Best Texas Deer Cartridge

I was in a discussion with several hunting buddies about our favorite rifle cartridges for whitetail hunting in Texas. The choices were wide ranging from .243 Win all the way to .300 Win Mag. It just got me wondering what the general hunting public thinks about this. Let's list our favorite caliber for chasing Texas deer.

.308
.270
.30-06
30-30

25-06
270 wsm
270

I did not even list my favorites. I like 25-06 and 25 WSSM.

264

25-06
257wby
7/08
270wsm
300wm

carry a 300wm 95% of the time.

30-06
7mm mag
280

.270, 30-30, 3006

I know a lot of folks that would never use anything but a 30-30 on Deer in Texas.

.243
.270
7mm08

My Favorites in Texas

25-06

Recoil, cost, availablity

a lot of variation in "Texas deer"

For example: The "best" for mule deer in the Trans-Pecos or trophy bucks in the Brush Country, would not be the best for Hill Country does, nor for East TX Piny Woods.

But in general, I would recommend the 25/06 for a factory round.

My personal fav is the 257AI.

22LR

And ever rifle mfg chambers it even vanguard.

30.06 and .243. Those are the only 2 I got so that's all I can list.

I prefer some of the new .177 PBA air rifle ammo that they sell at academy. It's lighter, so it has more velocity, and really does a great job on head shots under 10 yards.

.257 Roberts

Because my dad gave it to me. The ultimate Texas round.

25-06

how does the 25-06 compare to the recoil and KD power of the .270?

9mm Uzi

30-06

one gun for all of North America.

in a 9lb rifle the 130gr 270 would have about 16 ft-lbs of recoil. The 120gr 25/06, at about the same velocity would have abut 13 ft-lbs. The actual felt recoil also depends on the rifle and how well it fits the shooter.

While the 270 recoil is certainly not objectionable. The reason I like the 25/06 or 257AI, is the recoil seems to be just light enough that I can see the impact of the bullet and watch the deer's reaction.

as to KD. I've taken lots of deer with both and don't think you will ever be able to see the difference with bullets of similar construction.

Word.

.270

.270

2506

7mm STW --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

.25-06
.270
.30-06
.300 WM

I have killed deer with 22-250 and 223 with head shots when I was younger, but now prefer to shoot something that can adequately handle a minimum of 100gr bullet.

25-06 Accurate, low recoil, and at 120 gr the bullet still has plenty knock-down. I have a Marlin XL7 and I love it.

257 wby and the 270 are very similar all away around.

Recoil of 25-06 is in between 243 and 270.

Knock down of the 25-06... is just under the 270.. 300yards looking at 1497 vs 1733lbs.. the 25-06 is also little flatter then the 270...little meaning 2in

X2..... two favorite loads are the nolser custom 100gr partitions and the cpcartridge.com 100grain Tsx's. Both 3300ft... cp are real close to the loads I had worked up for it

you should really check out the 110ABs

they group about 1.2 in my 257.... funny thing they are exactly 2.5 inches higher then my 80ttsx and 1 in above my 100 tsx.....80 are dead on at a 100...and .71 moa as of today..it was really cold

And 1.5 in in group my 25-06 compared to the partitions and tsx's that are sub

So...how much was it off?

6mm Rem.
25-06
7mm-08
7mm Rem Mag

that sucks. Last I remember we really had to mess with the OAL on '06 and a litte on the 270wsm (can remember for sure 2.840 on the wsm). My summer project will be to get them to group in the wbys.

.308

.270.

.264 Win Mag

270

.308, 270 - all around
the only 30'06 I own is a Garand

I would have to say the 270 Winchester. I've heard it called the Texas dear caliber.

From a .22 Hornet up to my 7Mag. Depends where and at what range I'll be hunting. But 22-250 most of the time. Wife .270, grand kids all use the .243.

Since we're limited to TX and I'm in West TX I'm going with the 257 Weatherby in your action of choice.

270

.270

257STW

I wonder how many people here simply listed what they own or have owned? I have and have owned .308's and .270's..Guess what my favorite deer catridges are?
Oh yea, also have .22 lr's and 5.56 mm..but wouldn't think of using either of those wimps.

.270

might be surprised at what some of us have

How can I recommend what I know nothing about?

30-06 for me....

I'm sure some folks have multiples of their favs.

I don't have a 30-30 or a .270

338 for Axis deer
300 short for WT deer
7mm08 b/c it don't kick as much.

I have 2, but not real comfy taking them to most of my stands.

Just got add a little more lob in some of the long, narrow food plots...you know clear some timber so you can have a clear shot

.270 or 7.62x54R (the original short magnum)

I have a 300win but i highly recommend 7mm mag. The ballistics are great and the kick is not much worse than a 30.06 but I have had better accuracy with 7mm

.408 Cheytac.
6.5 grendel
.444 marlin
.375 H&H Magnum
.44 magnum
.338 Lapua






.17 HMR

270

they are about as clear as you can get them, that's the problem.

.257 wby
.270 wby

.50 BMG

My fiance loves her 270 and I'm lovin' my ProHunter with the 7mag pushin' 154 grain Hornady SST's.

.243

Any of the "Belted Whizzer Super Short Stubby Ultra Double Magnums" should work. Out to the astonishing 200yd mark(some say further! Shocking I know). But I prefer my barrel break in procedure to not include: Shoot one and clean, shoot one tomorrow and clean, shoot one the next day and clean etc.etc.etc. So I'll say........25-06? No No wait! Are we including zombies? Man this is hard.............


