First, let's clarify some terminology. The subject of this article is deer hunting cartridges for the modern sportsman, the guy or gal who buys a deer tag and hunts legally during deer season. It is not about poaching, subsistence hunting or survival in the wilderness. Facing starvation, you do what you gotta do. The fact is that, with a brain shot from very close range, practically any rifle cartridge can bring down a deer. This includes the .22 Long Rifle, as has been proven countless times. However, the fact that a cartridge can kill a deer under special circumstances does not mean it is adequate, sensible, humane, or even legal for the sport hunter. As used in this article, terms like "adequate," "minimum" and "deer cartridge" pertain to the modern sport of deer hunting.

Here are some realistic minimum deer cartridge guidelines for the contemporary hunter. Let me reiterate, these are minimums. They are not what you are looking for in a good deer cartridge; they are standards you are seeking to surpass. The point is to exceed the minimums by a comfortable margin. Here are performance levels you should never fall below when choosing a deer cartridge:

• Minimum caliber .243"/6mm
• Minimum Sectional Density: .200 for calibers .24-.32 (6mm-8mm)
• Required bullet type: controlled expansion (NOT a frangible varmint bullet or a non-expanding bullet)
• Required impact velocity: as per bullet manufacturer; typically at least 1500 fps for conventional soft point rifle bullets and higher for solid copper bullets to insure adequate expansion
• Minimum remaining kinetic energy at impact: 800 ft. lbs.

If a cartridge fails to meet any of these minimum requirements it should not be considered an adequate deer cartridge. Based on this, the .25-35 would be about the minimum acceptable 100 yard deer cartridge that is factory loaded today. There is no question that the .25-35 will cleanly harvest deer in the hands of a hunter who always gets the bullet into a vital spot. It is most suitable for those who are excellent shots, but extremely recoil sensitive. For the rest of us, there are a great many better cartridge choices.

Based on the minimum requirements above, we could create a marginal 100 yard deer cartridge; call it the "6mm Loser." (Suggested advertising slogan, "Be a loser, shoot the .24 Loser.") This would be an adequate deer cartridge from the muzzle to 100 yards, assuming bullet placement in the vitals. However, as the Cabelas' ad says, "Don't be that guy." Here are the specifications for the hypothetical .24 Loser:

• Bullet diameter: .243"
• Bullet weight: 85 grains
• Sectional Density: .206
• Muzzle velocity: 2310 fps
• Velocity at 100 yards: 2058 fps
• Energy at 100 yards: 800 ft. lbs.

In almost every category, it does not get much more minimum than the .24 Loser. At least, it should not. Unbelievable as it may seem, there are actually hunters out there choosing, of their own free will, to hunt deer with cartridges even less capable. (Ever seen a camo-clad wanna-be deer hunter with a .223 AR carbine?) Compare our hypothetical .24 Loser to a good deer cartridge, in this case the .260 Remington shooting a Core-Lokt PSP factory load:

• Bullet diameter: .264"
• Bullet weight: 140 grains
• Sectional density: .287
• Muzzle velocity: 2750 fps
• Velocity at 100 yards: 2544 fps
• Energy at 100 yards: 2011 ft. lbs.

That is the type of ballistics you are looking for in a good deer cartridge. I do not know how to make the comparison more obvious. You don't want a minimum deer cartridge. You certainly do not want a sub-minimum deer cartridge! Looking at factory ammunition loading lists from Remington and Winchester, here are some examples of cartridges that I would regard as poor to inadequate for deer hunting:

·        All centerfire .22's, specifically including, but not limited to, the .223 Rem. and .223 WSSM. Regardless of their legality and anybody's advertising hype, these are varmint cartridges; they are NOT deer cartridges.

·        .25-20 Win. - This is a black powder varmint cartridge. It was never intended for deer hunting and should not be used on anything bigger than a coyote.

·        .30 Carbine - This is a short range military carbine cartridge. As a hunting cartridge with expanding bullets, it is good for jack rabbits and small predators. It was not intended for deer hunting and is inadequate for the purpose.

·        .32-20 Win. - Like the .25-20, this is a black powder varmint cartridge. Its ballistics are markedly inferior to the .30 Carbine.

·        .357 Mag. - This is a revolver cartridge adequate for shooting deer to about 50 yards. A great all-around handgun cartridge, but a poor choice for deer rifles.

·        .38-40 Winchester - Another revolver cartridge, in this case a black powder number only half as powerful as the .357 Magnum.

·        .44-40 Winchester - I know, the .44-40 has probably killed more deer than anything except the .30-30. However, there used to be a Hi-Speed hunting load for use in rifles. Today, only very low pressure revolver ammo is factory loaded in deference to company lawyers and all the antique .44-40 guns out there. Notably underpowered, even compared to the .357 Magnum. For the modern deer hunter, there are a myriad of better choices.

·        .45 Long Colt - The premier revolver cartridge of the black powder era, it remained our most powerful handgun cartridge until the advent of the .357 Magnum. Historically, it was never chambered in rifles. The modern sport of cowboy action shooting has resulted in .45 Colt carbines being offered for the first time. Fine for pretend gun fighters, very poor for deer hunting.

Okay, now you know what cartridges not to choose for deer hunting. If you read the section comparing the (very real) .260 Remington to our hypothetical .24 Loser, you should also have an idea of the kind of deer cartridge you should choose. Good luck and good hunting!