10 Best Calibers for Deer Hunting (Updated: 2019)

[JEBar]

the 45's out there are fine calibers .... as are the 44's .... just curious , what types of African game does he hunt with a 30-30

[Vaquero]

Jeb, not sure of what all, but I know of Eland, Kudu, Blesbok, Impala, and Cape Buffalo.
He goes by Sambane over at Marlin Owners.
Check out his profile, he has several pics.
Nice guy meet him back in April of '17, at a gathering we had in Texas.

RP

[JEBar]

Jeb, not sure of what all, but I know of Eland, Kudu, Blesbok, Impala, and Cape Buffalo.

RP

Africa has an incredible range of wildlife .... it most certainly doesn't require an "Elephant Gun" to take down many, if not most, of them .... hunting Cape Buffalo with a 30-30 is truly impressive .... I sure wouldn't be comfortable doing that

[Vaquero]

JEB,I could be wrong about the Buffalo, I will ask next time I see him on the forum.

RP

[JEBar]

not a problem, I've enjoyed thinking about it .... doing so is as close as I'll ever come actually doing so ..

[BigAl52]

Agree with Gunny clickbait. One thing about RR in his gun cabinet he doesnt worry about what caliber to grab or use.

[JEBar]

Agree with Gunny clickbait. One thing about RR in his gun cabinet he doesnt worry about what caliber to grab or use.

yep, he sure doesn't ....

[Vaquero]

not a problem, I've enjoyed thinking about it .... doing so is as close as I'll ever come actually doing so ..

JEB, I pm'd him and got one heck of a list.
My, it is quite impressive and I was wrong on the buf.
I am not at home, but once I am I will copy and paste it.
Will tell you he did kill to Leopards, one crocodile a giraffe, and like you will see quite an array of others.
But just think about those Elands, they are huge averaging around 2000 lbs., but he said he had to.
So I am sure their were probably some kind of situation.
Same thing with the giraffe, but still impressive to me.
I'll be home this evening and I will post it, it is near unbelievable.
He used to some guiding also, so that's probably where the two had to's came in.
And only the 170 gr ammo.

RP

[TMB]

realizing its not even a tiny bit scientific, I also question two 7MM's .... I only know one fellow who hunted with a 7 Mag .... I loaded his ammo for him, he bought the dies and supplies .... they must have a much larger following than there is among the shooters I know

I agree with Gunny most will hunt with what they are comfortable. I use my BBB .45 Colt to hunt mostly. I also carry a 7mm rem mag.

[GunnyGene]

Y'all that agree with my take on this, don't get me wrong. These kind of lists can be marginally helpful to narrow the field for someone who is brand new to firearms, ballistics, and hunting generally. Folks who are already hunters and gun owners not so much. Usually we just have friendly arguments with other hunters/owners over the details of various firearm systems and ammo - my gun shoots better groups than yours; my ammo is faster, penetrates deeper, drops a bigger load, etc, etc. Hand loaders are especially picky about this.