From First Light
Marlin Firearms
Whitetail Deer Vitals – How to Choose a Deer Gun Based on the Region You Hunt In
Whitetail deer are the most common big game animal in North America. They ranges from Mexico north all the way to central Canada, and are plentiful throughout most of this range. Their habitat varies from thick forests and swamps, to open prairies and mountain sides. The size of a big buck varies from region to region and can weigh anywhere from about 120 pounds in the south to up to 350 pounds or more in the northern USA and parts of Canada. It’s not particularly large-boned but is very tenacious, so if not hit in the right spot, with the right bullet, from the right cartridge, it can quickly get away. The varied terrain where it lives, and the difference in it’s physical size, can lead to some confusion about which firearm action, cartridges and bullets to choose.
In the thick bush of the eastern regions, where close quick shots are the norm, a fast-shooting action is preferred. A bolt action, in well-practiced hands, can work well, but short, fast shooting rifles and shotguns with iron sights or a low-powered scope or red dot, in actions like semi automatic, pump and lever, may be the better choices. Traditional eastern deer cartridges are slower moving numbers in medium to large caliber. The popular .30-30 Win falls into this category as does .300 Savage, .32 Win Special, .35 Rem, .348 Win, .38-55 Win,.358 Win, .375 Win and .45-70 Govt, among others. Whitetail Deer Vitals
Some newer and very effective lever action rounds are .308 and .338 Marlin Express and .450 Marlin. Browning lever actions, as well as semi autos by Browning, Remington, Winchester and Benelli, and pump actions by Remington are also available in flat shooting cartridges from .243 Win to .300 Mag, which are fine choices also. All these actions and cartridges plus 20 and 12 gauge shotguns loaded with slugs, will serve the eastern deer hunter well, where closer range and quick shooting is often the name of the game. Whitetail Deer Vitals
Out west in the plains or mountains, the game changes. Lever actions, semi autos, and pump actions can still be made to get the job done, but really this is scope-sighted bolt action and single shot rifle territory. Suitable cartridges are high velocity, flat-shooting cartridges that start at the .243 Win and go up to the .340 Weatherby, with the ideal range being between the .25-06 Rem and one of the various .300 magnums. As the distance the deer will be shot at increases, the ideal cartridge caliber and power level also increases. A variable that must be taken into consideration is the shooting-skill level of the hunter.
The .243 Win or 6mm Rem can be used effectively out to 250 yards, or more if in the hands of an experienced hunter. The .25-06 Rem and .257 Weatherby have the power to increase that range, and the various .270’s and 7mm’s will stretch it another notch. When you get to the .308 to .338 calibers, from .308 Win to .340 Weatherby and .338 RUM, there’s enough power for shots out to as far as vital hits can be guaranteed. There is an elite group of long range hunters who use these calibers chambered in highly accurate benchrest-style rifles with high powered scopes, for shots out to as much as 1000 yards. They are expert shots, with lots of experience, with the right equipment. Any hunter with a regular out-of-the-box hunting rifle should limit his shots to much closer ranges. Regular long range shooting practice will reveal the maximum range for you and your equipment. Whitetail Deer Vitals
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