What is new is old and what is old is new again. Because of the developments in laser rangefinders, people are shooting farther. This has led to the release of new cartridges at a rate that hasn’t been seen since the 1960’s. What many don’t realize is that these new cartridges are simply redesigns of older cartridges with faster twist rates. For hunters shooting at traditional ranges, there is no advantage over the classic deer cartridges. For the more traditional hunter, here are five classic deer cartridges that still fill the freezer year after year.
6mm Remington
First off, the 6mm Remington is a criminally underrated cartridge. However, if it were not for an engineering blunder at Remington in the early 1950’s the cartridge may be much more popular. See, the 6mm Remington did not always have that name. Originally the 6mm Remington was released as the 244 Remington. The cartridge was designed as a varminting cartridge ideal for predators such as coyotes. Remington hoped the cartridge would compete against the 243 Winchester.
Unfortunately, the 244 Remington was released with a 1:12 twist rate which left it unable to stabilize 100 grain bullets suitable for deer, unlike the 243 Winchester. The 243 caught on and Remington scrambled, updating the twist rate and renaming the cartridge the 6mm Remington. However, it was too little too late as the 243 Winchester had already captured the market.
Oddly enough, the 6mm Remington remains an exceptional cartridge. Chambered in a number of interesting rifles like the Remington 600 Mohawk and the Ruger No. 1, the 6mm will do everything the 243 Winchester will do. In fact, it will do it with around 100 fps more velocity in most cases. For a light recoiling deer and varmint cartridge it is hard to get better than the 6mm Remington.
284 Winchester
Another classic deer cartridge is the 284 Winchester. A cartridge well ahead of its time, the 284 Winchester is the original short magnum. Pioneering the rebated rim, the 284 was designed to fit long action 280 Remington performance into Winchesters short action semi-automatic and lever action designs. It achieved its goal, throwing 150gr bullets right around 2800 feet per second. The fat, stumpy case found its way into bolt action platforms shortly afterwards. Excelling in short handy mountain rifles with excellent ballistics the 284 Winchester never became quite as popular as it deserves.
Today, the 284 Winchester lives on in lightweight mountain rifles. Truly, the cartridge is exceptionally well-balanced for those wanting all-around North American performance out of a short action. The 284 puts the 308 Winchester to shame ballistically and the larger diameter help it to perform better than the fast 6.5s on elk and above. Affordable classic hunting rifles such as the Winchester Model 100 and Model 88 are still available on the used market.
264 Winchester Magnum
When the 6.5 PRC was released in 2018 it was met with much fanfare as an open country western hunting cartridge. Many don’t realize that this performance had already been around for 50 years! The lauded 6.5 PRC in its most common loading launches a 140 grain bullet at right around 3000 fps. This is a ballistic twin of one of the classic deer cartridges, the 264 Winchester Magnum.
In 1958 Winchester released a series of three magnum cartridges aimed at the three common classes of game a hunter might encounter. The 264 Winchester Magnum was built as a long range deer and antelope cartridge for the continental US, the 338 Winchester Magnum was built for Alaska, and the 458 Winchester Magnum was designed for Africa.
Perhaps unfairly, the 264 Winchester Magnum quickly was labeled as a barrel burner and hunters favored the 7mm Rem Mag instead. Still, the 264 provides fantastic ballistics to this day. Additionally, despite not providing a practical advantage, the belt on the cartridge case pays homage to the 375 H&H. For western hunters who enjoy traditional firearms, a pre-64 Model 70 in 264 Winchester Magnum is a beautiful deer rifle.
280 Ackley Improved
The most popular of P.O. Ackley‘s designs, the 280 Ackley Improved was another cartridge ahead of its time. Living as a wildcat for many years, the 280 AI is currently experiencing a renaissance as a western cartridge. The distinctive looking cartridge is essentially a 280 Remington with a sharper shoulder and less body taper.
Candidly, the 280 Ackley is one of my favourite cartridges. Ballistically, it is nipping at the heels of the 7mm Rem Mag while kicking less and fitting an extra round in the magazine. From a practical standpoint, an aerodynamic 150gr bullet at 3000 feet per second is a well balanced combination for almost all North American game. For hunting deer, the 280 AI brings the horsepower to take advantage of any ethical shot presentation. Nowadays, factory ammunition is becoming easier to find, making the 280 AI an excellent conversation piece in deer camp.
257 Roberts
Finally, the 257 Roberts is an extremely underrated deer cartridge. Throwing a 115 grain bullet around 2800 feet per second, the 257 “Bob” is a perfect match for hunting whitetails at traditional ranges. This light recoiling cartridge brings authority without punishing recoil.
The 257 Roberts saw popularity from the 1930’s to the 1950’s as hunters recognized its balance as an excellent deer cartridge. Ultimately the release of the 308 Winchester caused rifle manufacturers to standardize on the length of a short action rifle. The 257 Roberts is based on the 7×57 Mauser. This makes it too long for a short action but too short for a long action. This, in conjunction with its low SAAMI pressure specifications led caused the 257 Roberts to slowly fade from popularity.
In spite of its relative obscurity, there are still plenty of older rifles for sale in the chambering. Kimber and Additionally, full power 257 Roberts is no longer limited to handloaders, as +P factory 257 ammo is now produced. Assuming that your rifle is safe to handle these higher pressures, the newer ammo pushes the 257 right into the realm of modern performance.
Closing Thoughts
In summary, there is nothing wrong with the new cartridges being released today trying to push the limits of effective shooting. However, select hunters including myself still find pleasure in using classic rifles and cartridges. Dusting off an old deer rifle for a few days a season is a rewarding experience. If you are in the same boat, any of the classic cartridges on this list are excellent choices for deer camp.