The Perfect Deer Rifle
05-30-2005, 04:31 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: North West Arkansas
Posts: 422
The Perfect Deer Rifle
I thought this article might inspire a bit of discussion!
The Perfect Deer Rifle
By Mike Moen
There is something about human nature that makes people appreciate perfection. A Major League pitcher captures the headlines when he pitches a perfect game. A first grader who answers all of her math questions correctly is rewarded with a big star on top of her test. Even the local bartender is sometimes held in high regards for producing the perfect martini. Why should it be any different when it comes to deer rifles? Through the years gallons of ink have been spilled by writers discussing this matter. Some followed the lead of Jack O'Connor who favored smaller calibers that tossed bullets at breakneck speeds. Others found themselves in the Elmer Keith camp favoring large calibers with heavy bullets and large wound channels. With the vast experience that these two men had, it is obvious that both knew what they were talking about, and both were right. In fact, there are very few poor deer rifles. If someone really wanted to, they could spend their entire hunting career shooting at mulies and whitetails with a 375 H+H and probably never be disappointed. The same could be said for a 243 Winchester, which lies on the other end of the spectrum. However, not many people would view either of these guns as "perfect" for deer.
The first step in building the perfect rifle is to decide what the gun will look like. While levers, pumps, and semi-auto loaders have their place, few would disagree that the bolt action is king. Overall the bolt action is more accurate, and is available in more factory rifles than all the others combined. Where I hunt in northern Minnesota, the lever action 30-30 has always been one of the most popular choices for folks heading to their deer stands. With most shots held under 100 yards by the thick vegetation, a lever gun shooting flat nosed bullets is plenty good for dropping deer in their tracks. That same gun, however, might feel a little outmatched trying to reach across 300 yards of Wyoming prairie after a distant mule deer. A bolt action rifle would be at home under both conditions.
Barrel length is also something that needs to be considered. A short barrel tends to be more maneuverable and can result in a quicker shot in heavy brush at running game. Short barreled guns are also usually lighter, which can be a blessing if hunting in rugged or steep country. The payoff, though, is a loss of velocity and stability. A lighter gun can make it harder to hold the cross hairs steady, and the difference in velocity for some guns can be over 50 feet/second for each inch of barrel lost. A rifle wearing a 26" spout will generally give out higher velocities, but may make snap offhand shooting a chore. When talking about deer rifles, I feel that a 22" barrel is a good compromise. A barrel of this length will utilize most of the ballistic potential of any of the popular deer rifle chambering, and will still slide nicely through the trees.
So let's see, so far we have a bolt action wearing a 22" barrel. The next step is to figure out what round our perfect deer rifle will be chambered for. This is probably the topic that gets the most attention, and has sparked the most campfire arguments. Personal favorites can run the spectrum from the light 250 Savage or 243 Winchester, all the way up to the various supercharged 30 caliber magnums and beyond. Across the country the 30-06 is probably still the most commonly used round for harvesting deer, and there is little doubt that it is a very effective deer round, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I don't think it's the perfect chambering for a deer rifle. It's just a little more punch than what's needed. Why should someone put up with useless recoil when there are other rounds that will get the job done with less punishment to our shoulders? Staying in the 30 caliber family and taking a step down is the 308 Winchester which is an excellent choice for deer. Mated with a 165 grain bullet and a muzzle velocity around 2700 feet/sec, it is a great choice for any deer hunting out to most sane distances. It also has the benefit of numerous factory loadings, and finding a load that shoots well is usually not a problem.
