25-06. fast like a 243 and has the punch of a 270. flat trajectory. great bullet. 25-06

The "Best" caliber is the one you can shoot with accuracy and confidence under less then ideal conditions in the field.
While the "Ideal" caliber for deer has been debated on this blog before, I like a minimum of a .243 caliber, the .270 and .30/06 have got to be the most widely used for deer with a history of fine results. But really, it comes down to you the shooter as to what caliber you feel comfortable with.

The best caliber for deer is the gun that you shoot a lot and you know where the bullet will hit at every distance. Make sure the bullet size is legal in the state you are hunting in. For some of us, that means lots of practice with a shotgun.

Amen to Ralph the Rifleman. Personally I use an '06 when the law permits.

Thank ya, Keen one!

A .243 will be sufficient for deer but if your looking for a caliber to use on multiple types of game go with the .270 it will do everything the 30-06 can do and give you flatter trajectory.

O'HELL guys, sound like you need a 700 NITRO EXPRESS!
From 223 to 35 cal, whatever you can hit “MOP” with!
Shot more deer with my 22-250 than all my other rifles combined and all with BANG FLOPS!

From Clays archives of bookmarks, places, information and things to read

ken.mcloud said it best!

“So, I think that the superior killing power of larger rounds is largely in our heads.(likely testosterone induced) A flat-shooting round that you can accurately place will produce as many if not more "bang-flop" kills as a heavy caliber round.”

Clay Cooper:
Why not a crew-served weapon? Share the fun.

I let the particular setting (stand or blind) I'm hunting dictate the gun I take.

Thickets, tight woods - Contender(pistol) in 7-30 Waters or 45 Colt(hot handloads), OR Winchester 94 30-30 or Puma 92 in 454 Casull

open lanes w/food plots, beanfields, pasture (long flat shots) - T3 .270WSM, Ruger #1 7mm Rem. Mag, T/C Encore 7mm Rem. Mag.

late season meat hunting/culling does - T/C Encore w/22-250 barrel, AR Varmint heavy barrel in .223

The real right answer is what YOU like and what works for you.

ITS ABOUT THE SHOOTER NOT THE RIFLE!!! in kansas i would shoot my .223 if i could i can put three rounds in a pattern the size of a quarter, and i bet u that my 55grain ballistic silvertip will do as much damage as your .270 without tearing up as much front quarter.

silvrtung A +1 for your Sir!

Lets see, you use #4 buck shot on deer and what size is #4 buck shot and weight and velocity? Hell a 22 Long Rifle in the boiler room works just as well!

This topic has been around for years. It is always interesting because every caliber that I ever see posted are all fun to shoot. I think that every situation and person dictates on what caliber to shoot. Some will swear by some of the oldest rounds out there all the up to a 375 H&H. Some swear by the new short mags. I wish I had money to try them all personally. I usually shoot a 7mm Rem Mag and my wife shoots a 25-06 but I have shot deer with the ole 30/30 or a 45/70 even. One thing about it, at least we will always have something to talk or argue about around the crackling fire. Just Hunt!!

Anything the Model 99 is chambered for.

It seems like this debate gets brought up continually on this sight and at deer camp. Ralph the rifleman said it best, it's what cal. you can shoot best. I know a guy that uses a 243 and wounds more deer than he kills ( bad shooter) every year, and I know another guy who gets a deer every year with a 243. It's all about what you can successfully drop a deer in one clean shot with, I personally use a 30.06 and sometimes a 7.62x54 or my 50 cal M/L.