A friend loaded me his 25-06 it was a deer and antelope killing machine. Some elk hunters I talked to swear by the 25-06.
I have a pre 64 win 30-06 It's never let me down yet.

That's basically saying more deer have been taken illegally than legal. And I just have a hard time buying that. I personally don't even know someone who has shot a deer with a 22 rimfire. And back in the day when more people where poaching deer for food there was a whole lot less deer and a whole lot less deer harvested. A few people shooting one here and there for food isn't going come close too all the ones harvested with centerfires, shotguns, and muzzleloaders. If you really start thinking about the numbers it just doesn't seem likely. Think it was like 5.9 million whitetails harvested in the US just last year. Probably at least 99.999% harvested with something other than a 22 rimfire.

whatever ammo or components are available for in the area you hunt.

50 BMG

Hahahahaha

Selling Ammo for 20 years in 5 dif Walmarts

HUNDREDS of pallets ordered and put out

1990 through 2010

30-06
30-30 volume wise

----------
308
270
243
7mm mag
300 win mag other calibers fell in after those

Funny fact in Rice Lake Wisconsin 1991 - 1996
most asked for bullet was 220Grain round nose 30-06

It was a 30.06 for me. My dad had an old gunsmith friend that he went to see when I was young, but just getting old enough to hunt. Dad asked him what he had and would recommend at that time. He had an old WW 2 sniper rifle that customized from a military rifle to a sporting rifle. It had an old front sight sweat welded to it, so he removed it, put mounts and rings on it and did some stock work on it. I used that rifle for many years.

I drifted to a 257 Roberts that I really liked and shot well. I use it to this day. I bought a Winchester 30.30 years later as I grew older just to have one. I just liked the old western look and style of the gun. It shot decent but eventually sold it.

I have a 270 in Winchester 770. It kicks like a mule. Id love to trade it for a Model 94 in 30-30.

Yes you do. Very effective at 30-40 yards.(statute of limitations has run out) My dad used to tell a story about a game warden who ate supper at my grandparents house. Was real impressed with grammas "mutton". Was pretty common when I was a kid. When I was first married, before we had kids wife and I ate almost 100% deer meat. When I needed one in the winter I just helped a local rancher feed square bales of an evening. Picked out a nice healthy one that came in with the cattle.

I know several people that can tell you how effective a. 22lr is. Many of the guys my age and older gentlemen that ran my circle when I was younger were very experienced with a.22. It's something I used as an example telling stories about it to my boys to be sure my boys would know and they would understand a .22 lr is no joke and definitely not a toy. I have a hard time believing you don't kown anyone that has not shot a deer with a .22 at some point even it it was just putting down a vehicle hit deer. .22lr was very common around here. People just don't talk about it. Now I'm talking back about 25 plus years ago. Today's deer require a 300 win mag or 6.5 creed since they are so much tougher and with that many are still never found..

45/70

I don’t mean this at all in a rude way, but are you serious that a high percentage of hunters in your area actually hunt with 45/70’s today? Happy trapping! ScottW

270, 30-06 and then 30-30 in my circles.

So far this year 350 legand has 4, 357 mag carbine 2, x bow 2, compound bow 1. So 350 legand it is. If I go on public land it will be 350 or 357. On private most likely supressed 7mm-08.. or x bow
.

So many choices these days add in state restrictions and popular is a very regional thing.

the 303brit was the most common in CA for a long time with 30-30 and 30-06 in the US

303 never got the following in the US it did in Canada

I recall reading in the 1990s that 303brit was #1 in Canada followed by 30-30

and in US it was 30-30 followed by closely 30-06

there were just so many 30-30s out there from back when they were cheap and plentiful

today I would guess 30-06 , 308, 30-30, 243 and then lots of other stuff in distant running

Most of them are killed by cars I think. lol

In Iowa it's likely a 12ga shotgun. At least prior to them allowing straight walled rifle cartridges.

I'll tell you a 45/70 drop em were they stand no tracking!.

So would a .22 short.

F250

at the right distance and with correct shot placement, I know for a fact it works.