Best caliber for whitetail
 

I am going to buy a new gun and I need help deciding on a caliber, rifle, scope and bullet combination for deer and elk size game. I live in northern MO and my shots will be any where from 25 to 400yrds. I am looking at a 7mm rem mag. What do you think?

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Personally I'm a .30-06 devotee. You should probably go down either to the Guns forum, or the Firearms Review Forum; there are hundreds of posts about the best whitetail caliber.

By the way, I use a Remington 700 ADL with a Leupold Rifleman 3-9x40 scope. It's my first deer rifle, and it suits me well.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Yeah I'd probably go with the 7mm Rem. Mag. They will have more than enough knock down power at 400 yards. As you can tell by my user name, I am big 7mm fan. I also use the Remington 700 ADL model; it is a great gun at a great price. As for the scope, a 3-9 or 4-12 would do fine. I shoot 150 grain bullets and they do just fine for deer.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Man, this question is like asking someone if they like Chevy, Ford, or Dodge. It really just depends on what you are confortable with. Myself, I hunt in the Texas Hill Country. I like shooting small calibers like the 22-250. Now I don't recomend that just anybody use this caliber because shot placement is critical. If you plan to shoot your deer in the body then a larger caliber is needed like 25-06, .270, 30-06 or something along those lines. I shoot all my deer in the neck so the 22-250 is ideal. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a large mule deer in the neck with this caliber. Point in case, I killed a 230lb Audad last year with one shot in the neck with my 22-250. It really is preference and what you feel confortable with.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Doesn't matter which caliber you choose, as long as there is a Leupold sitting on top of it!!!:)

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

But I wouln't shoot elk with the 22-250. If you are hunting those, better go with a larger caliber.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

There is no perfect cartridge but I do prefer the 7mmrem mag over the 30-06.There is no way that I would consider replacing my swarovski's with leupolds and therefore reducing the quality of my optics..

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

<<<<--------- as you can probably tell that is my pick for my rifle;) I use it for my all arounder for deer, elk and moose with no problems. While long shot are a good possibility for me, I haven't needed them for a few years but was one of the reasons I picked the 7 Rem Mag. Whitetail I prefer 150 gr Ballistic tip style bullets, but anything from 140-165 will work fine. On bigger stuff 140-175 solid constructed bullet will work well out of the 7 rem mag, just find the right bullet and drive her home.


Optics depends on the funds but I would suggest a 3x9 or 3.5 x 10 should suffice (maybe a 4-12) I prefer 44-50 mm objectives but anything 40-50 should work well. If your looking to save a bit in funds but a decent scope in optics the Bushnell Elites are a darn good piece of glass that won't break the bank. Lots of good options, to many to list from mid to high end, your best suited to either narrow it down or at least give the members an idea how much cash you have banked for glass.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Dr. J.Y. Jones of Georgia has taken every huntable big game specie in North America using a Remington 700 ADL in .30-06.

A cannon can't make up for poor hunting or shooting abilities.

A .30-06 is big enough for bear/moose/whitetail and easy enough on the shoulder.


But I must admit....there is nothing like the roar of a 7mm.;)

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

I have to place my vote for .270. It is the flattest shooting and most accurate gun I have ever owned. I have shot deer at 300 yards with it and stopped a 420 lb bear in it's tracks. It shoots a nickel sized pattern at 150 yards and it never has let me down.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

My opinion, but if I have to have one gun for all ranges you mentioned, it would be the .270, though I would limit myself to 300 yds.

I use a .270 Ruger M77 for the areas where I can get a shot longer than 100 yards. For short range, I use the Marlin 1895 .450 GG.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

i use whatever kills the deer cleanly.

For me its a 12 gauge one ounce slug, in iowa we only can use shotguns and muzzleloaders for deer hunting.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

My personal favorite is the 25.06

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

125 grain ;)

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

270 short mag!