An argument can also be made for going smaller by looking at a couple of 25 caliber rounds. The 25-06, which is a former wildcat based on the 30-06 case and made legit by Remington, has gained a reputation as the perfect antelope round, but the characteristics that make it great for pronghorn also make it great for deer hunting. With a 100 or 115 grain bullet flying along a string tight trajectory, it produces deadly results out to long ranges, but has very mild recoil when compared to larger calibers. It is also a fairly popular round so is offered in quite a few factory loadings. The other 25 caliber is the antique 257 Roberts. Even though this round has been with us for many years, it has consistently proven itself a deer slayer. Jack O'Connor was a fan of the Bob, and in the gun world, there is no larger endorsement than that. While the 257 Roberts doesn't have the speed of some of the other rounds, it still carries plenty of punch for deer out to at least 250 yards, and does so with pleasant recoil. The drawback to this round is that finding rifles chambered for it can be tough. There are only a few factory rifles available now that carry the Roberts, and factory ammo is limited, but if you can find a gun chambered for the Bob and especially if you hand load, the 257 Roberts would be a great choice.
For my perfect deer rifle though, I would probably choose a 7mm-08 Remington. This round came about by necking down a 308 Winchester case to accept 7mm bullets. When it comes to deer hunting, this round offers everything a person needs. The trajectory is flat enough to be effective for long range shooting out west, and with a 140 grain bullet is still carrying around 1500 ft/lbs at 300 yards, which is more than enough to take care of any deer. At the same time, it's not too overpowering up close at woods ranges like some of the larger 7's and 30 calibers tend to be. It does everything that some of the more powerful rounds can do, but with its mild recoil in most guns, it won't kick you like a mule. With the popularity of this round, finding a rifle chambered for it is not a problem, and there is a good variety of factory ammunition to choose from if you're not hand loading. Now if you are a 270 Winchester fan, you're probably shaking your head and wondering how I could ever pick another round over Jack O'Connor's favorite. Well, I will admit that the 270 is a great round but when only talking about deer hunting, I stand by my choice of the 7mm-08. To me it just seems perfect.
So there we have it, a bolt action rifle with a 22" barrel chambered for the 7mm-08 Remington. My version of the perfect deer rifle for hunting across the country. With this rifle a person could chase deer from the depths of a south Georgia swamp all the way to the peaks of a Montana mountain range and never skip a beat. Sure, there are a lot of other guns that could do the same thing, but in my opinion, they wouldn't be perfect.
Well, what do you think? I happen to agree with him, but then again my go to gun is a Rem 700 Mountian LSS in (you gussed it) 7MM-08!
firstshot
--------------------------------
Make your first shot count!
The Perfect Deer Rifle
By Mike Moen
There is something about human nature that makes people appreciate perfection. A Major League pitcher captures the headlines when he pitches a perfect game. A first grader who answers all of her math questions correctly is rewarded with a big star on top of her test. Even the local bartender is sometimes held in high regards for producing the perfect martini. Why should it be any different when it comes to deer rifles? Through the years gallons of ink have been spilled by writers discussing this matter. Some followed the lead of Jack O'Connor who favored smaller calibers that tossed bullets at breakneck speeds. Others found themselves in the Elmer Keith camp favoring large calibers with heavy bullets and large wound channels. With the vast experience that these two men had, it is obvious that both knew what they were talking about, and both were right. In fact, there are very few poor deer rifles. If someone really wanted to, they could spend their entire hunting career shooting at mulies and whitetails with a 375 H+H and probably never be disappointed. The same could be said for a 243 Winchester, which lies on the other end of the spectrum. However, not many people would view either of these guns as "perfect" for deer.
The first step in building the perfect rifle is to decide what the gun will look like. While levers, pumps, and semi-auto loaders have their place, few would disagree that the bolt action is king. Overall the bolt action is more accurate, and is available in more factory rifles than all the others combined. Where I hunt in northern Minnesota, the lever action 30-30 has always been one of the most popular choices for folks heading to their deer stands. With most shots held under 100 yards by the thick vegetation, a lever gun shooting flat nosed bullets is plenty good for dropping deer in their tracks. That same gun, however, might feel a little outmatched trying to reach across 300 yards of Wyoming prairie after a distant mule deer. A bolt action rifle would be at home under both conditions.
