Deer Hunting Calibres

Tackleberrywho

What do you use?

just to see what is teh most common or uncommon calibre out there

tomcat220t

I will be using my 6xc for stalking this season .Id say the .270 as an out an out stalking setup is going to be hard to beat ....it still works very well with a short barrel , quality ammo is easy on the pocket and most every dealer stock it.

Tackleberrywho

tomcat220t wrote: »

I will be using my 6xc for stalking this season .Id say the .270 as an out an out stalking setup is going to be hard to beat ....it still works very well with a short barrel , quality ammo is easy on the pocket and most every dealer stock it.

Did you get the option to vote more than once?

3 votes already.
I'm trying to keep the data as accurate as possible.

tomcat220t

I only voted once (other cal) 6xc!.IMO,a good stalking setup should be a light ,short rifle (easy to carry and handle) accurate to around 400 yards and hard hitting .Ammo been easy on the pocket and available is great but should come second to everything else .270.......comes to mind;)

tfox

Why wasn't 6.5 given a tick box, are you a 6.5ist ....?

I wonder are there many still using .22-250 ....?

Sika98k

6,5x55 or 22/250

GixxerThou

Ticked .270 there but also use .300 win mag

mrbrianj

slapped a deposit on a .243 last week, and the deer application in the post box on friday afternoon.

so .243 if and when the paperwork comes through. I may change when funds and experience build up.

patsat

.270 for me, but the majority of people I know off boards use .243 and never have problems dropping reds.

One man changed to a .308 this year for the same reason as paoulo ( the scout is only available in .308) and he isn't happy with the calibre atal!

CJhaughey

.243 for me, if it was easier to get ammo for a 7mm-08 or you could reload then I would probably go for one, but .243 is available everywhere and is good on both Fox and Sika.
Great in wind and good ballistics make it my choice.

Tackleberrywho

Sorry I left out 6.5

I think Poll's can only have 6 options.

If the MODS read this, and know there can be more options added to the pole please do!! Put in 6.5 and .22-250 if it can be done

DR6.5

I use a .25-06 and 6.5, have been using the .25-06 more than the 6.5.

The lads i stalk with use .22-250, .243 and .25-06.

dr6.5

tfox

DR6.5 wrote: »

I use a .25-06 and 6.5, have been using the .25-06 more than the 6.5.

The lads i stalk with use .22-250, .243 and .25-06.

dr6.5

Have you taken reds with the .25-06....?

Sparks

I think if we add more options to the poll now, we automatically erase all previous votes...

dwighet

7mm08

DR6.5

Havent tried it on reds, have shot a couple of red hinds with the 6.5 done the job perfect.


Nothing wrong with the 6.5. i use the norma 120 grain btips in it.

dr6.5

Tackleberrywho

Sparks wrote: »

I think if we add more options to the poll now, we automatically erase all previous votes...

Any work around for this?
I'm not a software genius, but I'm guessing the poll can be dickied??

There seems to be a large 6.5 contingent, I would like (if possible) to reflect that data.
I do apologize for ommitting 6.5's, and .22/250's.

The data is very interesting to me as a hunter.

I would have thought that there was more .243's out there, as there was a craze about them in the nineties

patsat

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I would have thought that there was more .243's out there, as there was a craze about them in the nineties

And a craze about .308's in the noughties!

Tackleberrywho

patsat wrote: »

And a craze about .308's in the noughties!

Oh without doubt, I remember fellas talking for hours about .308's and .303's


I remember a craze on Swedish mausers, then Lee Enfields and similar.

Who knows what next.
I shot a few deer with my old mauser.

I'm raging i did not mention .22/250 and 6.5.

It would give good data on what folk are using.

