@@dingo5208 Ron started playing automatically as part of a queue I had going a la podcast-style, then I started actually watching instead of just listening.
When hunting, I enjoy being in the woods. Even if i head home empty handed, I consider the day a success just being one with nature clears my mind. Well done sir.
I was happy when you gave a nod to the .257 Roberts. I'm 44 years old and have been hunting since I was six years old. I have shot and hunted with many different calibers and gauges. After all these years, I have noticed that the .270 Winchester has been about perfect for me and my style. However, every time I go back and fire the old .257 Roberts, it feels like magic. Every time I hear someone mention the old Roberts cartridge, it gives me butterflies. Even though I think the 270 Win is "perfect" the 257 is always whispering sweet nothings in my ear...
@@nmelkhunter1 Thank you for the well wishes for my upcoming hunts. It's always nice to hear from a fellow hunter. I hope all your hunts are successful as well.
I have also successfully hunted deer and antelope with a few different cartridges, 37 different caliber/cartridges to date, and I can relate to your comments on the 270 and 257 Roberts, both of which I own and have hunted with. My Dad used a pre64 model 70 in 257 Roberts, he was very happy with it.
When I was younger and back east - I had a 30-30 and it worked really well. I went out west and got a Winchester model 70 in .270, I shot several deer with it a couple with it. I think shot placement is very important.
The great thing about .308 is that its 1. Common as far as ammunition and reloading supplies goes, and 2. Perfectly serviceable out to several hundred yards.
Cant use it in many countries if you hunt internationally, like mexico. It's a current military cartridge, makes it illegal in many many places. Use a .30-06, no restrictions and you can find ammo anywhere in the world
@@petersouthernboy6327 lots of deer hunting in northern mexico my dude. And .30-06 is a perfect cartridge for hunting the western USA, Canada, or northern Mexico Also perfect for hunting in Scotland or Ireland or pretty much anywhere in Europe, since many countries in Europe dont allow .308 due to it being a current military cartridge, including Italy and France. In France the .300 savage is the most popular hunting cartrige since .308 is off the table
@@jordanhicks5131 just checked with my Western outfitter/guide, he said Mexican guides provide firearms as it is like an act of God to bring your own personal hunting firearm legally into Mexico.
I sure do love my traditional bow, my compound bow, .30.30's, the ole light 12, .270's, and on and on. Definitely agree with Ron, the romanticism involved, the spirit. Spice of life. All of it. I try and immerse myself in the old outdoor experience. Thanks Fred Bear, thanks Jack O'Connor, Thanks Ron. 😊
Glad you mentioned the Grendel. My boys started with an AR chambered in 6.8 spc. Carried the speed and energy to cleanly take deer to 300 with handloaded 120 SST bullets. Really light rifle and almost zero recoil.
Pops bequeathed his dad's Winchester 94 to me and I always have a day in the Maine wood with the old girl. I am carrying their spirits with me, we talk and walk all day. Thanks for your wise insights Ron :)
I couldn't agree more Ron with everything you said. There's no right or wrong. Choosing something in the realm of 270, 308. 30/06 and 300 Win Mag (WSM) is hard to go wrong with. Thanks for sharing!
I have always used a 270 win for deer hunting and it has always worked well so I never used much else. When my Son started hunting at around 12, i bought him a 270 but he was a little apprehensive about the recoil so I bought him a 243 win. That 243 win worked so well he just kept with it. He has never taken his 270 in the woods. Obviously the 270 would be better at range but he has confidence in that 243 at the distances he is comfortable shooting. He shoots it well, and he enjoys the memories he has with it. If you ask him, the 243 win is the “best” deer rifle. To each their own. Just let people enjoy what they enjoy. There doesn’t have to be the best deer rifle.
Really Really glad you considered the cultural and heritage value of hunting. Many of those opposed to hunding do not consider this aspect that connects us to our heritage and culture, where dads build relationships with their kids and stories are shared around a fire. Jeremy from South Africa
I love how you engage with your dog Covey. I take my Arlo into work occasionally. He even sits in on the odd meeting. Not a lot of work gets done, but my colleagues love him and frequently bug me to bring him in. How a person treats their animals, says alot about their character.
I appreciate the fact that you say "hunt honestly". Too many people don't give enough respect to other hunters, the environment and the animals. Hunters are a very unique community and we should always encourage good ethics in our passions.
@@cabinbills6743 I think everyone has one of those rifles they are drawn to for whatever reason, yet they for some reason just don't shoot it as well as other rifles.
I opted for a 270 Winchester myself. I think it's a solid all around hunting rifle that I'd be comfortable using on everything from Coyotes, to black bear, and even moose. My grandfather always spoke very highly of his and took it elk hunting plenty of times. When he passed away I let my sister have his 270 (I took his 300 WM), but I still wanted one. I definitely prefer shooting the 270 over the 300 WM, and it's been a lot easier to find ammo for. I got it really just because he always had one, but it's turned in to my favorite hunting cartridge. Like him, I find myself always recommending it to people looking for another hunting rifle or their first.
@barnabasdecimusix1368 I mean, it does a better job at killing, but the recoil is far from comfortable. If the 270 kills things 100% dead and the 300 kills things 200% dead, what's the difference really? My Grandfather also switched from the 300 to the 270 because it got him the same results but it was easier and more enjoyable to shoot.
Here in Iowa, my Marlin 1895 in 45/70 has done the job quite well. I also look forward to taking out my 35 Remington this year as well. When hunting out of state, my old trusty ‘06 or 243 BLR join me. Best of luck to all in the woods this fall, countdown to football and big whitetails is upon us👍
No matter what people pick, they should factor in spending a non-trivial amount of time with it at the range, shooting realistic targets, with kill zones marked, at distances that mimic where they hunt.
Hunting the corn fields and openings within forests in northern Wisconsin as a child with my father, he always hunted with a Winchester Model 70 in .270. When I turned 12 he handed me a Remington 742 also in .270. Together we tore up the woods with those rifles! Some of the best memories I have are walking into the woods with my father in the cold, predawn mornings hearing nothing but the crunching snow beneath our feet as we carried our .270 Winchesters.
I grew up in CO hunting mulies and elk with the occasional pronghorn tossed into the mix. For that area I pretty much decided the 7mm Rem Mag was about perfect. Now that I live in TX I am using the 308 Win. As the man noted, it depends on where you are hunting and how you are hunting.
I did NOT expect you to name drop the 6.5 grendel on here. I’ve gone to that in the last 3-4 years and love it. I’m not recoil shy, but if I can get away with less, I’m going for less. Hunting in south east Alabama, the advantages of higher recoiling rounds isn’t realized until you hit a power line or big bean field/clear cut. With all my kills being anywhere between 40-75 yards, there isn’t much point going away from an intermediate caliber.
I know the struggle. If you ever do want to shoot a larger cartridge try an AR10 or BAR in 6.5 creedmore or something similar. They are a god send for the recoil sensitive.
Most important choice is the one you own, and understand how to use. For me I don't have a lot of guns, so I use my combined defense, hunting multi-game capable AR in 350 legend. I'm in east Texas where 75 yards is a long shot. Years ago it was a 30-30 like so many others grew up using. Great video Ron!
It's works for what you need which is great. For me in Idaho a 400 yard shot isn't uncommon. But if taking those kinds of shots number one the individual needs to be on point with every part of their fundamentals in shooting. As well as their rifle needs to be capable of both accuracy and precision. With a bullet that performs terminally as needed.
Ron really nailed it here. I love my .30-30's as much as any but I have been using a semi-custom .270 Winchester as my "go to" rifle for years now. I did the entire project as a way to save a poorly executed 1903A1 Remington sporter. I pulled the entire affair apart and refitted with a 26" Shaw #2 1/2 contour barrel. Matte bluing and a bedded Bell & Carlson classic stock painted gray with black spiderweb finished the rifle proper. I mounted a matte finished Leupold VX2 3x9x40 using a one piece Redfield base and standard rings that were matte blued to match the rifle. Let me not forget the Timney Sportsman trigger fitted for good measure. I suppose the project was more about the journey than the destination; even on a budget I could have purchased a new rifle for less. I have no regrets though, the rifle shoots well and is tough as a rusty nail.
This sounds like a hell of a nice rifle!! Probably more into it than most off the shelf rifles but I totally understand and appreciate great rifle built by ones self and actually used to hunt with!
Sounds like your project turned out just as you envisioned it. I absolutely agree it's more about the journey. When I'm in the process of having a rifle built, I start with an animal specific concept. Then I decide on caliber, then rifle platform last. Four of my animal specific rifles are chambered in Wildcats chamberings I've developed myself. The rifles are as much a proof of concept as they are a tool.
