If you’re new to hunting and eager to get your feet wet, hunting deer is a great place to start. A single deer can yield 60 pounds of meat, and they’re some of the most abundant game in North America. And far from “shooting Bambi,” hunting deer helps manage their population in the wild.
But you can’t just grab any gun and head out to the woods to stalk these animals. Instead, deer hunters have some choices they need to make before they set foot in the backcountry.
One of the most important decisions a deer hunter has to make is picking the right ammo for the job. If you use under-powered ammo, you won’t make an ethical kill. That could mean causing unnecessary suffering to the animal, and it may even escape entirely to die an agonizing, slow death.
That means the AR-15 you use for home defense, target practice, or competition shooting may not be the best choice for hunting deer. In fact, some states (specifically Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Iowa, Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Washington, and West Virginia) ban hunters from using AR-15s and .223 caliber ammo.
Instead, prospective deer hunters will need to step up to bigger calibers. And while picking the right caliber for deer can seem like a daunting task at first, it doesn’t need to be intimidating.
Here’s how to pick the perfect ammo for deer hunting, along with some of our top recommendations.
How to Pick the Best Ammo for Deer Hunting
While it’s possible to hunt deer with a variety of different calibers (heck, some people even hunt whitetail with .44 magnum revolvers), beginners will want to stick with the tried-and-true cartridges.
Generally, that means you’re going to want to select a large-caliber rifle round. Historically, 30-caliber cartridges like 308 Winchester and 30-06 Springfield have been some of the most popular rounds for deer hunting. However, the sleeker 7mm Remington Magnum is also a great choice. There’s also 6.5 Creedmoor, the relatively new kid on the block, which has seen steadily increasing popularity among deer hunters.
Expanding Bullets
One of the most important factors of hunting ammo is the type of bullet it employs.
Bullets don’t all act the same way when they hit a target. Some, like full metal jacket (FMJ) rounds, feature an outer layer of metal around a lead interior. These tend to maintain a lot of momentum even after hitting their target. As a result, they can end up passing through a deer without imparting all of their force on it. This phenomenon is called “overpenetration.”
Ammunition manufacturers have addressed this issue with expanding bullets. These types of projectiles don’t have a metal casing surrounding them. Since lead itself is soft, these bullets tend to expand in a mushroom shape upon hitting a target. This, in turn, creates a larger wound channel and reduces overpenetration.
Long story short, deer hunters should use expanding bullets whenever possible. Here’s a look at some of the most popular expanding tip bullets around today.
308 Winchester
The 308 Winchester cartridge is the most popular large rifle cartridge today, and has probably taken more whitetail than any other round. First developed in 1952, the 308 Winchester has seen widespread adoption among law enforcement, militaries, civilians, and hunters alike.
308 Winchester is a great choice for hunting deer because there’s a ton of it out there, making it cheaper than the other cartridges listed here.
30-06 Springfield
Next up on our list is 30-06 (pronounced “thirty aught six”) Springfield. Tracing its origins back to 1906, this venerable cartridge may be old, but it’s time-tested. It’s famous for its performance during the Second World War, where American troops wielded it with the storied M1 Garand. After the war, the 30-06 Springfield cartridge became a favorite of big game hunters in North America.
Hunters may want to choose 30-06 Springfield for hunting deer because it’s one of the most powerful commonly-used hunting rounds.
Best Caliber Choices for Hunting Deer
There’s a thought among some firearms enthusiasts that “bigger is better.” But that’s not the case for hunting deer.
For one, larger cartridges have more recoil. They also require a heavier rifle, and it sucks to lug big guns around in the backcountry.
Another argument against using bigger cartridges like 300 WinMag for deer hunting is that it can spoil the deer’s meat. Larger cartridges mean (in general) higher bullet velocities. Higher-velocity bullets release a shockwave through a deer’s chest cavity. This shockwave shreds and liquifies the meat surrounding the path of the bullet, making it less-than-desirable to eat.
With all that in mind, let’s take a look at some of our favorite choices for deer hunting calibers.
Deer Hunting Ballistics Specifications per Caliber
| Cartridge | Muzzle Velocity (in fps) | Muzzle Energy (in ft/lbs) | Bullet Drop at 300 yards (in inches) | Max Range for Hunting |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 308 Winchester (168 grain) | 2,650 | 2,620 | 14.7 | 400 yards |
| 30-06 Springfield (180 grain) | 2,745 | 3,011 | 13.6 | 400 yards |
| 7mm Remington | 2,870 | 3,073 | 7.00 | 700 yards |
| Magnum (168 grain) | 2,850 | 2,437 | 7.01 | 600 yards |
| 6.5 Creedmoor (135 grain) | 2,850 | 2,437 | 7.01 | 600 yards |
308 Winchester
The 308 Winchester cartridge is the most popular large rifle cartridge today, and has probably taken more whitetail than any other round. First developed in 1952, the 308 Winchester has seen widespread adoption among law enforcement, militaries, civilians, and hunters alike.
308 Winchester is a great choice for hunting deer because there’s a ton of it out there, making it cheaper than the other cartridges listed here.
