What's the smallest cartridge you should use?

[Zachary]

Shot placement is everything.  Well......almost everything.  If you don't have a bullet with sufficient diameter, weight, construction, and speed, then even the best shot placement won't do you much good.

Personally, I wouldn't use anything smaller than a .243 on deer, and even then I would use premium bullets like a 100 grain Nosler Partition and keep shots under 150 yards and limit it to broadside shots.  Still, I know that there are many hunters that use .22-250s, and even .223s.  Heck, I know of one hunter in Texas that uses a .17Remington!  To me, the 22s are just too risky for deer hunting.

So, what's the smallest cartridge you should use for deer?

Zachary

[muzzleblast525]

22-250!

[Chuck White]

The smallest cartridge I have used and would use again is the 22 Hornet!

If I limit my shots to standing, broad-side & under 150 yards, and I place the shot tight behind the shoulder I don't seem to have a problem!  Most times the deer will fall, right there!  The furthest I've seen a deer run after the shot was about 30 yards!

The Winchester 46 grain Hollow Point and the Hornady 45 grain Spire Point both seem to work well!

I wouldn't recommend the Hornet for someone with little experience!

However, my "go-to" deer rifle is my M-7 7mm-08!

[Squeeze]

For me deer means northern whitetails, where good bucks
field dress well over 200 lbs, and an old doe will dress somewhere
over 150 lbs.  So for me, my minimum is a .25-06 Rem.  

Many, here in Wisconsin, consider the .243 Win, as the minimum
caliber deer rifle, but I like a little more "Bang Flop", in my deer
rifle.  The .25-06 Rem., shooting a 100 gr. Barnes TSX bullet,
pretty much anchors a whitetail, thereby minimizing those
conflicts, in the woods, over wounded animals dead on their
feet, shot by a second hunter.  The .25-06 delivers the same
100 gr. bullet, as the .243 Win, with much more energy, so
that is the reason behind my choice for the minimum deer
rifle.

Squeeze

[Redhawk1]

.243 is the smallest I would use.  :-)

[EVOC ONE]

One thing to consider is that no one knows just exactly what kind of shot a hunter may get.  The shot may be broadside or from an angle.  It could also be a dead on front or rear shot.  The bullet would need to be able to provide enough penetration to create a sufficient wound channel to cause a mortal wound.   To my knowledge, bullets smaller than 6mm (and some 6mm's) are not designed for deep penetration.  They are designed to virtually explode upon impact.

Everyone in the gun world knows someone or has heard stories about how deer sized animals have been taken with just about every caliber, big and small.  But, perhaps a hunter should strive for every advantage he/she can muster.  Is there any guarantee that a .30-06 with a 180 gr bullet will drop a deer in his tracks?  Absoulutely not.   But the percentage is there over a smaller, say .22 caliber and maybe even a 6mm.

Another issue to consider are the state regulations regarding minumum specifications of cartridges.  If I recall correctly, Maryland requires a minimum of 1200 ft lbs of ME for rifles, but limits the caliber to 6mm and larger.  I believe the limit for handguns is a minimum of 700 ft lbs ME from a minimum of a six inch barrel.  That rule, if still accurate, may be obsolete due to the latest big bore handguns calibers, some of those cartridges get much more than 700 ft lbs ME from less than six inches.

EVOC ONE

[EVOC ONE]

Heck!  Got off on a tangent and forgot to include the smallest cartridge I would use.  Probably the .257 Roberts.  I have no experiance with the cartridge, but for years I have read how many consider it to be the most useful cartridge ever produced and how well it does on deer sized animals.

It would not be my first or even second choice, but it would probably be the smallest I would choose.  

Thanks,
EVOC ONE

[ought6]

I've probably never been known by my friends to use the smallest anything!! :-D

However, being as you posed the question,  I have taken a fairly large 6 point with a .223 and a neck shot.  If given the opportunity again, I would.  The deer went down like the proverbial sack of potatoes.  However, it WAS a neck shot.  You can use a .223 if you ONLY take appropriate shots and ONLY at ranges 100 yds or less.  Otherwise, you loose the advantage of velocity.  