@@dimmacommunication 7mm08 is a necked down 308 case to 7mm, lighter recoil and I Little flatter shooting. In west Michigan where I hunt 7mm08 was readily available on the shelves before covid hit
@@dimmacommunication pricing is good at least in my area, around 30 bucks maybe a little more depending on the gun shop, comparable to your real common calibers like 308, 30-6, 270.
You are spot on in the recoil aspect. I bought a 7x57 before 7-08’s came out commercially. Turned that 73’ Ruger 77 7x57 into a custom.244 for Varmint shooting and had occasionally put the 7x barrel back on for meat hunts. When the 7x57 Came out in the Remington 700 Mountain Rifle early 90’s I picked one up and put it in a Lee Six Glass stock. The 7x57 and 7-08 are hard to beat for small frame folks. Never lost an animal with the 7x57 and Speer 145’s. The Factory Norma 150’s shot almost as well as my reloads. One time I used the 7x Ruger to shoot squirrels when my 222 Rem got knocked over and scope knocked off zero. I was hitting squirrels out to 300 with a 4x Leupold scope. A 4x12 sits on the Mountain rifle now. Cheers
Thanks for the nod to the 6MM Remington....it's the only gun I've ever used for deer growing up out West for mule deer and now in the East for whitetail. Light recoil and fast and accurate round. I know it's not a very popular cartridge and factory ammo is almost non-existent, but I reload my own so no worries there.
There are many good cartridges shown there. You mentioned 2 of my favorites. .257 Roberts and the 6.5 Grendel. Some great qualities in those rounds and just pure joy to shoot. Hope you have a very successful deer season. And thank you for sharing!
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! it depends on youre specific needs, terrain and ability. I live in west central Indiana. the area i hunt is medium to heavy timber, some small hills and bordered by fields. for several years, i used a 44 mag rifle with great results. once we were approved to use high powered rifle cartridges, i went to the 6.5 CM in order to reach out into the fields a little better. both are great rounds to use in my area and for my conditions.
So here in Washington I have a west side gun and an east side gun. Basically rain forest or dry, more open country. For beating the brush on the west side, nothing like using my Winchester Model 94 , iron sights, in the hole making 30-30! I use it on costal blacktails. The east side gun is my Christiansen Traverse chambered in .270 Winchester. Topped off with a VX-5 HD 3-15 x 44. It’s my mule deer rifle. Both rifles I know like the back of my hand, probably more so with my 30-30 since I’ve shot it since I was 10… at 48 now, every time I shoulder it , it feels like home, damn near don’t need a sight because it’s so Instinctive. My dad is a 30-06 fan, come to thing of it so was my grandfather, although both had marlin 30-30’s
I'm glad you mentioned the 6.5 Grendel. I shot a huge doe last year with one for the first time with it. she jumped and fell over. That was at about 170 yards, but as far as accuracy I've shot 2-inch groups at 400 yards with it.
You hit the nail when you talked about using a rifle from your past owned by a relative. My uncle just gave me his model 99 300 savage that I shot my first deer with 52 years ago. So I have to take one more deer with it.Then it is going on the wall.
I understand your feelings on the rifle, but after you get one more with it, if you are still physically able to hunt, wouldn't one more after that, or two or three more, make good times? 😉😁😁
Im in northern MI as well in thick woods and choose the .450 bushmaster. Branch/leaf deflection is a factor and short range. If I end up in with a more open area your average 7.62 is my go to (.308, 30-06, 7.62x54). Everyone should do a walking hunt with a 30-30 (or any other lever action). You understand why its still a staple after a century and always will be.
Having hunted in Wyoming, PA, and VA, I'd go with a bolt action carbine, 20" barrel, chambered to 270Win. or 7mm-08. Use a good 130 or 140gr bullet. A 2-7x duplex reticle scope will do. But, if you must, get/use a good ol' lever action 30-30. A 1-3x or 1.5 -4x scope, and 170 gr bullets.
Well, Ron, you framed the question superbly but your recommendations were hard to pin down. I suppose there is no one perfect deer cartridge for all situations. However, I think the 30-06 comes close if a person can only own one rifle. The rifles and ammo are widely available and affordable. The recoil is manageable for most people. It will take deer, elk, and moose cleanly with a well-placed shot. What's not to like about it? I am enjoying your TH-cam videos.
Glad you're enjoying, Savvy. I didn't try to pin down one best cartridge which is why I explained why and how folks choose such variety. It's up to each of us to nail ours down.
I went with the .30-06 for much the same reasons. I wasn't concerned about recoil since my introduction to centerfire rifles was a .300 Weatherby Mag. The older buddy who was taking me out deer hunting for the first time wanted to make sure I was going to be able to hit my target. Dad's '06 wasn't there so he had me use his gun to slay a coke bottle out in the pasture.
See I am a Win 270 is the only Caliber you would ever need in North America. 30-06 is heavy duty but skilled hunters drop Grizzly and Moose often in Alaska with 270 Winchester.
There's numerous good choices available . I've hunted with a 30-06 and a 6mm remington for decades in the deep south . Recently I began to use a MSR/AR platform in 300 blackout for a short range lightweight swamp gun .
Dear Ron love your channel been reading your work for about 20 odd years. I'm a Cop now but used to guide quail hunts in the Albany Ga area. I would like to see more content that focuses on the terminal ballistics of calibers and bullet weights at specific ranges. How a bullet flies through the air gets so much focus these days that the work it does on final impact gets ignored. Certain caliber and bullet combinations are really only good at certain ranges. I know you are writing the eulogy for the .308 but I still think it's probably the best all around offering with 150 gr. from 400 and in. Looking for more on terminal ballistics and less on flight ballistics. Thanks for your time Ron and thanks for the memories.
Will try, Amanda, but terminal ballistics are hard to quantify. Nonetheless, check out some of my many blogs on bullet performance, knockdown power, how bullet terminate game, etc. on ronspomeroutdoors.com plus this video: www.bing.com/videos/search?q=copper+vs+lead+core+bullets+you+tube&view=detail&mid=73A3A1BD98C720B46CF973A3A1BD98C720B46CF9&FORM=VIRE
Amanda, You might remember that the ammunition manufacturers used to give little free books to their suppliers to give to customers with questions about load performance. They used to include knockdown power in ft/lbs at various yardages. I spent hours as a teenager studying those little books (not sayin' how many years ago!). I guess a search for Ballistic charts on the web might prove helpful. Enjoy and keep safe out there please.
@garyh14 Pretty close, depending on bullet style and what the bullet hits upon impact. In some videos I've watched, you can see the impact waves on the fur of the animals. To answer your question, no, the bullet has some impact, but usually exits the animal. One time, had a buck standing uphill at about 175 yards broadside. 7mm Remington Magnum, 150 grain Ballistic Tip broke right front leg, went through boiler room and broke left front leg. Upon skinning the deer, found the bullet just inside the skin of the left front leg. Very rare occurrence, but all of the energy was expended on that deer. Yes, it knocked it down that time! I cleaned up the bullet and saved it for a conversation piece!
Most sensible “best rifle/cartridge” video I’ve seen yet. I liked those comments regarding the connection to tradition etc too, very relatable. Nice one
My mother's father gave me a Savage 110 in .30-06 when i was about 15...48 now and that rifle is in my son's hands still killing deer. My father's father gave him a Savage 99 in .300 savage back in the 50s. its still in the field killing deer. I use either a 7x57, .270, or a 7mm Remington. Its all about shot placement and luck. Have seen "good" shots go wrong and "bad" shots drop them in the dirt. another great video!!!
Great discussion 👍. For brush and stalking up to 150 I like 35 Remington for longer range out to 300 I like the 25-06. Both of these have served many hunters Thanks 👍
I have a Remington 700 in 30.06 given to me by some friends. When I take it hunting, I take them hunting. I'm making and reliving memories at the same time.
I really hope the 6.5 Grendel catches on. I fired a rifle chambered for it and was surprised how pleasant it was to shoot and was thinking that it would be great for deer hunting. Good video Sir 👍
My uncle took mule deer and elk (coyotes also) with a 44 mag rifle. He did it for decades and kept a large family fed well. It is more about the hunter,.
I've owned my 03-A3 for just about 50 years now. And for me it does everything I've ever asked it to do. From the Colorado Rockies to the plains of Missouri.
There is a difference between wanting to reach out there and having the skills to actually do it. Most hunters have trouble hitting a deer at 100 yards, let alone in the right place.
@chris mclaughlin I've seen the hunting and target shooting jinks go both ways. Paper targets are a real humbler against people who think they're a good shot! Target shooters freak out that they're shooting window is 6 seconds, including getting your rifle up. I was lucky enough to have lots of varmint shooting at longer distances, and adopting that into use on bean field whitetails. Woodland whitetails are another story, as we know.
You are so right Mr. There are tens of thousands of so called " hunters ha ha" that can't hit a dinner plate at 100 yards. For the reasons! These are the too busy in life morons that may shoot two or three bullets a year. The same moron that said " well it had zero last year!" Those people disgust me. Not only that but idiots like that are usually dangerous handling a firearm.
