With all due respect....any long range rifle that is effective, will also be effective at short range. A 7mm ultra mag will kill at 400+ yards and it will also kill at 50 yards.

I would ditch the 30-30. It is a weak caliber (banned in some areas because it does not have the power-energy). Ya ya I know the 30-30 has taken a lot of bear and dear but there are many better choices today. The native people in Alaska have taken polar bears with nothing more than 22's and have done very well doing it. However, there are many better choices out there. Lets look at them.

243, 6mm.....They are what I would consider the minimum caliber (and energy level) to take a deer with. Some guys swear by them. Shot placement is a must and you should keep your shots somewhat short. Low recoil is a plus. Good for small game as well.

25-06....This is what I actually use for my smallest caliber on deer. Flat shooting. Has more than enough power. Good varmint rig. The muzzle blast is louder than the 243. I just feel better with a 25-06 than a 243. However I feel there is a better choice than this round.

7mm-08....Has a very loyal following. Highly accurate. Fun to shoot. Plenty of take down power. Kick is still pretty low.

270......This has to be one of the best rounds around for deer. With factory ammo it can match or surpass what the 25-06 can do with a lot more energy. Now we are getting up into the recoil range for some shooters. Most guys can handle a 270 with no problem though.

308.....awsome round. It was created because the military wanted a smaller round than the 30-06 but would match the 30-06 in performance. It comes very close to the 30-06 with a lot less kick. Highly accurate round. The snipers in the military used them (and still do) for many years. I had one that was highly accurate and I regret having sold it. It is a deer killing machine and still, in my opinion, very nice to shoot.

30-06.....This round is the stuff of legend. It is the best round of the last century. It is kind of big for small game but will do in a pinch. It will also kill something as big as a grizz with shot placement. Although I would suggest something bigger for a grizz if you can handle it. The 30-06 is at the upper limits of what most guys can shoot with relative comfort. It kicks and it lets you know it. Lots of power. It comes somewhat close to the 300 win mag in performance. The 300 win has the advantage at long range.

7mm.....A great round. There are a lot of 7mm out there. 7mm, 7mm mag, 7mm rem ultra mag. More than enough for your average deer. A great elk round. A bit of over kill for your average deer at short range. But dead is dead.

300 win mag.....If you like to cut your butter with a chain saw then the 300 win mag for your average deer is for you. It should be able to go from the rear end of the deer all the way through the chest area and beyond. Good for out west where the shots are long.

NOTE: There are many fine rounds that I left out. Sorry but these are the ones that come to mind. SHOT PLACEMENT IS EVERYTHING.

The rifles that I own are:
22 ............plinking, small game
22-250.........target shooting, small game
25-06..........small game, deer
270............small game, deer, small bear
30-06 .........deer, small bear, elk
375 H & H mag..anything bigger than deer in USA or Canada.


There are many light weight rifles out there. Check them out. Some come in at 6lbs or less. They are nothing to carry around and if you get them in the right caliber they can be deadly.


Tifford

Hold Steady