Deer Rifle Caliber

[Jackam]

I just read an interesting article on the popularity of new deer hunting caliber purchases.

Your neighbor/cousin/niece/nephew/coworker wants to start firearm deer hunting.

They have asked you to go shopping with them to buy a good rifle. Open checkbook.

You have no idea if their newfound passion will be for just for Michigan or expand to other states.

What caliber do you steer them toward?

I could only put up 13 choices.
If you have one that didn't make the list, please post it up!

[Shyster]

6.5 Creedmoor. You can take a deer up close or as far as you are confident in taking a shot.

If you are into self-abuse, a .270 WSM would work but not needed. I prefer both to .30 caliber as both are flatter shooting.

[JohnS624]

243 Winchester

[maustin195]

.35 Remington

[GreaseMonkeySRT]

.350 Legend as that's what I'm currently building a AR in for the hope I get out this year.

[doslitros]

44 mag!

[Sledhead]

The old 25-06.

The wife has a .556.

[tvhero]

Gotta say I'm split between the 30-30 and the 30.06

One of the things that I look for is how easy it is to get ammo for my selected firearm. Up till the great ammo shortage we are now living through you could almost always find ammo for those two at almost every gun shop, sporting goods store, and gas station that sold hunting licenses anywhere up north.

[Moleman-]

The poll didn't mention if they were hunting the limited zone or not, so I went with the assumption that the area they're hunting wasn't restricted and picked 30-06. I like my 444 marlin, 30-30, 308 and probably dozen other deer capable chamberings I have but the 30-06 has always been my top choice.

Now if they're in the limited zone there are only two choices (350L and 450BM) on that poll and my question would be do you want more or less recoil. I have both and prefer the 450BM, but since it's not what I want I'd take them out and let them shoot both. One of my hunting buddies borrowed one of my 450BM rifles for a season a couple years ago. When he brought it back he asked about the 350L so I let him shoot one. He ended up with a 350L and he is a bigger guy than me but doesn't like recoil.

[.38special]

Good ol fashioned 12ga