Description
Steve and Caleb from Brownells talk about their favorite hunting cartridges for whitetail deer, including .350 Legend, .257 Roberts, and .44 Special.
Caleb's current pick is .350 Legend. He built his AR specifically for deer hunting in Iowa and has already used the cartridge successfully on multiple whitetails. His hunting load uses a 170-grain Hornady InterLock bullet, and the manageable setup also makes .350 Legend a practical option for newer hunters.
If straight-wall cartridge restrictions weren't a factor, both Steve and Caleb give an honorable mention to the classic .257 Roberts. Steve has used the cartridge in his own hunting rifle and has experience with it on antelope.
For handgun hunting, Steve's choice is .44 Special in a mid-frame Ruger Blackhawk Flattop. He likes the combination of an easy-to-carry revolver, open sights, and a cartridge that provides the performance he wants for whitetail at appropriate handgun hunting distances.
The big takeaway is that a hunting cartridge doesn't have to be the biggest or most powerful option available. Choose a cartridge appropriate for the game, expected distance, firearm, and local hunting regulations, then put the shot where it needs to go.
What's your favorite hunting cartridge? Let us know in the comments.
Chapters
00:00 Favorite Hunting Cartridges
00:16 Best Cartridges for Whitetail Deer
00:31 Caleb's Pick: .350 Legend
00:50 .350 Legend AR Hunting Rifle
01:08 .350 Legend Performance on Deer
01:18 170-Grain Hornady InterLock
01:30 Honorable Mention: .257 Roberts
01:44 Classic Hunting Cartridges
02:05 Steve's Pick: .44 Special
02:13 .44 Special for Handgun Hunting
02:21 Ruger Blackhawk Flattop
02:32 Steve's .44 Special Handload
02:43 .22 and .22 Magnum Companion Revolver
03:03 Open-Sight Handgun Hunting
03:16 How Much Hunting Cartridge Do You Need?
03:47 Choosing the Right Hunting Cartridge
03:55 What's Your Favorite Hunting Cartridge?
04:14 Brownells Tech Line