@@timbow50 Why do you sound so angry when talking about this? Did some guy who never shoots his rifle during the off season get a bigger buck than you , and then run off with your girlfriend..? I think so.😂
Guapo Returns I get disgusted with lazy people. Too lazy to get honestly prepared to kill an animal. Some time go to a deer processor and watch how many deer are brought in shot all to hell. Gut shot, leg shot and then gut shot, two or three bullet holes all over them. It's pathetic and it's due mostly to not getting ready. Just pisses me off.
No rifles for deer here in Illinois, but love the video. When me and my brothers grab our slug guns and head out for deer it's something special. We could upgrade to something else but nothing like having an old steel and walnut slug gun year after year does the job. There is a nostalgic feeling to hunting that way.
Hey Ron I just picked up my moose rifle, I live in brown bear 🐻 County on the Kenai peninsula so I decided not to use my heavy 308 this year as my wife gifted me a unfired new in box 1989 remington 700 classic in 300 weatherby magnum , all I can say is I'm a happy hunter!
Ron, for me, this was 10 minutes of thoroughly enjoyable truth-about-shooting. Calibers & firearms has been a delightful, sometimes challenging, and constant discussion in during my years of hunting. Your honest, concise and enlightened thoughts are spot on. I lived in Texas for a good number of years. During the time that we managed (a mere 5 of us) a 3600 acre deer lease, I was also a licensed FFL with access to any rifle and cartridge I chose. And each hunting season I used a different combination of rifle and caliber in hopes of narrowing down the age old question you raise here - the best deer cartridge. I cleanly and ethically harvested deer with everything from a .243 Winchester through to the venerable .264 Win Mag and even a .300 Weatherby Mag on one large mule deer. Yes, shot placement, a steady rest, and keeping ranges to where you are most comfortable, is a large part of success and an owed respect to the quarry we hunt. At nearly 75 I don't hunt any longer, but I sure enjoyed your comments and those of the terrific folks here as well. An excellent episode sir!
I’ve been dabbling with the 6.5 Grendel for whitetails over the last few years and I find it is just about perfect for me in the woods of central Arkansas. My shots will be inside 350 yards and more likely inside 100 yards. The Grendel will easily handle whitetails over these ranges and do it with low recoil and in a light, handy rifle. I can even shoot it in an AR15 platform rifle.
Ron I liked your comment on it being a spiritual experience for some, my son shot his first deer with a 450 bushmaster and said the same thing. It will be a Memory he will have forever. Thanks for the great video.
Love your stuff Ron, only thing thr 45/70 discussion is more of a location thing that only allows straight wall cartridges like my state (OH) popular cartridges are the 450BM 350Legand and 4570. But that is a whole other story.
One thing to add is the type of terrain. I hunt in the thick woods near swamps. Most rifles won't work well since the bullet will deflect too easily so I will mainly use a 30-30 or a 12 gauge. I've taken more deer with a shotgun than my all my rifles combined. My favorite is using a slug, puts a big hole and makes the blood trail easy to track, especially in really thick forested areas.
Agree Todd. A heavier round is ideal in thick wooded areas. But on the other hand a 30-30 is still a 30 caliber bullet. You still have to be careful and place your shot. At least that's been my experience. I've also seen a 50 deflect, It's a rare case yes but it did happen. But anyway brother I hope you have a wonderful And prosperous deer season. I used to live in Georgia in clinch county and those swamp deer are huge.
I've got my 742 30-06 my dad got when I turned 13. It took several deer over the years including my sisters first deer. It's a good deer rifle, but it's not the best overall. I still love that rifle and hope my kids will take at least a deer with it someday. There's no ideal deer rifle to me, just maybe a personal ideal rifle or an ideal rifle for a given situation/area.
I’ve got lots of rifles and most are of deer hunting variety. Two of my favorites are the .35 Remington and the .45/70 when hunting at 150 to 180 yard max range conditions. I love my 7mm Remington Magnum for long range situations. I also love my black powder rifles and pistols for closer range woods hunting. As a matter of fact, I’m planning my deer hunting this year around closer ranges and plan to use my black powder guns all season long including my .44 cap and ball pistol at 40 yards or less.
This resonates with me. While coming home with a deer for my freezer is the goal, I still have a fantastic time, and find myself connected to nature and feeling spiritual. And to each their own on caliber. For me it is 6.5 CM, for my father-in-law it is 30-30. And we both come home with deer. 😁
I started with 3030, needed more reach, tried 7mm , too much recoil, went to 3006, perfect. Tried 2506 ,loved that . Tried 22/250 not on deer, but just loved the fast flat shooting
Ron, you hit a home run with this video. It is not about what fancy cartridge or rifle you have. It is about being out in nature enjoying the beauty that surrounds us. The bonus is being able to enjoy some 100% organic meat, if we tag out.
If I had to buy 1 rifle to hunt with the rest of my life, I think I’d buy a BLR chambered in 30-06. The 06 comes in as many bullet weight and types as any caliber in history. From rodents to predators to deer all the way up to dangerous big game can be taken with an 06. I love the old Remington 742s in 30-06 for east coast deer hunting. We have 5 or 6 of them, plus a couple 7400 in 270. I hope to let my son take a deer this fall with a special gun. A Remington 760 chambered in 270 that was made in 1952. It belonged to my great grandfather. It never had a scope on it until 2012. When he downs a buck with it that will be 5 generations of my family to have taken a deer with that rifle.
Sentimental value is something liberals don't understand about gun ownership. Just can't put a price on it. Something else they don't understand is the serenity and peace we get while we're hunting.
My .280 Rem has shot too many deer/antelope/elk to count and has done the job very well on all of them even though I asked it to do different things. For the antelope I needed range, for the elk I needed bullet weight and for the mule and whitetails I just needed it to be accurate. Loaded with bullets from 140 to 160 grain it took care of everything in mostly one shot kills.
I enjoy the hunt and experience. My goto is a 25-06 with a Leupold 1-5 x 25 scope. I use Nosler Partition or will sometimes use a Barnes. Both have been plenty effective from 50yards to 300.
I use different cartridges/rifle combinations for different hunting conditions. Open country long range 264 win mag in Remington Sendero. Up close and rattling in Texas brush country 358 Win in the Browning lever rifle just to name a few.
I like 260 rem and 280 rem for my deer hunting for the most part. I have two loads each with ttsx's and superformance powder for both and there are a lot of deer downed with these two. Was a huge partition guy but have made the switch to Barnes over the last 10 years. Deer are not that hard to kill as long as you have a bullet that expands in deer sized game and you can shoot accurately within your personal range limits. The cartridge and rifle combos are almost limitless not a bad spot to be in.
Love the 260 remington. Been using the 140 grn accutips and have had some great results. Now I dont think they are making them. Would love to try some ttsx.
Darren, I agree and have shot a custom .260 Rem for quite a while. I will however shoot a 6.5 Grendel that I built myself and have been very successful on hogs with for several years this season. Isn't America great giving us the advantage of choice to do as we want lawfully and to live life as we feel.
@@sstrongman1667 I hand load for the 260 using 120 grain TTSX. I've killed a number of deer using it and have no complaints. I have neck and shoulder issues so I need a light recoiling combo like this.
@@sstrongman1667 If you use 140's then you want the 120's in the TTSX bullets if your preference is 120's in lead core bullets then step down to 100's in the Barnes. That's the trick with Barnes drop down to the next lower bullet weight from your lead core bullets and get the velocity up. Very accurate bullets also.... and are not really sensitive to long throats in factory chambers they like to be jumped. Would love to put of some pictures of some I have shot deer with just have not had one stay in a deer yet! lol I will take two holes any day over a recovered bullet.
@@darrendavis7699, definitely going to look into them. I only had one of the accutips not exit and I hit both shoulders, so he crumbled. I wish Remington had done a better job with twist rates when it came out so that it was more available.
Depending on which farm I’m hunting will determine which rifle/ caliber I take. The wide open Ag fields here in MO I’ll be taking my bolt action 6.5PRC. The river bottom woods I’ll be taking my 450 bushmaster AR. In the past I’ve killed them with .243, 30-06, and 280Rem.
I just turned 30 but I'm a basic boomer, I love my 30-06 and 45/70, those are as American as it gets. You're right when you mention tradition, I know those aren't the greatest calibers in the 21st century but I love shooting what my grandfather and great-grandfather did. While it's true they aren't the best anymore they still hold their own against anything else.
I think a good sweet spot round for whitetail where the recoil is rather mild, but it's still a caliber that can reach out to intermediate ranges and deliver plenty of energy, and has rather good ballistics is the 7mm-08. Most of the whitetail hunting I do these days is with a .308 however, mainly due to ammo availability and reloading components(though they too are becoming much harder to get). I don't shoot much past 200 yards and the .308 is plenty for that, shooting either 150 or 165 grain bullets.
