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What is the Best Hunting Caliber for Deer? Which Ones to Try Plus When and How?

best deer hunting guns to try

 

Are you worried and thinking about the best hunting caliber for deer? We understand that selecting the perfect one is critical if you want to hunt deer. If a hunter chooses a fine one, then deer hunting is a win-win game for him. So all American deer hunters would definitely get some amazing tips about choosing their hunting calibers with this article.

So, this article will help you a lot to select a nice one according to your need and demand. Plus, this article will provide all the essential information on the best to worst one and which ones you should select for different deer species. Obviously, all information shared here is only for increasing knowledge and not to defame any brand. We also have another blog on the top deer hunting guns you can try.

Table of Contents

Best Hunting Caliber for Deer – List of Top Deer Hunting Calibers

Here is the list of excellent calibers you can choose to enjoy your hunting without hassle. Selection of the right ones can make your hunting comfortable and thriving. So, there may be some of them that may not be legal for deer hunting in some states of the United States but may work for others.

 

calibers Description
.30 Carbine Restricted in many states, the maximum 100 yards range
Winchester 100 inaccurate target, bad trigger
Winslow Rifle Too much heavy and shiny, awful shape
Savage model 340 Bad trigger, weak extractors
.7mm Remington Ultra Magnum Too much noise and more recoil

So, the 257 Roberts is a perfect gun for long-range deer hunting, as its accuracy can make some special hunting statement. It is a game-changing gun. Its bullet’s diameter should be 6.5 mm, and the weight in grain should be 120.

260 Remington

Next, 260 Remington is a perfect deer hunting caliber. So, it is an incredible choice for medium-range deer hunting. Want something perfect for all ages? Well, it has what deer hunters wish to because of minimal recoil and easy-to-use trigger. The diameter of the bullet is 6.7 mm. Its bullet weight can use 120 to 140 weight in grains.

6.5×55 Swedish

Now, this one is perfect for medium-sized animals. It is popular in Europe and America, and if you like to hunt moose, then this is the best choice. So, it’s perfectly accurate, and people usually use it for shooting championships. Moreover, its bullet has 6.71 mm in diameter and 108 grains in weight.

30-30 Winchester

So, it is a famous lever-action rifle. The bullets of 30-30 Winchester have smokeless powder. Plus, its shots that are commonly used in this rifle are 150 to 170 grains in weight. Moreover, 30-30 is really powerful and gives 1827 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. So, the bullet diameter is 7.8mm, so a perfect bullet you can have for a lovely kill.

 

best deer hunting calibers

 

.30/06 Springfield

Another one, .30/06 Springfield is the most outstanding choice for deer hunters in the economic range. So, it is a perfect rifle famous for being less expensive and easy to find. If we talk about recoil, then this is perfect. As well as you can use bullets from 100 to 220 grains in weight. So this means you can select bullets from a vast range. The bullet’s diameter is .308.

.270 Winchester

Now, this .270 is also an excellent option for deer hunting; if you want to do deer hunting in mountain ranges, it is a perfect choice because it is featherweight.

So, this one is also stupendous for long-range deer hunting, so you can also hunt the big deer species with minimal recoil. Moreover, you can use bullets in .270 Winchester should be between 120 to 160 grains in weight, and they offer an accurate target. Plus, bullet diameter of .270 Winchester is 7.04mm.

.243 Winchester

If you want to give a gift to a new hunter, then the best choice is a .243 Winchester. So, it is one of the best hunting caliber for deer and is really useful. In addition, it is a legal gun in almost all states, so people love to buy it.

So, it is easy to use, and the weight is really less, so young people and people with petite stature can enjoy hunting with it. Consider it nothing less than a great treasure with accurate targets and the least recoil. Bullets from 55 to 105 grains can be used in this weapon, and its bullet’s diameter is 6.2mm.

