I'm curious

lambo231 · Jan 19, 2026

Growing up, I spent countless hours chasing deer and calling coyotes on my family’s property. I’ve noticed how the requirements shift depending on what you’re after. I’ve been trying to figure out lately which chamberings are proving their worth in our terrain and at the ranges we usually shoot.

Are you guys still using the 308 and .270 or have you started to explore options like 6.5 Creedmoor or the .223 for deer hunting? I’m curious about which bullet designs have given you the best terminal performance and if anyone has encountered tracking issues

Willfully Armed · Monday at 4:56 AM

Im actually about 50/50 with 308 and 223 for deer since KS changed the law to allow 223.

Typically Gold Dots in both, as their performance is spectacular. 150gr in 308 and 62gr in 223. Both leave a fantastic exit wound that deer are highly allergic to. I have also had good results with 64gr Winchester power points.

Either caliber is sufficient for the vast majority of KS game.

Loneranger04 · Monday at 8:39 AM

I’m ok as long as nimrods don’t use FMJ on deer. Bullet design has definitely come a long way in the last couple of decades.

Midwestshooter · Monday at 9:29 AM

I might use 223 on deer in KS but I’d limit my distance. 100-150 yards tops. Proper bullet selection is key. Willfully Armed has some good suggestions. I think a lot of the caliber discussion is moot. Proper bullet selection and shot placement are more important. So in short don’t get too hung up on cartridge.

cp1969 · Monday at 12:35 PM

I haven't deer hunted for decades. When Kansas opened deer season for the first time (late '60s), I hunted them. Didn't get many back then because they were rarely seen. Nowadays, I avoid driving at night because they're more plentiful than rabbits and that's when they usually get hit and I don't carry collision insurance. Another reason I quit hunting them was I didn't like the taste. I got my first one with a .30-30 but the rest were taken with a 6mm Remington. A friend who has helped me a lot kept nagging me to give him a price for that rifle for his granddaughter. One day I told him, "OK, if you must have a price, it's $10,000 if you want to buy it. But I would consider an offer as low as $0 if you want to make an offer." The granddaughter has it now.

Willfully Armed · 2026-01-27T13:18:19-0500

Midwestshooter said:
I might use 223 on deer in KS but I’d limit my distance. 100-150 yards tops. Proper bullet selection is key. Willfully Armed has some good suggestions. I think a lot of the caliber discussion is moot. Proper bullet selection and shot placement are more important. So in short don’t get too hung up on cartridge.

Ive used 223 at distances from 50-240y for whitetails. My "normal" distance for deer is 240 yards. This is from my spot on the second terrace to the field road where they find themselves ehausting red jello and falling down. Ive probably taken 40 deer with that shot. 223 neck shot or pie plate shot. Honestly i think Id trust 223 at 350-400, but it would have to be a bob ross painting with bambi standing perfecly broadside. Ive made repeatable steel hits at 760 with that gun, but 400 and in is guaranteed minute of vital.

I'm curious

lambo231

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Willfully Armed

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Loneranger04

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Midwestshooter

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cp1969

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Willfully Armed

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