Not a mention of any of the more unusual calibres yet.
(6XC and 7mm-08 being the exception)

meathshooter1

when stalking sika/fallow I use a pimped up .243 rem 700 jewell trigger pillar and action bedded 1/4 moa rifle but most of my permissions are for red deer and I find the bigger grain .308 bullet better for them.but any of these cals mentioned in the tread will do the job with a well placed shot its down to personal pref,I like to get in as close as possible and the very max for me would be 200yrds in the right conditions.Sako 75 hunter.308 is zeroed 1.5 inch high @100yrds .for me its the thrill of getting as close as possible still gets the heart pounding the shot is the easy part wont take it unless Im 100% sure,after that is when the real work starts

zulu_dawn

i use a 6.5x55mm
works fine on fallow bucks and does and red hinds drop on the spot
sika do tend to run on, even when bullet placement is bang-on in the heart-lung area.

(bullets lapua mega 155gr)
thinking of switching to those nosler 120 gr bt's this year.

Nico13

7x64 lovely round but hard to get in ROI

regards to all from france

daithi55

knocked a nice red the other day with my .243 passed right through him in behind one shoulder and out just behin the other shoulder
damaged all the vital organs didn go more than ten yards before dropping

Tikka Jim

I learnt how to hunt deer using my fathers 22-250, I have used a 6.5 (too much time spent looking for wounded deer) , and a .270 (too much recoil for me, but excellent round) and I have used .243 for the last 6 years. I have shot sika does out to 320 yards with it, .
I'll be using it on reds for the first time in the next few weeks:D.

rob308

Are there many .30-06 users here? Surprised that considering it's popularity worldwide and large offering of different loads that it doesn't seem as popular as it could be in this country. Don't personally know anyone using one. Fired one outside of Ireland a few times and it's a beautiful round to shoot. I wonder perhaps if the trend towards more tactical looking rifles has something to do with it?

Double Barrel

I shoot a single shot chambered for 7x57r and use Norma and/or RWS ammunition.

Early on I had a .22/250 then moved to a .243 Winchester, a 7x57, a 25.06, a 30.06, a 6.5, back to a .243 browning single shot, now back shooting a 7x57r single shot.
I sold most of the others to members of the clan for a guinea with the proviso of first refusal if they decided to sell.
Still have and stalk with the 30.06 and the .243 but the .275 is the one I reach for, light recoil and it drops them.

Tackleberrywho

rob308 wrote: »

Are there many .30-06 users here? Surprised that considering it's popularity worldwide and large offering of different loads that it doesn't seem as popular as it could be in this country. Don't personally know anyone using one. Fired one outside of Ireland a few times and it's a beautiful round to shoot. I wonder perhaps if the trend towards more tactical looking rifles has something to do with it?

I know of one guy from Donegal who shoots it.
I never fired it myself.

It's more a bigger game calibre outside Ireland,
The lad I know shoots reds ~300yards in Mountain in Donegal as it is open and stalking is difficult due to lack of cover. (or that is the reason i was given)

I almost bought a Blaser in .30-06, but I reckoned i did not need the power

rob308

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

I know of one guy from Donegal who shoots it.
I never fired it myself.

It's more a bigger game calibre outside Ireland,
The lad I know shoots reds ~300yards in Mountain in Donegal as it is open and stalking is difficult due to lack of cover. (or that is the reason i was given)

I almost bought a Blaser in .30-06, but I reckoned i did not need the power

Maybe it is a power thing with lads but seeing that there are a good few 300mag's about the place it just seems strange to me about the lack of 30-06's if that's their excuse

FISMA

I use the lovely 0.30 caliber, patented in 1906: 30-06.

Used to love the 150 grain, now I find the rifle likes the 185 better.

Cass

Myself and the Father invested in a 30-06. Its a Sauer S202 Elegance. Absolutley lovely rifle. Lightweight for easy carrying and very accurate.

As mentioned there is a good variety of ammo for it. Have tried 150gr Federal, Hornady 165/155gr SST, Sako 123gr among others. There is a noticeable recoil, but its as much down to the round being fired as well as the lightweight of the rifle. Still, no problems with knocking power.

Switched over from a Sauer 6.5x55. It was a super accurate rifle, but more of a target orientated rifle so quite heavy for carrying.

Tackleberrywho

Very interesting how little .25-06's are out there too.

