smallest gr. bullet

[splitshot]

  what is the smallest grain bullet bullet you can hunt deer with?  my friend says 100 and i said 80.  another said whatever will make a kill.  dont listen to him.  thanks, mike w

[high country]

55gr .243

[HairTrigger]

.45gr 204

[BOWHUNTER45]

The smallest I have went out of my 243 was a 87 gr v-max and my son used it on his 2 nd buck and it went about 4 steps and tipped over ...again all in bullet placement !

[Seabeckian]

A few years back I called up WDFW with the same question, more so out of curiosity than practicality. The officer I spoke with said it was based on the minimum caliber and that there was no minimum grain bullet weight if I remember correctly. Previously I always thought it was 100 grain minimum bullet weight.

I would bet this will start another big pissing match based on everyone's personal opinion. 

[coyotewallace]

splitshot ,
Are you talking to be legal in Wa. or whats the smallest bullet we have killed a deer with anywhere?

[HairTrigger]

Witnessed a spike bull taken with a 17 hmr

[BOWHUNTER45]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

[buck man]

Witnessed a spike bull taken with a 17 hmr

[Seabeckian]

 

Not something I would be proud of.

[FC]

Most poachers use a rimfire.

[HairTrigger]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

[Antlershed]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

When you brag about witnessing an elk get shot with a .17hmr, it doesn't help your case much...

[MuleDeerCrazy]

Regs used to say min. cal. .243 w/ 100 gr. bullets, but now it just says min. cal. .243... maybe it doesn't matter anymore?

[Wanttohuntmore]

I remember the regs used to be either 80 or 85 for the 243... I haven't looked lately, but I think it's not stated.  Remember, the regs we read (the pamphlet) is a synopsis of the actual WA laws... So if you are ticketed, you'll need to read the actual law, not the pamphlet, to fight it in court.  I do need to find this out though, was wanting to use a 80 in the 243 for my young son to start out on.

[HairTrigger]

Shot placement is key an didn't know there was a case

[KillBilly]

Not sure where this topic is leading but the only caliber mentioned so far that is legal for deer is the 6mm/.243. I have not heard that Tribes can use smaller calibers/rimfire HairTrigger, but it may be so. Otherwise it is .22 or .24 caliber centerfire or larger.

[throttlejocky20]

Itook a buck a few years ago at over 300 yards with a 95 grain 243.

[JLS]

There is no legal requirement for bullet weight.

I've killed a ton of critters with 85 grain Barnes TSX from my .243, including elk.

[deleted BGS]

.45gr 204

If im not mistaken you cant hunt big game with a  .204 

[724wd]

was wanting to use a 80 in the 243 for my young son to start out on.

IMHO, you'd do better to use managed recoil .308 rounds.  shot placement with an 80 grain .243 will have to be precise.  125 grain managed recoil .308 with a good pad and standard weight gun should have no more recoil than what you're planning.  bigger hole, hits a little harder, more damage to the organs. 

[BOWHUNTER45]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

guess I am too ...since I mentioned .22mag 

[BOWHUNTER45]

Not sure where this topic is leading but the only caliber mentioned so far that is legal for deer is the 6mm/.243. I have not heard that Tribes can use smaller calibers/rimfire HairTrigger, but it may be so. Otherwise it is .24 caliber centerfire or larger.

[Biggerhammer]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

Wahooooo!   Play that racial card..... 

[JackOfAllTrades]

From the hunter regulation pamplet!

"Rifles:
Big game, except cougar, must be hunted with a minimum of 24 caliber (6mm) centerfire rifle. Cougar may be hunted with 22 caliber centerfire rifle. Rimfire rifles are not legal for big game.

Handguns:
Big game, except cougar, may be hunted with handguns with a minimum barrel length of 4 inches per manufacturers specification, and fire a minimum 24 caliber centerfire cartridge. The minimum for cougar is a 22 caliber centerfire handgun. Rimfire handguns are not legal for big game

So, for anyone that has witnessed the killing of big game in Washington state with a smaller caliber cartridge on lands other than tribal, I really hope you got your 10 points for turning in a poacher.

In years past, there was a designation of 100gn bullet as a minimum for the 240 cal, but that seems to have been removed from the pamplet. That doesn't mean that the requirement doesn't exist. There also used be verbage for using a firearm and cartridge capable of dispatching animals humanely.  Think that still lands with the judgement of the Fish and Game officer writing you the citation.  I searched the RCW's a bit and can't find the rule. 
 
-Steve

[Bigtine96]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

[HairTrigger]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

Wahooooo!   Play that racial card..... 
just sayin

Just saying what y'all say on all the other treads lol its just funny to me

[Biggerhammer]

I will take my 22mag over that 17 hmr  where did he hit that elk in the hoof   

heart shot an yup tha nag is way better lol remember I am already a poacher in your all books because of tha color of my skin an this was up on tha rez

Wahooooo!   Play that racial card..... 
just sayin

Just saying what y'all say on all the other treads lol its just funny to me

A skunk can't change it's stripes.

[HairTrigger]

Ok pepe la fue lmfao

[TheHunt]

My grandfather use the kill deer with a 22 in the garden back in the 1920's and 30's.  He use to shoot them in the ear.

[Biggerhammer]

Ok pepe la fue lmfao

 

[HairTrigger]

Ok pepe la fue lmfao

 

Lol here ya go biggerhammer lol

[wraithen]

Hammer, have I told you I love your avatar now? 

[Biggerhammer]

Hammer, have I told you I love your avatar now? 

I thought someone might, I do!

[elkslayer069]

Hammer, have I told you I love your avatar now? 

can you make it bigger 

[coachcw]

the barns x in 85 grain would be the bare minimuim for me .