what caliber
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,926
Truth be told
there have been over ten cartridges that have been harvesting whitetail deer for over thirty, forty and fifty years.
Where do you hunt and how many guns can you afford?
If you hunt in forests within 100 yards, you certainly don't need a magnum or a caliber that reaches out to 400 yards. You can use one; you don't actually need all that power.
What size is your body and how much recoil can you take?
Not every hunter wants the recoil of a magnum or even a 30-06.
I knew an army vet, trained on 7.62 mm or 30-06 cartridges (the civilian cartridge) , harvested whitetail deer with a 257 Roberts. Some of the young big boys would hide if they used that caliber.
A lighter recoiling rifle, like a 7mm/08, can do the job. 35 Remington's and 30/30 did just fine for hunters in heavy woods within 100 yards, and weren't known for great recoil.
A famous elephant hunter, by the name of Bell, early in the last century, was more concerned about expenditures, so he used light recoiling rifles. He used a 7 x 57mm Mauser cartridge to take over 1000 elephant. As Bell proved, it's not the cartridge always, but where you shoot the bullet. Bell knew anatomy, and brain shots downed elephant.
So use what makes you happy. You have choices, like magnums, and light recoiling rifles and even lever action rifles.
Where do you hunt and how many guns can you afford?
If you hunt in forests within 100 yards, you certainly don't need a magnum or a caliber that reaches out to 400 yards. You can use one; you don't actually need all that power.
What size is your body and how much recoil can you take?
Not every hunter wants the recoil of a magnum or even a 30-06.
I knew an army vet, trained on 7.62 mm or 30-06 cartridges (the civilian cartridge) , harvested whitetail deer with a 257 Roberts. Some of the young big boys would hide if they used that caliber.
A lighter recoiling rifle, like a 7mm/08, can do the job. 35 Remington's and 30/30 did just fine for hunters in heavy woods within 100 yards, and weren't known for great recoil.
A famous elephant hunter, by the name of Bell, early in the last century, was more concerned about expenditures, so he used light recoiling rifles. He used a 7 x 57mm Mauser cartridge to take over 1000 elephant. As Bell proved, it's not the cartridge always, but where you shoot the bullet. Bell knew anatomy, and brain shots downed elephant.
So use what makes you happy. You have choices, like magnums, and light recoiling rifles and even lever action rifles.
#12
Why do you use so bad of a bullet in the '06?
To respond to your "how far can it kill" question...
I believe it's a generally accepted rule of thumb that you want a minimum of 1000 ft lbs of energy at the range you're shooting the deer (some folks set their minimum at 800). The bullets will certainly kill while retaining less energy, but, I think we can use that as a starting point. "Rules of thumb" exist for a reason...
Using the 1000 ft lbs minimum, the .243 is a 300 yard cartridge, the .30-06 is a 400 yard cartridge. And, the 7mm-08 still has 1005 ft lbs at 500 yards.
#14
Using a Remington 90gr. Swift Scirocco Bonded bullet, using less than max powder load, one can achieve the 1k lbs. at 400 yards.
I've always felt the .243 was underrated as a long distance gun. Too many connotations it's a "kids" or "woman's" gun. For punching paper, it can go comfortably beyond the 400 yard mark.
iSnipe
#15
Thanks for your "experience" on these matters.
#16
Au contraire. Even further.
Using a Remington 90gr. Swift Scirocco Bonded bullet, using less than max powder load, one can achieve the 1k lbs. at 400 yards.
I've always felt the .243 was underrated as a long distance gun. Too many connotations it's a "kids" or "woman's" gun. For punching paper, it can go comfortably beyond the 400 yard mark.
iSnipe
Using a Remington 90gr. Swift Scirocco Bonded bullet, using less than max powder load, one can achieve the 1k lbs. at 400 yards.
I've always felt the .243 was underrated as a long distance gun. Too many connotations it's a "kids" or "woman's" gun. For punching paper, it can go comfortably beyond the 400 yard mark.
iSnipe
#18
Take a hard look at the 7mm-08. It's a short action cartridge, so the rifles are a bit shorter, and, therefore, a little more handy in the woods. And, a 140 gr 7mm-08 is flatter shooting than a 150 gr .30-06 or .308, and, at 300 yards, has more retained energy, so it'll perform quite nicely on the longer shots you might see in Wyoming.
i have a browning 7mm-08 and absolutely love it. it is has a 22" barrel and is light enough for me to carry all day in the PA hardwoods, but flat shooting to take deer out to 300 yards...I always used it in silhouette shoots in the "hunting rifle" categories (no special mods, no greater than 9x scope).
140gr handloads have taken at least 15 deer, no follow-ups required
#20
Have you tried Federals Power Shok150gr load?I've only tried Rem 150gr CL's along with the Feds in my Ruger Hawkeye AW in .280 since I just wanted to get some brass for reloading but I'd be very surprised if I can get better accuracy than the Fed load.The Rem load shoots 3 shot groups about 1 3/4" at 100 yds on average but I've gotten several 2 holes overlaping 3 shot groups with the Feds.Wicked accurate!!!
http://www.federalpremium.com/produc...fle.aspx?id=14
http://www.federalpremium.com/produc...fle.aspx?id=14