stuff. That would include, in recent history, 5-6 deer to a .30-06 and 2 to a .300 win mag. Shot placement is king. The big magnums do usually make them more deader though.

[coachcw]

there's a accumark ultralight in the classifides in 270 . i think he want 1050 for it . really a fine rifle and about half price.

[Ozzi Bob]

  308 winchester for me. Short compact rifle, short barrel, buy ammo anywhere, kills great without ruining heaps of meat