If you are looking for a caliber that would take a deer no matter the circumstances, my minimum would be at least a 7mm.  Heck, I've hunted them with a .375 H&H, I have no qualms about big calibers, actually, I prefer them!! :-D

[Lawdog]

Shot placement is everything.  Well......almost everything.  If you don't have a bullet with sufficient diameter, weight, construction, and speed, then even the best shot placement won't do you much good.

Personally, I wouldn't use anything smaller than a .243 on deer, and even then I would use premium bullets like a 100 grain Nosler Partition and keep shots under 150 yards and limit it to broadside shots.  Still, I know that there are many hunters that use .22-250s, and even .223s.  Heck, I know of one hunter in Texas that uses a .17Remington!  To me, the 22s are just too risky for deer hunting.

So, what's the smallest cartridge you should use for deer?

Zachary

Zachary,

I too agree about the .243 Win. being the smallest to use and it's the smallest I allow on my property by those that I give permission to.  Just seen too many times when a .22 centerfire failed to bring down a deer leaving it wounded and to die a slow painful death.  Lawdog
 

[beemanbeme]

Back when I was fishing bass tournies, conventional wisdom was to rig for the largest fish you HOPED to catch, in the worst possible conditions.  That makes a lot of sense in hunting also.  
Its one thing to shoot some boy howdy look what I can do pop gun at a 75# white tail eating clover in a meadow and a totally nother deal to see the trophy of a lifetime quartering away in the buck brush.  And too, in many areas you do have the "last  shooter claims the quarry" rule.  
One of my favorite deer cartridges is a 7-08.  I have used it with good effect on both white tails and mulies.  Last year I shot a couple of white tails using a .260Rem and was impressed with its peerformance.  Around here, a lot of the locals use the .243 on our small local deer.  There are probably more deer shot with a .243 around here than anything else.  There are probably more deer wounded with a .243 also.  'course you never hear about those.

[Sigma]

The .243 AND good shot placement. When your 2# leader breaks on a trophy trout he'll likely continue to live on for someone else to catch (at least when fly fishing)

Not so with a wounded deer....practice good hunting ethics and use enough gun. I doubt that most of the 22's fill that category when deer hunting, although they will work in the hands of an experienced shooter as some have related.

Regards

[RaySendero]

I would not pick the 6mm.

Probably the smallest I would use is a 25-06 or a 260 Rem.

[Coyote Hunter]

A .243 or 6mm is the legal minimum here in Colorado, so in theory that is the minimum I would use.

As a practical matter, since I hunt mulies and not whitetail, I would prefer a .25 or bigger.  My 7mm Mag, .44 Mag and .45-70 have all worked fine.

[Mauser]

.243 is my vote.  I've seen too many .224 cal bullets used various game and varmint animals perform extremely poorly when the bullet encounters material tougher than muscle or fat.  IMHO .243 is marginal, however, for most hunters and can come up bad on a big deer when the shot angle isn't good.  If it were up to me the quarter bore would be the minimum, but I recognize that the .243 is extremely popular especially here in Wisconsin.  The .243 has the benefit of having low recoil and muzzle blast so folks can get good with it.

Lets face it, today's hunters are required more than ever before to make sure that they kill humanely.  Using a cartridge that is too small (as well as not practicing) does not help our cause with those who don't hunt and who are on the fence with their opinion about our passtime.

[poncaguy]

223 is legal in Oklahoma, but I would use only the 22-250 and only if it were my only rifle. I usually use my Handi 243 when doe hunting. Use my 270 WSM or 7mm-08 when I hunt bucks or expect 200 -400 yard shots. Took my buck the past year at 351 steps with my 270WSM on the next to the last day of the season.

[Ramrod]

This is alot like the 6mm for elk thread. I consider the .223 to be an excellent meat gun for those who live in deer country, see deer all the time, can pass up bad angles, and can shoot well. I like it alot. But, for the average town or city dwelling once or twice a year hunter, the .243 or 6mm is probably too small. The .257 is marginal, and if shots are going to be taken at whatever angle is presented, through whatever brush is present (probably what 90% of hunters do), the bottom end should be the various 6.5mms, or maybe even the 7mm-08.

