I had the pleasure of observing two 12 year old boys get into a heated debate on deer guns today. Both have killed three deer in their life, so they each figured that they had it all sorted and that the other was an idiot. Seems to be a substantial difference between the 308 Win and the 30-06. I thought they were about to throw punches.

Anyway, what do you all figure? I like the 30-30 in the brush, and the 270 Win if I figure I need some range. Feel free to argue a bit, I could use some good reading.

270 is a great cartridge. I have shot at least 3 deer . 30-30 for me too at times. I like the iron sights when I cant see more than 100 yards anyway.

Real hunters use a bow. Long bow, recurve are preferred. Training wheel bows (compound and crossbows) for kids and the elderly.

There, that should get them riled up for you Big Sam.

We use a bunch of different cartridges between my family. They all do their job with in the range they intend to be used.

Any rifle that you can shoot accurately is what you should use , I like my .284 Winchester with a .25-06 and a .270 close behind .

Your results may vary ha ha !

Even long bows are cheating. Real men use buzzards to locate wolf kills and run the wolves off just like Great great great great great great great great great Grandad did.

I own calibers from A to Z each and everyone will do the right job. If I had to pick one and only one it would be 308 that being said the win 30-30 has taken more North American game than any other cartridge. I believe calibers are like fishing lures designed to catch the anglers eye over the fish. And any caliber as stated above is only as good as the shooters ability.

You have a point sir. Maybe an atlatl for the kids?

lol

Might have use my throwing knife this year.... Been practicing..

I shoot my deer with a shotgun. So there!

I have shot and killed deer with everything from a 22, bow, black powder, 357 & 44mag, 40 s& w, 380, 350 legand 223, 243, 7mm-08, 270 300 black out 308, and 30/06 12 and 20g What's best none of them they all worked just fine. What's my favorite I really like 7mm-08 but its not the best or really anyway better I just like the way it performs on deer size game within the distances we hunt.Low recoil, suppresso well, great performance on deer size game without overkill.

Buckshot or slugs?

What do you figure your effective range is?

15 feet....lol

I killed my first with a 260. Then moved up to a 308. Then have bounced around to other calibers 30-30, 30-06, 6.5 creedmoor. If I’m in the woods my 308 was usually with me, but that was because I didn’t have a scope on my 30-06 and my 30-30 was messed up. I got both problems remedied so I’m pretty excited to be able to change which caliber I’m taking this year. Probably going to try to do some hunting with each this year. With that said, I don’t have a favorite, but my 308 is what I’ve carried most often over the years

And when the kids want a little more of a challenge....

here in IL grew up shooting shotguns
still mostly shoot my 11 87 mod chock ventrib bbsight
most shooting under 50 yards
its just about what you are used to and what you are confident with

I've killed two of them closer than that with the longbow. I think you should knife one and report back.

For the last 20 years I have deer hunted almost exclusively with a 50 cal smokeless muzzle loader with a sabotted .45 cal bullet. Its by far my favorite and anyone who says its not the best combo is completely wrong.

375H&H or 300 Win Mag. Deer hunts are in brown bear country, here. I like using a .25/06 when in the lesser 48.