Well, first of all, I didn't exclude the .243, I excluded the .223. I like .357 because I like bigger holes. .357 out of a rifle is a pretty BA little cartridge too. 158 gr, with a wide meplat at 1800fps drops anything I have pointed it at.

It depends on the prowess and patience of the shooter wielding the rifle and the distance of the animal. I’ve killed the most deer with a 270 but I’ve also killed a pile with a .223. A few of those with the .223 have been a good bit further than many on here might recommend. Bigger projectiles are better but, a marksman with with a little gun is more effective than an excitable hunter with a big gun who is a poor shot. After you get much past 200 yards, heavier projectiles become increasingly more advantageous. I’ve heard the argument many times championing the idea of legislation dictating a minimum caliber for deer. In reality, being required to exhibit a specified proficiency level with your rifle of choice to qualify for a deer license would do a lot more to limit lost deer than a caliber minimum.

In Alabama it is illegal to shoot deer with anything under .240---with this being said, I would say a .243 is the smallest caliber to shoot deer with, however, a better option would be .25-06, .270, 7mm-08 or .308

I have personally watched a friend shoot a doe with a 22-250 and we never found her. He hunts with a .270 now

JMHO- I've killed deer with arrows flying less than 300 fps
and lead spheres flying much slower than the cheesiest
pawn shop 30/30 could fling a walmart corelokt

I personally think we're over regulated already, and
damn sure don't need any more rules to try and interpret

If I had one to spare, I'd bet a C note that half of the
deer shot at and " missed " probably ran off 15 yards in
the brush and died, but never got followed up on
because they didn't just keel over on the spot or react
like the shooter thought it was supposed to

[quote=maximum]JMHO- I've killed deer with arrows flying less than 300 fps
and lead spheres flying much slower than the cheesiest
pawn shop 30/30 could fling a walmart corelokt

I personally think we're over regulated already, and
damn sure don't need any more rules to try and interpret


Amen

Yep.

Don't confuse my wording of "minimum" to mean that I think it is something that should be dictated by the government. It is something that should be dictated by the individual hunter after doing his/her own research.

300 Weatherby Mag…

That is a discussion for my next thread "How much gun is too much gun?"

I killed a steenbok with a .416 Rigby once. Maybe 70 yards.

(Yes, there was enough for a shoulder mount. )

Its possible that you brought enough gun on that one.

Definitely got my attention. My old 721 300 Weatherby has been taking whitetails since the 50's, my Mark V has taken it's share. 150 grain Nosler Partitions running as fast as I can run them. The 721 was taking Elk, Muledeer and even has a bear to it's credit long before I started shooting it. Took my first buck with that rifle when I was 8-9 years old, definitely a fan of the Weatherby's.

Minimum = .243 Win

Like button.........

.218 Bee

I think I had you post pegged. Some need more slop than others though bubba. One size fits all always means dumbing it down to the lowest common denominator.

Disagree.

FME I would say 222.

Put a 222 in the hands of a capable kid (or anyone) within 150 yrds and you are eating backstrap for supper.

Mine would be .243 since that is the smallest I have and I have seen a lot of deer dropped over the years with a .243.

[i][/i]Keep it under 100 and 1”, any legal rifle caliber will work

If you can, it can w good ammo

I’ve seen it, a lot

I use to hunt on a ranch that that’s all they used since 50’s. We are talking hundreds of deer.

But to answer the question a SxS 375 H&H is the absolute min for whitetails in Texas. It’s only caliber capable of the penetration needed to anchor one where it stands, and provides the quickest follow up shot ability, just in case the willy whitetail eats and slits out the first shot.

This is a Very intelligent thread and topic, where the validity ends in smallest case capacity centerfire in said’s safe... Not other option is ever valid past that

Why stop at the .375? Wouldn't a 50 BMG work better to anchor them? Even if you miss slightly, it'll suck thier eyeballs out and kill them that way!

6mm

I killed my first deer with a 22 Hornet. Shot her in the neck and she fell down and when I walked up to her bawling like a baby I had to shoot her again in the head.

For me the minimum is .243, but I won't use something that small any more, I really like my 6.5 and 7-08....but I'll likely start my boy out with a 300 BO at around 50-75 yards.

300 BLK with 125 gr SST's make an excellent short range deer killer.Last deer I shot and last deer my boy shot were both 300BLK 125 SSt's.