Ron. My winchester 94 30-30 with a side mounted scope. Took a really nice 8 point buck. And a coyote at 207 yards measured by my outfitter. I shot diagonally across the west fork river. I used 2 rounds. We were back at the lodge. A person commented what dummy brought a 94 30-30 out here. My guide informed said fancy hunter. To not make fun of my rifle. I found out fancy pants missed 3 deer in 1 day.. 1 shot 1 kill in south Dakota. God bless. Awsome video
Good stuff, personally this passed season I got into 450 bushmaster. Seems to work very good in my area. I'd love to see a top 40 through 45 caliber line up.
I recently moved out west from the midwest, but I'm in a mountain town so I feel my 30-30 and 350 Rem Mag are still valid choices. As hard as it is to find 350 Rem Mag ammo, I stopped into a small mom and pop gun shop a few weeks ago and found three boxes of factory ammo! Unbelievable. I'm considering either a 270 or a 280 Ackley Imp. for my next rifle, just for those hard to reach places. Otherwise, I prefer to stalk my game. Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Where I hunt here in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky they're is so much brush and cedar trees I find a Marlin modle 95 chamberd in 44 Remington magnum is just the ticket .
@@scottrussell6717 NO sirree ! The 444 marlin and 45 70 are to powerful for whitetail in my opinion the lower velocities of 44 Remington magnum and 30 30 . 35 Remington is why they work in brush . I had 150 grain sp in 30 06 go to peices trying to shoot through a small cedar tree with a monster Buck on the other side of it . I lost that deer . I said never again ! A few years later the same scenario was presented to me . This time a had a 44 MAGNUM rifle 240 grain JSP that fat bullet went though the cedar boughs . The Buck and a few thumb sized trees beyond the deer ! A180 class buck !
@@scottrussell6717 Oh yes In my 45 years in deer camps I have seen many deer shot with the 444 marlin it is a monster . But more of a GRIZZLY and MOOSE gun to me just a bit overpowered for me. But that is just my opinion
@@waynestone6462 your right.... several years ago I had the marlin in 357.. 44 and 444.. I hunted with them more than my 06 and 270.. those 3 was my go to deer guns.... then I got stupid and got married lol.. would love to have them back but they are 900 a piece now
I'm 61 and I have inherited a sporterized 30-40 Krag. Shoots great with the old Williams peep sight. Going to have to chase some Blacktail deer here in Oregon.
@@behindenemylines3361 I grew up shooting it. It was my grandmother's. Grampa bought one for both of them. Wish I knew what happened to his. I was told he spent hours by the fire rubbing with linseed oil into them. I presume he did the sporterizing. I can't be sure, they passed along time ago. He was a hardcore logger out of Kelso Washington. He was competitive in logging competition way back when. More info than you wanted, sorry. Nostalgic. Let's harvest something with them!
I’ve used a .308 Win since 1983 and never had a problem. My fellow hunters use everything from a .250 savage to a 45/70. All have taken whitetail deer easily.
Very well done. You covered about as many things to consider when selecting a deer cartridge. I guess that whatever a hunter picks, practice and become proficient (and safe) with it and enjoy the hunt.
For deer, if shopping the used rack, there are oodles of choices which will serve well in various settings. If buying new, though, the current no fail choice would 6.5 CM. 140 grains in it will cover any responsible yardage, with reasonably flat trajectory, minimal wind drift, and low recoil. It's a no-brainer, and I don't even own one, so don't anyone "fan boi" me. But yeah, if using Dad's or Granddad's rifle, figure out an appropriate load, and go for it.
I agree, I think the 6.5 creedmoor is the perfect whitetail cartridge. Plenty of killing power at any ethical range, minimal recoil, reasonable ammo cost, and a vast selection of rifles and ammo. That said even tho I have one, I won’t be taking it deer hunting due to the higher magnification optic I have on that rifle. I’ll be taking my 6.5PRC and/or .450 bushmaster instead.
When my girls started hunting around 10 yrs of age I got them going with a 223 and stressed shot placement n they were both successful. My son started at 8 as he was a bit bigger n proved he could shoot well enough with it to warrant him heading to the woods. Thats been what seems like ages ago. Girls both use 243s now and the boy a 270. There is no perfect deer round except the one a shooter is most comfortable with and has shot repeatedly in my opinion. I've taken deer with a 218bee on up to 300 win mag. All work with a well placed shot within limits of their particular caliber. Happy hunting all! Oh yes and ofcourse....great video Ron. Love it when Cubby makes a cameo appearance
My son's favorite deer cartridge is his car.
😂
What's his success rate?
😂😂😢
One shot one kill? 😅
I do hope he was okay
😂😂😂😂
The charisma hooked me, the knowledge reeled me in, and the production quality cemented me in. Good stuff
If the charisma hooked you, wouldn't the production quality REEL you in?
Thanks Mark.
@@dingo5208 Ron started playing automatically as part of a queue I had going a la podcast-style, then I started actually watching instead of just listening.
Jesus loves you all very much repent and believe onto Him and be saved from eternal punishment of sin amen, Jesus DIED for you
hes like the lesson before shop and more learning with hicok 45
When hunting, I enjoy being in the woods. Even if i head home empty handed, I consider the day a success just being one with nature clears my mind.
Well done sir.
I live in the woods, off grid, and wouldn't have it any other way . . .
Many hunts turned into a walk in the woods. To sort out my thoughts and enjoy nature. Love it.
@@garybonz yet here you are, commenting on a TH-cam video.
A bad in the woods beats a good day in the office!
Thanks James.
I was happy when you gave a nod to the .257 Roberts. I'm 44 years old and have been hunting since I was six years old. I have shot and hunted with many different calibers and gauges. After all these years, I have noticed that the .270 Winchester has been about perfect for me and my style. However, every time I go back and fire the old .257 Roberts, it feels like magic. Every time I hear someone mention the old Roberts cartridge, it gives me butterflies. Even though I think the 270 Win is "perfect" the 257 is always whispering sweet nothings in my ear...
The 270 is certainly one of the best mulie and antelope cartridges. Best of luck on upcoming hunts.
@@nmelkhunter1 Thank you for the well wishes for my upcoming hunts. It's always nice to hear from a fellow hunter. I hope all your hunts are successful as well.
2 perfect rounds
I found a .257 roberts round lying around at my grandmas ranch lol.
I have also successfully hunted deer and antelope with a few different cartridges, 37 different caliber/cartridges to date, and I can relate to your comments on the 270 and 257 Roberts, both of which I own and have hunted with. My Dad used a pre64 model 70 in 257 Roberts, he was very happy with it.
Your history/personage and commentary is an American Treasure.
Gotta love the good ole Marlin 30-30
When I was younger and back east - I had a 30-30 and it worked really well. I went out west and got a Winchester model 70 in .270, I shot several deer with it a couple with it. I think shot placement is very important.
The great thing about .308 is that its 1. Common as far as ammunition and reloading supplies goes, and 2. Perfectly serviceable out to several hundred yards.
Cant use it in many countries if you hunt internationally, like mexico. It's a current military cartridge, makes it illegal in many many places.
Use a .30-06, no restrictions and you can find ammo anywhere in the world
@@jordanhicks5131 not very believable, especially since you suggest 30-06 as a “legal” replacement. Who hunts in Mexico? Besides cartels?
@@petersouthernboy6327 lots of deer hunting in northern mexico my dude.
And .30-06 is a perfect cartridge for hunting the western USA, Canada, or northern Mexico
Also perfect for hunting in Scotland or Ireland or pretty much anywhere in Europe, since many countries in Europe dont allow .308 due to it being a current military cartridge, including Italy and France. In France the .300 savage is the most popular hunting cartrige since .308 is off the table
@@jordanhicks5131 just checked with my Western outfitter/guide, he said Mexican guides provide firearms as it is like an act of God to bring your own personal hunting firearm legally into Mexico.
In a lot of places in Canada you can't use any 30 caliber rifle rounds for deer. So the 243 and 270 is very popular
I sure do love my traditional bow, my compound bow, .30.30's, the ole light 12, .270's, and on and on. Definitely agree with Ron, the romanticism involved, the spirit. Spice of life. All of it. I try and immerse myself in the old outdoor experience. Thanks Fred Bear, thanks Jack O'Connor, Thanks Ron. 😊
Hell yes brother !
Heck yeah! Same here!
Lobe Vobi, very well said.
Glad you mentioned the Grendel. My boys started with an AR chambered in 6.8 spc. Carried the speed and energy to cleanly take deer to 300 with handloaded 120 SST bullets. Really light rifle and almost zero recoil.
Pops bequeathed his dad's Winchester 94 to me and I always have a day in the Maine wood with the old girl. I am carrying their spirits with me, we talk and walk all day. Thanks for your wise insights Ron :)
Thanks for commenting, Steve.