List of Worst Deer Hunting Calibers

On the other hand, there are some guns that are really difficult to use or have so much recoil that they deserve to be in the worst calibers for deer hunting caliber chart, but It is solely my opinion. And other hunters may like this gun. Not all of these will be legal for all states in the United States, so you should know if you can use them in Wisconsin or in Alaska or anywhere else.

calibers Description
.30 Carbine Restricted in many states, the maximum 100 yards range
Winchester 100 inaccurate target, bad trigger
Winslow Rifle Too much heavy and shiny, awful shape
Savage model 340 Bad trigger, weak extractors
.7mm Remington Ultra Magnum Too much noise and more recoil

hunting deer with guns

.30 Carbine

In many states, you can’t use .30 carbine because of restrictions, like you can hunt only within a maximum of 100 yards. But this is not your type if you are a professional hunter and want a long-range gun.
Winchester 100
Winchester 100 is the worst choice for deer hunting. So, it is a really inaccurate gun with a lousy trigger. Its has .308, .243, and .284.

Winslow Rifle

 

Now, this Winslow Rifles are worth-it, and some deer hunters like to use them for hunting. But in my opinion, these guns are too heavy and difficult for many people to handle. Furthermore, the rifle’s shape is super lousy. One more thing is that the gun is too shiny, that’s why deer can quickly identify it, and it would prompt them to flee.

Savage Model 340

 

It was definitely an excellent option for being a cheap gun in 1960, but nowadays, it is the worst choice. Plus, it has weak extractors and only works for some cartridges. In addition, the gun’s trigger is the worst and also affects the gun’s accuracy.

.7mm Remington Ultra Magnum

 

Many deer hunters love to use the .7mm Remington Ultra Magnum, and we also listen to on-and-off deer hunting success stories with this gun. But if you want a gun with minimal recoil and less noise, you should not select this gun. Too much noise and more recoil puts this on the list of worst deer hunting calibers. It is .30 and considered one of the largest guns.

Top Five Small Ones for Deer Hunting

 

If you want to hunt small animals and are searching for the best hunting caliber for deer and want to get small ones, then here is the list of excellent small ones.

Calibers Maximum Range Bullets Diameter Bullets Weight
.22 200 yards 5.73mm 40 grains
.22s 150 yards 5.6mm 29 grains
25-06 Remington 50 – 350 yards 6.5mm 100 – 115 grains
.204 Ruger 500 yards 5.2mm 24 – 55 grains
.22-250 Remington 500 yards 5.7mm 40 – 60 grains
.223 Remington 150 yards 5.7mm 36 – 77 grains

best deer hunting guns

.22

The .22 rifle is good for a maximum 200 yards range. Moreover, it is nice one for hunting small animals like squirrels and deer. It is the best option if you want to hunt at close range. So, the diameter of its bullet is 5.73 mm, and its weight is 40 grains.

.22s

Another one, .22s rifle can be used for a range of approximately 150 yards. Plus, the bullet is 5.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is 29 grain. It is amazing for small hunting games.

25-06 Remington

 

Now, this is the best rifle for shooting 50 to 350 yards. It is an excellent choice for hunting whitetail deer with a bullet diameter of 6.5 mm and a bullet weight of 100-115 grains.

.204 Ruger

This one is a nice choice for small games. The thing is maximum range of .204 Ruger is approximately 500 yards. The bullet’s diameter is 5.2mm, and the weight of the bullet is 24 to 55 grains.

.22-250 Remington

Another gun with maximum range of .22-250 Remington is 500 yards. A great bullet size of 5.7 mm, and its weight is 40 to 60 grains.

.223 Remington

 

Another rifle which is perfect if you want to shoot within 150 yards, and it works for deer hunting too. The diameter of its bullet is 5.7mm, and the weight of the shell is 36 to 77 grains.

Tips to Choose the Right Gun Power for Hunting Deer

You should remember essential things before buying a gun and choosing them for deer hunting. Here are some tips that can help you a lot in your selection. One thing is for sure, you should know about your caliber and if it is legal for deer hunting the state of the US you live in.

 

top guns for deer hunting

Less Recoil

Firstly, choose a gun that has less recoil. Recoil depends on the weight of the rifle and the bullet. So choose your gun wisely. Less recoil, then a more accurate target.

Distance of Shooting

Secondly, choose your gun according to your shooting distance. If you select a weapon that is amazing for short-range, you can expect the same result on long-range shooting.

