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cflhunter
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Tue Apr 21, 2009 4:46 pm Posts: 90
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 Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
About to buy a new deer rifle and I'm debating on caliber. I've hunted with .308, .270, .243, 300 wsm and have had success with all. Im going to spend good money on this setup and want to get the most ideal deer caliber. To help narrow it down all my hunting will be within 400 yards. I'm leaning towards a .308 but considering a 30/06 or 300 wsm. Just want some opinion/ favorite calibers.
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:48 pm |
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WhoDat88
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:24 pm Posts: 2912 Location: Thibodaux, La
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
_________________ 1850 Predator Series Stick Steer Option 40HP Gatortail
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 6:59 pm |
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Russ
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Mon Dec 31, 2012 11:07 pm Posts: 4820 Location: West Monroe, LA
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I like to see impact lmao. 200 gr 300wsm. In all seriousness, any cartridge you feel comfortable shooting in the rifle you're purchasing. They're all proven, the 7mm/08 will have a tad less recoil, the 260 even less, 6.5 Creedmoor has become popular and ammo is readily available and is ballistically the same as the 260 rem. 270, 280, 243, etc all perform well. Find the rifle you're happy with, and decide how much recoil you want to put up with (all of the above are reasonable for typical use) and get after it. Shoot it enough to be truly great with any shooting positions you might experience, and roll with it. I'm currently having a 6.5 cm built for long range training, but will deer hunt with my 300 wsm. The rifle just has a wonderful feel.
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:12 pm |
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Bug
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sat Oct 29, 2011 10:28 am Posts: 1068 Location: Tallahassee, Fl
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
.25-06 or .257 Weatherby if you have mo' money as the shells are expensive.
_________________ PRODRIVE 1860 CC "Let the good times roll" Luck??? The bassards don't stand a chance!
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:15 pm |
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North LA Hunter
MMT Elite Member
Joined: Mon Aug 02, 2010 8:39 pm Posts: 6976 Location: West Monroe, LA
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I shoot a .243 and have shot it for years. Actually it was my first big rifle. It's a Remington model 7. I love toting it because it weighs nothing.
I also have a model 700 7mm-08 that I really don't use much. It has a laminate stock and bull barrel. Just too big to take anywhere. But shoots damn straight!
Also use a damned ole Marlin 30-30. Have yet to shoot a deer with it though. I carry it on the refuge and when I climb and whatnot. Bought it used and has a few light scratches on it.
Ive killed many deer with my .243 and feel very comfortable with it. Only lost 1 deer in the past 18 or so years with it.
All that you listed will get the job done, it just depends on how good of a shooter you are.
Sent from my beeper
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:40 pm |
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brycecheramie
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:38 am Posts: 4323 Location: Cut Off, La.
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Love my Remington 700 .308
Every kill so far, has been a drop dead shot with it.
_________________ Refurbishing a Prodrive
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 7:48 pm |
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tyler_johnson
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:22 pm Posts: 1094 Location: El Dorado-ish, AR
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
savage .308, 168 grain hoolow points! drops everything
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_________________ '13 GTR35 Stage 2 w/ EVT Exhaust, 1750 Voodoo Custom by DFOU!!
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 8:02 pm |
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WhoDat88
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:24 pm Posts: 2912 Location: Thibodaux, La
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
_________________ 1850 Predator Series Stick Steer Option 40HP Gatortail
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 8:14 pm |
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tyler_johnson
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Mon Jan 21, 2013 6:22 pm Posts: 1094 Location: El Dorado-ish, AR
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I started with a Kimber .243 that was made in their organ place out on the west coast, that thing is wicked, still at my dad's house, he traded a S&W .357 for it at a gun show, to that that was a steal.
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_________________ '13 GTR35 Stage 2 w/ EVT Exhaust, 1750 Voodoo Custom by DFOU!!
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 8:17 pm |
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NannySlayer
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:49 pm Posts: 456 Location: S.C.
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
7mm rem mag. 160 grain Remington bonded or 150 grain core loks
_________________ 17/54 gator Trax 35 mudbuddy... mostly stock
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Tue Jun 28, 2016 10:37 pm |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:40 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:40 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
.30 caliber is the way to go.... I prefer a 30-06 over them all..... Best all around.... If I'm hunting thick brush, I use a 30-30....... Not much on all the exotic calibers.... The 30-06 and 30-30 are proven rounds
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:45 am |
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brycecheramie
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:38 am Posts: 4323 Location: Cut Off, La.