Barrel length is also something that needs to be considered. A short barrel tends to be more maneuverable and can result in a quicker shot in heavy brush at running game. Short barreled guns are also usually lighter, which can be a blessing if hunting in rugged or steep country. The payoff, though, is a loss of velocity and stability. A lighter gun can make it harder to hold the cross hairs steady, and the difference in velocity for some guns can be over 50 feet/second for each inch of barrel lost. A rifle wearing a 26" spout will generally give out higher velocities, but may make snap offhand shooting a chore. When talking about deer rifles, I feel that a 22" barrel is a good compromise. A barrel of this length will utilize most of the ballistic potential of any of the popular deer rifle chambering, and will still slide nicely through the trees.
So let's see, so far we have a bolt action wearing a 22" barrel. The next step is to figure out what round our perfect deer rifle will be chambered for. This is probably the topic that gets the most attention, and has sparked the most campfire arguments. Personal favorites can run the spectrum from the light 250 Savage or 243 Winchester, all the way up to the various supercharged 30 caliber magnums and beyond. Across the country the 30-06 is probably still the most commonly used round for harvesting deer, and there is little doubt that it is a very effective deer round, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that I don't think it's the perfect chambering for a deer rifle. It's just a little more punch than what's needed. Why should someone put up with useless recoil when there are other rounds that will get the job done with less punishment to our shoulders? Staying in the 30 caliber family and taking a step down is the 308 Winchester which is an excellent choice for deer. Mated with a 165 grain bullet and a muzzle velocity around 2700 feet/sec, it is a great choice for any deer hunting out to most sane distances. It also has the benefit of numerous factory loadings, and finding a load that shoots well is usually not a problem.
An argument can also be made for going smaller by looking at a couple of 25 caliber rounds. The 25-06, which is a former wildcat based on the 30-06 case and made legit by Remington, has gained a reputation as the perfect antelope round, but the characteristics that make it great for pronghorn also make it great for deer hunting. With a 100 or 115 grain bullet flying along a string tight trajectory, it produces deadly results out to long ranges, but has very mild recoil when compared to larger calibers. It is also a fairly popular round so is offered in quite a few factory loadings. The other 25 caliber is the antique 257 Roberts. Even though this round has been with us for many years, it has consistently proven itself a deer slayer. Jack O'Connor was a fan of the Bob, and in the gun world, there is no larger endorsement than that. While the 257 Roberts doesn't have the speed of some of the other rounds, it still carries plenty of punch for deer out to at least 250 yards, and does so with pleasant recoil. The drawback to this round is that finding rifles chambered for it can be tough. There are only a few factory rifles available now that carry the Roberts, and factory ammo is limited, but if you can find a gun chambered for the Bob and especially if you hand load, the 257 Roberts would be a great choice.
For my perfect deer rifle though, I would probably choose a 7mm-08 Remington. This round came about by necking down a 308 Winchester case to accept 7mm bullets. When it comes to deer hunting, this round offers everything a person needs. The trajectory is flat enough to be effective for long range shooting out west, and with a 140 grain bullet is still carrying around 1500 ft/lbs at 300 yards, which is more than enough to take care of any deer. At the same time, it's not too overpowering up close at woods ranges like some of the larger 7's and 30 calibers tend to be. It does everything that some of the more powerful rounds can do, but with its mild recoil in most guns, it won't kick you like a mule. With the popularity of this round, finding a rifle chambered for it is not a problem, and there is a good variety of factory ammunition to choose from if you're not hand loading. Now if you are a 270 Winchester fan, you're probably shaking your head and wondering how I could ever pick another round over Jack O'Connor's favorite. Well, I will admit that the 270 is a great round but when only talking about deer hunting, I stand by my choice of the 7mm-08. To me it just seems perfect.
So there we have it, a bolt action rifle with a 22" barrel chambered for the 7mm-08 Remington. My version of the perfect deer rifle for hunting across the country. With this rifle a person could chase deer from the depths of a south Georgia swamp all the way to the peaks of a Montana mountain range and never skip a beat. Sure, there are a lot of other guns that could do the same thing, but in my opinion, they wouldn't be perfect.