Place of Hunting

Thirdly, keep in mind the shooting place if you want to shoot in mountain areas, steep places, or woods. Choose your weapon according to your terrain. For example, if you’re going to hunt deer in the mountains, choose a lightweight gun.

Ammunition

Here, the most important thing you should keep in mind is the ammunition’s availability and the basic parts of ammunition. If you choose a gun and it is challenging to find ammunition, it will be difficult for you to continue using it for the long term.

Easy to Use

And last but not least, always choose a weapon that is easy to set up and the gun’s trigger easy to use.

Best All-Around Hunting Guns

 

In the above part of the article, I told you about the best hunting power for deer and the worst guns, with tips for selecting the best caliber. But there are some guns you can choose without any doubt, and they are game changers. These weapons are blessings for deer hunters. You can definitely get perfect deer hunting power according to your state in the US.

 

Calibers Bullet Diameter Bullet Weight
.308 Winchester 7.2mm 125 to 185 grains
7mm Remington Magnum 7.2mm 110 to 175 grains
7mm-08 Remington 7.2 mm 120 to 150 grains
280 Remington 7.2mm 120 to 175 grains
375 H&H 9.5mm 270 to 350 grains
416 Rem.Mag 10.6mm 350 grains

top deer hunting calibers

 .308 Winchester

So, the first name in this list is .308 Winchester. It is among the best weapons and the most wanted in North America and many other areas.

.308 Winchester is perfect for medium to big deer species. So, this weapon can shoot approximately 900 yards, but if you want to shoot deer, try to shoot from a minimum of 300 yards. It is among the top choices when it comes to the accuracy feature. The bullet’s diameter is 7.8mm, and the weight of the shell is 125 to 185 grains.

7mm Remington Magnum

The 7mm Remington Magnum is famous for hunting big deer species. So, hunters in the United States really like to use it for hunting; its performance is perfect and accurate. It is a reliable and easy-to-use gun for hunters in multiple states of the US.

Moreover, it offers a bullet diameter of 7mm, and its bullet weight is 110 to 175 grains.

7mm-08 Remington

The 7mm-08 Remington is a perfect option for all-around hunting. So, it is a lightweight gun with less recoil, and it is easy to use. This one, 7mm-08 rifle is the best option for whitetail deer hunting. Its bullet diameter is 7.2mm, and the weight of the bullet is 120 to 150 grains.

280 Remington

280 Remington is the right gun for deer hunting lovers, without any doubt. So, this gun is incredibly perfect for medium-range shooting. So, a reliable and famous rifle in America. Its bullet has a diameter of 7.2mm, and its weight is 120 to 175 grains.

375 H&H

The 375 H&H is the most powerful gun. Now this gun is perfect for long-range hunting; the bullet’s diameter is 9.5mm, and the weight of the bullet is 270 to 350 grains. You can try this one out for mules, Elks, and reindeers.

416 Rem.Mag

The 416 Rem. Mag is one of the best hunting caliber for deer and for any type of hunting game for large deer. Now, it has a bullet diameter of 10.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is 350 grains. Therefore, it is an excellent choice.

Best Hunting Caliber for Deer – The Beginners

If you are a beginner and want to choose a rifle for hunting and want to know the best hunting caliber for deer then you should choose a rifle that is easy to use and has less recoil.
We know very well that 243 Winchester and 270 Winchester are good options for beginners, but there are also many choices for them in the market.

calibers Description
Remington 700 Affordable, easy to set up
Ruger American Adjustable trigger, less recoil
Tikka T3 Lite Lightweight, accurate result

Remington 700

The Remington 700 Bolt action rifle is a great choice because the rifle is affordable. In addition, this rifle has a floor plate, so it manages the recoil efficiently. It is effortless to set up this gun, and beginners can easily do this without any help. So, the bullet diameter is 17.8mm, and the weight of the bullet is 65 grains. At the same time, it comes in 243 Winchester, 270 Winchester, 30-06 Sprg, and 7mm Remington Mag.

 

hunting guns for deer

 

Ruger American

 

The Ruger American rifle is also a nice choice for beginners. So, this rifle has an adjustable trigger, so beginners who want to go hunting can adjust the trigger according to their wishes. Moreover, the gun is really lightweight as well, as It has a but pad, because of which the hunter doesn’t feel more recoil. It comes in 243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Rem, 308 Winchester, and 6.5 Creedmoor.

