rifle of choice

[blurb2m]

Hi,
I am new to the forums, but not exactly to hunting.
I am from New Jersey and rifle laws up there are VERY strict.
Since I was 14, I have been shooting shotguns (Remmington 12 ga.)for pheasant (sp) and black powder muzzleloader for deer (Thompson Center Black Diamond .50 cal).
While laws do not allow hunting with high powered rifles in Jersey, THEY DO IN SC woohoo.
I have been searching around and have come to the conclusion that the Winchester M70 Super Shadow WSM 270 is not a bad looking rifle for deer hunting. Now to my question:
Is this a decent size rifle for use with South Carolina size deer or would the 300 be a more reasonable choice. Also what is the difference between WSM and WSSM?
Thank you for your input.
Dan

[dep214]

a 300 is totally unnecessary for deer hunting.unless you are shooting a long distance. the 270 will be just fine

[TREEDOG]

The deer that can take a 270 in the vitals and live is yet to walk the earth The 270 is a DANDY whitetail cartridge, wrather long or short action. I shoot a model 70 featherweight in 270wsm and love the rifle/cartridge. Ok wsm stands for winchester short mag, im sure you know that. With the shorter case it allowed the usual long action rounds to work in short action rifles. Now wssm stands for winchester super short mag. Sense those calibers already worked in short action rifles but the cartridges are even shorter now, they callt hem that. Personaly I WOULDNT touch a WSSM!!! To learn a boatload more about the wsm and wssms please visit www.shortmags.org

[gopher slayer]

a 270 will do a good job on big deer

[gopher slayer]

this deer was also taken by a .270 they were shot in alberta. there both my buddies form school. these 2 deer were take with 1 hour of each other within a mile of each other.

[hunter338]

Hello blurb2m and welcome to the forum.

I have heard alot of good things about the 270 WSM. I had a chance to buy a Ruger M77 MRK II SS, for about $ 400.00 in Arkansas on my last trip. I just couldnt do it though.

I use a old standard 270 Win. 130 gr Horn. bullets.
I have never had a problem with it as of yet, and have had it since I was young.(A few years ago, not alot , just a few)

Let us know what you decide to buy.

hunter338

[stubblejumper]

There is not a deer alive that the 25-06 will not kill quickly and cleanly.However that does not mean that larger calibers do not work just as well.They just aren't necessary.

[Mykey]

There is not a deer alive that the 25-06 will not kill quickly and cleanly

Ditto!

[UncleNorby]

What kind of hunting will you be doing. A friend of mine goes to SC, he hunts at a club where they are basically assigned a stand for the day. Shots can be long. He says most of the guys down there shoot 7mm mags.

Doesn't sound like you have much, if any, rifle experience, let alone long range shooting experience, or the time to do much between now and hunting season. I would not get a heavy recoiling cartridge, just to say you'll be able to reach out there. I would stick with a standard cartridge like a 270, 30/06, 308, 260, 7-08, and shoot as much as you can between now and your trip. These will give you good performance on those little SC deer out to 250 and beyond, if you hit them right. Just focus on becoming proficient with the gun you get.

[30-06lover]

anything from a 243 and up will take a deer down there. The 243 isnt the most powerful cartrige but it will take down a deer. I myself use a 30-06 and a 243.