I came across this the other day.

Answering Questions About Guns, Ammo, and Man's Best Friend

Yes, the results are empirical. Check out the last four tables.

My conclusions are:

1.) There are no differences between custom reloads and factory ammo.

2.) The best place to shoot a deer is in the shoulder, spine, or neck.

3.) Expanding 25 caliber bullets are the most bullet for effective deer.

So if you are in the market for a new deer rifle look into the various 25 calibers

25-35 Winchester

250-300 Savage

257 Roberts

25 WSSM

25-06

Here is what Chuck Hawks has to say

Let the discussion begin.

320pf

I've killed several deer with the 25-06 at ranges from 30 yards to 200 yards. All were 1 shot kills. Its a great round IMO, but I still prefer the 7mm-08. Pobably because the 7mm-08 is a shorter round and a shorter rifle.

The custom vs factory was weapons not ammunition, although the results would be the same with the same bullet; a 1" vs a 2" group at 150yds is irrelevant for that issue being discussed. The problem with the caliber table is we're don't know the construction of the bullets in various rounds and the locations where they were hit were not controlled (ie not all lung hits are created equal). You also have the issue of how does eash animal react to being hit - can that really be considered a constant? My personal experience - which doesn't mean much of anything - has been my 260Rem drops them the fastest of everything I've used so far. Although I used my 270WSM for the first time last season and it may be right there as well but I only have 1 with it. 6MM Rem has 1 down with it - a doe at 95yds - and she went nowhere, but here again it's only taken 1 so can't really say much about it. The data obviously had (and can't have) no controls so I wouldn't get too excited about it. Use a proper bullet and hit well and life wiil be good.
Oh, it would be good if the sample size for each caliber was the same - you know it varied widely.

Good stuff.

Apparently effective deer are more desirable than ineffective ones....

+1. If there's one thing I can't stand, it's incompetent deer...

I will have to agree the 25 calibers are great deer cartridges. I shot a 10 point this past season with a Remington Sendero in 25-06 using Hornady 117 BTSP using a high shoulder shot.The deer was 80-100 yds. and it dropped in it's tracks. First time I had ever tried the high shoulder shot,but it is very effective. I walked straight to the deer when I shot and it was already dead.

As a guy who hunts with a 25-06, I am a believer!!

That said, I was shocked to see that soft point bullets resulted in no sign after the deer was hit less often than harder, controlled expansion bullets.  I have always believed that softer point bullets more often result in no exit wound.

I'll stick to my easy-to-find 30-06, thank you...

it has never failed me.

The best round for deer is the one you put through the vitals.

My nephew uses his 25-06 with Hornaday SST for whitetials up to elk and always get his critter. Me I'm a dyed in the wool 6.5 X55 Swede fan 139 hronaday for everything.

Been using my 25-06 for about 8-10 yrs now.  Used to use some high dollar Fed. Premium Nosler Partitions, about $24 per box, then tried the less expensive Remmy Corloks, and will continue to do so!!!   Course, those have gone up in price as well.  Deadliest mushroom in the woods!!!

That's all i use in the 30-06, it's only around $15 a box...





 

I wish I could find 30-06 ammo for $15 a box down here!!  even Wally world sells it for $23

The 25-06 loaded with 100gr Ballistic tips killed several nice deer for me in the past, all 1 shot kills.  Like a dummy I sold the rifle to finance somethng else.  The 30-06 that I now use as my primarly deer getter drops them just as well.

Yea, lets see how effective 250-3000 is when you can't find any.

I do not seem to have any problems finding 250 Savage ammo (a.k.a. 250-3000 in the sporting good stores here in NY.  I can get it for between $26-$28 per box.  


Ammo and brass are also available from online sources e.g. Midwayusa. In addition, as long as the 22-250 is as popular as it is, there will be a good source for 250 Savage brass since the 250 Savage is the parent case for the 22-250.  I have reloaded 250 Savage from 22-250 just is see if it can be done.  Guess what??? It can!

Ammo for the other 25's like the 257 Roberts and 25-06 is also readily available. So the ammo availability argument is a red herring.

320pf

I've found ONE box of 250-3000 sav. where I live, and they wanted $40 bucks for it at the gunshow.
It's obviously more popular elsewhere in the country.
FWIW I used to reload for it, still have the gear, and might again when I get the time.

Till then, where I live .270 win is plentiful and cheap (If not as classy a rig as a pre-war model 99 )
So I tend to stick with that.

I've never bought into it either. For the less common calibers you can always reload - a good idea for them anyways. I've made hunting trips out of state for several years now and you bet I make very sure I have ammo and that it is the right kind. I suppose it could happen but I've never read of someone forgetting ammo.