25-06 is by far my favorite caliber for deer hunting. Plenty of power and and great range. Ive taken deer from 5 yards to 700 yards no problem at all.
Same here I have a savage axis XP 25-06. Love the cartridge
I run either a 25-06 or 257 Wby and the 06 is just the Goldilocks of deer rifles. Just enough power but not too much!
Savage 110 tactical with heavy barrel 25-06
Love my 25-06 savage
looked for ammo lately? you have one so that makes easier call.
Ron, you make a lot of sense with your videos. Thank you my friend, and God bless.
I couldn't agree more Ron with everything you said. There's no right or wrong. Choosing something in the realm of 270, 308. 30/06 and 300 Win Mag (WSM) is hard to go wrong with. Thanks for sharing!
Jesus loves you all very much repent and believe onto Him and be saved from eternal punishment of sin amen, Jesus DIED for you
You forgot the 30-30 has killed more deer than any other cartridge.
@@hkschubert9938 actually the 22 is probably really close 2nd,
@@hkschubert9938 the 22 has killed lots of deer, mostly poachers since it’s quite with sun sonics
@@hkschubert9938 22lr damn, your so dense
I have always used a 270 win for deer hunting and it has always worked well so I never used much else. When my Son started hunting at around 12, i bought him a 270 but he was a little apprehensive about the recoil so I bought him a 243 win. That 243 win worked so well he just kept with it. He has never taken his 270 in the woods. Obviously the 270 would be better at range but he has confidence in that 243 at the distances he is comfortable shooting. He shoots it well, and he enjoys the memories he has with it. If you ask him, the 243 win is the “best” deer rifle. To each their own. Just let people enjoy what they enjoy. There doesn’t have to be the best deer rifle.
Really Really glad you considered the cultural and heritage value of hunting. Many of those opposed to hunding do not consider this aspect that connects us to our heritage and culture, where dads build relationships with their kids and stories are shared around a fire. Jeremy from South Africa
I love how you engage with your dog Covey.
I take my Arlo into work occasionally. He even sits in on the odd meeting. Not a lot of work gets done, but my colleagues love him and frequently bug me to bring him in.
How a person treats their animals, says alot about their character.
You know we love it when your dog participates.
You should do a series about hunting with dogs, training digs for hunting etc.
We'll be doing Covey hunting videos this fall.
I appreciate the fact that you say "hunt honestly". Too many people don't give enough respect to other hunters, the environment and the animals. Hunters are a very unique community and we should always encourage good ethics in our passions.
The perfect Cartridge is the one you can hit your target with!! Makes little difference what you
Miss with!!!
LOL!!!
Boy no truer words have ever been spoken/written! 👍
I had a gun once I couldn’t hit anything with . That was a long time ago
@@cabinbills6743 I think everyone has one of those rifles they are drawn to for whatever reason, yet they for some reason just don't shoot it as well as other rifles.
@Bob Wills or wound with !!
I opted for a 270 Winchester myself. I think it's a solid all around hunting rifle that I'd be comfortable using on everything from Coyotes, to black bear, and even moose. My grandfather always spoke very highly of his and took it elk hunting plenty of times. When he passed away I let my sister have his 270 (I took his 300 WM), but I still wanted one. I definitely prefer shooting the 270 over the 300 WM, and it's been a lot easier to find ammo for. I got it really just because he always had one, but it's turned in to my favorite hunting cartridge. Like him, I find myself always recommending it to people looking for another hunting rifle or their first.
my favourite hunting caliber so far is also the 270 but ive never had the experience of hunting with a 300 can you tell me how is it in comparison
@barnabasdecimusix1368 I mean, it does a better job at killing, but the recoil is far from comfortable. If the 270 kills things 100% dead and the 300 kills things 200% dead, what's the difference really? My Grandfather also switched from the 300 to the 270 because it got him the same results but it was easier and more enjoyable to shoot.
@ thanks a lot im staying with the 270
Here in Iowa, my Marlin 1895 in 45/70 has done the job quite well. I also look forward to taking out my 35 Remington this year as well. When hunting out of state, my old trusty ‘06 or 243 BLR join me. Best of luck to all in the woods this fall, countdown to football and big whitetails is upon us👍
For heavy brush short range hunting, I prefer the 45/70 for its quick drop and clean kill.
No matter what people pick, they should factor in spending a non-trivial amount of time with it at the range, shooting realistic targets, with kill zones marked, at distances that mimic where they hunt.
Yep! Especially for the "average Joe". all that and do some offhand practice. A rest is often not available.
Couldn't agree with you more! Proficiency and comfort-level with the caliber come to mind.
Hunting the corn fields and openings within forests in northern Wisconsin as a child with my father, he always hunted with a Winchester Model 70 in .270. When I turned 12 he handed me a Remington 742 also in .270. Together we tore up the woods with those rifles! Some of the best memories I have are walking into the woods with my father in the cold, predawn mornings hearing nothing but the crunching snow beneath our feet as we carried our .270 Winchesters.
Thank you for sharing!! Fellow Wisconsin deer hunter here!
I grew up in CO hunting mulies and elk with the occasional pronghorn tossed into the mix. For that area I pretty much decided the 7mm Rem Mag was about perfect. Now that I live in TX I am using the 308 Win. As the man noted, it depends on where you are hunting and how you are hunting.
I did NOT expect you to name drop the 6.5 grendel on here. I’ve gone to that in the last 3-4 years and love it. I’m not recoil shy, but if I can get away with less, I’m going for less. Hunting in south east Alabama, the advantages of higher recoiling rounds isn’t realized until you hit a power line or big bean field/clear cut. With all my kills being anywhere between 40-75 yards, there isn’t much point going away from an intermediate caliber.
Because of major medical issues the biggest for me is the 243.. shoots fantastic and feels good..
I know the struggle. If you ever do want to shoot a larger cartridge try an AR10 or BAR in 6.5 creedmore or something similar. They are a god send for the recoil sensitive.
@@sstrongman1667 was at the range the other day and a guy was shooting an ar10... he let me shoot a rd ... recoil is very close to my 243..
Most important choice is the one you own, and understand how to use. For me I don't have a lot of guns, so I use my combined defense, hunting multi-game capable AR in 350 legend. I'm in east Texas where 75 yards is a long shot. Years ago it was a 30-30 like so many others grew up using. Great video Ron!
It's works for what you need which is great. For me in Idaho a 400 yard shot isn't uncommon. But if taking those kinds of shots number one the individual needs to be on point with every part of their fundamentals in shooting. As well as their rifle needs to be capable of both accuracy and precision. With a bullet that performs terminally as needed.
@@beyondtwominutes Spot on!
Thanks.
fwaynedavis wherebouts in east Texas? I live in Tyler County.
Ron really nailed it here. I love my .30-30's as much as any but I have been using a semi-custom .270 Winchester as my "go to" rifle for years now. I did the entire project as a way to save a poorly executed 1903A1 Remington sporter. I pulled the entire affair apart and refitted with a 26" Shaw #2 1/2 contour barrel. Matte bluing and a bedded Bell & Carlson classic stock painted gray with black spiderweb finished the rifle proper. I mounted a matte finished Leupold VX2 3x9x40 using a one piece Redfield base and standard rings that were matte blued to match the rifle. Let me not forget the Timney Sportsman trigger fitted for good measure. I suppose the project was more about the journey than the destination; even on a budget I could have purchased a new rifle for less. I have no regrets though, the rifle shoots well and is tough as a rusty nail.
This sounds like a hell of a nice rifle!! Probably more into it than most off the shelf rifles but I totally understand and appreciate great rifle built by ones self and actually used to hunt with!
@@hammerslammer3006 Thanks. ;-)
Sounds like your project turned out just as you envisioned it. I absolutely agree it's more about the journey. When I'm in the process of having a rifle built, I start with an animal specific concept. Then I decide on caliber, then rifle platform last. Four of my animal specific rifles are chambered in Wildcats chamberings I've developed myself. The rifles are as much a proof of concept as they are a tool.
@@stevepuyear2738 Sounds like it was a lot of fun! Well done.
Nice build. Congrats!
7mm-08 with 120 gr. Barnes TTSX. Deer, moose & black bear. It's all I use. Low recoil and devastating little round.
It's a great one!
7-mm-08 has been about the perfect balance between performance, weight, and recoil for me.
Is it easy to find tho ?
What is it comparable to in terms of power ?
@@dimmacommunication 7mm08 is a necked down 308 case to 7mm, lighter recoil and I Little flatter shooting. In west Michigan where I hunt 7mm08 was readily available on the shelves before covid hit
@@wildskullcreations9864 Thank's :)
@@wildskullcreations9864 How about pricing tho?
@@dimmacommunication pricing is good at least in my area, around 30 bucks maybe a little more depending on the gun shop, comparable to your real common calibers like 308, 30-6, 270.
