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What caliber should I buy

Miss. CreantMiss. Creant Member Posts: 300 ✭✭✭
edited April 2002 in General Discussion
I am going on a combo hunt where the game will be mule deer and varmint shooting. I need a rifle and was wondering if a .223 or a .30-06 would be better suited for killing these animals. I know they will both kill but which one will kill better.
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Comments

  • instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    It's too bad your quarry is not gallon milk jugs filled with water. Whichever your quarry you would be best suited to anything chambered in 45-70. Be it a 2 shot derringer or a Sharps.I will advise you, though, should you find yourself being charged by a ravenous pack (or herd) of 6" dia. saplings I hope your guide has a 7.62x54 handy. Rumor has it that you can fell one of these viscous creatures with TWO shots!
    Some people just shouldn't be allowed to breed
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  • Miss. CreantMiss. Creant Member Posts: 300 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IOWYou have a sense of humor that I can relate with. At least you did not say a 7mm.
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    After the thread that started here last week concerning the 223 I hope this one doesn't turn into the tirade that one did!! So in the interest of trying to evade discussions about the lowly 223 or the great 30cal.(in some peoples eyes) I will opt to recommend the 25-06!! I know it is effective on Mule Deer and is the varmint gun from hell in the eyes of the varmints!! 26 years experience with 25-06's has taught me that is a very capable caliber for a dual purpose gun!! By the way I also shoot 22-250, 223, 222Mag, 7mmBR and 7mmMag. But for all around one gun for both the 25-06 will be unbeatable!! Now get ready for the 6mm, 243 crowd to start in on me!! GHD
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  • instrumentofwarinstrumentofwar Member Posts: 1,545 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Oh, but how you forget yourself, Miss Creant. I was saving that for the subject of my next safari.....none other than the elusive, wary, wiley tree geezer.
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  • RembrandtRembrandt Member Posts: 4,486 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    GHD is right, 25-06 is one of the best for what you intend to do. I've shot prairie dogs all day long with one and didn't feel like a minute steak at the end of the day. Yet there is plenty there for mid size game.
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  • turboturbo Member Posts: 820 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ghee, lets see now?What dimension do you want to kill them to? Will they be full of water, or only half full?Will they be standing still, or a moving target?Full of water you say?, please refer to the previous post. Thank You..
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  • OtomanOtoman Member Posts: 554 ✭
    edited November -1
    I will hold up on my purchase until we hear from the Expert in Residence! The upstate timber jack!
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Might the water boy make a suggestion? Shall it suffice to say that you will be in need of a round that will not only kill your intended target but render it totally unidentifiable. Don't mess with the small stuff, total destruction is what you need, you will want a round capable of shooting thru steel and concrete, a round that will blow down the strongest of redwoods and deliver the animal in pieces to the next county. You see the water jugs was an illusion, mearly a trick, a sales gimmick if you will. The suggestion I have for you is manufactured by a new company that has just been started. It fires a projectile that ressembles a mortar round but will fly at speeds of over 10,000fps in a straight line and hit a gnat in the eye while hip shooting. It is a 76.20x540, it comes equiped with a 20-50x night vision laser guidence system that makes the Navy Seals jealous. All that is needed to do to shoot this wonderfull varmit rifle(it is also ok for deer but I would look for a bigger gun if deer is the main target) is aim in the general direction as the round is also a heat seeking round on top of being laser guided. This gun is manufactered by a company call Bullzeye Instruments for war and hunting. It is a subsidarary company of Adirondak Logging and also affiliated with todays modern Military. This delightfull weapon can be yours for only $500.00. It is manufactured for the budget minded people. Also check out thier .50 cal fully automatic handguns. Please go to http://www.bullzeyeinstrumentsofwarandhunting.com for ordering info. No FFL required. Plese click on the link to tip the narrator of this ad so that he may get grammar and spelling lessons. Thank you.[This message has been edited by 7mm nut (edited 04-09-2002).]
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  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I'd recommend the 222 Rem Mag. Far superior to the .223.Clouder..
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  • Miss. CreantMiss. Creant Member Posts: 300 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have decided to load up some hot .17's. everyone knows that a tiny tiny light weight VARMINT round taveling at very high speeds does the absolute worst damage possible.I wonder if anyone has tipped of the government that the .22 short when loaded hot enough can equal the atom bomb.
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    OH NO NO NO NO NO Missy, small rounds only blow up on the surface and just leave a small blemish in the hair. No penetration at all.
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  • Miss. CreantMiss. Creant Member Posts: 300 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Strange how you change your story so fasthee hee
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  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    FMJ to get full benefit. I've heard it will get ya an extra 1200FPSClouder..
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  • BullzeyeBullzeye Member Posts: 3,560
    edited November -1
    Apparently 5 decades of development and 3 wars worth of testing in the harshest environment imaginable doesnt mean much anymore, eh?All thats important is that it can make a milk jug fall off a post.It's like the guy who'd rather take a Remington 710 than a brand-new FN FAL simply because one's "American made", and I dont like buyin' mah smokewaggin's from dem Froggies, now!Blood is thicker than water, and ignorance is thicker than concrete.Since it's been proven to little stupid me by those who know everything that it DOES NOT MATTER how small a round is, because it will STILL be enough to incapacitate a man in war, I have a proposal for you.I take a .22 Short and neck it down to accept a .01 sized bullet. Based on the time-tested and sage military ballistics information 7mm has given out, this bullet should be the best thing ever to happen to the US Armed Forces!You could carry 3.7 million bullets per man! Magazines could hold 400 rounds! And yet every single hit, no matter where the hit was, would still cause the enemy (lets say he's....Iraqi) to cross his hand over his heart and with a surprised expression, exclaim "Oh Allah! I am hit! I die now!" and promptly curl into a fetal position and die on the spot.You could mount these on tanks! Give them to our infantrymen! Put 'em in a minigun on a gunship!Since everyone knows that 7mm has vast experience with all sorts of military firearms (based on his lengthy time in combat), there's just no disputing this!Run out and buy yours today!
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  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    260 Rem.
    AlleninAlaska
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  • Big Sky RedneckBig Sky Redneck Member Posts: 19,752 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Mrs. Bullzeye,(you are a girl aint ya? Ya act like one!), when did I ever say sat I was in combat, I stressed that I was not even in the army, I'm too stupid to get in, they only take schmart peoples. And besides that, I'm the great white hunter who has killed species from all over the world with a Daisy BB gun, remember?? DUH!
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  • CAndres35CAndres35 Member Posts: 453 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    well if we are done making fun of people,lets get back to the subject. my personal opinion is the 270 would make one of the best rifels for deer and varmit. if its whitetails you can use the 110gr to 150gr and if its large muleys you can move up to 150gr to 180gr. for varmit you can come down to 85/100gr. this to me is the most veratile round i have found. it also doesnt kick the sh&*& out of you. carl
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  • Miss. CreantMiss. Creant Member Posts: 300 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ya might want to make that a hollow point Bullzeye. That way it is sure to cause a bigger wound. Of course if it is a VARMINT bullet it will kill anything.
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  • agloreaglore Member Posts: 6,012
    edited November -1
    Carl, who makes a 270 bullet in 180 grain weight? I mean Barnes used to be popular for it's heavy for caliber bullets, but haven't seen any Barnes originals for sale in years.
    AlleninAlaska aglore@gci.net [This message has been edited by aglore (edited 04-10-2002).]
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  • dheffleydheffley Member Posts: 25,000 ✭
    edited November -1
    25.06 is absolutly the best choice.