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
ohhhhh shit! 
_________________ Refurbishing a Prodrive
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:45 am |
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Walkers Bay Synd
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:28 am Posts: 1913 Location: Southland, New Zealand
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Follow. .
_________________ Quote: We had a lot of hunters from down under. All a bunch of great guys that liked to drink, root, and shoot shit in the dark. My kind of people.
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 2:57 am |
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brycecheramie
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:38 am Posts: 4323 Location: Cut Off, La.
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Im gunna be sleeping all day today, and will probably miss all of the good stuff! Somebody save it for me! 
_________________ Refurbishing a Prodrive
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:09 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:12 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:13 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I'm sure scott while say I reported MMC, wich is full of poo! I reported his lil buddy as a method of pay back...........
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:15 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Ooooo, and here is a good one..... Scott had 2 guys banded from MMC because of association with me.... The two guys never did anyone wrong on that page... But because they hunt wit me, they got banded! Scott is just as bad as DEAN GUIDRY!
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:20 am |
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brycecheramie
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu Nov 04, 2010 7:38 am Posts: 4323 Location: Cut Off, La.
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I got my waders! Its gunna get deep in here!
_________________ Refurbishing a Prodrive
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:21 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 3:31 am |
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banded-mallard
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:18 pm Posts: 4310
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
7mm Rem Mag 150 gr ballistic tips. Mutherfucker won't take one step when that hits em. 
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 4:42 am |
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Burch
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Wed Apr 01, 2009 7:52 am Posts: 195
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
30-06. Any center fire round from .243 thru .30 caliber will work fine but no matter which one they all drop at longer ranges,it's up to you to figure drop. The 06 can be loaded from light varmint rounds all the way up to loads for the largest North American game making it the most versatile caliber of all.I'm not knocking any body elses choice but you can also walk into any mom and pop small town gas station and find 06 ammo, can't say that about 7-08 or anything Weatherby. The only bad choice you can make is if you are recoil shy and get something so big you flinch each time you pull the trigger and then you can get a muzzle brake if that happens. Good luck and have fun with it.
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:01 am |
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Walkers Bay Synd
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sun Oct 28, 2012 12:28 am Posts: 1913 Location: Southland, New Zealand
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
_________________ Quote: We had a lot of hunters from down under. All a bunch of great guys that liked to drink, root, and shoot shit in the dark. My kind of people.
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:15 am |
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Will
MMT Elite Member
Joined: Fri Jul 08, 2011 1:54 pm Posts: 8133
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Many calibers will work fine, the bullet choice is the most important. You need to create as much shock as possible. The perfect bullet would barely punch through the hide on exit and drop to the ground, that says damn near 100% of the energy was transferred into and throughout the body cavity. When this happens, they drop right there. When you blow through one and the bitch runs off, not enough shock was transferred. Each bullet has a density and how it reacts to velocity. I personally love a 300 mag for deer but I shoot a 165gr ballistic tip that is rolling. I've taken the same rifle and shoot 200+gr bullets and it's like a completely different rifle when shooting deer. It will pass right through and they run.
Picking a caliber is the first step but the correct bullet choice is the most important. You wouldn't want to shoot a 100lb Florida deer with the same bullet as you would a 300lb Canada deer....
_________________ Before the internet, the majority of the village idiots stayed in their villages.
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:20 am |
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SETx Longtail
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sun Sep 01, 2013 2:53 pm Posts: 3480 Location: Hardin County, Tx
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Tried and true Rem 700 .270 for me. I shoot either 130gr or 150gr loads depending on the situation and it has yet to fail me in 15+ years of carrying it. I've shot deer with plenty of other calibers and loads, including #2 3.5" 12ga steel  I wouldn't recommend it though. Just happened to be a right place/time deal coming back from the wood duck hole, she popped out about 15yds from me and wouldn't go away, and I had tags...shame on her. I thought for sure all I had was 4's and 6's but there was a 2 hiding in my pocket. Poor thing needed to be removed from the gene pool as dumb as she was... she watched me dig the round out and chamber it. A plain ol 30-30 is hard to beat too out to 75-100yds too.
