Choosing the best calibers for deer hunting is not black and white. Different calibers have been created to get the best results in different scenarios. For example, average shot distance and deer body size are big factors to take into consideration when choosing the best caliber for your specific type of deer hunting.
Hunting rifles are expensive. To get the most for your money, it is important to buy a rifle caliber that will cover the widest range of deer hunting applications possible.
In this post, you’ll learn what the most versatile hunting rifle calibers are for deer hunting, and why…
Common Calibers For Deer Hunting
There are a lot of calibers for deer hunting, below is a list of some of the more common calibers used for deer hunting. But which is right for you?
- .223 Remington
- .243 Winchester
- 25-06 Remington
- 6.5 Creedmoor
- 6.5 PRC
- 270 Winchester
- 280 Remington
- 28 Nosler
- 7mm-08 Remington
- 7mm Remington Magnum
- 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
- 30-30 Winchester
- 308 Winchester
- 30-06 Springfield
- 300 Winchester Magnum
- 300 Winchester Ultra Magnum
How To Choose The Best Caliber For Deer Hunting
To choose the best caliber for deer hunting there are three main criteria to take into consideration before making a purchase:
- Landscape/Distance
- Shooter Age, Size, and Experience
- Deer Body Size
Landscape & Distance
The first criteria to consider is the landscape you’ll be hunting in. For example, are you hunting in wide-open landscapes where you’ll be shooting over 300-400 yards? Or do you live in heavily forested areas where most of your shots will be within 100 yards?
The reason you want to consider this is because some calibers shoot flatter so there is less bullet drop. Longer-range shooting will be more accurate with flatter shooting bullets. This will help you eliminate some of the other less flat-shooting options on the list.
If you’re not shooting long-range shots (within about 150-200 yards) then you don’t necessarily need a flat shooting round, and opens you up to a wider variety of calibers to choose from.
Shooter Age, Size, Experience
Another factor to consider is the age, size, and experience of the shooter. A high-powered rifle is probably not the best choice for a youngster or an inexperienced shooter. Instead, it’s probably a good idea to match the power of the rifle caliber to the shooter’s age, size, and experience.
Deer Body Size
Depending on where you live and the species of deer you are hunting will determine which is the best deer hunting caliber for you. For example, a small southern deer that weighs under 100 lbs does not require the same ballistics as a big northern deer that can weigh over 300 lbs on the hoof.
Best Calibers For Deer Hunting
Best Long-Range Flat Shooting Deer Hunting Calibers
Most magnum cartridges are good options for long-range shooting because they’re bigger and hold more gunpowder than rifles that are not magnums. This means the bullet will shoot faster and flatter because it has more energy behind it. This is useful for long-range hunting because less bullet drop means more accurate shots.
Bullets also start losing their energy after they’ve been shot. The further a bullet travels the more energy it loses. A magnum rifle cartridge will keep its energy for longer distances than a non-magnum cartridge of an equal caliber. For this reason, magnum cartridges are often the go-to choice for long-range hunting.
However, you still need to make sure the bullet is big enough to effectively take down deer-sized targets at long range. So, a small caliber that can shoot very flat (like a .223) is not a good option for long-range deer hunting because lacks the energy.
That said, there are some very fast and flat-shooting calibers that are not magnums. One of the best non-magnum calibers includes the 28 Nosler which has excellent long-range ballistics.
Top 7 Best Long-Range Calibers For Deer Listed
- 6.5 PRC
- 7mm Remington Magnum
- 7mm Remington Ultra Magnum
- 28 Nosler
- 300 Winchester Magnum
- 300 Remington Ultra Magnum
- 300 PRC
Best Short To Medium Range Deer Hunting Calibers
When you’re hunting in those short to medium ranges you don’t need the flattest shooting rifle caliber. For this reason, you can select a rifle caliber that won’t have as much recoil and will be more enjoyable to shoot. At these closer ranges, the calibers listed below will still have plenty of energy behind them to take down any deer:
Top 5 Best Short To Medium Range Calibers For Deer Listed
- .243 Winchester
- .270 Winchester
- 7mm Remington Magnum
- 308 Winchester
- 30-06 Springfield
Best Deer Hunting Calibers For Youth and Beginners
These rifles have low recoil but plenty of knockdown power to take deer-sized big game. For this reason, they make great options for youth or beginners.
The 30-06 Springfield is on the more powerful end for a youth hunter or beginner. That said, a smaller grain bullet would help a lot in reducing recoil. As the hunter grows with the gun and becomes comfortable with it heavier bullets can be used.
Top 6 Best Youth & Beginner Deer Hunting Calibers Listed
- .243 Winchester
- 6.5 Creedmoor
- 7mm-08 Remington
- 30-30 Winchester
- 308 Winchester
- 30-06 Springfield
Top 3 Long-Range Calibers For Youth/Beginner Hunters
Compared to the other long-range rifles on the market, these calibers are probably the best for youth hunters because of their long-range capabilities to recoil performance. The calibers listed below are still deadly at long range but are not as big of a bullet as a .30 caliber which will have more recoil. The calibers below are .284 caliber or under.
Additionally, these smaller calibers have good ballistic coefficients. This means their ability to overcome air resistance in flight is good, making them good long-range options.
- 7mm-Magnum
- 26 Nosler
- 28 Nosler
Best Deer Hunting Calibers For Bigger Deer
If you’re going to be hunting bigger deer in those colder climates of the mid-west and northern states then you’ll want to choose a caliber that will be able to take down these bigger animals. The calibers listed below will be able to take down these bigger deer without a problem.
Top 5 Best Deer Hunting Calibers For Big Deer Listed
- 270 Winchester
- 7mm Remington Magnum
- 308 Winchester
- 30-06 Springfield
- 300 Winchester Magnum
Best Deer Hunting Calibers For Smaller Deer
If the deer you’re hunting are smaller (around 100 lbs) compared to their mid-west and northern counterparts, then you don’t need as powerful of a rifle caliber. The calibers listed below are great options for smaller deer. These also make great guns for younger hunters or beginners.
Top 5 Best Deer Hunting Calibers For Smaller Deer Listed
- .243 Winchester
- 25-06 Remington
- 6.5 Creedmoor
- 7mm-08 Remington
- 30-30 Winchester
Best All Around Deer Hunting Caliber
The 30-06 Springfield is the best all around caliber for deer hunting. It’s been around since 1906, hence the “06” in 30-06, and is still one of the most popular calibers for hunting on the market today because of its versatility and time-tested performance.
The 30-06 Springfield is a .30 caliber rifle, hence the “30” in 30-06. There are a lot of 30-caliber rifles on the market but there is a lot of variation in ballistics between .30 caliber rifles.
This caliber has great ammo availability, diverse bullet selection, and a range of power.
You can read my article: Best All Around Hunting Rifle Caliber For Versatility for more information on the 30-06 Springfield.
Conclusion
After reading this post you should have a good idea about which is the best caliber for deer hunting for you. As you can probably tell, the right caliber for deer hunting requires a balance of the different factors you will encounter while hunting. Additionally, shooter age, size, and experience also have a role in which caliber will be best.