Well, what do you think? I happen to agree with him, but then again my go to gun is a Rem 700 Mountian LSS in (you gussed it) 7MM-08!
firstshot
--------------------------------
Make your first shot count!
05-30-2005, 04:56 PM
#3
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Wy
Posts: 9,611
RE: The Perfect Deer Rifle
Sure, there are a lot of other guns that could do the same thing, but in my opinion, they wouldn't be perfect.
Well, what do you think? I happen to agree with him, but then again my go to gun is a Rem 700 Mountian LSS in (you gussed it) 7MM-08!
Well, what do you think? I happen to agree with him, but then again my go to gun is a Rem 700 Mountian LSS in (you gussed it) 7MM-08!
Do i agree with the authors& yours? naahhh
05-30-2005, 05:38 PM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: The Perfect Deer Rifle
About a year ago, Graig Boddington wrote an articl named the Perfect deer rifle. He took into consideration deer of all sizes at all ranges in all terrain. He came up with the 270. I can't say that he is wrong. The 270 is just about the perfect ticket for deer. He surmised that because of their simularity, the 280 would have to be in the same class.
We all have our favorite caliber for deer and so many of them come so close in ballistics and energy that its about impossible to really pick one.I have had the best success with the 308 and 6.5x55. I quess I shoot them well because they almost never go more than a couple steps. I have never had to fire a second shot with the 6.5x55. I shoot the 140 grain Hornady spire point. The 308 dumps them fast regardless of what bullet I have used. Others that have worked well? the 06, 25-06, 250-3000 and 257 Robert. So far we have never lost one with the 30-30 either.
Boddingtons pick of the 270? Well its as perfect as it needs to be. Maybe as perfect as any of my other favorites. That includes the 7MM-08 for me too.
We all have our favorite caliber for deer and so many of them come so close in ballistics and energy that its about impossible to really pick one.I have had the best success with the 308 and 6.5x55. I quess I shoot them well because they almost never go more than a couple steps. I have never had to fire a second shot with the 6.5x55. I shoot the 140 grain Hornady spire point. The 308 dumps them fast regardless of what bullet I have used. Others that have worked well? the 06, 25-06, 250-3000 and 257 Robert. So far we have never lost one with the 30-30 either.
Boddingtons pick of the 270? Well its as perfect as it needs to be. Maybe as perfect as any of my other favorites. That includes the 7MM-08 for me too.
05-30-2005, 06:27 PM
#8
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SW Virginia
Posts: 776
RE: The Perfect Deer Rifle
The perfect deer cartridge? No such thing! Oh, there's a lot of good ones including such
as 257Roberts, 6.5x55, 270Win., 7x57, 280Rem., 7mm-08, 308Win., 30-06, 30/30, the
45/70, etc., etc. All are good for deer hunting.
The real problem is in finding the perfect deer rifle! That combination of factors such as
type of action, barrel length, LOP, balance, etc. that just seems to "fit" ya' like it was
custom built just for you - AND available in a cartridge that suits ya'.
Then too, what really messes things up is when we try to figure in other applications such
as hogs, black bear, an occassional elk, etc. To do it right, you have to pick a cartridge
with enough ooomph to take care of the largest and/or most dangerous critter.
Then too, where will we be hunting, terrain? Weather conditions to be encountered?
Firstshots' choice for deer is a good one, but may not suit someone else's tastes in rifles, etc. I got mine narrowed down to three:
Ruger 77 carbine in 358Win. for close cover(? - up to 200yds), and anything from deer to the elk/moose.
Rem.700LSS Mtn. rifle in 270Win. for the more open spaces (out to 300yds.+/-).