_________________ #CFFITR
-Custom pool noodle -stage 4 water wings
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:47 am |
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Crews
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Wed Jan 14, 2009 9:07 pm Posts: 2260 Location: Lafayette
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I prefer a good short action with a medium profile 18" barrel. 308, 6.5 Creedmoor, or 7-08 are all great, effective rounds that are cheap to shoot, don't have much recoil, and do well in short barrels. A compact rifle is easier to transport, and easier to stick out the truck window or box blind. With the right bullet construction, they are more than enough for medium range thin skinned prey.
I would suggest you spend more time considering all the other equipment that will make you successful in putting rounds on target, such as quality scope, good binoculars, and range finding capability
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_________________ 24x60 Dual Prodrives
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 5:48 am |
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huck Finn
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu Jan 31, 2013 5:42 pm Posts: 1913 Location: Conroe tx
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
_________________ Ole black water keep on rolling
18x54 Uncle J -GTR - with the koolaid Back H2o SWOMP 23 SS stage 2 15x36 GD Duck Skiff GATOR GATOR GLIDE PROSTAFF BACKWATER PROSTAFF http://www.gatorglide.com
Coupe rest in peace brother
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 6:26 am |
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Migrator
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:29 pm Posts: 3227 Location: Black River, MS
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Started with a 30-30 then got a 30-06. Dad is a diehard 30 cal. man. Lol I bought a stainless 7mm mag A-bolt and still shoot it When I deer hunt. Like Crews and others said, the other things you match with it make you successful. I put a Leupold 50 mm on it and shoot Hornady 154 gr SST handloads about 6 grains over max. For most people I would say the .308, 7mm-08 is a very good choice. Women and kids can handle these and recoil is very manageable. For a grown man they are fun to shoot. And personally I have not seen as many deer lost with these calibers as I have with some others. Whatever you get, make sure it fits you and your application and shoot it enough to be comfortable with it. Good luck.
_________________ WC CUSTOM 20X54 Battleship w/ Gator Glide Pushed & Pulled hard by an HDR!
Don't be scared...Hit It and Hold It!!!
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:35 am |
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Migrator
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:29 pm Posts: 3227 Location: Black River, MS
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
And I concur with Hucks comments on the FB drama. Mr. Butthurt, We don't care. Please keep that mess over at FB or tell your friends on your soccer team. Thank you, Have a nice day! 
_________________ WC CUSTOM 20X54 Battleship w/ Gator Glide Pushed & Pulled hard by an HDR!
Don't be scared...Hit It and Hold It!!!
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:41 am |
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cb5331
MMT Super Elite Member
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:10 pm Posts: 16915 Location: Rowlett, TX
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
He's banned here too, but like a hemorrhoid, just keeps coming back.
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 8:42 am |
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NinjaButtpirate
MMT Pro Member
Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2015 12:46 pm Posts: 457
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 Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:07 am |
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WhoDat88
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:24 pm Posts: 2912 Location: Thibodaux, La
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
_________________ 1850 Predator Series Stick Steer Option 40HP Gatortail
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:18 am |
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WhoDat88
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:24 pm Posts: 2912 Location: Thibodaux, La
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
_________________ 1850 Predator Series Stick Steer Option 40HP Gatortail
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:20 am |
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WhoDat88
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:24 pm Posts: 2912 Location: Thibodaux, La
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
I come on MMT because they don't have drama. I can read post and enjoy. This dude going to come on here, bend the truth and ruin it for everyone
_________________ 1850 Predator Series Stick Steer Option 40HP Gatortail
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:22 am |
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WhoDat88
MMT 1000 Club
Joined: Thu May 23, 2013 4:24 pm Posts: 2912 Location: Thibodaux, La
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Coe or Tony, can you please remove this guys comments off this post. I was enjoying reading everyone's comments on deer hunting cartridges. We had some great talk going on before he screwed it up
_________________ 1850 Predator Series Stick Steer Option 40HP Gatortail
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:25 am |
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cb5331
MMT Super Elite Member
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:10 pm Posts: 16915 Location: Rowlett, TX
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
Remove the poster while you're at it. AGAIN.
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 10:32 am |
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forever draggin
MMT Elite Member
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2009 7:10 pm Posts: 6664 Location: in the marsh with a boat load full of dead hookers
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:43 am |
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cb5331
MMT Super Elite Member
Joined: Fri Dec 18, 2009 8:10 pm Posts: 16915 Location: Rowlett, TX
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 Re: Favorite deer hunting caliber/catridge
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Wed Jun 29, 2016 11:46 am |
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