Best Caliber for Deer Hunting Guide

With practice being a key thing to do (and often), you should always consider the cost of practice ammunition and hunting ammunition. The cost between both of those is obvious:

• Practice ammunition: Practice ammo should generally cost you about $20 per box.
• Hunting ammunition: For most calibers, quality hunting ammo commands about $50 per box.

The standard striking energy for deer hunting is typically known to be 1,000 foot-pounds. That energy is sufficient enough to ethically kill a deer. However, recognize that striking energy alone is not what kills the deer.

The terminal ballistics of the projectile also affect how it behaves inside the deer and how the energy strikes the deer. If the terminal ballistics are capable enough, they will cause sufficient damage and disrupt the animal's vital systems.

When it comes to hunting whitetail deer, ethical shooting is always important. To achieve that, you need a more swift and accurate shot.

Some calibers are more popular — and therefore more widely available than others. The caliber you purchase should be easy to find in-store or online for your practice ammunition so you can practice as you need to or want to.

Choose a caliber with minimal recoil. Doing so will reduce the kickback that can cause you to flinch. Less recoil will also allow you to practice more, shoot from tricky positions and improve your accuracy.

The amount of recoil a hunter can handle is unique to every hunter; in general, recoil past 15 foot-pounds can leave you sore and uncomfortable.

When it comes to big game animals, deer remain the top most popular among North American hunters. Naturally, the subject of what constitutes the 'best' deer rifle caliber (more accurately called cartridges) varies depending on a number of factors — which we’ve already explored above.

Because of the diverse needs of deer hunters, there are many preferred cartridges to break down. To help you choose, we recommend you pick your preferred cartridge around the size of deer you expect to hunt as well as the range you plan on shooting from.

After considering those different factors to help you choose the best deer rifle caliber, it’s time to purchase the caliber you intend to use. Here are the best calibers for deer hunting:

The .243 Winchester is a suitable choice for a new deer hunter; it has light recoil and can even be shot by young adults.

• This caliber was originally marketed as a varmint round, but now it can take down deer past 300 yards.
• This smaller caliber also allows for shorter barrels, which makes for easy climbing into your treestand.
• 2.43 Winchester ammunition is widely available with many loads to choose from.

The 30-30 Winchester is a classic deer cartridge that has been used for over 125 years.

• The bullet design allows for deep penetration and terminal performance while still having a light recoil.
• The range is somewhat limited, but the ammunition is readily available.

The 25-06 Remington has a lightweight bullet that reaches ranges up to 550 yards. It offers a high ballistic coefficient, moderate recoil and significant kinetic energy that helps ensure a successful hunt.

The .270 Winchester is a versatile, long-action cartridge that is used to hunt both Eastern whitetail deer and Western mule deer. The design offers little recoil and works best with a 22-inch or longer barrel. The rifles and ammunition are easy to access and allow you to work on your skills consistently.

The .308 Winchester is a precise, lightweight cartridge that works past 500 yards and is very efficient at killing deer. It's also a NATO cartridge typically offered by every major ammunition manufacturer.

• The balance of energy, velocity, and recoil helps provide accurate shots.
• Since it has a moderate amount of recoil, it can take practice and time to adjust to the kickback.
• The bullet weight and design choices are vast and even include some options with less recoil for younger hunters.

The .30-06 Springfield is an accessible and accurate caliber that offers flat shooting and almost 100 types of ammunition. It can reach higher levels of velocity and pounds of force while maintaining moderate recoil.

The 7mm Rem Magnum is a powerful and versatile cartridge that reaches farther ranges without the associated recoil. It can also handle heavier bullets and has extremely flat shooting. There are limited ammunition options, so it can cost a little more.

The .300 Winchester Magnum is a dependable caliber that is often used in heavier rifles with a longer barrel. The ammunition can be more costly than other types and there is more recoil than with other calibers, so you should weigh those factors against your level of hunting and preference.

The .223 Remington is precise, easy to shoot, and AR-15 compatible. It offers a balance of penetration and bullet upset for deer while still having a light recoil.

The 6.5 Creedmoor is a popular, medium-sized round that offers an excellent recoil-to-performance ratio.

• This caliber can be used by both experienced and novice hunters.
• It has little recoil and allows for extreme accuracy and effective power.
• The accessibility of the cartridge is increasing and becoming less expensive and easier to find.