Tikka T3 Lite

There is also a perfect rifle for beginners, but it is costly. The name of the gun is Tikka T3 Lite. So, this rifle is really lightweight, and it always gives accurate results. That is why if you can afford this rifle and want to invest in something good, you must give it a chance.
So this is a short and specific list of different calibers for beginner Hunters. You can choose according to your demand. The bullet diameter is 7.62mm. Moreover, it is available for left-handed people and offers 22LR and 17 HMR calibers.

Best Hunting Caliber for Deer – Young People

If you want to give your son or your nephew a gift for deer hunting and you are thinking about the best hunting caliber for deer that young people can use, there are some that are a perfect option for young people.

Calibers Description
For Young People Mossberg MMR.223, Savage Arms Axis XP Compact, 22 Long Rifle
Aging people .243 Winchester,.30-30 Winchester,.270 Remington, Thompson Center T/CR22
Short-Height .243 Winchester
Long-Height .300 Winchester Magnum

Mossberg MMR .223

This is the perfect choice for deer hunting. It is a semi-automatic gun. So,  this gun is 223 Remington and 5.56x45mm Nato. It has a single-stage trigger, so it is easy for young people in their teens. You can easily buy it in your range.

Savage Arms Axis XP Compact

This rifle has 223 REM. It is a lightweight rifle, so it’s easy to carry on steep places. Moreover, it is in your budget and affordable, as well as it is a reliable choice.

.22 Long Rifle

It is a popular choice for deer hunters because of its many advantages. The bullet’s diameter[1] is 5.7mm, and the weight of the bullet is 30 to 40 grains. It has a .22 rimfire. Therefore, it is a nice choice for small-game hunting.

Best Hunting caliber for Deer-Aged People

Aging people face many problems in their old age. For example, they have many health and eyesight[2] issues, so sometimes it is difficult for them to hunt. So the best solution is that they should consider using a smaller caliber Gun.

Aging people should use calibers that have less recoil. So along with a .243 Winchester and .30 by 30 Winchester, you can also use a .270 Remington, and Ruger 10/22 are also the best one for deer hunting because these Rifles are lightweight.

 

top deer hunting guns and calibers

 

Thompson Center T/CR22

Thompson Center T/CR22 is also a worthy caliber because the rifle’s trigger is easy to use. So if you are a hunter with any shoulder muscle problem, you can use this weapon without hesitation.

Best Hunting Caliber for Deer – People with Short Height

There[3] are many problems that short-height hunters face during hunting because of their short height; they feel more recoil, so what caliber for deer hunting deer power can help you? If you are short in height and you are facing this problem, the best solution for you is a rifle that is light in weight and has less recoil. 243 Winchester is the best option for you. Then, you can enjoy your hunting without any fear.

People with Tall Height

If you are a tall hunter and want a rifle suitable for you and searching, what’s the best one for hunting deer? Then you should definitely consider a .300 Winchester Magnum.

So, this one is really suitable for heavy rifles, and obviously, this one has more recoil, so tall-height people can easily handle it.

For Long Range

Are you in need of a weapon that helps you with long-range deer hunting and the best hunting caliber for deer? Don’t worry, and just read my remaining article. It will give you all the guidance about long-range guns.

Description Calibers
Long range calibers .244 Valkyrie, .300 WSM, .388 Lapua Magnum, .50 BMG
Short range calibers .308 Winchester, 30-06 Remington

For Whitetail Deer

The best deer round you can choose for the whitetail deer are .30-30 Winchester, .30-ought-6 Springfield, and .450 Bushmaster.
So, this amazing .30-30 Winchester is one of the best lever[7] -action deer hunting guns. However, it is still most common for whitetail deer hunting. Moreover, its bullet’s diameter is 7.8 mm, and the weight of the bullet is 160 grains.
On the other hand the second gun on the list is a .30-ought-6 Springfield and is effective till 1000 yards. The bullet’s diameter is 7.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is 55 to 220 grains. .450 Bushmaster is really good for deer hunting. Furthermore, some special ammunition is also used for whitetail deer hunting. Now its bullet’s diameter is 11.48mm, and the weight of the bullet is 250 to 260 grains.

