Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: MasterTracker on March 05, 2008, 06:27:39 PM

Title: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: MasterTracker on March 05, 2008, 06:27:39 PM: I'd say hands down the .30-30 with the .30-06 and the .270 win trailing.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Red Dawg on March 05, 2008, 06:38:42 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: ICEMAN on March 05, 2008, 07:36:35 PM: Quote from: MasterTracker on March 05, 2008, 06:27:39 PM
I'd say hands down the .30-30 with the .30-06 and the .270 win trailing.

Agree.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: runningboard on March 05, 2008, 08:05:31 PM: 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
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: edmondshunter on March 05, 2008, 08:11:07 PM: 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
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: ICEMAN on March 05, 2008, 08:13:49 PM: 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?
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Dman on March 05, 2008, 08:23:16 PM: Quote from: MasterTracker on March 05, 2008, 06:27:39 PM
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.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: MasterTracker on March 05, 2008, 10:03:17 PM: Sorry about that man but are you a Master Tracker?
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Dman on March 05, 2008, 10:08:43 PM: Yes, but it's a sub title, no worries ;)

I've tracked a few critters.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: billythekidrock on March 06, 2008, 05:49:05 AM: Every thing I have read says 30-30.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: boneaddict on March 08, 2008, 09:58:34 AM: 30-30 has put more food on the table than any other cartridge, and is even still competetive today.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: WDFW Hates ME!!! on March 08, 2008, 10:52:20 AM: Should have included the 22... I bet more deer have been shot with a 22 from private property than anything els...
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: MasterTracker on March 08, 2008, 05:23:28 PM: 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!
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: billythekidrock on March 09, 2008, 06:47:50 PM: Quote
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.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Red Dawg on March 09, 2008, 06:58:19 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Dman on March 09, 2008, 07:23:10 PM: Hey guys, remember back in the day when the DFW had the special "light arms" season for elk?? Those were the days, I can remember when I took that big six point on No BS ridge with my .177 Beeman........

:stfu: :tup: :puke: :ass: :DOH: :bs: :iamwithstupid:
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 07:29:54 PM: A lot of calibers were left out when talking about American History. There were probably more deer killed with calibers that you didn't even list. Untold amounts with Black powder probably .50 & .54 caliber, lever action 45/70, etc. many of the calibers listed are juveniles in American History. Not being critical, just making a point.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Dman on March 09, 2008, 07:33:44 PM: Quote from: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 07:29:54 PM
A lot of calibers were left out when talking about American History. There were probably more deer killed with calibers that you didn't even list. Untold amounts with Black powder probably .50 & .54 caliber, lever action 45/70, etc. >any of the calibers listed are juveniles in American History. Not being critical, just making a point.

What about the .44 Billy? Asking as a question, I really don't know but seems like it was popular a long time ago.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 07:34:21 PM: Some more prior to 1900, 44-40, 25-38, 45LC (long colt)
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 07:36:50 PM: Yes, the .44 caliber has been around since before 1900. the rifle cartridge I believe was the 44-40 and the pistol cartridge was .44 but not magnum back then.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 07:39:24 PM: When you think about the abundance of game early in history, It is possible that we have a ways to go to catch up with our ancestors in real numbers of deer or elk taken with any kind of weapon.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: MIKEXRAY on March 09, 2008, 07:43:56 PM: Has to be the 30-30, when I was a teenager and lived in Kentucky all anyone carried was a 30-30, or a shotgun with slugs. Didn't see to many far reaching cartridges back east.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: billythekidrock on March 09, 2008, 07:45:54 PM: Yea, but you also have to remember that lots of big game animals, like deer, are at historically high populations today acrossed alot of N. America.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: boneaddict on March 09, 2008, 08:00:11 PM: (https://hunting-washington.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fbestsmileys.com%2Fsick%2F9.gif&hash=412fedaf82aa3ad236e19ef3b7558717e3e65247)YIKES
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 08:10:54 PM: Quote from: billythekidrock on March 09, 2008, 07:45:54 PM
Yea, but you also have to remember that lots of big game animals, like deer, are at historically high populations today acrossed alot of N. America.

They wouldn't be if you could kill one every day because that was what you lived on. they didn't have controlled seasons back then, there was no limit.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Slenk on March 09, 2008, 08:12:13 PM: Quote from: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 07:36:50 PM
Yes, the .44 caliber has been around since before 1900. the rifle cartridge I believe was the 44-40 and the pistol cartridge was .44 but not magnum back then.
44-40 was also a pistol cartridge . I had a Colt 44-40 that I wore out working on cattle ranches long ago. Killed lost of coyotes and some deer with it .
Slenk
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: billythekidrock on March 09, 2008, 08:14:27 PM: Quote from: KillBilly on March 09, 2008, 08:10:54 PM
Quote from: billythekidrock on March 09, 2008, 07:45:54 PM
Yea, but you also have to remember that lots of big game animals, like deer, are at historically high populations today acrossed alot of N. America.

They wouldn't be if you could kill one every day because that was what you lived on. they didn't have controlled seasons back then, there was no limit.

Back then they didn't have all the logging that leads to better feed and increased herd sizes.
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: PacificNWhunter on March 10, 2008, 12:21:36 PM: 30-30 hands down...
Title: Re: Most used cartridge in American history for "deer"
Post by: Dman on March 11, 2008, 12:52:14 PM: Heres a good pic of the Model 93 .44 lever action:

http://www.bedlans.com/WMC0701.jpg