    Save, research, then buy the best.Join the NRA, NOW!Teach them young, teach them safe, teach them forever, but most of all, teach them to VOTE!
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  • Mr DonutMr Donut Member Posts: 24 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    What the hell,how about a crossfire.12 ga with tubes that you could put a slug through and a 223 all in one gun.Might make a good pheasant gun.Naaa.....
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  • laxcoachlaxcoach Member Posts: 1,296 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    If this is a democracy, then the 25-06 wins the election, hands down. I vote with GHD, Rembrandt, and Dhleffey !!! (Ghd, you know I'd vote this way)
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  • BoltactionManBoltactionMan Member Posts: 2,048 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    .270 all the way. Will do everything the .25-06 will and more because of the diverse bullet weights available.

    Aglore--Midway USA catalog shows Barnes Originals in 180 grain round nose for the .270. www.midwayusa.com
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    laxcoach, Thanks for the vote as well as Rembrandt and Dheffley. If you guys ever get to Va., we'll shoot the awesome 25-06 and have a good old time doing it!! Did any of you ever see a groundhog picked up off of big old mound, turned 2 flips in the air and deposited 6 ft behind his previous perch?!! 90gr Win. PEP and a good dose of 4831 will do that to 'em!! Boltaction, You're invited to the pow-wow also. Most of us here have no problems with the 270, 280, or any of the 7mm's, it's just that anytime we have to put decimal points and "X" in a numeration to be shot in a gun with a hyphen between two names we kind of shrug our shoulders and say "Where'd this guy come from?" Are you listening or reading Bullzeye? GHD
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  • Warpig883Warpig883 Member Posts: 6,459
    edited November -1
    Who is this guy/girl Miss. Crapeant? Why would you want to kill varmints with a big gun used for mule deer. All you need is a good .223 or .22-250 and you can shoot them all day. Then use another gun for deer hunting. There is one caliber that will kill animals deader than any other, I know what it is but I ain't telling.
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  • Mr DonutMr Donut Member Posts: 24 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Piggy,just some whore I met over at the pump house,she had a red garter and pink to-to on.Good thing I had my tinfoil hat .
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  • Warpig883Warpig883 Member Posts: 6,459
    edited November -1
    You big donut junky what is wrong with you? Everyone knows that tinfoil and pink do not go together.

