Which caliber to give?

[Handloader109]

My Bil uses a single shot rifle in 35 whelen for his deer gun. Wife is wanting to get him another rifle for his Christmas. As that caliber is unobtainable for all practical purposes, and I'm not going to load for a gun I can't put my hand on (if I could get brass, he doesn't save, if I had boolits or bullets and primers) I can get 30-06, 308, 6.5 Creedmoor, and would most probably buy a decently nice bolt gun for one of those. I don't deer hunt. Which would you go with for southern white tail? Would only be used with factory ammo....

[shell70634]

I'd say 30-06 or 308. Before this bs pandemic, those 2 calibers were on every shelf every where.

[Finster101]

Hard to beat .308 for availability and versatility.

[Kosh75287]

He's got a rifle in a fine heavy caliber. It'll drop anything in the western hemisphere. A .270 Winchester might be a nice lighter round for other game hunted in open country conditions. What about a .25-06 for varmints & white tails?
I know that the guy doesn't reload (yet), but all those rounds run off the same basic brass.

[Winger Ed.]

I sure like mine, and I've never heard anyone else complain with buyer's remorse about either a .308 or .30-06.

[slownsteady22]

Majority of the time for whitetail hunting I grab my 30-06, but most any caliber will do. I think comfort and weather compatability would factor in my choice more so thana specific caliber. here in Missouri it could be 75° or 5° with snow and or rain.

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[justindad]

Can’t you kill southern deer with a sling shot, or maybe just a rock?

[RickinTN]

Any of the chamberings you mentioned will work just fine.
Nice gesture for the BIL.
Rick

[Bazoo]

Personally, I’d go with 308 because of the availability of military type ammo for practice. Now if he ain’t a shooter and won’t shoot but a box anyways, I’d probably go 270. A good compliment to his current caliber.

[Handloader109]

Thanks guys. He shoots a 180 gr in the 35 Whelen and his friend has a 35 Rem. He can't find either, and I haven't seen either up here, nor on line anywhere. He won't reload. And I wouldn't really want him to. I'll see what I can find... I figured either, brother uses a 308....

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[Winger Ed.]

Can’t you kill southern deer with a sling shot, or maybe just a rock?

Never tried that.
I tagged one in the head at 10-12 feet one time with a .45ACP Gold Cup.

I've also passed on a few shots that were so close the scope wouldn't focus.
A wrist rocket might have worked on them.

[justindad]

I tagged one in the head at 10-12 feet one time with a .45ACP Gold Cup.


I think you get an extra stamp on your man card for that one. That’s pretty cool.

[kfd518]

My inclination would be the .308. Ive seen it more an more available in many types of loadings as of late.

[dverna]

When I went through my "herd thinning" I decided on the .308 for its cheap brass that is easy to get. But I reload.

For a guy who shoots a box a year, any caliber will do the job. Buy 10 boxes of ammunition and he has enough to last a long time. He can add a couple of boxes when it goes on sale...if thing ever get back to normal.

For just deer, I would get a .260 Rem or 7mm/08. Brass can be made from .308

[clearwater]

308 can be short and very light for a great hiking gun

Found a Kimber Hunter at Cabelas weighs 5 pounds un-scoped after I took out the gel in the buttstock. Used Cabela's points to pay for most of it

Other than 223 and 9mm, 308 is on the shelves locally as much as anything.

[pworley1]

All the choices you listed will be great. My vote would be for the 308 also for all the reasons already mentioned.

[canyon-ghost]

I've personally shot a 6.5 Creedmore at the range. Very accurate! I don't know how it would do on deer but, suspect it would hold its own.

[GregLaROCHE]

My go to caliber for hunting has always been 30/06, however, it is probably more than needed for deer. Going down to a 270 or even a 243 might be an interesting option.

[Texas by God]

It's never a mistake to choose a current issue military round with world wide use.
.The .308 is close enough to perfect for deer hunting in my experience.

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[DDriller]

.308 would be my choice. Ammo availability is pretty good for it and it is an easy cartridge to load with cast bulllets.

[fatnhappy]

Just deer? 7-08

[JoeJames]

I vote for 308. I have used a Mauser Model 43 which was re barreled by Spain to 7.62 NATO, and I had customized back in the 80's. Never have lost a deer with it. Even factory ammo is pretty accurate; although I have reloaded for it for a long time - Sierra Game King 165 grain BTHP.

[Handloader109]

Yep, 308 ammo is available in plenty of variations. I'll be looking for something nice for him....

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[1hole]

A .243 or 7-08 will compliment what he already has very well.

[Daekar]

308 or 6.5 CM, with a lean to the 6.5. Southern deer aren't big or thick skinned, and the 6.5 will shoot flatter, further, and hit more than hard enough, with less recoil.