 

top hunting guns to try

Best Ones for Moose

If you want to select the best round for deer hunting and a power for moose hunting, then remember that never use a semi-automatic rifle because it does not help you in moose hunting. instead of this, you should buy guns like

● .270 Winchester, 30-06 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .338 Winchester, and .300 Winchester Short Magnum.
● .270 Winchester is really accurate for approximately 680 yards. Unboutbely is a nice caliber, and it does not overkill the moose. The bullet’s diameter is 7.04mm, and the weight of the bullet is 120 to 160 grains.
● the 30-06 Winchester is the best and most versatile caliber and weight; the bullet’s weight is 220 grains, and its diameter is 7.62mm.
● .338 Winchester can shoot at 500 yards. It is good for moose but too big for whitetail deer. The bullet’s diameter is 8.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is 200 to 250 grains.
● .300 Winchester Short Magnum is a long-range rifle. Plus, its range is 1210 yards, the diameter of the bullet is 7.82mm, and the weight of the bullet is 125 to 200 grains. The reason is it can kill up to 1210 yards, and a medium size bullet is used in this gun, so it is a perfect option for moose deer.

Now, this was our list of most popular deer hunting calibers for moose hunting.

Best Ones for Red Deer

If we talk about the best one for red deer, then .22 and .243 Magnum are the best options and the most common hunting calibers. .222 can be shot up to 300 yards with a bullet diameter of 5.7mm and a bullet weighing 55 grains. The .243 Winchester is also a nice option.

Best For Elk

Here are the best deer hunting rounds that you can use for Elk deer. .280 Remington is the ultimate choice for Elk hunting. Moreover, range of this gun is up to 300 yards, its bullet is 7.2mm, and the weight of the bullet is between 120 to 175 grains.

So, the .300 Win mag is a powerful gun, so you can shoot an Elk easily with the help of this gun. Moreover, the gun is a nice choice at 200 to 300 yards and has a bullet size of .300. Win mag offers between 150 to 200 grains and a bullet size is 7.8mm. In addition to these calibers, a .338 Winchester can also be used.

Best For Mule Deer

.270 is really good[8] for hunting a mule deer because this one can also hunt deer in a long-range without any difficulty. Plus. it has a bullet size .270 is 6.86mm, and the weight of the bullet is between 130 to 150 grains.

 

hunting calibers to try

Best Deer Low-Recoil Hunting Caliber

Recoil can be problematic for shooters with any injury, and shooters who are too young or too old can have some problems choosing a gun with more recoil. The selection and search for the best deer caliber without a lot of recoils can be a big headache.
So, there are many options if you are searching for a low recoil caliber. The top 10 deer hunting weapons with minimal recoil are as under.

Deer Species Calibers
Whitetail Deer .30-30 Winchester, .30-ought-6 Springfield, .450 Bushmaster
Moose .270 Winchester, Winchester 30-06, 6.5 Creedmoor, .338 Winchester, .300 Winchester Short Magnum
Red Deer .222, .243
Elk .388 Winchester Magnum, .280 Remington, .300 Win Mag
Mule .270 Winchester

Best Hunting Caliber for Whitetail Deer

 

The best deer round you can choose for the whitetail deer are .30-30 Winchester, .30-ought-6 Springfield, and .450 Bushmaster.

Now, this .30-30 Winchester is one of the best lever[7] -action deer hunting guns. However, it is still most common for whitetail deer hunting. So, its bullet’s diameter is 7.8 mm, and the weight of the bullet is 160 grains.

On the other hand, the second gun on the list is a .30-ought-6 Springfield and is effective till 1000 yards. So, the bullet’s diameter is 7.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is 55 to 220 grains.

.450 Bushmaster is really good for deer hunting. Furthermore, some special ammunition is also used for whitetail deer hunting. Plus, its bullet’s diameter is 11.48mm, and the weight of the bullet is 250 to 260 grains.