    Warpig883
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  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Why dont you just take an AR version of rifle, with both the .223 and 308 uppers, cant get any better than that, leave the 30-06 at the house. :)

    SSgt Ryan E. Roberts, USMC
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  • turboturbo Member Posts: 820 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Heey.. I like the red.

    Isn't this great..

    Look here, can even insert things,

    WoW!

    "The great object is that every man.... everyone who is able may have a gun." Patrick Henry
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  • michael minarikmichael minarik Member Posts: 478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Miss, I am not sure where or what you will be hunting but get both rifles use the following as a guide to determine which caliber would be best, it works for me:::: for 1-per cent and 2-per milk jug's, Half gallons and Half & Half -not sure what to use on whipping cream cartons- the 223 is deadly but shot placement will be critical...a hit in the handle or pouring spot will most likely lead to a lost jug and you will be spending lot's of time tracking a wounded jug in the wilderness . Some wounded jugs have not been found till the next day and there is a record of one jug( of whole milk) being found a year later half full but sour. As for the 30-06, I doubt if there is a better all around caliber for North America. If you are concerned about recoil I have heard that Mini-30 caliber(???) is an excellent short to medium range cartridge. I have hunted Deer for 30 years and have used: 44Mag-270-308-30/06-300WinMag, 338Win Mag, 444 Marlin and 30-30. Next year I will take a 30-30(again) with new factory high tech loads and special bullets, from 0-150 yard my new Marlin Stainlss 30-30 will be the cat's meow...
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  • michael minarikmichael minarik Member Posts: 478 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:
    Miss, I am not sure where or what you will be hunting but get both rifles use the following as a guide to determine which caliber would be best, it works for me:::: for 1-per cent and 2-per milk jug's, Half gallons and Half & Half -not sure what to use on whipping cream cartons- the 223 is deadly but shot placement will be critical...a hit in the handle or pouring spot will most likely lead to a lost jug and you will be spending lot's of time tracking a wounded jug in the wilderness . Some wounded jugs have not been found till the next day and there is a record of one jug( of whole milk) being found a year later half full but sour. As for the 30-06, I doubt if there is a better all around caliber for North America. If you are concerned about recoil I have heard that Mini-30 caliber(???) is an excellent short to medium range cartridge. I have hunted Deer for 30 years and have used: 44Mag-270-308-30/06-300WinMag, 338Win Mag, 444 Marlin and 30-30. Next year I will take a 30-30(again) with new factory high tech loads and special bullets, from 0-150 yard my new Marlin Stainlss 30-30 will be the cat's meow...mminariksr@cox.net
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  • 5db5db Member Posts: 1,621 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    What about the .243 or .257 Roberts? Here's a consideration, buy one of each. The .223 is cheaper to shoot than anything else mentioned and youse be shooting a lot at them PD's. So you might spend more on .25-06 ammo than what a rifle and 1000 rounds of .223 would cost. Or at least that's how I'd present it to the Bride if that's a consideration.

    instrumentofwar, I have it on good authority a .22LR will cut branches off any given tree if you can hit wood, and have enough of them.....

    If you have one shot...Accu-Shot Website
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  • leeblackmanleeblackman Member Posts: 5,303 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Great Varmint/Deer Cartridges:

    .260rem is perfect/ideal for your needs.
    7mm-08
    .243rem
    .22-250


    And if you ultimately cant decide, just go with the .50BMG


    Visit me http://www.geocities.com/gunsmithlee
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  • jurdanjurdan Member Posts: 32 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE A 25/06 ON THAT HUNT, IF I COULD ONLY HAVE 1 GUN. LOVE THAT GUN WHAT A SHOOTER!!!!!!
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  • airborneairborne Member Posts: 1,728 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    After reading this post looks like I've got to get myself a 25/06. Any recommendations on make, models, etc?

    B - BreatheR - RelaxA - AimS - SightS - Squeeze
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  • ysacresysacres Member Posts: 294 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ruger # 1-B LS Standard.
    Gaud I love telling someone what gun to buy.
    Thanks for asking the question airborn,it made my day.
    I hope yer not wantin to make a fur coat outa them lit'l varmints after hitin em up broadside with a 25-06
    A hot barrel, is a warm fuzzy feeling.

    Edited by - ysacres on 04/16/2002 21:00:30

    Edited by - ysacres on 04/16/2002 21:05:17
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  • sig-mansig-man Member Posts: 591 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For the big muleies I'd go with a monster 45-70 or 444 marlin lever gun, and for the exploding of varmits you want to have all the enjoyment from it as possible so use a 22-250 for premium varmit vapor...
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  • steve45steve45 Member Posts: 2,940 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    .243, 6mm, 25-06, 270 any cartridge with similar ballistics.
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  • dobieman0690dobieman0690 Member Posts: 148 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I wolud choose a 243 you can use this on deer and P-dogs both and lite recoil for a lady or youngster
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