You are spot on in the recoil aspect. I bought a 7x57 before 7-08’s came out commercially. Turned that 73’ Ruger 77 7x57 into a custom.244 for Varmint shooting and had occasionally put the 7x barrel back on for meat hunts. When the 7x57 Came out in the Remington 700 Mountain Rifle early 90’s I picked one up and put it in a Lee Six Glass stock. The 7x57 and 7-08 are hard to beat for small frame folks. Never lost an animal with the 7x57 and Speer 145’s. The Factory Norma 150’s shot almost as well as my reloads. One time I used the 7x Ruger to shoot squirrels when my 222 Rem got knocked over and scope knocked off zero. I was hitting squirrels out to 300 with a 4x Leupold scope. A 4x12 sits on the Mountain rifle now. Cheers
I hunt with my Model 700 in .243 and it's always been perfect for me.
Thanks for the nod to the 6MM Remington....it's the only gun I've ever used for deer growing up out West for mule deer and now in the East for whitetail. Light recoil and fast and accurate round. I know it's not a very popular cartridge and factory ammo is almost non-existent, but I reload my own so no worries there.
6mm Remington is suffering still from the bad press left over from 244 Remingtons bad marketing decisions. It is a good cartridge.
There are many good cartridges shown there. You mentioned 2 of my favorites. .257 Roberts and the 6.5 Grendel. Some great qualities in those rounds and just pure joy to shoot. Hope you have a very successful deer season. And thank you for sharing!
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT!!! it depends on youre specific needs, terrain and ability. I live in west central Indiana. the area i hunt is medium to heavy timber, some small hills and bordered by fields. for several years, i used a 44 mag rifle with great results. once we were approved to use high powered rifle cartridges, i went to the 6.5 CM in order to reach out into the fields a little better. both are great rounds to use in my area and for my conditions.
So here in Washington I have a west side gun and an east side gun. Basically rain forest or dry, more open country.
For beating the brush on the west side, nothing like using my Winchester Model 94 , iron sights, in the hole making 30-30! I use it on costal blacktails.
The east side gun is my Christiansen Traverse chambered in .270 Winchester. Topped off with a VX-5 HD 3-15 x 44. It’s my mule deer rifle.
Both rifles I know like the back of my hand, probably more so with my 30-30 since I’ve shot it since I was 10… at 48 now, every time I shoulder it , it feels like home, damn near don’t need a sight because it’s so Instinctive.
My dad is a 30-06 fan, come to thing of it so was my grandfather, although both had marlin 30-30’s
I'm glad you mentioned the 6.5 Grendel. I shot a huge doe last year with one for the first time with it. she jumped and fell over. That was at about 170 yards, but as far as accuracy I've shot 2-inch groups at 400 yards with it.
You hit the nail when you talked about using a rifle from your past owned by a relative. My uncle just gave me his model 99 300 savage that I shot my first deer with 52 years ago. So I have to take one more deer with it.Then it is going on the wall.
I understand your feelings on the rifle, but after you get one more with it, if you are still physically able to hunt, wouldn't one more after that, or two or three more, make good times? 😉😁😁
You're last point was the reason I used to love hunting, the experience and going out with my father, uncle & grandfather.
25-06 has an absolutely devastating effect on whitetail. It's also great out to range and recoil is similar to 243.
Jesus loves you all very much repent and believe onto Him and be saved from eternal punishment of sin amen, Jesus DIED for you
@@Fit4C WTF!
Works just as well on Julie's also.
Mulies not Julie's. Damn spell check.
@@patrickgriffitt6551 Only if Julie made you mad or gave you your walkin' papers! Lol! Just kidding!
love that your dog comes and makes an entrance..
Where I hunt (northern Michigan) mostly swamp with the longest shot being about 50 yards my Ruger 77/44mag is my go to deer rifle
Great rifle!
Im in northern MI as well in thick woods and choose the .450 bushmaster. Branch/leaf deflection is a factor and short range. If I end up in with a more open area your average 7.62 is my go to (.308, 30-06, 7.62x54).
Everyone should do a walking hunt with a 30-30 (or any other lever action). You understand why its still a staple after a century and always will be.
Having hunted in Wyoming, PA, and VA, I'd go with a bolt action carbine, 20" barrel, chambered to 270Win. or 7mm-08. Use a good 130 or 140gr bullet. A 2-7x duplex reticle scope will do.
But, if you must, get/use a good ol' lever action 30-30. A 1-3x or 1.5 -4x scope, and 170 gr bullets.
Do you still hunt in VA? How do you go about it?
you nailed it !
Well, Ron, you framed the question superbly but your recommendations were hard to pin down. I suppose there is no one perfect deer cartridge for all situations. However, I think the 30-06 comes close if a person can only own one rifle. The rifles and ammo are widely available and affordable. The recoil is manageable for most people. It will take deer, elk, and moose cleanly with a well-placed shot. What's not to like about it? I am enjoying your TH-cam videos.
I agree, if you can only own one rifle for whatever reason, the best all around cartridge is the .30-06 hands down
Glad you're enjoying, Savvy. I didn't try to pin down one best cartridge which is why I explained why and how folks choose such variety. It's up to each of us to nail ours down.
I went with the .30-06 for much the same reasons. I wasn't concerned about recoil since my introduction to centerfire rifles was a .300 Weatherby Mag. The older buddy who was taking me out deer hunting for the first time wanted to make sure I was going to be able to hit my target. Dad's '06 wasn't there so he had me use his gun to slay a coke bottle out in the pasture.
See I am a Win 270 is the only Caliber you would ever need in North America. 30-06 is heavy duty but skilled hunters drop Grizzly and Moose often in Alaska with 270 Winchester.
If you only have 1 rifle then I'd go with the 30.06 as well. With a wide range of factory loads and it's readily available.
There's numerous good choices available . I've hunted with a 30-06 and a 6mm remington for decades in the deep south . Recently I began to use a MSR/AR platform in 300 blackout for a short range lightweight swamp gun .
Dear Ron love your channel been reading your work for about 20 odd years. I'm a Cop now but used to guide quail hunts in the Albany Ga area. I would like to see more content that focuses on the terminal ballistics of calibers and bullet weights at specific ranges. How a bullet flies through the air gets so much focus these days that the work it does on final impact gets ignored. Certain caliber and bullet combinations are really only good at certain ranges. I know you are writing the eulogy for the .308 but I still think it's probably the best all around offering with 150 gr. from 400 and in. Looking for more on terminal ballistics and less on flight ballistics. Thanks for your time Ron and thanks for the memories.
Al-beeny lol. Love the smell of peanuts :)
Will try, Amanda, but terminal ballistics are hard to quantify. Nonetheless, check out some of my many blogs on bullet performance, knockdown power, how bullet terminate game, etc. on ronspomeroutdoors.com plus this video: www.bing.com/videos/search?q=copper+vs+lead+core+bullets+you+tube&view=detail&mid=73A3A1BD98C720B46CF973A3A1BD98C720B46CF9&FORM=VIRE
Amanda,
You might remember that the ammunition manufacturers used to give little free books to their suppliers to give to customers with questions about load performance. They used to include knockdown power in ft/lbs at various yardages. I spent hours as a teenager studying those little books (not sayin' how many years ago!). I guess a search for Ballistic charts on the web might prove helpful. Enjoy and keep safe out there please.
@@tombeyer375 I love the term "knock down power". Does a bullet actually knock an animal down? LOL
@garyh14 Pretty close, depending on bullet style and what the bullet hits upon impact. In some videos I've watched, you can see the impact waves on the fur of the animals. To answer your question, no, the bullet has some impact, but usually exits the animal. One time, had a buck standing uphill at about 175 yards broadside. 7mm Remington Magnum, 150 grain Ballistic Tip broke right front leg, went through boiler room and broke left front leg. Upon skinning the deer, found the bullet just inside the skin of the left front leg. Very rare occurrence, but all of the energy was expended on that deer. Yes, it knocked it down that time! I cleaned up the bullet and saved it for a conversation piece!
Most sensible “best rifle/cartridge” video I’ve seen yet. I liked those comments regarding the connection to tradition etc too, very relatable. Nice one
Thanks you, Robert.
Hard to pass up the 7mm mag when the task is an effective kill shot, but I'm glad to see the Grendel getting some love too.
Love my 7mm mag shot 2 moose with it. Works great. Doesn’t have great penetrating power but I can hit a quarter at 100 yards with it.
If you handload, the 7 Rem Mag can be a very versatile cartridge. I shoot a lot of 120 to 140 grain bullets through my 7mm.
My mother's father gave me a Savage 110 in .30-06 when i was about 15...48 now and that rifle is in my son's hands still killing deer. My father's father gave him a Savage 99 in .300 savage back in the 50s. its still in the field killing deer. I use either a 7x57, .270, or a 7mm Remington. Its all about shot placement and luck. Have seen "good" shots go wrong and "bad" shots drop them in the dirt.
another great video!!!