Best Ones for Moose

If you want to select the best round for deer hunting and a caliber for moose hunting, then remember that never use a semi-automatic rifle because it does not help you in moose hunting. instead of this, you should buy guns like
● .270 Winchester, 30-06 Winchester, 6.5 Creedmoor, .338 Winchester, and .300 Winchester Short Magnum.
● .270 Winchester is really accurate for approximately 680 yards. So, it is a perfect one, and it does not overkill the moose. The bullet’s diameter is 7.04mm, and the weight of the bullet is 120 to 160 grains.
● 30-06 Winchester is the best and most versatile one and weight; the bullet’s weight is 220 grains, and its diameter is 7.62mm.
● .338 Winchester can shoot at 500 yards. It is good for moose but too big for whitetail deer. The bullet’s diameter is 8.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is 200 to 250 grains.
● .300 Winchester Short Magnum is a long-range rifle. The range of this one is 1210 yards, the diameter of the bullet is 7.82mm, and the weight of the bullet is 125 to 200 grains. The reason is it can kill up to 1210 yards, and a medium size bullet is used in this gun, so it is a perfect option for moose deer.

It was the list of most popular deer hunting powers for moose hunting.

 

deer caalibers

Best Ones for Red Deer

If we talk about the best one for red deer, then .22 and .243 Magnum are the best options and the most common hunting calibers. .222 can be shot up to 300 yards with a bullet diameter of 5.7mm and a bullet weighing 55 grains. As well as, .243 Winchester is also an amazing option.

Best Ones for Elk

Here are the best deer hunting rounds that you can use for Elk deer. .280 Remington is the ultimate choice for Elk hunting. The range of this gun is up to 300 yards, its bullet is 7.2mm, and the weight of the bullet is between 120 to 175 grains.

The .300 Win mag is a powerful gun, so you can shoot an Elk easily with the help of this gun. So, this gun is perfect at 200 to 300 yards and has a bullet size of .300. Win mag offers between 150 to 200 grains and a bullet size is 7.8mm. In addition to these calibers, a .338 Winchester can also be used.

Best Power for Mule Deer

.270 is really good[8] for hunting a mule deer because this caliber can also hunt deer in a long-range without any difficulty. Moreover, the bullet size of .270 is 6.86mm, and the weight of the bullet is between 130 to 150 grains.

 

hunting deer with guns

Best Deer Hunting Caliber For Deer with Low Recoil

 

Recoil can be problematic for shooters with any injury, and shooters who are too young or too old can have some problems choosing a gun with more recoil. The selection and search for the best deer caliber without a lot of recoils can be a big headache.

So, there are many options if you are searching for a low recoil power. The top 10 deer hunting powers with minimal recoil are as under.

  Calibers Bullet size Bullet weight
  .25-06 Remington 6.5mm 85 to 120 grains
  6.5 Creedmoor 6.72mm 140 to 150 grains
7mm-08 Remington 7.2mm 120 to 160 grains  
.223 Remington 5.7mm 35 to 85 grains  
.243 Winchester 6.2mm 55 to 115 grains  
.257 Roberts 6.5mm 75 to 117 grains  
.224 Valkyrie 5.6mm 60 to 90 grains  
.260 Remington 6.7mm 120 to 140 grains  
6.8 Remington SPC 7mm 259 to 272 grains  
350 Legend 9.068 to 0.076mm 160 to 180 grains  

deer hunting guns

 

.25-06 Remington

.25-60 Remington is the best quality gun if the low recoil is your priority. So, it is one of the best low-recoil rifles. But its drawback is that it is not as popular as other weapons; bullet choice is limited. Moreover, if we select a 120-grain bullet, you will face 11.9 ft-lb recoil energy, and energy at 300 yards is 1400 ft-lb. Plus, the bullet’s diameter is 6.5mm, and the weight of the shot should be between 85 to 120 grains.

6.5 Creedmoor

6.5 Creedmoor is the best weapon for hunters as it has the minimum recoil and is reliable. So, there are many bullet options, and this firearm is suitable for long-range shooters.
Now, its bullet weight of this gun should be between 140 to 150 grains, and the diameter of the bullet should be 6.72mm.