Chupa

Its been shovled DEEP here to show that anything
will kill one So that leaves the IFS
IFS
1.East texas OR any thicket on foot,
Fast shootin 20 ga.-35 caliber open sited
2.East texas blind/stand trail or feeder
Anything bow to 338
3.Open place unlimited range blind to truck
bolt guns 25- 300 wby X hi power scopes>bipods
4.Rest of texas blinds to foot
Ranges from 50 - 200 yards
5.Anything that fires 45 Muzzle to 300 wby
Answer theres not one,
6.Take the 300 muzzle blaster to palo pinto cedars
Its useless
7.30-30 open site to long range place
Its same useless
8.Single shot to pig fest
Wrong Auto time
9.Any 4X Scoped bolt gun an sling to walkin an shoot
Right> thats just what ive found thats close.
And i use what works best No favorite
ak to weatherby

There isnt a best, but lots of good choices.

Mine are 223 rem 270 win and 300 wby

Love them all and looking to ad a 308 and 257 wby.

But I thought those calibers "can't hang" with the 7mm-08?

Is that toward me or vanguard?

Anything from a 222 to a 454 Chevrolet..

.25-06 or 6.5x55. Like my .30-06, but think either of these is closer to "best" for Texas hunting.

East- .243
Central- 7mm08
West/South- .300wsm

7-08 BEST THING SINCE SLICED BREAD.

Yes, but does the 7-08 go with PB&J


Chupa

WHAT!! Now you are getting into my expertise...
The best thing since sliced bread is peanut butter, grape jelly. And cheddar cheese!
I may not know the BCE of a 7mm but I know fat food!

I prefer the 50 BMG. Sometimes it renders the meat useless, but my lazy azz doesnt like to track deer.

260 or 25-06.

308,30-06,284 are my favs

6.5 x 55

7 x 57

257 WBY

I did a poll on here about the same thing several years ago it seems like the 270 won hands down.

25-06,6.5-55,260,7-08,7mag

300 wby with a muzzle brake, 165 gr barnes tsx.

50 cal.

257AI

280 Remington

>308 is my favorite , but that is what I was given at 12 years old to hunt with and now have three so that may bias my opinion , but anything that works for you is best for you , they all kill if aimed properly .

25-06

We prefer 308's.

Nothing at all wrong with 270 or 30-06 for that matter....

I think some where is the Texas declaration of independece it states that every free man in this state must own a .270win, however .308 & 30-06 may be substituted with forum aproval.

When I cross the border to Oklahoma I can carry my .257wby or 300wby without fear of legal action

6.5x55 anyday and on anything.

man theres really no bad caliber i just always preferred anything bigger than 223

There is no, best one caliber/cartridge for deer in Texas, or anywhere else for that matter.

It all boils down to personal preference.

Hunting conditions vary from one county to the next and even from one area in a county to the next.

Also individual abilities and experience vary among hunters.

Use whatever works for you and do not wory if your buddies or anyone else thinks your wrong.

7mm-08

7mm-08 & .30-06. Bang, Flop.

and sliced bananas

260 Remington

7mm Remington Magnum - Point, shoot, drop right there.

I like to walk softly and carry a big stick...

7mm Rem Mag
30.06

That's why you don't see any deer, using the wrong caliber!



(Actually that makes about as much sense as some of the other answers we get Hoyt)

7.62mm but I use it in an XM134 mini gun, sometimes I need all the help I can get, my eyes aren't what they used to be.

.243

Definately 30-06 for best all round. Varible weight bullets and powder charges. Can be hot light weight varmit shell to heavy weight big game shell, depending on desired bullet type, weight and powder charge. Top "all round" gun for any game in this country. In my opinion, if you only had one rifle for everything, this one would be really hard to beat.

too many choices, not enough time to use them all!

I use a .243 or .270, because that is what I am used too, perfect for hogs and hill country deers

too many choices, not enough time to use them all!

I use a .243 or .270, because that is what I am used too, perfect for hogs and hill country deers

too many choices, not enough time to use them all!

I use a .243 or .270, because that is what I am used too, perfect for hogs and hill country deers

Just use whatever you feel most Comfortable with!!! I personally like a .243 in open area from100-200yds, but in cover/brushy areas or longer shots I choose the .270

25-06

After this season I recommend the .257 Roberts,low recoil and plenty of power for 99% of Texas hunting.

.270 all round
7MM Mag for covering long shots on large open areas
.44 mag ballistic tip for sneak and stalk and shooting through heavy grasses and brush.

My faves. Curious about 12ga slugs as a sub for 44mag... just never tried them.

.308 Remington all the way one of the most accurate rounds and has the most data on it for long and short range shots

Hill Country - .243
South Texas - 7 Mag

Can't go wrong with .30-06 or .270.

Love the pic of the Savage Precision Carbine .308, what a tack driver!

I use a Ruger .270 and love the gun. I'm not the most experienced hunter and I am very confident I will hit anything I pull the trigger on and it will fall shortly after. That's real important to me. I did neck shots this year and everything dropped on the spot. My chest shots have fun off less than 50 yds. That's on deer, everything else tumbles away from me about two feet

Love mine 3/8in. group with factory ammo handloads i have yet to find was she likes but only 1 in. at 200 with handloads but great gun its a 308 too perfect for everything

The centerfire I have in my hand when I see one.

Interesting read...funny, I would expect pretty much the same replys up here in Canada.

Personally I'd vote .270 but having said that, I find the older (wiser?) I become, the more I lean smaller caliber/better bullet.

Using a .243/TSX nowadays. Dead is dead.

308

308 ME

I haven't found it yet so I get to buy more guns. (At least I've got my wife sold on that excuse! )

.270

I'll get in on this and just say my 1st deer, a doe, downed with a 32-20win and my 1st buck fell in his tracks from my 300sav. Must be my age,eh? But a 243win is what I use now.