“deer cartridges”

Want to fire up your deer camp? Start a discussion about religion, politics—or deer cartridges. Bob Robb gives you the criterion for making your case this fall.

The .30-06 has also proven itself to be very accurate in many different rifles, and is chambered by the major riflemakers in everything under the deer hunting sun.

Though not something you see everyday, pump-action rifles remain in production at a number of different companies—including Remington. Big Green is still building pump-action repeating rifles, and the 7600's modern machining and utility-driven design, paired with one of America's favorite deer cartridges, combines to create an excellent, if unorthodox, hunting firearm.

If you’re someone who desires low recoil, be it from necessity or preference, or simply a hunter who’s keen on AR platforms, this little bullet can get the job done on small- to medium-sized game at close to moderate ranges. Again, don’t shoot the messenger. Get the right load—the Federal Premium Vital-Shok 62-grain .223 Rem. Trophy Bonded Tip is a great choice—and shoot a deer instead.

Few cartridges, in the history of modern firearms, have influenced our shooting world as much as the 7x57mm Mauser.

While there are many cartridges that can handle medium-sized game, the .243 Winchester sits at the top of the heap for good reasons: it’s accurate, easy on the shoulder and delivers enough energy for the task at hand.

We’re all familiar with the abundance of .223 ammunition available, and you should have read a story or two over the years about the accuracy potential of the .22-250, but from a hunter’s standpoint, which one comes out on top?

Deer rifles and the cartridges loaded in them have run the gamut the last 50 years, from the Winchester 94 in .30-30 Win. to the Weatherby Mark V in .30-378 Wby. Mag. and the DPMS ARL in 6.5 Creedmoor.

Which of these cartridges represents the wisest choice for hunters, and why should you prefer one over the other? Contributor Philip Massaro examines the pros and cons of each.