Rather than using a particular caliber to matchup with the game, it's better to concentrate on bullet construction / weight / speed first and caliber last.

Magnum velocities require tougher or heavier bullets than comparable standard calibers and hunters need to be careful when shooting light-skinned game with standard bullets (at magnum velocities) that work well at slower speeds.

Example:

For 300 Win Mag / WSM on deer, I suggest 180-gr. loads because they'll perform similar to 150-gr. to 165-gr. .308 cal. bullets at slower velocities.

Same principle with the 270 WSM versus the 270 Win - Going up one size bullet for the magnum's higher speed (i.e. 140-gr. or 150-gr.) will produce similar results as regular 270 Win 130-gr. bullets.

I dont believe any of the popular hunting calibers are too big,overkill maybe but not TOO big,there are many that would say my 7mag is Too big.The bigger the hole the quicker they die!

.300 Win Mag. Through the Ribs..........

Three-blade broadhead through the heart. Dead deer.

jigman:

What type and weight of bullet did you use on whitetails at 300 Win Mag velocities?

Magnum velocities require tougher or heavier bullets than comparable standard calibers and hunters need to be careful when shooting light-skinned game with standard bullets (at magnum velocities) that work well at slower speeds.

It was about 10 years ago...But if I remember right I was using 180 grain bullets. I really can't recall the bullet type though. I had just bought the Win Model 70 300Wm barely in time to get it sighted in and stuck with the bullet size I had zeroed it with. My friends that got to shoot that gun still talk to this day about what a tack driver that gun was. Especially the story about decapitating the quail at 250 yards with the first shot, then handing it to my friend who then did the exact same thing. Just that alone makes me yearn for another 300Wm.... maybe I will look at the kimber Model 8400 in 300WSM...Its pretty light though. However it does come with a 1" thick pachmeyer recoil pad.

I shoot Remington Core-lokt 150 gr bullets in my 330 win mag. I've shot several deer with it from 100 yds out to 350. Non have gone more than 20 yds after shot. I prefer the 150 gr due to the flat shooting I do in New Mexico, but it's just a personal preferance.

I use my .338 Win Mag for deer and shot 180 or 200 grain Nosler Ballistic tips.

I have been pussy-footing around this issue, but now I'm going to flat-out say it:
The 300Wm is too much for deer. Its not neccesary, it damages too much meat and on, and on. If its all you have then I can understand using it, it will certainly kill the deer, and at long range too. But its just plain overkill-yes there is such a thing as overkill cuz I have done it with the 300WM. It an elk and bigger game cartridge period. This year I have a new 7MM-08 Kimber 84M and I am tickled by how accurate it is-and contrary to what you hear on some websites it is very, very effective to 300+ yards which is farther than any range I have ever needed to kill a deer, or an Elk for that matter. Every gun I have owned for 30+ years has been a magnum until now. Yes, i had a serious case of Magnumitis-but its over now. My next gun purchase will be a 30-06 for throwing 180 grainers at elk to 300 yards. The 7mm-08 and the 30-06 is all I will ever need in the lower 48. I took the 7mm-08 out last weekend and practiced hard at 200-350 yards with it and came away wondering where she had been all my life. Low recoil, cheap ammo and nice short action It loved the Hornady Light Magnum 139 grainers-at 3,00FPS. I am not recoil sensitive at all, but I have to say, I am having much more fun shooting the 7mm-08 than any gun I have ever owned which are as follows: 338Wm, 300WM 7mm WM, 7MM RM, 270WSM.

I have a 300 Win Mag and a 243 Rem i prefer to hunt deer with my 243 little less heavy and get the job done real good never lost a deer with my 243, if you can't get a heart shot give them a good double lunger works great. Have dropped several in their tracks.