Gun Calibers: How to Choose the Right One

Several factors can go into what firearm you carry: what you are hunting for, the terrain you are hunting in, and even the size of the gun caliber you can shoot accurately.

Before your next hunt, read this guide to learn more about gun calibers and how to choose the right one for a successful hunt.

What to Consider About Gun Calibers

When picking out which gun caliber you want to hunt with, first think about what game you intend to hunt with it.

You do not want to have an undersized caliber and risk losing your first deer or go overkill and destroy small game, such as squirrel, rabbit, or dove, past the point where it's not edible anymore.

As outdoorsmen, we must respect the animals we hunt by taking ethical shots that allow us to retrieve the animal and enjoy the meat harvested. This is why choosing a caliber that you can shoot consistently and accurately matters so much, not trying to show how big of a gun you shoot.

What Firearms Are Best for the Game You Hunt?

There are many different rifle calibers out there, along with shotguns that are great for harvesting wild game.

Here are some calibers that I prefer and are popular for different types of hunting:

• Whitetails: .243 Win, 308 Win, .30-30 Win, .30-06, .350 Legend, .450 Bushmaster, .45-70
• Squirrels: .22 LR, .17 Hornady, 12 GA, 20 GA
• Rabbits: 12 GA, 20 GA, .410, 16 GA (less common)
• Varmint and Coyotes: .223/5.56, .22-250
• Elk: 300 Win. Mag, .30-06, 7mm Rem. Mag

Ultimately, the firearm and caliber you prefer should be the one that works best for you to take more ethical shots!

How Can You Tell the Difference Between Gun Calibers?

A lot of firearms and ammunition look alike.

To tell the difference between rifles and shotguns above, different shotgun loads are denoted with a "GA" after them (besides the .410), which stands for "gauge," and the rest of the calibers are rifles.

The rifle calibers are easy to distinguish because the ".XXX" number listed is just the outside diameter of the bullet. There are a lot of other rifle calibers that could be used for deer, coyotes, small game, or elk, but the ones I highlighted above are just a few of the more popular choices available.

Make Sure It's Legal

It is also important to check your local game laws to see what firearms are legal in your state or area.

Some types of rifles are not legal in certain states or areas, such as Ohio, which does not allow any shouldered ammunition. It must be a straight-bore rifle, like a .350 Legend or .450 Bushmaster, both of which are great choices for states like Ohio, or a shotgun with deer slugs or buckshot.

What Else Should You Consider?

As I hinted at earlier, choosing the correct gun caliber for yourself is very important.

Some factors to consider would be the gun's recoil and how much you can handle while still shooting accurately, the regulations of the area you are hunting in, and the ethical lethality of the gun's caliber for the animal you are hunting.

Start Small

If you are an inexperienced hunter, it would be beneficial to select a rifle caliber or shotgun with less recoil that you can shoot accurately and have fun doing it while still being able to effectively kill the animal you're after. Hunting is supposed to be a fun sport, and if you stick somebody who doesn't have much experience shooting with a rifle or shotgun with a lot of recoil, you may turn them off from hunting altogether, which nobody wants.

Try starting with a .22 LR or an air rifle to get practice shooting and become comfortable enough to maybe go squirrel hunting. This is a great way to get somebody started in their hunting journey. Then, for going out and shooting that first deer, a good choice may be a .243 Win. (where it is permitted) or a .350 Legend; these are both excellent choices for an inexperienced or youth hunter.

What's Available?

Something else to consider is what types of guns you have available to you; it may not be feasible to go out and buy one or more guns, so using what is available may be your best option.

HuntWise + the Right Gun Caliber = Success

When you're ready to get out and hunt with your new shooting abilities, utilizing Huntwise can help tremendously.

I personally use it to look at the weather forecast for the week ahead and plan out the best days for me to be in a tree stand. HuntWise will show you which days have the best possibility for deer to be up on their feet. This insight gives you an edge and another tool in your toolbox when you're chasing those whitetails.

I also use the map feature with the landowner overlay when trying to get permission to hunt new woods. After receiving permission to hunt new woods and getting out to scout said woods, I will set pins on the map to locate different items such as tree stands, cameras, scrapes, and bedding areas.

With all of this, I can start to figure out where and how the deer are moving. Then, with the right firearm with me, I can confidently take a clean shot and bring home a buck.

Use HuntWise and the Right Gun Caliber for Success This Season

After picking out the correct gun caliber, and getting comfortable and accurate with it, download HuntWise and hit the woods.

The combination of the right firearm and the insights you have in your hand through the HuntWise hunting app give you an advantage over the land and other hunters — so you're more likely to bring home the game you're after each season.

If you're getting ready for whitetail season (or any season), start planning your hunt with HuntWise. Download it and try it free for your first week!

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