Spend enough time around serious hunters, and you’ll hear plenty of debates about calibers. Everyone has preferences, but there are a few cartridges that consistently get eye rolls when mentioned around the fire. They’re either too weak, too specialized, or flat-out impractical when it comes to real-world hunting. Sure, some of them might take game under perfect conditions, but that’s not the standard most experienced hunters trust. You want a cartridge that carries enough energy, penetrates well, and doesn’t leave you wondering if you’ll be tracking all night. When camp talk gets real, these calibers are the ones nobody wants to see a buddy unpack.
.22 Long Rifle
The .22 LR has its place for small game and plinking, but when someone suggests taking it deer hunting, experienced hunters shake their heads. The little rimfire simply doesn’t have the energy for reliable penetration on big game. Even with perfect shot placement, you’re leaving too much to chance, and ethical hunters don’t gamble when an animal’s life is on the line.
What makes the .22 LR worse is how tempting it can be for beginners. Cheap ammo, low recoil, and wide availability make it attractive, but it’s a recipe for wounded game if you push it past rabbits and squirrels. In camp, nobody wants to track a deer all night because someone thought a rimfire would “do the job.” For serious hunters, it’s a useful cartridge to have on hand, but it belongs in the squirrel woods, not the deer blind.
.17 HMR
The .17 HMR is fast and flat-shooting, but that doesn’t make it a big-game cartridge. Hunters who know their business keep it in the varmint category where it belongs. It’s great for prairie dogs, groundhogs, and even foxes at closer ranges, but the lightweight bullets lack penetration for anything larger. Try to use it on deer, and you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Another problem is the false sense of confidence it gives. Its accuracy and velocity can fool less experienced shooters into thinking it can handle more than it’s built for. But serious hunters know there’s no substitute for bullet weight and energy when it comes to ethical kills. Around camp, bringing out a .17 HMR for big game signals you don’t understand the limits of your gear, and that doesn’t inspire confidence. It’s fun for varmints, but it’s not a hunting round you want in serious conversations.
.30 Carbine
The .30 Carbine has a military history, but its hunting track record is weak. Originally designed for the M1 Carbine, it was never meant to be a powerhouse. The round carries energy close to a hot pistol cartridge, and while it can down deer at close range, it’s far from reliable compared to true rifle calibers. Experienced hunters know better than to count on it when a clean kill matters.
What hurts the .30 Carbine’s reputation is that it looks more capable than it is. People assume it’s a rifle round, so it should perform like one, but the reality is disappointing. Light bullets and low velocity limit penetration and terminal performance. It might get used by nostalgic shooters who love the M1 Carbine, but around serious hunters, it earns little respect. In camp, it’s one of those calibers you’ll hear dismissed quickly as underpowered and outdated for real hunting use.
5.7x28mm
The 5.7x28mm cartridge has become trendy thanks to pistols and carbines chambered for it, but it’s not a hunting round serious hunters bring to camp. It was designed as a personal defense cartridge, not something for putting venison in the freezer. Light bullets and limited energy make it unreliable on anything larger than varmints, and even then, there are better choices.
The problem is people get caught up in its velocity numbers without looking at what really matters: penetration and energy transfer. Against paper or steel, it’s fun, but against live game, it falls flat. You might hear someone brag about taking a deer with it, but that’s anecdotal at best and not something ethical hunters want to repeat. In camp, if someone shows up with a 5.7, most folks will quietly hope they’re planning to use it for coyotes or plinking cans instead of chasing real game.
.25 ACP
The .25 ACP barely makes sense as a defensive cartridge, let alone a hunting one. It’s a tiny pistol round with almost no energy, poor penetration, and lackluster accuracy beyond spitting distance. Yet every so often, someone will bring it up as if it has a role outside of a pocket pistol. Around hunters who take their craft seriously, that suggestion won’t go over well.
What makes it laughable in camp is the sheer impracticality. No one wants to waste time tracking wounded deer because someone tried to use a caliber with less energy than a .22 LR. It’s one of those cartridges that reminds everyone why matching the right tool to the job is so important. For serious hunters, the .25 ACP is a round you joke about, not one you pack into the woods.
9mm Luger
The 9mm Luger is legendary for self-defense, but that reputation doesn’t carry over to hunting camp. While modern loads can push performance, it’s still a pistol cartridge not suited for consistent penetration on deer-sized animals. At close range, with the right loads, you might get by—but that’s not the standard most hunters want to rely on.
