Perfect deer cartridges war.

[Stein]

I didn't read all the crap in the middle.....

30-06 wins though 

For a do it all one rifle guy shooting factory ammo this is it.

Bingo.  If it is good enough to save the planet, it is plenty good enough to kill a deer.  Then, you use it for any other freezer filler on the continent.

[jdb]

Well part of the problem is that in the equation for energy velocity is squared. Think of it like this if you had a 180 grain full metal jacket 30 cal. Bullet at 3000 fps it's going to have considerable foot pounds of energy but that bullet is just going to zip right through a deer in and out little damage. Now imagine a 300 grain .45 Caliber jacketed soft point bullet at say 1800 fps it's going to have a much much lower foot pounds of energy but that bullet behind the ribs of a buck deer is going to wreak havoc. Foot pounds dosent take into account bullet design

Thankfully I don't have to hunt deer using either one of those options. The .45 example would work just fine at 1800 fps, but its going to slow down really fast and not work out well at longer distances. Your .30 example is just a waste of energy because it was not matched with the right bullet for the situation. Give me the .30 cal with a good hunting bullet and you got something.

Again I never said energy was the only thing of importance, but it is an important piece of it.

were gonna have to agree to disagree

[addicted]

it saide lightweight mountain so its gotta be short action.

flat shooting but still high enough BC for long energy.

6.5's are hard to beat.

[coachcw]

6.5's rule odooole

[kentrek]

you wouldnt use a scoped .338 in the bush for 50 yard shots would you?

Why wouldn't you ?

[gotcha]

6.5 284 for me

[ing]

Anything-06

[demontang]

Love 338 federal. It's not a long range winner but I've never shot a deer over 300 yrds. Frontage area mixed with energy makes a big difference in penetration and Leaves room for a misplaced shot do to wind, miss guessed yardage, or the stick you couldn't see. And if you hunt where there's big bears the 338 would be my choice for a encounter.

[Axle]

A Wasp Broadhead is the best cartridge. Just ask Bowhunter45. He will agree with me.
If you can't use a bow or don't bow hunt, then I would suggest a 25 caliber. I like the 257 Roberts and 25-06.
 

[Jonathan_S]

A Wasp Broadhead is the best cartridge. Just ask Bowhunter45. He will agree with me.
If you can't use a bow or don't bow hunt, then I would suggest a 25 caliber. I like the 257 Roberts and 25-06.
 

   this poll is useless without a quarter-bore as an option   

.25-06 is my favorite cartridge for deer.

[Shane54]

Odd that the 30-06 and 270 were not a choice being they are the 2 most popular rifle calibers

[Jonathan_S]

Consider this a 22-250 has more energy then some 45-70 loads which would you use to hunt buffalo?

Just looked up the 45-70 on the Federal chart. They only listed a 300 grain bullet. It has 2280 lbs at the muzzle and still 1004 at 300 yards. I have personally never seen a 22-250 load that comes close to this?

ok I stand corrected but if you compare the 220 swift to the 405 grain they're within 4 foot pounds

I'd rather take my chances being hit with the .220 Swift in that circumstance.

The .45/70 is used as a Cape Buffalo gun with the right projectile, it looses trajectory quickly after 150 yards but those bullets do severe damage and are accurate in their grouping.  And it doesn't roast up barrels like the Swift