NY White Tail Deer: .243 vs .270 vs .308 vs 30-06

[Craig23]

I'm trying to buy my first deer gun and I thought I was set on .308, but now I'm not positive. I've been borrowing a 30-06 but I feel that may be overkill.

I'm wondering if I'd be better suited with a faster round with a flatter trejectory like the .270. Gets rave reviews. Though it seems like it may be better suited for shooting in open fields and reaches out farther. More expensive factory ammo. Not as many ammo options as .308 & 30-06.

A lot of comments I've seen say the 30-06 can do everything the .308 does and more. But it has the longer action. Cheaper factory ammo and more variety.

Where I'm hunting this year I think the longest shot would be 150'. Only used on white tail. I don't and probably won't ever reload.

What caliber are you using when hunting for white tail in NY? Most of the guys I go with use a shotgun. I know any of these rounds is more than capable of doing the job and I should just pick a caliber, but I can't help it....I'm crazy.

[Havfun]

i have a 30-06 very versatile.
anyone of the above will work. i would prefer 30-06 or .308 myself

[Grifhunter]

I evolved over the years from 12 gauge slugs to 30-06 to 308 to 7mm to now .243.

.243 kills big deer and it doesn't give you beating for the effort. 90-100 grain bullets. I can get Remington or Federal loads for $15 a box when they go on sale.

[GunsNGolf]

I would go .30 caliber. The .308 is just a shortened 30-06. They shortened the round for use in machine guns because they needed the shorter action for more rapid fire. The ballistics are very similar for both. .308 ammo is very readily available with the most options to choose from. But the 30-06 isn't far behind. But all of your options will do the job. Have you every explored the idea of black powder? Whole lot of fun and would suite your needs.

[Craig23]

I evolved over the years from 12 gauge slugs to 30-06 to 308 to 7mm to now .243.

.243 kills big deer and it doesn't give you beating for the effort. 90-100 grain bullets. I can get Remington or Federal loads for $15 a box when they go on sale.

Why did you change calibers? Due to recoil? Was one round not as effective or did you just buy a new rifle?

[Grifhunter]

As I got older I developed a preference for rifles in the under 7 pound weight range. Allowed me to stalk longer, climb higher to get away from crowds.
In the lighter weight guns, the .30 calibers just smart when you shoot them and made range practice no fun.

I saw relatives and other hunters using the .243 to great effect, with no loss in lethality on some big deer. The '06 shot deer I've dealt with all had the round exit so all that power was wasted on the backstop. Shot placement is everything anyway, and lighter kicking guns are easier to shoot well, so there's that.

[Hannco]

Like golf clubs, the right gun is the one best suited for the conditions.

With their generally shorter overall rifle length and their blunted nose bullets make the 30.30/.35/.44mag best for heavy foliage.

The .308/30-06 can double as a bear gun and are good for both heavy brush and open long range shooting with the .308 being the less expensive ammo consideration and the 30-06 available in factory load bullet weights ranging from 125 to 250 grain which offers more versatility if you can find it.

The .270 factory round is also not as readily available as a .308 and limits your gun selection but does provide better aerodynamic co-officiants.

If I were hunting Florida size deer or was very recoil sensitive then the .243 would be a good medium to deer sized gun choice.

I hope this helps...

[Mad Russian]

243 still recoils. The parent case is the 308 and there's a lot of powder in it to move that little bullet.

[Grifhunter]

Agree with Mad Russian. .243, especially in the under 6 1/2 pound rifles, can give ya a bump. But its nothing like a 180grain 30-06 in a seven and a half pound rifle.

[NYDeer]

From my understanding, the .308 was designed to match the ballistic performance of the 30.06 in a shorter action receiver. The 30.06 I believe has more different loads available factory loaded, so may help your decision if your not reloading, yet.

[Gopedxr7]

Where I'm hunting this year I think the longest shot would be 150'. Only used on white tail. I don't and probably won't ever reload.
.

the longest shot for me is about 150 yards. i am considering the 7.62x39 or 300 blackout for that reason. bolt action rifles exist for both calibers. of course the drop would be more. but it would be easier and cheaper to practice with

[M-14BULLETTS]

150 yards might just be a little to far for these cartridges , 100 would be my max . light bullets that are really not that fast

[Mad Russian]

Really Gene? I wouldn't want to be in the cross hairs of those rounds at 150, 200, 300, or 500 yards away.
Those calibers will get the job done.

[Aquabach]

30-06 is probably the most versitile round available.
That said, any of the calipers you mentioned will do the job.All are excellent.

Shot placement shot placement shot placement.

I love my 30-06. Taken deer, groundhogs, wild boar, fallow deer and even an Elk with it.

[METALHEAD]

Everyone has their reasons for choosing their deer caliber. I've used .308, 300aac, 30-30, 12 ga, and 30-06 and 44 mag They all killed the deer dead. My recent .308 build was to play with the highly available load data that comes with the 308 cartridge and the vast amounts of projectiles and powder combinations that can be made. My 300aac build was to build a lightweight hiking gun, my 30-06 is my fathers heirloom hunting rifle and my 30-30 was my first hunting rifle.
The point is, there's a lot of fanboy advice but based on my research, it really doesn't matter around here, just hit the thing in the boiler room with something that Has enough knockdown power (800-1000+ ft lbs is the rule of thumb) If you were going out west and shooting 200-500 yards it might matter more but around here, chase whatever cartridge you want.

[Postal Bob]

I used to use a .308, when it was just deer in the area where I hunt. Now I use a 30-06, because of the possibility of encountering a bear. I also load it with Nosler Accubond bullets. I'll get double shoulder shoot through on a broadside shot. The deer literally fall over dead on the spot, no need to track them. Overkill? No such thing. Recoil heavy? Not unless you go and shoot many rounds at the range. It's my hunting gun. So a few shots at the range to site in, and usually one to kill the deer. And in the woods, you never notice the recoil while shooting at a deer.

And btw, the secret to reducing recoil, is a properly fitted gun. I sized and configured the stock on my gun to fit me exact. Recoil is straight back, not up into my face.

[Mad Russian]

Winner!

[Hannco]

From my understanding, the .308 was designed to match the ballistic performance of the 30.06 in a shorter action receiver. The 30.06 I believe has more different loads available factory loaded, so may help your decision if your not reloading, yet.

The 30-06 offers 10% more powerful and more factory load choices than the .308. I own a 30-06 but for deer, the .308 offers more choices in rifles and lower cost factory ammo.

[NYDeer]

Ahh ok thanks.. Didn't know about the powder.

[FastPhil]

What no 30-30? That caliber has taken more deer than the others combined and ammo is the cheapest of the 4 calibers you mentioned. Personally I've taken many deer with either a 308 or a 30-06 and I haven't noticed any difference between the two.

[DrBrianDDS]

I use my BLR in .358

[Mad Russian]

What, no 404 Jeffries?

[M-14BULLETTS]

i normally use a handgun , or a bow . but in some area's that i used to hunt i have used 30-06 .308 12 gauge . depends on where your going . certain hunting area's do not allow center fire rifle .
i think the 243 is light round for deer , but can be used . leaves little room for error ......practice a lot