Best caliber for whitetail

[Billyraycook1]

Looking at buying my first Weatherby I just hunt whitetail in Tennessee  not sure about what caliber.   It will be a mark v.    Any suggestions ??

[terminator]

Welcome to the Nation. Roy Weatherbys favorite deer caliber .257 Weatherby.If you don't want to drop the coin a Mark V I would suggest the Vanguard FirstLite.Cool looking with a 26 inch barrel.

[Billyraycook1]

Thanks.

[WildTigerTrout]

Maybe you should consider the 240 Magnum. Great cartridge for whitetails.  I have killed a number of them with my Mark V Stainless Lightweight.

[Billyraycook1]

Hadn’t thought bout that one.   

[catskinner]

The 240 and 257 are fine caliber's, but the 270 Wby is better     plus if you ever want to go on an elk hunt someday, you would already be set to go with a 270 Wby 

Rob

[dubyam]

Rob is spot-on. The 270Wby is just a scorcher faster and flatter than the 257, when comparing equal weight for caliber bullets. If you get one, you won't regret it. The white-tails in northern Alabama where I hunt hate my 270Wby.

[Billyraycook1]

Thanks everybody.   Now to figure out what model to buy.  The Sporter ,  Weathermark or Accumark

[.257]

Whitetail in  Tennessee .
I prefer the .257, l have taken coyotes to an elk, and am very impressed with it
But really any of them from the 240 to the 7mm would do just fine on whitetails.
As far as model, the lighter models are nice to carry and shoot good, but the barrels heat up fast at the range.
Heavier models are not as nice to carry, shoot good, and for me are more balanced to hold and shoot.
It all comes down to what you are looking for and type of hunting you do, stand hunting or still hunting mostly
Good luck on your choice.

[Blackbear3]

I just hammered a big doe with my 340 and she was deader then dead. Then again my 257 and 6.5-300 Bees did the same, if you don't reload check for availability of factory ammo before you decide.

[224KING]

257 hands down

[sschefer]

257 hands down

I also think .257 would be perfect but I'm also curious why nobody recommends the 270 WM (.277).

[Chris338378]

I agree all the calibers mentioned will get the job done providing the hunter places his shots properly but that applies to any caliber for that matter.  One thing missing from this conversation in my opinion is the hunting conditions or environment.  While they all will have no problem in open timber or a field it's a different story if you're in thick cover such as a brier patch or if you're shooting long distances.  Sure the .240 Weatherby will do the job however a .270 Weatherby Magnum, which is an outstanding caliber for white-tailed deer, or even a .300 Weatherby Magnum will be less likely to be affected by a cross wind at longer distances and will be less likely to be deflected by hitting a brier branch.  The .240, .257, and .270 Weatherby Magnums are superb deer calibers but in my opinion the .300 or .340 Weatherby Magnums are a more of an any hunting environment calibers which some might say is a heck of a statement coming from a guy who loves and uses his .338-378 Weatherby Magnum to hunt white-tailed deer and any other big game species I'm after. 

[danno50]

Any Mark V in Weatherby caliber between 240 and 460 will be absolutely perfect for taking whitetails from Tennessee, to Timbuktu and anywhere in between that those critters may be hiding. Theres just no need to worry about your choice, as long as you can shoot it well. Maybe if you move to another galaxy? But nah. 

[280markv]

Several years ago while looking for a .270 rifle, I ran across a used Mark V in .280 Remington, cheap looking black synthetic stock and all. I figured that was close enough to a .270 (hadn't even heard of a .280 Rem at that point) and the price was right. It shoots like a laser. I doubt TN whitetails are that much bigger than PA whitetails and all I've been lucky enough to get a shot at in the PA woods have required one shot only.

Don't know if they still offer that round in any Mark V or Vanguard, but you never know what may be lurking in the used gun racks of the LGS.