What I see as most popular in deer camps is 30-06. I don’t think the majority here on THF represent the masses. As a group we shoot more than the average rifle owners.

I agree but it is a fun argument. Pops shoots 270 my grandfather shot 30-06 and I have .308s, 300 hamr, and 300win mags in the stable. I bought pops his 30-30 from the pawn shop in Frisco. They all do will get the job done. I need a damn .243

The lowly .243 might still be pretty high up there. I don't think you could answer the question based on ammunition sales because lots of hunters may buy a box of ammo only every ten years or so ("got my deer, I'm done for the year"). OTOH, I'd bet that more 6.5 Creed gets fired at paper or steel than the others because it's a good recreational shooter (and enjoys a very successful to date marketing campaign). In the end, it's still just a matter of opinion. I voted .270 just because I figure (by guess) it's likely the most popular deer rifle cartridge on the list. And as a matter of opinion I think the .30-06 is the best killer on the list, but as a matter of fact none will do a whole lot more than any of the others. The question isn't about the best killer anyway.

Grew up shooting a 30-06. I own / shoot every cartridge listed but a 270, never cared for it, my 6.5-06 does everything a 270 will do.

You left off the 243, and I'd bet more critter's are killed in Texas with a 243 than almost anything else. I've never owned one of them either, I favored my 25-06 over it.

Been hand loading, velocity checking, etc for way over 40 years. My PERSONAL is still the 30-06. And I have rifles in all the popular calibers. Lots of flexibility there.

Yes I did. It is not talked about much here. And based on the last three years of taking in rifles owned by other people, the .243 has been a never. Meaning never has someone brought one to me for load development and ammo. I realize these are two small samples, but I have to form opinions based on facts. The number one cartridge that I've loaded ammo for has been .300 Win Mag, and I don't even own one. .308 Win has been very prevalent. So has 7mm-08, 6.5 Creedmoor (even though it is touted as having great ammo available, it still isn't perfect ammo for the rifle in question).

.30-06 two times

.270 Win never

.260 Rem a few

.280 A.I. a few

.300 WSM, more than a few

28 Nosler and 300 PRC are gaining ground.

I believe what youre saying, just as id believe the ones toting the 270,243 and 30-06's aren't looking for help shooting lol

Id bet they are some old school, red flannel, Marlboro type guys

At least the ones I know are and there's a bunch of em

A box will last that type a couple years....

They'll hunt opening weekend and maybe the weekend they hear rut is on

If you y'all don't know this type I don't know what to say...

Have hunted with a 30-06 since I was 12.
Own a 6.5 creedmoor that I’ve never shot, had and sold a .243 that I never killed with. Wife has had a .270 for 5 years and shot all her deer with it.

Based on the scarcity of ammo the last few crises, I've gotta go with the .308...

Where's the .22-250 Rem.? all these ranchers I've met swore by it for white-tails.

Based on the number of them stolen every year the 5.56 wins. As far as hunting, I’m going with the 243, 270 or 30-06. Most country folks around here don’t have a 308, 300WM or 6.5CM. They have the guns that have been in their family for 50-60 years.

The most common is probably .270 then .30-06.

But that's not the question...

Historically, it would be the 30 30 and 30 06. An awful lot of us older shooters started off with WWII milsurps.

Agree. My answer would be .30-30 if it were a choice.

Texas Parks and Wildlife says 270 and 30-06 like I picked
https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/hu...irearms-and-ammunition-1/common-firearms

Academy also just published this recently. They probably have a pretty good read on this based on actual sales data because they can easily correlate ammo purchases with time of year or hunting licenses sold. I don’t necessarily trust Academy as the “expert” as they claim but they do know better than any of us what actually sells and when.

https://www.academy.com/expert-advice/best-deer-rifle-caliber

Most people that shoot the .243 don't do a lot of load development because bullets are limited and you can buy the cheapest ammo off the shelf and punch holes that you can place a quarter over.
That said ammo for the .243 has improved tremendously over the years.
It's a darn good hunting caliber, mild recoil, accurate, and especially when the hunter knows it's limitations, it gets the job done.

Throughout history, absolutely!

They aren't getting used as much now though. I've read and heard non-hand loaders complaining of the lack .30-30 ammo. During Obama years, I waited 6 months on .30-30 dies on backorder.

.243 is magic tight shooting, got it.

6.5 Creedmoor is killing it in new sales. Friends and family that used to buy a kid a .243 for their first rifle are moving to the 6.5 Creedmoor. My cousin did just that for his 12 year old son last year. I made the ammo and the kiddo got his fist buck during youth weekend this year. That is quite the common story now days.

I bet you're right. I have a stash of now impossible to find Sierra JSP's and an impossible to find Ranch Dog mold made specifically for my Ballard rifled 336RC waffle top so I am good but I do know a box of 20 OEM rounds went from $15 to $50 according to some. I guess the .30-30 WIN is dying...

Dad gave me a Marlin in 30-30 in 1997. It's not for sale and never will be.

I did get dies, brass, and bullets. I need to get that thing running on my ammo.

I have 2 of them both in Model 7's and they are Texas deer killing machines. I wouldn't trade either of them for any other caliber.

IF the question is purposed to 'elect' a Texas State Cartridge (of those listed) then I would vote for the 7mm-08 simply for sake of my affinity for it.

IF we consider which of the listed cartridges is most versatile it is the 30/06 without question.

Since many of the responses here took a different vein (hunting and/or most popular cartridge found in deer camps) I believe that is changing and I am not sure of the cartridges listed....they are still the most popular or not.

IF we just want to consider the most commonly owned cartridge all across the spectrum.....it isn't any of the listed cartridges. In fact, its not even a Center Fire. It would the .22 LR hands down.

I have been in a lot of Texas hunting camps in my life. By far the most prevalent I have seen is the .270. I am sure lots of new hunters get the creedmore, but the average deer hunter is not selling their lifetime rifles to get one. BTW, I have never owned a .270 or a 6.5 Creedmore. Seen a lot of .243s in camps too, but not near as much as .270s.

I have no doubt.

And the funny thing is I have never owned a .270, never will, and none of my family members have a .270