Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"

[MasterTracker]

I'd say hands down the .30-30 with the .30-06 and the .270 win trailing.

[Red Dawg]

half of the people I know use or have used the 30-06 for years. Most versatile big game caliber on the market and probably always will be.

[ICEMAN]

I'd say hands down the .30-30 with the .30-06 and the .270 win trailing.

Agree.

[runningboard]

I agree with the statements already made, however I think with marketing BS along with deer becoming "armored" folks are moving more towards 30-06 class cartridges, & if it doesn't say MAGNUM in the name it might not do the job. so historically, I agree with mastertracker but I think the same question will have different answers as time marches on

[edmondshunter]

30-06 gets my vote

1. 30-06
2. 270w
3. 243

Most guys I know started with a 243 or 270,  so I think their a shoe in for 2nd, 3rd

[ICEMAN]

Isn't the .270 sort of a western "regional" caliber though...? I could be wrong, but I remember someone saying that. I thought the 30/30 would be the most used, due to the lower entry level cost, and the lack of long range guns needed back east and down south?

[Dman]

I'd say hands down the .30-30 with the .30-06 and the .270 win trailing.

Dude, you stole my name....


 30-30 without a doubt. existed long before scoped guns were commonplace, though if you took the same pole in another 50 years from now, I'd imagine a magnum caliber would pass up the 30-30.

[MasterTracker]

Sorry about that man but are you a Master Tracker?

[Dman]

 Yes, but it's a sub title, no worries 

 I've tracked a few critters.

[billythekidrock]

Every thing I have read says 30-30.

[boneaddict]

30-30 has put more food on the table than any other cartridge, and is even still competetive today.

[WDFW Hates ME!!!]

Should have included the 22... I bet more deer have been shot with a 22 from private property than anything els...

[MasterTracker]

That's funny you say that in my younger days i took one with a marlin 22 at 135 yard's on a hill 3 shot's fired 3 shot's hit. 2 were fatal and one was a damn leg shot. 1st shot was a leg 2nd was a dbl lounger 3rd was a spine at 135yds on a hill...zeroed at 50yds this is when i new i was a shooter!

[billythekidrock]

this is when i new i was a shooter!

Illegal activity aside, in my opinion you are not a shooter if you shoot a deer with a .22 at 135 yards. A shooter would know that a .22 is not capable of a guaranteed kill at that distance. A shooter would would have been able to place all 3 shots within a couple inches at that distance. Sounds like you were floating about 12 inches up and down of center. Sounds like you got lucky that the deer died quickly. Ever see a deer shot in the neck, or lungs for that matter that survived until the next hunting season? I have and I am sure the deer did not have a good time while it was healing.

[Red Dawg]

agree billy, shooting big game with a 22LR is not a sportsman. It is being ignorant and not thinking past the end of your nose of what would happen if you hadn't killed the animal.