[lisa1lacy2]

243 for me
but in Arkansas it is legal to hunt deer with any thing as long as it is a centerfire :eek: this includes22 hornet-50bmg :shock:

[Mac11700]

The one that you shoot the best...and will make a humane kill from any angle you will likely encounter the animal at and at any distance your likely to shoot at it  from...


Mac

[warf73]

The smallest caliber I've use is 300WBY.

But I would guess the states minimum would work also .243 calibers.

But really the subject of minimum would be prevalent to the area you hunt.

Example: Hunting Whitetail Deer in the deep south you wouldn’t need an over large caliber to do the job.

Now you hunting Whitetail Deer in the northern states were the deer have a bigger body mass you might need a larger caliber to do the job.

Warf

[PEPAW]

We often use a .222 for doe killing.   Close, with a rest, no moving targets. Dressed does weigh up to 90 lbs or so.  For bucks I prefer .25 caliber or larger.   My personal favorite is a .260 with 140's.

pepaw

[Ron T.]

While I've read glowing reports from honest sportsmen indicating they use a .243 Winchester with spectular results, if I had to choose something smaller than my .300 Savage cartridge, it would be either a .250/3000 (.250 Savage) Savage or a .257 Roberts (a 7x57mm case necked down to a quarter bore) in a rifle with a long throat in it's chamber so I could set the bullets out further without jamming them into the barrel's lans and grroves.

Jus' my 2¢ worth... other's opinions may vary.    :-)


Strength & Honor...

Ron T.

[Todd1700]

Another vote for the 243 as the minimum.

[longwalker]

The smallest bullet I have pesonal experience with is .257  (100 grain) out of a 25-06. I will say that this is a no problem bullet as long as the shot is right. But forget about deer running away from you, you know the venerable @#%&$ heart shot. ( not my finest moment ) My 30-30 never let me down on stationary and moving deer. My brief experience with a 30-06 was good. .357 Magnum Bullets were alittle light, did the job but only one hole going in. .338 bullets expanded and passed right through. .429 bullets expanded and passed through no problem.

When I have to feed myself I would use a bigger bullet always. When I am out for fun I use the 25-06.

longwalker

[skb2706]

I have used a 6mm 30-30 AI with a Barnes TSX 85 gr. bullet and considered that my minimum cartridge. it worked but I have more suitable chamberings for future use. It does however just meet the minimum standards for the state of CO.

[dukkillr]

.243 is the smallest round I consider eithical.  That doesn't smaller rounds can't kill deer.

[eskimo36]

17 Remington

Broadside standing.....in the ribs....less than 150yards.  They never take a step.

[lilabner]

It depends on the size of the deer, the hunting method and the terrain. Stand hunting provides opportunities for better bullet placement than still hunting  or drives. Some deer run small and some run big. Hunting the plains or deserts allows a hunter to watch the animal for a longer period and make followup shots if necessary. I would not go below the .243 but clean kills are possible with the .22s under the best circumstances. For big bodied mulies or northern whitetails, my minimum would be the 25-06 with quality 115 - 120 grain bullets. The .270, .280 and 30-06 are excellent big deer cartridges and, of course, the magnums can get the job done 50-100 yards farther out for the few shooters skilled enough to make clean kills at the longest ranges.

[Drue]

Another vote for the .243. The .22 centerfires have killed deer but, if you have a choice, why take the chance.

Drue

[JJ79]

I killed my 1st deer at 11 yrs old with a 22-250; my grandfather killed many, many deer with that gun or with his .222.  He'd shoot them in the neck, and down they'd go!!  

Now I'm grown and shoot either a .270, 30-30, or .44 mag when I'm deer hunting...I think the 22-250 is about as low as I'd go.  Several fellas have made a good point on this already though...there is a BIG difference between a deer in the Texas hill country and a deer up north.  Down here we can make the smaller guns work, but I wouldn't try it on the big boys!!

Sure wish Tikka would make a .25 WSSM...I'd like to give that one a try.

[jro45]

If I had nothing else I'd go with the 22-250. But sence I have other guns I'd go with the 1/4 boar.