30-06 Springfield
Next up on our list is 30-06 (pronounced “thirty aught six”) Springfield. Tracing its origins back to 1906, this venerable cartridge may be old, but it’s time-tested. It’s famous for its performance during the Second World War, where American troops wielded it with the storied M1 Garand. After the war, the 30-06 Springfield cartridge became a favorite of big game hunters in North America.
Hunters may want to choose 30-06 Springfield for hunting deer because it’s one of the most powerful commonly-used hunting rounds.
Note that each of these cartridges has a max range measured in the hundreds of meters. This is probably going to be overkill for hunting whitetail, though. That’s because most of the time, you’re not going to be shooting deer beyond 100-150 meters. Beyond that, it’s going to be difficult for newer shooters to hit accurate shots.
Note that each of these cartridges has a max range measured in the hundreds of meters. This is probably going to be overkill for hunting whitetail, though. That’s because most of the time, you’re not going to be shooting deer beyond 100-150 meters. Beyond that, it’s going to be difficult for newer shooters to hit accurate shots.
Bullet Characteristics
Cartridges are just part of the equation for hunters. To get the most out of their ammo, deer hunters will also want to consider the characteristics of the actual projectiles they fire. Specific calibers can be loaded with different types of bullets, which can all impact a cartridge’s performance in different ways.
Bullet Weight
Measured in grains, bullet weight is probably the single most significant factor affecting ballistic performance. Different grain weights will affect how a bullet leaves the muzzle, impacting everything from accuracy to effective range.
Unfortunately, there’s no “one size fits all” approach to bullet weight. Factors like a rifle’s twist rate and barrel length will affect different bullet weights differently. The best way to discover the ideal bullet weight for your specific gun is through trial and error.
Our Top 10 Rounds for Deer Hunting
Now that we’ve covered the basics of deer hunting ammo, let’s look at some specific brands. Below, you’ll find an overview of some of our favorite deer hunting cartridges.
308 Winchester Ammo
As we mentioned before, these are going to be some of the most affordable options for deer hunting cartridges. With that being said, though, don’t expect to find “cheap” 308 for deer hunting. In comparison to intermediate rifle cartridges (like .223), 308 is still fairly expensive.
Hornady is one of the most respected names in American ammo manufacturing, and there’s a reason for that. Their Black line features their vaunted A-Max bullets, which employ a polymer tip to improve ballistic performance during flight. These are match-grade bullets, so their accuracy is second to none.
Hornady may be known for making high-caliber (see what we did there?) ammo, but they’re not just a high-end company. They also produce an array of affordable ammo options, including their .308 American Whitetail Spire Point Ammo. Clocking in at 150 grains, these cartridges pack enough punch to ethically take a deer without producing too much recoil. And at less than $20 per box, they’re the most affordable option on this list.
30-06 Springfield Ammo
The hard-hitting 30-06 Springfield cartridge is big enough to take down any game in North America, including whitetail. Here are some of our favorites.
If you’re searching for a hard-hitting, long-range bullet with excellent expansion, look no further than Hornady’s 30-06 Precision Hunter. Another great thing about Hornady’s Precision Hunter ammo is its price. Coming in at just over $26 per box, these rounds are effective hunting tools that won’t break the bank.
Hornady’s Super Shock Tip (SST) bullets feature a polymer tip like the company’s A-Max line. However, one major difference makes these bullets even more effective for hunting. A mid-body cannelure holds the back of the bullet together, allowing the front to expand while the back remains intact (the same idea as the Nosler Partition bullet).
Federal’s Fusion Soft Point cartridges employ some pretty neat technology. The bullet’s jacket is electrochemically fused with its core, ensuring its structural integrity during flight. Once it makes an impact, the soft point of the round allows for expansion into the target.
7mm Remington Magnum Ammo
These are a bit of a frankenstein cartridge. Federal makes them, but they use Nosler Partition bullets to maximize their effectiveness. Weighing in at 160 grains, these cartridges pack a serious kick for 7mm Remington Magnum rounds.
Hornady’s CX (Copper eXpanding) bullets use a soft copper tip to improve their expansion upon impact. The 150-grain bullet also strikes a delicate balance between performance and weight, allowing a hunter to achieve pinpoint accuracy without experiencing heavy recoil.
6.5 Creedmoor Ammo
6.5 Creedmoor may not have the long history of successful hunting use that the other three calibers on this list do. But they’ve quickly carved a niche for themselves amongst whitetail hunters. If you want to hunt with 6.5 Creedmoor cartridges, here’s what we suggest.
Sierra’s GameKing bullets are some of the best hunting projectiles money can buy. They’re designed for long-range performance, and their construction ensures that they penetrate deep into their target. Then, an open pocket lies beneath the bullet's polymer tip, which allows for maximum expansion.
Norma’s PSP (Pointed Soft Point) ammo achieves excellent expansion, but does it in a different way from most hollow point bullets. Instead of having an actual hollow tip, their design employs a softer tip, which collapses on impact with the target.
Next Steps
Now that you’ve done your research, it’s time to put your knowledge to work. To truly pick the best ammo for deer hunting, you need to hit the range and send some lead down range. Get a few different types of ammo and see what plays well with your favorite hunting rifle.
But before you can do that, you need to stock up on ammunition. That’s where Black Basin Outdoors can help. Find the perfect ammo for deer hunting on our rifle ammo page.