The Perfect Deer Rifle

Tip : This is one of the oldest arguments in deer hunting. It remains so because many centerfire calibers are effective under certain circumstances.

In terms of raw power, assuming proper expanding bullets and decent shooting skills, a "standard" of 1,000 to 1,200 ft. lbs. of energy delivered at target is considered minimum for deer hunting. Ammo company ballistic tables tell you the .30/30 is great at 100 yards and suspect beyond 200.

The .30/30 falls short in trajectory as well. Cartridges need more than 2,500 fps of velocity to reach targets beyond 200 yards without excessive "holdover." Bullet weight helps "carry" velocity, energy and momentum farther. Bullets weighing in on the light end of the deer bullet scale might perform O.K. at short ranges, but may not do the job at long distances.

If all your deer shooting is at ranges under 150 yards, there are many "perfect" deer cartridges. If you expect to shoot over 200 yards, the "perfect" deer rifle is probably a high-velocity number.