7mm-08 Remington

So, this one is also an excellent caliber, and it also has many options for bullets. Nowadays, it is trendy, and if a shooter uses a 140-grain shell, the recoil energy will be 14 ft-lb, and at 300 yards, it will be 1590 ft-lb.
Moreover, the bullet’s diameter is 7.2mm, and the weight of the shell is between 120 to 160 grains.

.223 Remington

So, if you are a new shooter and scared of the recoil, then the .223 Remington is the best choice for you. Now, its only drawback is that this weapon is not allowed in all states; because of this[9] , the choice of bullets is also low.
So, the bullet’s diameter is 5.7mm, and the weight of the shell is between 35 to 85 grains.

.243 Winchester

Now, this one is another fantastic rifle with low recoil, and if you are a beginner and need a light and small gun, then this rifle is for you. Moreover, the cartridge is small to medium size, so it is not only for small animals but also for big animals like bears.
Plus, the bullet weight is 55 to 115 grains, and the diameter of the bullet is 6.2mm.

.257 Roberts

Plus, this gun is perfect if you want a medium-powered rifle with a medium size cartridge. So, it is an excellent rifle with minimal recoil, so it is easy to use, but the only drawback this gun has is its cost.
Moreover, the bullet size is 6.5mm, and the weight of the bullet is between 75 to 117 grains.

.224 Valkyrie

The .224 Valkyrie is a really lovely one, and it’s swift. So, it is an exceptional one for deer hunting, and you face really minimal recoil in this one. Plus, its caliber is 5.6mm, and the weight of the bullet is between 60 to 90 grains, and you can shoot up to 1000 yards with this caliber.

.260 Remington

The .260 Remington is another perfect option for medium-sized hunting deer. So, an effective range of this gun is 200 to 400 yards. Plus, the bullet’s diameter of this gun is 6.7mm, and the weight of the bullet is 120 to 140 grains.

6.8 Remington SPC

Now, this one is a stupendous big game gun for animals like Elks and mules. It can shoot 600 meters, and sometimes it can shoot beyond this range. Moreover, the bullet’s diameter is 7mm, and the weight of the shell is between 259 and 272 grains.

350 Legend

An inexpensive gun with less recoil can shoot up to 200 yards. Moreover, you can hunt all types of deer with this weapon as well as you can also hunt coyotes with this gun. At the same time, its bullet’s diameter is 9.068 to 0.076mm, and the weight of the shell is between 160 to 180 grains.

 

best calibers for deer hunting

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the smaller caliber bullet for deer hunting?

The smaller caliber bullets for deer hunting are 30-06, .243 Winchester, 7mm, and the 300 Win mag.

What is the best caliber for hunting deer?

.243 Winchester, 257 Roberts, .308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor. All of these are the best calibers for deer hunting.

What is the best smallest caliber gun for deer hunting?

.22 and .223 are the best and legal smallest guns for deer hunting.

What is the best smallest caliber rifle for deer hunting?

.204 Ruger is the smallest power rifle for deer hunting.

What is the best youth deer rifle with the least recoil?

The best deer rifle for young people with less recoil is the .22 Long Rifle, and an excellent choice for them to try.

What is the best short-range hunting caliber?

So, if you are looking for the best short-range hunting caliber is .308 Winchester; it shoots smaller ranges, so it is a choice for certain terrains with smaller areas.

What are the best hunting calibers for deer in 2022?

6.5 Creedmoor, 30-30 Winchester, .308 Winchester, and 7mm-08 Remington Magnum are the best deer hunting calibers, even in 2022 and 2023.

What is the best caliber to hunt deer with accuracy?

Many weapons can be used to hunt deer with accuracy, like .308 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, and 75 H&H.

What is the best deer caliber without heavy recoil?

Many weapons have less recoil, like 6.5 Creedmoor, 350 Legend, .243 Winchester, .224 Valkyrie, and many more.

Which is the best hunting caliber for 300 yards?

.270 Winchester is the best hunting caliber for 300 yards, with excellent performance for a great hunt.

Which is the best deer caliber under 200 yards?

Many guns are amazing under 200 yards, like 25-06 Remington, .35 Remington, and others you can read about in this article.

What is the best 400-yard deer caliber?

The 7mm Remington Magnum is the best caliber at 400 yards you can try out.