The top 10 cartridges for hunting deer in Canada

6.5 CREEDMOOR

The 6.5 Creedmoor arrived in the hunting world with a bang in 2007, and it has only increased in popularity since then. It was originally developed as a cartridge for competition rifle shooting, but its success in that arena quickly led to it being adopted as a hunting round. So, what’s all the fuss about? First, as you might assume from its pedigree, it’s an inherently accurate round. And while you don’t need eye-of-the-needle accuracy in most deer-hunting situations, every extra inch of increased accuracy is worth whatever it costs when you’re shooting in wide-open country or at extended distances.

The heavy-for-calibre bullets loaded in this cartridge mean high sectional densities, and that translates into increased penetration, especially at long ranges. The 0.264-inch bullets also boast a high ballistic coefficient, meaning greater resistance to drag and wind drift. The low recoil, roughly 35 per cent less than that of the .270 Winchester, is another popular feature of this trendy round.

Add it all up and the 6.5 Creedmoor brings to the table everything you want in a long-range deer cartridge. Many of its most favourable qualities can’t be appreciated when hunting deer at ranges inside 300 metres, but beyond that, it’s easy to understand why it has gained so much favour in such a short time.

Perfect pairing: Browning X-Bolt Western Hunter