Sako Mannlicher carbine in 308Win. - for when I don't know what the heck I'm going to
encounter, and when I just can't make up my mind
But, no matter, I still miss having a Marlin 30/30, and for some reason I have an itch to
get a 6.5x55 and a 280Rem. [
]
as 257Roberts, 6.5x55, 270Win., 7x57, 280Rem., 7mm-08, 308Win., 30-06, 30/30, the
45/70, etc., etc. All are good for deer hunting.
The real problem is in finding the perfect deer rifle! That combination of factors such as
type of action, barrel length, LOP, balance, etc. that just seems to "fit" ya' like it was
custom built just for you - AND available in a cartridge that suits ya'.
Then too, what really messes things up is when we try to figure in other applications such
as hogs, black bear, an occassional elk, etc. To do it right, you have to pick a cartridge
with enough ooomph to take care of the largest and/or most dangerous critter.
Then too, where will we be hunting, terrain? Weather conditions to be encountered?
Firstshots' choice for deer is a good one, but may not suit someone else's tastes in rifles, etc. I got mine narrowed down to three:
Ruger 77 carbine in 358Win. for close cover(? - up to 200yds), and anything from deer to the elk/moose.
Rem.700LSS Mtn. rifle in 270Win. for the more open spaces (out to 300yds.+/-).
Sako Mannlicher carbine in 308Win. - for when I don't know what the heck I'm going to
encounter, and when I just can't make up my mind
But, no matter, I still miss having a Marlin 30/30, and for some reason I have an itch to
get a 6.5x55 and a 280Rem. [
]
05-30-2005, 07:02 PM
#9
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: The Perfect Deer Rifle
One of the biggest joys of my life has been trying to find the perfect deer rifle. Have I found it? Gee I hope not I sure have found some good ones though.
When I firt lost my right eye, I didn't even realize that they made LH rifles. The natural thing was to by a lever action rifle or a pump. The 30-30 Model 94 was the first thing I tried and it worked well for me for several seasons. One morning in front of a couple friends and inlaws I pulled off a 200 yard shot on a deer. Dropped in its tracks. I couldn't help but feel smug and brag a little. Those thing come back to bite you sometimes. Later that same day, a nice buck ran past us and you guessed it , I missed him six times.
Love to eat that raw crow.
. Have I found it? Gee I hope not I sure have found some good ones though.When I firt lost my right eye, I didn't even realize that they made LH rifles. The natural thing was to by a lever action rifle or a pump. The 30-30 Model 94 was the first thing I tried and it worked well for me for several seasons. One morning in front of a couple friends and inlaws I pulled off a 200 yard shot on a deer. Dropped in its tracks. I couldn't help but feel smug and brag a little. Those thing come back to bite you sometimes. Later that same day, a nice buck ran past us and you guessed it , I missed him six times.
Love to eat that raw crow.
05-30-2005, 07:09 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pine Hill Alabama USA
Posts: 1,280
RE: The Perfect Deer Rifle
Since one of my rifles is a 7mm-08 in a Browning A-bolt with a 22 inch barrel I'll say, "yeah I think he made a fair choice in that article."
I love the 7mm-08 caliber. To me it is just about the perfect caliber for whitetails where I hunt. Mild enough in recoil for even the wife and kids to enjoy shooting yet with a 140 grain bullet it shoots flatter than a 308 with a 150 grain bullet and as flat as a 30-06 with a 150 grain bullet. With a good 140 grain bullet it will shoot completely through even the biggest of whitetails and kill them just as rapidly as any other caliber I own. I've used it as one of my primary whitetail calibers for 3 years now and can find no flaws with it.
I love the 7mm-08 caliber. To me it is just about the perfect caliber for whitetails where I hunt. Mild enough in recoil for even the wife and kids to enjoy shooting yet with a 140 grain bullet it shoots flatter than a 308 with a 150 grain bullet and as flat as a 30-06 with a 150 grain bullet. With a good 140 grain bullet it will shoot completely through even the biggest of whitetails and kill them just as rapidly as any other caliber I own. I've used it as one of my primary whitetail calibers for 3 years now and can find no flaws with it.