Which gun for deer? Got one?

[Screw It]

Hey guys, I am also looking for a new rifle. I currently hunt with a .270 in Vermont and I am more than happy with it for Whitetail. Planning on having a custom rifle built for western Elk hunting and long range kills. The plan is to work up to a 1000 yard shot. Anyways I have a gun builder and he recommends a 7/300 wsm (hand loaded ammo only) or a 7mm wsm. Any experience or opinions would be welcome!

Thanks,

Jay

[Reel Sharp]

Well after checking a few things out for a while. I am heavily leaning at a Savage 111 30-06. It seems like a good rifle for the money, and it was comfortable when holding it. It also has an option for a camo with a nice pattern and it looks sweet!! It comes with a scope which is OK and would look to upgrade when finances will let me. It was at Dick's and the guy said it will be on sale if a wait a couple of weeks. Any of you guys use this model?

[Reel Sharp]

Go with the 270 or the 308, there pretty easy to find. Most any roadside store would carry those loads if youre not close to home.

Either one will do the job. Most people use to much gun for deer. It doesnt take much to put one down if the shot placement is right.

Know your load, dont try to shoot long distances at first, 100 yards or less and you will get plenty of chances at deer.

Youre an hour from me, if you ever want to go give me a shout and well go one evening.

I will take you up on the offer!!!! If not tomorrow, I will in the future. I just have to figure a few things out. That's mighty nice of you, thanks.
Everyone's comments have really done me some good and I'm sure some other lurkers as well!!

[JPH]

Hey guys, I am also looking for a new rifle. I currently hunt with a .270 in Vermont and I am more than happy with it for Whitetail. Planning on having a custom rifle built for western Elk hunting and long range kills. The plan is to work up to a 1000 yard shot. Anyways I have a gun builder and he recommends a 7/300 wsm (hand loaded ammo only) or a 7mm wsm. Any experience or opinions would be welcome!

Thanks,

Jay

Jay: I've killed 2 bull elk and 1 moose with the 270's sister cartridge, the 280 Remington using 150 grain Nosler Partitions. This caliber class is also a hell of a good choice in Africa for kudu, zebra, gemsbok, hartebeast, and all the antelope on a plains game hunt. I needed no follow up shots on all these animals with my 280. A 270 with 140 or 150 grain premium bullets like Nosler partitions will do anything my 280 did. You don't need another rifle for elk hunting, but perhaps a slightly heavier bullet out of your 270 that you probably shoot very well is a good plan. Aim right behind the front shoulder from 0 - 400 yards on an elk like you do with a whitetail and it will be game over, somebody needs a skinning knife. This would be my recommendation without reservation.

I am not a fan of the short magnums for a number of reasons including the application you address and that is long range hunting/shooting. Bullets with high ballistics coefficients (BCs) that fly well with less drag are generally very long in length. Simply put, the short magnums have short powder columns and long bullets rob them of powder space. It is my recommendation that you go with a "long" magnum. The darling, high BC bullet in the 7mm diameter right now is the 180 grain Berger VLD, a super long bullet in length. For this type of application, I suggest you find the bullet you want to shoot first and work backwards to find the cartridge to shoot the bullet from. The old belted 7mm Remington Magnum is an accurate cartridge as is the more powerful beltless 7mm Ultra Magnum. Obviously you want a squared and true action, custom trigger properly adjusted, custom synthetic stock, and the best scope you can afford in this type of rifle. I recommend you stay away from muzzle brakes.

If this recoil makes the rifle uncomfortable for you to shoot well, the 264 Winchester Magnum with the 140 grain Berger VLD is also an outstanding choice with less recoil and more than adequate for all but the large bears out west.

Good Luck!

JPH

[Ace1st]

I will take you up on the offer!!!! If not tomorrow, I will in the future. I just have to figure a few things out. That's mighty nice of you, thanks.
Everyone's comments have really done me some good and I'm sure some other lurkers as well!!

Let me know when youre ready, deer seasons almost over with but the Squeelers are usually around.

[Glenn W]

Well after checking a few things out for a while. I am heavily leaning at a Savage 111 30-06. It seems like a good rifle for the money, and it was comfortable when holding it. It also has an option for a camo with a nice pattern and it looks sweet!! It comes with a scope which is OK and would look to upgrade when finances will let me. It was at Dick's and the guy said it will be on sale if a wait a couple of weeks. Any of you guys use this model?

If you only have one rifle and plan to hunt East to West, many will argue that the 30-06 is the best all around North American Cartridge ever made--- others will disagree.
I can't count the number of White Tail I've killed over the years with my 30-06. Is it more than you need for Eastern White tail?--- no doubt. It is too much gun that will destroy the animal?-- not really. I now prefer my .243 for the Carolina deer I hunt, but my 30-06 still gets alot of use from my boys.
As far as the Savage goes, I can't speak first hand but have heard and read from numerous sources that it is consistantly the most accurate, off the shelf rifle in its price range, and are generally more accurate than most "off the shelf" rifles costing half again as much--- I'm told sub MOA's are common right out of the box.
Long and short---- I think you'll be very happy with your selection.

[Reel Sharp]

I also like the Remmington 700. It was much lighter and more comfortable but it was a bit higher on price. It should be on sale in a few days. I was doing some research and as many of you know, there has been a bit a safety issue. I think I have to go to the store and see other models again. Tough decisions for some reason!!