What hurts the 9mm in hunting is how often it gets treated like a do-it-all round. It’s versatile in handguns, but when you’re in the field, you need energy and bullet weight, not just convenience. Camp talk usually dismisses it quickly because better options are everywhere. Hunters who respect their quarry want calibers built for the job, and the 9mm simply doesn’t meet that standard. It’s fine for defense, but it’s not something serious hunters pack with confidence for big-game hunts.
7.62x39mm
The 7.62x39mm has earned its reputation as the AK round, but in hunting camp, it doesn’t carry the same respect. While it can certainly take deer at moderate ranges, it struggles to deliver the consistency and reach most hunters expect. Accuracy is often lacking, and bullet options are more limited compared to classic deer calibers like .308 or .30-06.
Another strike against it is perception. Many hunters see it as a “cheap ammo” round, good for blasting steel or plinking, but not ideal for putting food on the table. That stigma sticks, even if some loads can work for close-range hunting. When camp discussions turn to reliability and ethics, the 7.62×39 rarely earns high marks. It’s serviceable, but no serious hunter is excited to see it chosen over proven calibers with better range, energy, and performance.
.223 Remington
The .223 Remington has a devoted following, but among seasoned hunters, it’s still controversial. While it can take deer with the right bullets and perfect placement, it leaves very little margin for error. Light projectiles don’t always penetrate enough, especially on larger-bodied deer or in less-than-ideal angles. Most serious hunters don’t want to risk tracking jobs caused by underpowered hits.
Its military roots and popularity in AR platforms often bring it into hunting conversations, but veterans of the field know its shortcomings. Ethical hunters tend to reach for larger calibers that provide more energy and confidence in varied situations. When you’re in camp, bringing a .223 for deer hunting is often met with skepticism, if not outright dismissal. It’s fine for varmints and predators, but when it comes to filling tags on deer, it’s a caliber many experienced hunters prefer to leave behind.
.45 ACP
The .45 ACP carries an almost mythical status in the handgun world, but that doesn’t translate to hunting. It’s a slow, heavy pistol round designed for self-defense, not for anchoring deer or larger game. Energy and penetration just aren’t there compared to purpose-built hunting rounds. Sure, it can drop an animal under perfect circumstances, but that’s a gamble most hunters won’t take.
Around camp, the .45 ACP usually earns smirks when mentioned in a hunting context. It’s a defensive round, plain and simple, and serious hunters don’t confuse those roles. If you’re carrying it as a sidearm in bear country, that’s one thing—but using it as your primary hunting caliber is another story. Experienced hunters know better than to push a round beyond its limits, and the .45 ACP is one of those that belongs on the belt, not in the blind.
.32 ACP
The .32 ACP is another pocket pistol round that pops up in discussions where it doesn’t belong. Its light bullets and low velocity make it completely unsuited for hunting anything beyond pests. Yet, now and then, someone will suggest it for deer or hogs, usually based on old stories or wishful thinking. In a camp full of serious hunters, that kind of talk is quickly shut down.
The truth is, the .32 ACP doesn’t carry enough energy to ensure an ethical kill. Penetration is minimal, accuracy is limited, and the margin for error is nonexistent. Hunters who take their craft seriously don’t want to be associated with wounded game or wasted opportunities. That’s why the .32 ACP is one of those calibers you won’t see respected around camp. It might have nostalgia value in small handguns, but it has no place in the hunting conversation.
.410 Bore Slugs
The .410 shotgun is often handed to young hunters, but when it comes to deer, it’s widely seen as inadequate. The small payload and limited energy of .410 slugs make clean kills difficult, even at short ranges. Sure, it can work under ideal conditions, but the margin for error is far too narrow for most serious hunters to consider it responsible.
The problem is perception. Because it’s lightweight and has mild recoil, beginners think it’s a good starter for deer. Experienced hunters know better—it leads to more wounded animals than recovered ones. In camp, the .410 slug isn’t respected because it’s simply not enough gun for the task. Hunters want calibers and loads that give them confidence, not ones that leave them second-guessing every shot. That’s why serious camps don’t encourage it for big game, no matter how “easy” it feels to shoot.
*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.
