So the deer and elk thread impressed me and I think I might actually take some time and go hunting this year for deer. I'm wondering if I could get by with a 12 gauge slug or if its more practical to try to save and get a rifle, if so what caliber it would just be for white tail in minnesota.. thanks guys
Deer hunting help..
- Thread starter ouch
- Start date
Wait 4 a rifle, a nice little .243 would do the job well.
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bullfrog123
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If you like pain, go for the slugs, if not, get the .243 as stated before or a 30-30, both are great for deer.
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Supplicate
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Check your state regs first, you might be required to hunt with slugs out of your 12gauge. If you aren't required to use that, I would suggest buying a .243 or .270 from a pawn shop on the cheap to give it a try. No sense sinking tons of money into something you aren't sure you'll keep doing.
BTW, download The Minnesota DNR Full Regulations pdf and read up on what is allowed, etc.
BTW, download The Minnesota DNR Full Regulations pdf and read up on what is allowed, etc.
slug barrels and a scope and you are good to go.
.270 no question, very versatile caliber, easy to shoot, easy access to ammo... .243 is for small game and kids (my 7yr old shoots a .243 fercrissakes, also shoots a 20g shotgun)... grab yer nutz and get a real caliber, 270, 7mm mag, 308, or 30-06... imho, a 260 remington is about the lightest caliber I'd want unless I could afford multiple rifles...
I think in southern MN you are required to use slug (I may be wrong but I have heard that. Northern MN is open to rifles. Some cities require only shotgun so like others have said look at the local regs in your area you hunt.
As for guns a .270 will be great gun. BUT if you hunt Northern, MN in the brush like me you cannot beat a 30.30 model 94 winchester. Best gun for that area.
Our hunting land was kind of taken over from the U of M so we moved south to central MN and I upgraded to a ruger 30.06 for the openess and fields.
But if I had to do it over again I would probably go with a .270 WSM. A little tough to find shells for the WSM but who seriously goes out without enough ammo.
I usually have a box of shells on me out in the woods. And If you are that bad of a shot you should probably give up hunting.
As for guns a .270 will be great gun. BUT if you hunt Northern, MN in the brush like me you cannot beat a 30.30 model 94 winchester. Best gun for that area.
Our hunting land was kind of taken over from the U of M so we moved south to central MN and I upgraded to a ruger 30.06 for the openess and fields.
But if I had to do it over again I would probably go with a .270 WSM. A little tough to find shells for the WSM but who seriously goes out without enough ammo.
I usually have a box of shells on me out in the woods. And If you are that bad of a shot you should probably give up hunting.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^hahahahaha
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XC700116
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Let me know where your hunting at and I can tell you if you can use a rifle or not. One other option in MN during rifle season in a slug zone you can use a muzzle loader. I'd take my scoped muzzle loader over a slug gun any day.
If your going to rifle hunt I would strongly suggest a 270 win for inexpensive ammo and extreme versatility for most any North American Big Game, should you choose to go on a hunt in the western states or Canada for something other than just whitetails.
I know I live in Ft. Worth TX now but I Grew up in the Brainerd area and Hunted all over the state since I was of legal age to hunt.
everybody strongly suggestes the .270.. Really.. I know they are a very popular.. and a decand cartrige.. but i'm personally not a fan of there ballastics..for all around deer guns.. a 243 or 6mm... or a 257 roberts or weatherby.. or 260 or 6.5.... or a 7mm or 7mm-08 are the calibers IMO which would make a way better option...
Hey the deer don't care what kills them.
xc, man I hate to disagree but muzzle loaders have no damn business being scoped or even being inline. Might as well let everyone use crossbows as well. I'd be all for a "primitive" season where you had to use an actual muzzle loader and black powder, ball, the whole works. But a "muzzle loader" that's scoped and reaches 200 yards, hell just take away the slug gun zones and let everyone use rifles.
Ok rant over, what part of the state are you looking to hunt in?
Agreed on the muzzle loader for sure..
But as far as caliber goes.. why not put some good iron and good ballistics in your hunting.. helps out
Because nothing matters more then shot placement. Also where I hunt I haven't seen a clear shot past 50 yards, and that would take a miracle for the deer and trees to line up perfect. I think my farthest was 40 yards and I shouldn't have taken it due to bursh(first deer i got kinda excited)
I know lots of old timers who have taken tons of deer with a 22 or a 410. Course the 22 may have been aided by lights.
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Nate
Well-known member
You are right on the shot placement for sure.. and if you dont practice you will be at a huge disadvantage..
there has been deer and other big game killed with all kinds of calibers.. I'm just letting a guy know what calibers I would suggest.. NOT THAT I KNOW CHIT ABOUT GUNS..
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