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

.243 all the way! This gone is perfect for deer. Well at least where i hunt. It has bagged one from 80 and 120. Not very far, but for where i hunt this is plenty of gun. For larger game like elk i love the .300 mag.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Ruger #1, My Ruger #1 is in .280 Rem. How about yours? 280 cal. = .284" = 7MM but at somewhat slower velocities than the Magnums. For whitetail I have found it mor than adequate no matter the range. I love the Ruger #1 even though it gets a might heavy after carrying it for several miles.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

30-06 with 150 grain bullet is perfect

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

7mm mag- just my 2 cents

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

.30-06

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

30-06 and 7mm-08

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

.35 Whelen. I hate to track wounded deer. And it out-roars a 7mm.

Russ

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

What do you all think of the Ruger M77 MKII. Also, what is the highest grain bullet you can get in a factory load and who makes it.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Several manufacturers load 175gr bullets for the 7mm remmag but the truth is that bullets this heavy are simply not required for this cartridge.Bullet construction is far more important than bullet weight even for larger game such as elk or moose..

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Stubblejumper, what would a good bullet weight and bullet construction for deer size game out to 400 yrds?

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

For deer only I use the 140gr ballistic tip but I will be trying the new 140gr accubond when they become available.The 150gr scirrocco is also a great choice for deer.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

What do you all think about the Ruger M77 MkII standard version? Anyone had any problems with it?

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

I have never thought much of the ruger trigger.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

stubblejumper, what problem(s) have you had with the Rugers trigger? Both of those on my #1 and on my GP100 are smooth as silk and break like a piece of leaded crystal. Maybe I have just been lucky, or perhaps you have just been unlucky. I've also heard guys say the accuracy of the #1 is sub-par but mine shoots sub-minute groups all day. It has to be the rifle because I'm just not that good anymore.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Coastie-The ones I have fired could not be adjusted as low as I would like(around 3 lbs.).These were an older 220 swift of my own and a newer 7mmremmag owned by a fellow from work.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

MOST OF THE DEER HUNTERS IN MY AREA THINK THAT THEY CAN GO OUT 2 WEEKS BEFORE SEASON AND SHOOT A BOX OF SHELLS AND THATS GOOD ENOUGH. THATS WHY I ALWAYS TELL MOST HUNTERS TO SHOOT A .30-.30 ITS IN THERE CAPABILITIES OF SHOOTING AND IS A PROVEN DEER KILLER. BUT IF YOU ASK ME RIGHT NOW WHAT I WOULD CHOSE IT WOULD BE MY .270 WSM

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

STUBBLE ITS GOOD TO HEAR SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAS A SWIFT . WE'LL HAVE TO TALK ABOUT SOME LOADS SOMEDAY

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

stubblejumper, Thanks for the reply. As I said maybe I am just lucky when I have got the ones I own, but I sure like them. I don't have anything with a trigger that light except my Hawken with the set triggers. If you do a lot of competition shooting I would imagine that would make a big difference.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Dan-I no longer have the swift.I replaced it with a 40xbks in 6mmrem.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

good choice i have never had a 6mm but i like what i see . i do have a .243 win in a nef bull barrel and love it

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

I now use and swear by black hills nosler ballistic tips.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

i use a 7mm rem mag for deer and elk and love the caliber. I have dropped elk at 250 yards and deer at 350 yards with no problems. Shoot a good round out of a 7mm rem mag and you will have no problems. I personally use 165 gr. nosler partitions and it seems to work for me but everyone has their own preference.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

I think I will go with the Savage package. It is only $500 but I haven't decided completely yet.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

Do the Savage packages come with a Tasco scope? If they do, I might have to replace it.

RE: Best caliber for whitetail
 

DS22, most packed deals do not offer a great scope. You'll probably end up replacing it later when funds are available, but they will get you by for a season or two(hey you never know they may last more..depends on want you want and I guess get!!)

May I suggest you look into a good used set up either privately or in a shop. I have seen some pretty decent deals in the past year on rifle/scope combos..just another option!