If I am headed just after deer it would be my current go to for sure. I probably deer hunt 7-9 days a year and chase predators.... well a lot more than I probably should.

I killed more critters with a 30/06 than all my others combined, if I seriously had to pick just one it would be this one.

Thinking about this i realized that i haven't used a rifle hunting in a couple of years. I killed a couple of animals with my 475 linebaugh, but everything else was with a bow. So does my bow for my favorite caliber? If not it will be a tossup between the 475 linebaugh for pistol or 3006 for rifle, depending on how i feel that day

7mm-08 for me too.

Big fan of that cartridge.

6.8 for me.

I’m comfortable with this for deer, coyote or pack of hogs. Like having 20 round mag for hogs.

7mm-08 or .22 creedmoor

Over 50 years of hunting dang near everything on North American continent, the 30-06, seldom lets me down. IF I do my job.Took it to Africa and killed some animals there. Factory or hand loaded bullets. It doesn’t matter.

But, started out my Wife and Grandson out with a 222. Never lost a deer with it.

30-30 if I’m sitting closely my own land.

For some reason, 270 has made me do a lot of tracking blood trails. Lost several mortally wounded deer with it. Probably my fault.

Drank the Kool Ade and bought a Creedmor that I really haven’t messed with yet.

Bottom line? If I do my part and concoct the right combination of lead and powder, they all work about the same.

The 260 is my favorite these days, but if I had a long shot down a tight sendero that had heavy thorny brush on both sides, I’d take the 270. It does kill a little deader and faster.

I agree, a 30-30 can't be beat for its ease of handling with doing closeup work. It's my 25-06 that I usually grab if I'm expecting more distant shots.

More animals have fallen to my AR in 223 than anything else in my safe. Mostly because i predator hunt with it and it's what my kids use. They do all the shooting now anyway.

308

30.06

30-06

For Texas Deer Hunting:

Hill Country : 6.8 SPC II - 130 gr GD - In Ruger #2 Single-Shot
South Texas: .270 Win - 130 gr Speer SPFB - Rem 700

My .243 gets out more than any rifle I own, mainly because I coyote hunt year round. Works great on hogs and deer too, so she gets my vote.

6.5 Grendel, good for all of Texas and more with the right bullet.

.270 130 Grain Hornady SST

Were are the 300 HAMR guys?

7-08, 30-06 and 243. But for my go to on any given day would by the 270 hands down. First caliber I ever owned and my stand by for 50 years.

Maybe if All of Texas consisted of Jackrabbits and Armadillos...









Sorry I couldn’t help myself

.338 Win Mag if exotics (Nilgai) are on the list.

Sitting right here!
But, this is more of a "tell me about your favorite rifle" thread than anything else. AND there is nothing wrong about that! For more years than I care to think about, I would have been talking about my results with a .308 Win.
At the same time, "Favorite Texas Game Caliber?" From what I have read it sounds like you're talking about North Carolina wildlife. However, we can't shoot a turkey with a rifle, and you have omitted our Black Bears.

I will say that for the past few years all I have used has been the 300 HAM'R and I don't see that changing.

Right here, I've killed the following in Texas with a 300 HAM'R this year.

Hogs x 548
Deer x 29
Coyotes x 9
Bobcats x 3
Oryx x 2
Addax x 2
Sika x 1
Axis x 1
Waterbuck x 1
Gemsbuck x 1
Elk bull x 1
YO Ibex x 1

Good for anything in TX except Nilgai unless the conditions were ideal.

Handy lightweight rifles, virtually no recoil, extremely accurate and terminal performance virtually identical to a .300 Savage.

Plus the Nut behind the trigger is an excellent shot with any gun he picks up!!!!!

3006 is all ive ever used and all ive ever needed(165 partitions-could be talked into heavier but it shoots em good). If I had it to do over again i would highly consider 708, 280, 708ai, 280 ai. I dont want to hunt with anything smaller and I dont wish to shoot any farther than they shoot. I put a lot of time, effort and money into the opportunity to maybe pull the trigger once every few years at a special animal and I want to eliminate any errors I can out of the weapon. Im smart enough to know that few agree or care to agree about my choice anymore than they care about what vehicle I use or what Mexican food place i eat at.