Great discussion 👍. For brush and stalking up to 150 I like 35 Remington for longer range out to 300 I like the 25-06. Both of these have served many hunters Thanks 👍
Thanks 👍
I have a Remington 700 in 30.06 given to me by some friends. When I take it hunting, I take them hunting. I'm making and reliving memories at the same time.
I really hope the 6.5 Grendel catches on. I fired a rifle chambered for it and was surprised how pleasant it was to shoot and was thinking that it would be great for deer hunting. Good video Sir 👍
I'm hooked. I have a few guns in 6.5 Grendel with barrels ranging from 12"-20". They all work well, including with my 12 year old.
my two favourites are 270 and 6.5 x 55. They are both a very good middle weight and I have taken a ton of deer, moose and elk with both.
My uncle took mule deer and elk (coyotes also) with a 44 mag rifle. He did it for decades and kept a large family fed well. It is more about the hunter,.
I've owned my 03-A3 for just about 50 years now. And for me it does everything I've ever asked it to do. From the Colorado Rockies to the plains of Missouri.
There is a difference between wanting to reach out there and having the skills to actually do it.
Most hunters have trouble hitting a deer at 100 yards, let alone in the right place.
@chris mclaughlin I've seen the hunting and target shooting jinks go both ways. Paper targets are a real humbler against people who think they're a good shot! Target shooters freak out that they're shooting window is 6 seconds, including getting your rifle up. I was lucky enough to have lots of varmint shooting at longer distances, and adopting that into use on bean field whitetails. Woodland whitetails are another story, as we know.
Dropped my first deer at 155 yards. All the others were inside of 50 yards.
You are so right Mr. There are tens of thousands of so called " hunters ha ha" that can't hit a dinner plate at 100 yards. For the reasons! These are the too busy in life morons that may shoot two or three bullets a year. The same moron that said " well it had zero last year!" Those people disgust me. Not only that but idiots like that are usually dangerous handling a firearm.
@@timbow50 Why do you sound so angry when talking about this? Did some guy who never shoots his rifle during the off season get a bigger buck than you , and then run off with your girlfriend..? I think so.😂
Guapo Returns I get disgusted with lazy people. Too lazy to get honestly prepared to kill an animal. Some time go to a deer processor and watch how many deer are brought in shot all to hell. Gut shot, leg shot and then gut shot, two or three bullet holes all over them. It's pathetic and it's due mostly to not getting ready. Just pisses me off.
No rifles for deer here in Illinois, but love the video. When me and my brothers grab our slug guns and head out for deer it's something special. We could upgrade to something else but nothing like having an old steel and walnut slug gun year after year does the job. There is a nostalgic feeling to hunting that way.
No rifles??
Hey Ron I just picked up my moose rifle, I live in brown bear 🐻 County on the Kenai peninsula so I decided not to use my heavy 308 this year as my wife gifted me a unfired new in box 1989 remington 700 classic in 300 weatherby magnum , all I can say is I'm a happy hunter!
Ron, for me, this was 10 minutes of thoroughly enjoyable truth-about-shooting. Calibers & firearms has been a delightful, sometimes challenging, and constant discussion in during my years of hunting. Your honest, concise and enlightened thoughts are spot on. I lived in Texas for a good number of years. During the time that we managed (a mere 5 of us) a 3600 acre deer lease, I was also a licensed FFL with access to any rifle and cartridge I chose. And each hunting season I used a different combination of rifle and caliber in hopes of narrowing down the age old question you raise here - the best deer cartridge. I cleanly and ethically harvested deer with everything from a .243 Winchester through to the venerable .264 Win Mag and even a .300 Weatherby Mag on one large mule deer. Yes, shot placement, a steady rest, and keeping ranges to where you are most comfortable, is a large part of success and an owed respect to the quarry we hunt. At nearly 75 I don't hunt any longer, but I sure enjoyed your comments and those of the terrific folks here as well. An excellent episode sir!
Thanks for sharing your insights, Sir.
I’ve been dabbling with the 6.5 Grendel for whitetails over the last few years and I find it is just about perfect for me in the woods of central Arkansas. My shots will be inside 350 yards and more likely inside 100 yards. The Grendel will easily handle whitetails over these ranges and do it with low recoil and in a light, handy rifle. I can even shoot it in an AR15 platform rifle.
I love the 6.5 grendel, very little recoil, and only 1 out or 4 deer haven't fallen dead immediately.
Ron I liked your comment on it being a spiritual experience for some, my son shot his first deer with a 450 bushmaster and said the same thing. It will be a Memory he will have forever. Thanks for the great video.
My pleasure, Jay.
Love your stuff Ron, only thing thr 45/70 discussion is more of a location thing that only allows straight wall cartridges like my state (OH) popular cartridges are the 450BM 350Legand and 4570. But that is a whole other story.
One thing to add is the type of terrain. I hunt in the thick woods near swamps. Most rifles won't work well since the bullet will deflect too easily so I will mainly use a 30-30 or a 12 gauge. I've taken more deer with a shotgun than my all my rifles combined. My favorite is using a slug, puts a big hole and makes the blood trail easy to track, especially in really thick forested areas.
Agree Todd. A heavier round is ideal in thick wooded areas. But on the other hand a 30-30 is still a 30 caliber bullet. You still have to be careful and place your shot. At least that's been my experience. I've also seen a 50 deflect, It's a rare case yes but it did happen. But anyway brother I hope you have a wonderful And prosperous deer season. I used to live in Georgia in clinch county and those swamp deer are huge.
@@223dmr7
Thanks and yeah, you're correct about the bullets deflecting even in 30 cal.
I've got my 742 30-06 my dad got when I turned 13. It took several deer over the years including my sisters first deer. It's a good deer rifle, but it's not the best overall. I still love that rifle and hope my kids will take at least a deer with it someday. There's no ideal deer rifle to me, just maybe a personal ideal rifle or an ideal rifle for a given situation/area.
Remington 742 is the original mini 14. It's a good gun.
Got my dad's 742 as well.love it.its dropped alot of deer
I’ve got lots of rifles and most are of deer hunting variety. Two of my favorites are the .35 Remington and the .45/70 when hunting at 150 to 180 yard max range conditions. I love my 7mm Remington Magnum for long range situations. I also love my black powder rifles and pistols for closer range woods hunting. As a matter of fact, I’m planning my deer hunting this year around closer ranges and plan to use my black powder guns all season long including my .44 cap and ball pistol at 40 yards or less.
.308 win or .30 06 are the best white tail cartridges because they work well out to 300 yards and they are cheap.
That's been my question while lookin' at getting started. What's a cheaper & easily found on shelf round.
This resonates with me. While coming home with a deer for my freezer is the goal, I still have a fantastic time, and find myself connected to nature and feeling spiritual. And to each their own on caliber. For me it is 6.5 CM, for my father-in-law it is 30-30. And we both come home with deer. 😁
I started with 3030, needed more reach, tried 7mm , too much recoil, went to 3006, perfect.
Tried 2506 ,loved that .
Tried 22/250 not on deer, but just loved the fast flat shooting
The 22-250 can be used on deer just need to take head shots.
Ron, you hit a home run with this video. It is not about what fancy cartridge or rifle you have. It is about being out in nature enjoying the beauty that surrounds us. The bonus is being able to enjoy some 100% organic meat, if we tag out.
If I had to buy 1 rifle to hunt with the rest of my life, I think I’d buy a BLR chambered in 30-06. The 06 comes in as many bullet weight and types as any caliber in history. From rodents to predators to deer all the way up to dangerous big game can be taken with an 06. I love the old Remington 742s in 30-06 for east coast deer hunting. We have 5 or 6 of them, plus a couple 7400 in 270. I hope to let my son take a deer this fall with a special gun. A Remington 760 chambered in 270 that was made in 1952. It belonged to my great grandfather. It never had a scope on it until 2012. When he downs a buck with it that will be 5 generations of my family to have taken a deer with that rifle.
I agree 30-06 for the same reasons .
Sentimental value is something liberals don't understand about gun ownership. Just can't put a price on it. Something else they don't understand is the serenity and peace we get while we're hunting.
My .280 Rem has shot too many deer/antelope/elk to count and has done the job very well on all of them even though I asked it to do different things. For the antelope I needed range, for the elk I needed bullet weight and for the mule and whitetails I just needed it to be accurate. Loaded with bullets from 140 to 160 grain it took care of everything in mostly one shot kills.
I enjoy the hunt and experience. My goto is a 25-06 with a Leupold 1-5 x 25 scope. I use Nosler Partition or will sometimes use a Barnes. Both have been plenty effective from 50yards to 300.
