deer rifle cartridge suggstions please

[5spd]

7-08 or .243...nothing else. Ammo found everyplace, easy on the shoulder & to shoot.
I have both and have dropped antelope from 100yds-436yds with both.

 

[tdoyka]

if you don't handload take the 7mm-08, if you do 6.5 creedmoor ;D i happen to own it, t/c encore 16 1/4" barrel. the 257 roberts, 250 savage, 6mm rem, ...theres so many to choose from!!!!!

 

[stinnett1981]

This topic could go on forever! Thats why its such a good one...Lol!

 

[Savage99]

I need some suggestions. I have a remington 700 short action with a .473 bolt face and I am trying to decide on what chambering I should go with. It is going to be used for Minnesota white tail. My main criteria is keeping recoil lower than a 308 and being capable of 300 yard shots. Also, feeding reliably is important.

That 700/721 design is another niche design made to sell guns to a specific market. A market that does not appreciate the finer features that superior designs have. However they work until they fail and are cheap.

Look at other actions that have a M70 type 3 position safety that controls the firing pin, control round feeding and other quality features.

Many of us have more than one rifle that is optimum, in our minds for a specific task.

As you earn more money shop around.

Your want for 300 yd capability and less recoil makes little sense.

Make more money for a better gun and spend the 'hunting' and gun time on a job.

 

[LHSmith]

I need some suggestions. I have a remington 700 short action with a .473 bolt face and I am trying to decide on what chambering I should go with. It is going to be used for Minnesota white tail. My main criteria is keeping recoil lower than a 308 and being capable of 300 yard shots. Also, feeding reliably is important.

Your want for 300 yd capability and less recoil makes little sense.

Makes perfect sense to me. Most mere mortals shoot more accurately with less recoil. Funny how the "niche" design of the 721/700 has evolved into what is equivalent to the small block Chevy of the CF market.......and very similar features to custom bolt actions like Hart, Stolle, Bat Machine, Stiller Precision, Nesika......etc....etc. I have used 700 actions for hunting since '64 and have never lost an animal for failure to feed.

 

[jonbearman]

Its an argument that cant be won.The 700 is the most universal reciever besides the savage.I own lots of both and the remington reciever is strong and robust ,safe ,well engineered so almost anyone can afford one.In regards to the 250 savage,it is ok for closer shots but the .243 is superior in every way compared to the .25 cals that are small cased and meant for varminting mostly.The most important thing with 700's and the model 7 is there are scads of aftermarket stuff to make your remington a do it yourself rifle with the new remage barrel nut system that makes changing barrels at home possible and you have an instant switch barrel. Take it from me ,the 7-08 is the best medium range cartridge around.It can be made easily if you cant find brass out of .308. You can shoot from light to heavy bullets with the correct twist. Now that you own the .243,you will love it ,but it does have limitations on range.The remmy barrels are 1in10 twist and wont shoot anything over 100 grains with the kind of accuracy you need.The 85's are hammers for deer sized game along with the 100 grain soft points.The remington 100 grain power lokt hollow points and lighter fly really nice too. Dont overlook any quality bullet but some of the barnes are like sledgehammers with the ttsx I believe style bullet.Best powder I liked was h4831sc,and h4350 or IMR 4350. Good luck on your hunt and sleep well knowing you bought a model 7,that way your arms wont fall out the sockets carrying the thing all day.If you need help choosing components PM me.

 

[LHSmith]

In regards to the 250 savage,it is ok for closer shots but the .243 is superior in every way compared to the .25 cals that are small cased and meant for varminting mostly.

Actually, the .250 predates the 300 Savage by a few years, and when designed in 1915, Charles Newton designed it around a 100 grain bullet for deer size game. Sure the .243 will outperform it, but it comes at the price of more recoil and greatly reduced barrel life.......and yes, some people are THAT recoil sensitive that it does make a difference.

 

[GSPV]

If I was bothered by the recoil of a 243, I'd look into a fast twist 6 BR.

 

[LHSmith]

If I was bothered by the recoil of a 243, I'd look into a fast twist 6 BR.

That would be a good option....but the .250 feeds so nice.

 

[GSPV]

Yep. It can be an issue with the 6BR.

To counter that, it's stupid easy to load for, there is an entire industry built around the cartridge, and there is a huge bullet selection.

Or, one could just put a muzzle brake on the 243, but what fun would that be?

 

[BigDMT]

Get a 378 Weatherby with 350gr Sierra MKs. The bullets will field dress the deer for you when they hit ;D

 

[wyoming .260]

My wife complains about the recoil of our light weight .243 when loaded with 95 gr. bullets traveling at usable hunting speed but has no issues with the 55gr. loads at light speed . so she practices with the lighter bullet and kills stuff with the heavier one.

 

[barnesuser28]

284 win, the first kill with mine was a whitetail doe at 560 yards with the 162 amax, DRT! The second one the same day was a mule deer buck at 519 yards and he was down in 30 seconds with the same bullet.

 

[normmatzen]

I, too, would recommend the 7-08.
I just dispatched a small pig and a black-tailed buck with my home made sporterized VZ24 Mauser with a German military
7X57 barrel.
I was using 162 gn A-MAX as they will provide excellent kills at MV of 2600-2650fps. I was using 2750 and it was even a little too much! At moderate velocities, the 162gn A-MAX has great killing power and has better ballistics then a lot of other 140 gn bullets at much higher velocities, for 300 yds. And, the recoil is low. I also load 140 gn Barnes TTSX to 2800fps and the recoil is even less and still good killing power.

 

[navyrad8r]

okay coach put me in....
I vote .260 Rem. I got my first deer last year with a .260 (Elesio RTS) sorry guys don't have a hunting rifle only match guns. 120 sierra pro hunter LC brass, wolf primer, 39 gr of IMR4064. Worked great, easy to make or buy brass, lots of bullet choices, low recoil. the rounds were even mag length. same gun running berger 130- 140s and lapua or amax 123s great all around!!
cheers
doc

 

[boltman223]

Well since I've seen what the 243 is like now, maybe I can find a 260 take off barrel and throw it on my receiver to try it out at least.

 

[Webster]

A table of recoil energy for many calibers.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

 

[LHSmith]

A table of recoil energy for many calibers.

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

You already posted that link in post #36.....but it is useful info. Notice the figures for the 250 Savage.....what a creampuff

 

[Cigarcop]

Love my little 20" 6.5x47L

 

[stinnett1981]

Love my little 20" 6.5x47L

That is a beauty! I remember seeing a pic about 6 months ago of a .223 that you built for somebody. It was all black with a black ceracoated barrel. Can you please post a pic of it again? All the calibers listed are great for deer. .243, 6.5x47, 7-08, .308, .260, 30-06, 25-06 and so on and so on!