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Offline skipmaster1

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Deer gun?
« on: November 27, 2007, 06:38:10 PM »
Hey guys,

I'm new here, but have been told this is the place to come. I have been selected to do a city cull hunt for deer. Right now we are using bow, but they are going to open a gun season for "sharp shooters". I kill a lot of deer with the bow but have only taken one with a gun.......a ML. Right now most of my deer rifles are either collectors items or lever actions i do not want to scope.

To qualify I need to put 5 rounds in a 2" circle at 50yds. I own a .223 Handi rifle and was disapointed to find out CT requires a .243 or larger. I am looking for a caliber that will be good for deer out to 200yds or so (most shots will be under 100yds)and not knock out my teeth. I have little experience with deer rifles so I'm sort of at a loss. I was thinking .243, 25-06, 7mm or .308.  I am planning on seeing if i can just get another barrel for my .223. That gun now, with no modifications puts 5 shot groups inside a nickel at 100yds with factory loads. i do not reload.

any suggestions would be great! Thanks guys!

                    -Greg
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Offline trotterlg

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #1 on: November 27, 2007, 07:08:12 PM »
If you are stuck with the Handi then run from the .243.  Get a .308 barrel and be done with it, it isn't fancy or exotic, but it is the thing to have to just kill a deer.  If you wern't wanting to go to 200 yards I would have told you to get a 30-30.  Larry
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Offline henry1

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2007, 07:16:50 PM »
Yup i would say the same.
P.S. How in the world do you land a job like that?
Hank.
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Offline skipmaster1

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2007, 02:44:15 AM »
I'm not "stuck" with the handi, i just love my .223 so much I figured I'd just get a barrel for it instead of buying a whole new rifle. I have 30-30's, .444's, a 30-40. But mostly shotguns and small bore rifles.

I landed this gig because most of the hunting is done with a bow and that is my specialty. Many people in the area know that and they reccomended me to the town board when they decided to use archers for the smaller tracts of land. i took 9 deer in 8 outings so far for them. They were pleased and offered to let me try out for the gun hunt they have planned in Jan/Feb. I figured now is my chance to try deer hunting with a gun.
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Offline DalesCarpentry

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2007, 03:28:42 AM »
Welcome aboard. Where are you from? It sounds like you will be hunting these Deer close to houses. I would be worried of a .30 caliber bullet making it's way through the brush and finding a house. Maybe you should consider the .243 it is good out to 300 yards and will not go through brush well. Just my 2 cents. Dale
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Offline skipmaster1

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2007, 04:02:31 AM »
we'll be hunting a parcel of land that is just about 500acres and another piece that is a golf course. all shooting will be done from treestands and only in designated directions.........so i'm not real worried about misses or pass throughs
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Offline PartsMan

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #6 on: November 28, 2007, 04:13:45 AM »
My 7mm-08 has dropped two deer this year.
Bigger bullets than the 243 for better penetration.
Less recoil than the 308.
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Offline Dillohide

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #7 on: November 28, 2007, 04:35:15 AM »
Your January cull hunt rifle season will be coming up pretty quick. The problem with a new barrel for your 223 frame is that it will take several weeks getting it back (at least 6 weeks or more). Buying the whole rifle won't cost that much more by the time you ship off your frame and pay shipping to get it back with the new barrel. Any of the calibers you mention will work.
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Offline quickdtoo

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Re: Deer gun?
« Reply #8 on: November 28, 2007, 05:54:25 AM »
Welcome aboard Greg! ;) All of the deer culling programs that I've read about have been with either archery, or small bores such as the .223 or .243, I'd certainly persue the use of your .223 in your controlled conditions.

Tim

http://www.twpusc.org/admin/deer/report07/index.pdf
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