Interesting choice of scope for such a flat shooting cartridge
Not nearly enough scope IMO
I use different cartridges/rifle combinations for different hunting conditions. Open country long range 264 win mag in Remington Sendero. Up close and rattling in Texas brush country 358 Win in the Browning lever rifle just to name a few.
I like 260 rem and 280 rem for my deer hunting for the most part. I have two loads each with ttsx's and superformance powder for both and there are a lot of deer downed with these two. Was a huge partition guy but have made the switch to Barnes over the last 10 years. Deer are not that hard to kill as long as you have a bullet that expands in deer sized game and you can shoot accurately within your personal range limits. The cartridge and rifle combos are almost limitless not a bad spot to be in.
Love the 260 remington. Been using the 140 grn accutips and have had some great results. Now I dont think they are making them. Would love to try some ttsx.
Darren, I agree and have shot a custom .260 Rem for quite a while. I will however shoot a 6.5 Grendel that I built myself and have been very successful on hogs with for several years this season. Isn't America great giving us the advantage of choice to do as we want lawfully and to live life as we feel.
@@sstrongman1667 I hand load for the 260 using 120 grain TTSX. I've killed a number of deer using it and have no complaints. I have neck and shoulder issues so I need a light recoiling combo like this.
@@sstrongman1667 If you use 140's then you want the 120's in the TTSX bullets if your preference is 120's in lead core bullets then step down to 100's in the Barnes.
That's the trick with Barnes drop down to the next lower bullet weight from your lead core bullets and get the velocity up.
Very accurate bullets also.... and are not really sensitive to long throats in factory chambers they like to be jumped. Would love to put of some pictures of some I have shot deer with just have not had one stay in a deer yet! lol I will take two holes any day over a recovered bullet.
@@darrendavis7699, definitely going to look into them. I only had one of the accutips not exit and I hit both shoulders, so he crumbled. I wish Remington had done a better job with twist rates when it came out so that it was more available.
I started whitetail deer hunting with model 94 30/30 then upgraded to a model 81 browning .308
For my needs the 350 Legend works great.
There's a lot to be said for reloading your own cartridges,if so the 30-06 is extremely versatile! So many bullets and powders available.
Depending on which farm I’m hunting will determine which rifle/ caliber I take. The wide open Ag fields here in MO I’ll be taking my bolt action 6.5PRC. The river bottom woods I’ll be taking my 450 bushmaster AR.
In the past I’ve killed them with .243, 30-06, and 280Rem.
I bought a 450 BM in the Rugar American bolt action. Great brush gun. I took a deer last year with it..
Just finished building my .257 Roberts on Mauser action. Can't wait to get out in the woods this year.
I just turned 30 but I'm a basic boomer, I love my 30-06 and 45/70, those are as American as it gets. You're right when you mention tradition, I know those aren't the greatest calibers in the 21st century but I love shooting what my grandfather and great-grandfather did. While it's true they aren't the best anymore they still hold their own against anything else.
We all turn boomers near 30
I think a good sweet spot round for whitetail where the recoil is rather mild, but it's still a caliber that can reach out to intermediate ranges and deliver plenty of energy, and has rather good ballistics is the 7mm-08. Most of the whitetail hunting I do these days is with a .308 however, mainly due to ammo availability and reloading components(though they too are becoming much harder to get). I don't shoot much past 200 yards and the .308 is plenty for that, shooting either 150 or 165 grain bullets.
Love to see Ron going with the .303 in this.
Ron. My winchester 94 30-30 with a side mounted scope. Took a really nice 8 point buck. And a coyote at 207 yards measured by my outfitter. I shot diagonally across the west fork river. I used 2 rounds. We were back at the lodge. A person commented what dummy brought a 94 30-30 out here. My guide informed said fancy hunter. To not make fun of my rifle. I found out fancy pants missed 3 deer in 1 day.. 1 shot 1 kill in south Dakota. God bless. Awsome video
Good stuff, personally this passed season I got into 450 bushmaster. Seems to work very good in my area. I'd love to see a top 40 through 45 caliber line up.
Got a Winchester 30-30 in 1986. Still use it. Live in northeast Texas. It's hard now to even find ammo. But still use it every year.
.280 Remington and the .35 Whelen are my favorites.
I recently moved out west from the midwest, but I'm in a mountain town so I feel my 30-30 and 350 Rem Mag are still valid choices. As hard as it is to find 350 Rem Mag ammo, I stopped into a small mom and pop gun shop a few weeks ago and found three boxes of factory ammo! Unbelievable. I'm considering either a 270 or a 280 Ackley Imp. for my next rifle, just for those hard to reach places. Otherwise, I prefer to stalk my game. Great video! Thanks for sharing.
Where I hunt here in the Appalachian mountains of eastern Kentucky they're is so much brush and cedar trees I find a Marlin modle 95 chamberd in 44 Remington magnum is just the ticket .
You would love the 444 marlin then
@@scottrussell6717 NO sirree ! The 444 marlin and 45 70 are to powerful for whitetail in my opinion the lower velocities of 44 Remington magnum and 30 30 . 35 Remington is why they work in brush . I had 150 grain sp in 30 06 go to peices trying to shoot through a small cedar tree with a monster Buck on the other side of it . I lost that deer . I said never again ! A few years later the same scenario was presented to me . This time a had a 44 MAGNUM rifle 240 grain JSP that fat bullet went though the cedar boughs . The Buck and a few thumb sized trees beyond the deer ! A180 class buck !
@@waynestone6462 years ago I shot many deer with it... they always dropped
@@scottrussell6717 Oh yes In my 45 years in deer camps I have seen many deer shot with the 444 marlin it is a monster . But more of a GRIZZLY and MOOSE gun to me just a bit overpowered for me. But that is just my opinion
@@waynestone6462 your right.... several years ago I had the marlin in 357.. 44 and 444.. I hunted with them more than my 06 and 270.. those 3 was my go to deer guns.... then I got stupid and got married lol.. would love to have them back but they are 900 a piece now
Beautiful dog! I grew up hunting quail in NC with my daddy. No birds left anymore. Setters were our favorite.
I picked up a (sporterized) 30-40 Krag last year, I would love to hunt with it! I think those rifles are really neat.
I'm 61 and I have inherited a sporterized 30-40 Krag. Shoots great with the old Williams peep sight. Going to have to chase some Blacktail deer here in Oregon.
@@davidderr2662 I have the same site on my Kraig!
@@behindenemylines3361 I grew up shooting it. It was my grandmother's. Grampa bought one for both of them. Wish I knew what happened to his. I was told he spent hours by the fire rubbing with linseed oil into them. I presume he did the sporterizing. I can't be sure, they passed along time ago. He was a hardcore logger out of Kelso Washington. He was competitive in logging competition way back when. More info than you wanted, sorry. Nostalgic. Let's harvest something with them!
I’ve used a .308 Win since 1983 and never had a problem. My fellow hunters use everything from a .250 savage to a 45/70. All have taken whitetail deer easily.
Magnificent video and analysis. Your hard work in this field of experience and knowledge is appreciated!
Much appreciated!
Yep if my state would allow it, I would hunt with my 1st Love , 8 mm mauser. Built that rifle back in 1986 still have it still love It.
Rifles are like a wrench. Use the one that fits. Vice grips will get the job done but its not the best for everything.
Very well done. You covered about as many things to consider when selecting a deer cartridge. I guess that whatever a hunter picks, practice and become proficient (and safe) with it and enjoy the hunt.
For deer, if shopping the used rack, there are oodles of choices which will serve well in various settings.
If buying new, though, the current no fail choice would 6.5 CM. 140 grains in it will cover any responsible yardage, with reasonably flat trajectory, minimal wind drift, and low recoil.
It's a no-brainer, and I don't even own one, so don't anyone "fan boi" me.
But yeah, if using Dad's or Granddad's rifle, figure out an appropriate load, and go for it.
I agree, I think the 6.5 creedmoor is the perfect whitetail cartridge. Plenty of killing power at any ethical range, minimal recoil, reasonable ammo cost, and a vast selection of rifles and ammo.
That said even tho I have one, I won’t be taking it deer hunting due to the higher magnification optic I have on that rifle. I’ll be taking my 6.5PRC and/or .450 bushmaster instead.
When my girls started hunting around 10 yrs of age I got them going with a 223 and stressed shot placement n they were both successful. My son started at 8 as he was a bit bigger n proved he could shoot well enough with it to warrant him heading to the woods. Thats been what seems like ages ago. Girls both use 243s now and the boy a 270. There is no perfect deer round except the one a shooter is most comfortable with and has shot repeatedly in my opinion. I've taken deer with a 218bee on up to 300 win mag. All work with a well placed shot within limits of their particular caliber. Happy hunting all! Oh yes and ofcourse....great video Ron. Love it when Cubby makes a cameo appearance
The 6,5×55 for me.
I soot a 30-6 and I really like is and it was great grandpa’s that passed away hunting with it 3 years ago on thanksgiving.