So it look like the big four in popularity are, .243 .270 .308 and 6.5x55

Interesting nobody has gone with the newer calibres .260 .280 etc.

Also interesting a lot of folk seem to use 2 rifles on Deer.

It wasn't me!

Using a .25-06. Tough to get ammo for though. Would rather a .270. Does the exact same job, but slightly better, and there's more ammo around.

CJhaughey

There is a reason that those traditional calibres are popular, Ammo availability.
Its hard enough sometimes to get ammo for those cals let alone any newer or slightly unusual calibres like .260 or 6mm Rem.
.243 Federal 100gn BTSP is nigh on unobtainable at present!
No reloading and unavailable ammo means that you have an expensive lump of pipe and wood.
I can imagine that there is stocks of .260 somewhere in Ireland but whether it is readily available from the local dealer and what bullet weights they have is another days work.
I haven't got the time or inclination to ring all the ammo dealers and ask whether they have any .260 in stock.
I just want to drive in flash my license and buy a box of whatever flavour .243 I need.

arrowloopboy

Why is it that all the really experienced stalkers i know swear by the .270 ?,hence i'm only stalking a couple of years but thats what i bought(after a rogue in the s/e tried to sell me a .257 weatherby magnum,i'd say they'd be handy to get ammo for:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:.

arrowloopboy

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Using a .25-06. Tough to get ammo for though. Would rather a .270. Does the exact same job, but slightly better, and there's more ammo around.

The mate bought a 25-06 tikka t3 and has no problem getting ammo from John Lambert in Camolin.

Tackleberrywho

So it looks as though the .308 is the most popular, followed by the .243,.270 & 6.5x55

It wasn't me!

arrowloopboy wrote: »

The mate bought a 25-06 tikka t3 and has no problem getting ammo from John Lambert in Camolin.

Oh, absolutely not, plenty there, but that's saying that one dealer stocks a good bit, while most others do not. I'm up just south of Dublin, so don't fancy too many trips to Camolin to buy ammo. The .270 is just easier to get.

mule2

6.5 for me:D

DickieBowe

Ditto, 6.5 for me too !

bibio

Same as that 6.5 for me all the way

clivej

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Oh, absolutely not, plenty there, but that's saying that one dealer stocks a good bit, while most others do not. I'm up just south of Dublin, so don't fancy too many trips to Camolin to buy ammo. The .270 is just easier to get.

Then just get it posted to you. all you have to do is send your license to the dealer and they could send you the ammo. That's what Duffy's will do.

It wasn't me!

clivej wrote: »

Then just get it posted to you. all you have to do is send your license to the dealer and they could send you the ammo. That's what Duffy's will do.

So it looks like I'll be in the neighbourhood tomorrow. Going to pick myself up a hundred rounds of the Federal Powershok while I'm there, take care of the rest of the year.

Tackleberrywho

Poll closes tomorrow

59 Hunters voted so far.
6.5x55
.308
.243
.270
Seem to be the most popular 4 calibres with 6.5 and .308 joint top, followed closely by .243 and .270.

Very little boards members seem to shoot .25-06 and .30-06.
Seems the 5.6x57RWS has faded out, even though between 1970 and 1990 it was the most popular calibre.

It wasn't me!

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Poll closes tomorrow

59 Hunters voted so far.
6.5x55
.308
.243
.270
Seem to be the most popular 4 calibres with 6.5 and .308 joint top, followed closely by .243 and .270.

Very little boards members seem to shoot .25-06 and .30-06.
Seems the 5.6x57RWS has faded out, even though between 1970 and 1990 it was the most popular calibre.

Because it was the best available. People have had nearly twenty years now to change their setups. Not many using .22-250s either.

Tackleberrywho

It wasn't me! wrote: »

Because it was the best available. People have had nearly twenty years now to change their setups. Not many using .22-250s either.

Ammo for a 5.6x57 was redic also.
Serious fox round, very accurate and flatshooting.

Most lads I know with .22-250's these days just use them for target of foxing.

It might not be a red sea poll, but teh data seems to broadly reflect my gut feeling on what was most popular calibres